Like it did so many times last season, Oregon’s offense stole the show in its 69-20 dismantling of the Nevada Wolf Pack last Saturday.
In a similar contest with the Missouri State Bears in week three, the 12th-ranked Ducks face an arguably lesser opponent on the defensive side of the ball, but the challenge of improving both individually and as a unit remains the same.
“This team is pushed by me,” said junior quarterback Darron Thomas,@@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1550474@@ who tied a school record with six touchdown passes last week. “(Coach Chip Kelly) tells me every game, ‘You’ve got to play great for us to go out and do great things.’ So I just got to come out and do better game by game to lead this team to victory.”
Thomas is 13-2 in the 15 games he’s started under center, with 7-0 clip at Autzen Stadium. Those numbers will only improve this week, but aiming for another half-dozen scoring passes is more than a healthy order. Thomas’ five first-half touchdown throws were a school record last weekend, largely in part to Nevada’s loaded defensive front that was cuing heavily on star running back LaMichael James.@@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1550427@@
With MSU presenting a 3-4 defensive front, the first true 3-4 defense Oregon has faced this season, the passing lanes may not be as readily accessible for Thomas in week three. Though nine different players caught passes, five of those on scoring plays, Thomas took the aerial route just 19 times compared to 54 in the season opening loss to LSU.
Oregon returned to its run-first offense early on against the Wolf Pack, and is expected to do the same on Saturday —the hope being that James, who has just 121 yards rushing on 30 carries through two games, @@http://espn.go.com/college-football/player/_/id/379314/lamichael-james@@will be able to find a rhythm that’s been otherwise lacking in 2011. Not since the Ducks win over Oregon State last Dec. 4, when he ran for 134 yards and two scores, has James eclipsed the century mark.@@http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=303380204@@
Though James has found the end zone four times this season (two rushes, one reception and one punt return), it’s been true freshman sensation De’Anthony Thomas that’s occupied most of the spotlight.@@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205238473@@
De’Anthony Thomas is second on the team in rushing yardage (103), first in receiving (140) and kick returns (83), and second in scoring with 18 points. @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205266631@@When asked if the 18-year-old thought he needed to prove something to himself after those two costly fumbles against LSU, Thomas was adamant.
“I didn’t feel like it,” Thomas said. “The fumbles, mistakes happen. I just don’t want to make those mistakes anymore and I’ve been working hard all week about ball security. Every time I run, just high and tight.”
One of De’Anthony Thomas’ fellow true freshman teammates expected to contribute on offense this season, tight end Colt Lyerla @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205125608@@of Hillsboro, also got his first taste of Autzen Stadium on game day.
The 6-foot-5, 238-pounder played mostly on special teams in the season opener, but got several reps at tight end against Nevada. Lyerla recorded his first of many future touchdowns in an Oregon uniform when he snagged a 20-yard scoring pass from Thomas with 5:43 remaining in the second quarter.@@http://www.nevadawolfpack.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2011-2012/201101.html#GAME.SUM@@
His physique and athletic ability on the field is that of a seasoned veteran, but Kelly and the Ducks coaching staff aren’t rushing to get Lyerla fully acclimated to their system.
“He’s a true freshman and he’s playing a position he hasn’t played before,” Kelly said. “He was more of a running back in high school. He’s transitioning in to play tight end, and we eventually hope once he gets settled at tight end and gets that down pat, that all of a sudden we can move him around and play him at some different spots, similar to what we did with Ed Dickson.”