In Saturday’s game against Washington, Oregon made running the football look easy. The team ran the ball 62 times and averaged 7.5 yards per carry and now are second best in the nation at running the ball.
Some members of the media claimed the No. 5 Ducks (6-1 overall, 3-1 Pacific-10 Conference) ran only four or five different running plays throughout the game. Maybe they’re right because throughout most of the game it was Jonathan Stewart left, Stewart right, Andre Crenshaw carry, fake hand-off to Stewart and the subsequent Dennis Dixon scramble.
The latter play, however, certainly captured the attention of the crowd and worked its wonders during Oregon’s record-breaking 465-yard rushing performance. There were several instances when Dixon would fake the hand-off to Stewart and most of the Husky defense and the crowd believed the ball had been stuffed at the line of scrimmage. Instead, Dixon and running back Crenshaw were getting big gains as a result of the fake.
Washington players and fans weren’t the only ones fooled by the triple-option play. Television cameras, media members, Oregon personnel on the sideline and even Ducks on the field thought Stewart was stopped for a loss.
“I was like, ‘Oh, bummer!’” center Max Unger said. “Then I look over to my right and see someone crossing the goal line.”
Those plays got some laughs from the offensive linemen who were busy selling the fake as well.
“You’ve got to have a little chuckle because the defenders try so hard to get Stewart down and they finally get him down, and then Dennis is 30 yards down the field,” right tackle Geoff Schwartz said. “It’s fun to see what happens on film afterwards.”
Even running backs coach Gary Campbell said he swore Stewart was tackled on at least one play.
“I saw everybody converge on him,” he said.
Those fakes didn’t come without a price, however. While players and coaches praise Stewart’s ability to avoid big hits on most of his carries, it was the times he didn’t carry the ball when he was hit the hardest.
“I saw him get smoked a couple of times,” Unger said. “I saw him get drilled by one of the defensive ends and was like “Awww!” and then I heard the crowd erupt too because they thought they had a tackle for a loss. Then Crenshaw is off to the right scoring a 20-yard touchdown.”
Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly said because opposing defenses focus on Stewart and Dixon so much that will leave other players space to run.
“When you have to compensate for Dennis Dixon running the option towards the edge and Jonathan Stewart … there are a lot of people going to be running with those two guys,” Kelly said.
Coach Mike Bellotti said that it’s a play he’s wanted Oregon to get better at for some time. He said they’ve gotten better as a result of seasoning and making it easier for the quarterback to make the right read.
“We’ve stressed for three years the ability or the desire to carry out fakes better,” Bellotti said. “It’s a combination of the maturity within the offense, Dennis understanding what’s happening both from a defensive standpoint and offensive perspective. When you’re confident and recognize things earlier it allows you more confidence in your movements. It’s a combination of physical maturity and the technique itself.”
Then it’s the running backs responsibility to make it look like he’s carrying the ball every time, Bellotti added.
For Stewart, it’s a pretty simple process even if he takes a beating each time.
“I just have to act like I have the ball and run things at full speed,” he said. “Man, I got banged but I’m glad we scored.”
[email protected]