The Oregon Ducks came within a few feet of scoring the game-winning touchdown on the final drive of their 31-28 loss to Michigan State Saturday. During his weekly press conference Sunday, head coach Mark Helfrich cited a combination of “many little things,” from gap errors to dropped interceptions, that contributed to the Ducks falling short.
“The difficult part of playing that team on the road in that environment is every excruciating detail can make the difference in a game,” Helfrich said. “There are so many things that when you sit there and watch film, you go, ‘Oh my gosh.’ That’s what makes it that much more frustrating.”
Helfrich said quarterback Vernon Adams had trouble seeing around the linemen, which led to a few broken plays. Adams missed a wide open Byron Marshall on what would have been the go-ahead touchdown with just over a minute to play. After the game, he repeatedly said the loss was “on me,” which Helfrich said would resonate with his teammates.
“I think that’s the natural reaction of a quarterback,” Helfrich said. “The biggest thing for Vernon, for me, and for everyone in this program is to individually look at yourself, and how you can solve the problem. As he takes the initiative to step up and admit fault in all those things, then hopefully he’ll motivate everyone else to improve.”
Adams was reportedly dealing with an injury to the index finger on his throwing hand he suffered during last week’s 61-42 win over Eastern Washington. Last night he completed 22-of-39 passes for 302 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Helfrich said injury was not a factor in his quarterback’s performance.
“Anything we could say of that nature is an excuse, and we don’t get into that realm.”
One of Adams’s primary weapons, wide receiver Dwayne Stanford, was held without a reception Saturday. Helfrich said Stanford was “covered exceptionally well.” He also said Michigan State’s modus operandi is to press players on the outside, thus eliminating them from the game plan while creating more off coverage on number two receivers.
“Our outside guys weren’t as involved, and that’s just how they defend you.”
The Spartans’ shutdown of Stanford enabled wide receivers Bralon Addison and Charles Nelson to catch seven balls each, for 138 and 79 yards, respectively. Addison added an 81-yard punt return for a touchdown that tied the game early in the third quarter.
Helfrich compared Oregon’s defeat to last year’s loss to Arizona, its fifth game and first loss of the 2014 season. He talked to his players about the similarities between the two losses, and how the Arizona game galvanized the team moving forward. The Ducks went on to win the remainder of their regular season games and qualify for the College Football Playoff as the second-ranked team.
“There’s absolutely zero reason why that can’t happen again.”
The Ducks look to rebound in their next home game against Georgia State, Saturday, Sept. 19. The Panthers lost their week one home match-up with Charlotte 23-30 but won on the road yesterday against New Mexico State.
Helfrich also commented on reigning Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota’s first regular season NFL game, in which he posted a 158.3 quarterback rating and threw four touchdowns for the Tennessee Titans. Helfrich said Mariota’s record-setting first game was “par for the course.”
“I’m obviously very happy for him,” Helfrich said. “At the same time, I’d like to say I’m not surprised.”
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