They had played a nearly perfect game and were it not for one ill-advised decision, a shutout was within reach.
The chances of that ended for the Oregon defense against Colorado on Saturday when Cliff Harris@@roster@@ backtracked into the end zone on a punt return for a safety. However, it was still a banner day for a unit that is often overlooked in favor of a flashier offense.
Colorado’s only two points of the game came on that safety, and the Buffaloes found themselves otherwise stifled to the tune of just 231 total yards of offense@@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205266631@@.
“It was one of our better performances,” Oregon head coach Chip Kelly said. “I think they did a really good job, but Colorado’s banged up.”
Indeed, it was a Colorado team nowhere near full strength that took the field in Boulder on Saturday. Star running back Rodney Stewart@@http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3845&SPID=255&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=1514883&Q_SEASON=2011@@ (1,169 all-purpose yards through just seven games this season@@http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=205155101@@) and wide receiver Paul Richardson (487 yards and five touchdowns@@cu stats, see previous link@@) were both sidelined, making an unfair fight against ninth-ranked@@changed from 9th to 7th, http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/football/fbs@@ Oregon even more lopsided.
As the Oregon offense exploded with 29 points in the first quarter@@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205266631@@, linebacker Michael Clay@@roster@@ and the defense forced Colorado to punt in each of its first four possessions. Then, on the Buffaloes’ first possession of the second quarter, Clay intercepted a pass from quarterback Tyler Hansen@@cu roster@@ and returned it 32 yards@@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205266631@@ for a touchdown.
“It felt good to get back in the end zone, make a difference for the team,” Clay said. “But I was definitely a little winded after that.”
If Clay was out of breath after that play, it certainly didn’t show throughout the rest of the game. In just his second game back after missing three games with an ankle injury, Clay’s presence was felt throughout the defensive unit.
“It’s been really good to get Michael back,” Kelly said. “Michael’s one of the real leaders, gets everybody lined up on defense. He was probably our top player when he went down, so to get him back and have him do what he did today — a pick six — that’s kind of the Michael Clay we know.”
Elsewhere on the defense, if Clay wasn’t involved in a play, chances were that fellow linebacker Josh Kaddu@@roster@@ would be there to clean things up. The senior led the team with ten tackles (all solo), three tackles for a loss and two of Oregon’s five sacks on the day@@all stats: http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205266631@@.
“I think this was our best game up to this point defensively,” Kaddu said to The Register-Guard. “We just hope to keep improving from here.”
As for that shutout? Kelly was quick to respond when asked about falling just two points shy.
“We don’t care about that stuff,” Kelly said.
Thomas, James sit out
Running back LaMichael James@@roster@@ and quarterback Darron Thomas@@roster@@ both dressed on Saturday but didn’t see the field in the wake of injuries suffered against California and Arizona State, respectively. James is still healing from a dislocated elbow, while Thomas tweaked his knee last week against the Sun Devils.
Saturday’s game marked the end of Thomas’ team-leading consecutive start streak at 19@@http://oregon.247sports.com/Article/Ducks-too-fast-and-deep-for-Buffs-45445@@, but the junior understood it wasn’t his decision to make.
“Darron understands what we’re doing here,” Kelly said. “This isn’t the people’s court. We’re just going to do what’s the best situation on this day, and the best situation was to go with Bryan Bennett@@roster@@.”
Thomas declined comment to the media, and it is unclear what his or James’ status will be for next week’s matchup with Washington State.
Michael Ciaglo contributed reporting.