SEATTLE – The remaining coaches on Oregon’s schedule should tell their players to close their eyes when reading off the Ducks’ rushing statistics from the Washington game because it’s going to sting quite a bit.
Sixty-two carries for 465 yards, six touchdowns and a 7.5 yard average. That stat line will strike fear into any opposing defense and it’ll have it worried about its chances slowing down the Ducks’ attack. Opposing defensive coordinators should lose sleep over it. No single team in this day and age, especially in the Pacific-10 Conference, should have that much success running the ball.
What Oregon did against Washington taught us a few things: If you control the ball, you control the game, and ultimately you control the conference. Every remaining opponent is going to have to hope it can adjust to slow the running game down. As we’re seeing it, no one can. We thought the Ducks were good just by averaging about 200 rushing yards per game.
It was the most dominant running performance I had ever seen. It was the most dominant rushing performance the Ducks had ever had; their previous record was 446 yards. It was an obscene performance by all accounts.
Before the opening kickoff, two Pee Wee football teams were in pads and playing on the field. Their run defenses looked like they had a better understanding of how to stop the run than Washington did. Those kids missed a lot of tackles, but nothing compared to the Huskies.
That said, the rushing performance wasn’t a result of how bad the Washington defense was, or even how good Jonathan Stewart is, because those numbers should be directly credited to the offensive line. A single running back isn’t responsible for more than 400 yards. Those numbers are clearly reflective of how good Oregon’s line is and we should praise them just as much, if not more than, Oregon’s skill players.
Run blocking just doesn’t get any better folks, and it seemed as if the line and the running backs tried to make a statement that they’re not going to miss a beat even if Jeremiah Johnson is out for the season. It’s scary to think what they could have done if Johnson was in the game.
When asked about what this means if the offense can plug in its third-string running back and he can gain more than 100 yards rushing, center Max Unger gave a big grin and chuckled.
“It’s awesome,” Unger surmised. “We have an answer for a lot of things.”
While he didn’t say it, I can only imagine Unger knew that the line’s performance Saturday meant that this should be Oregon’s year. Despite all the injuries, the Ducks can continue to plug in their reserves and not see any drop off in production.
Sure, that means Oregon has fabulous talent but I believe that the line is near unstoppable. It’s full of upperclassmen, most of whom have had significant starting time the past two or three years and they’re reaching what could be the apex of Oregon offensive line production.
I won’t blame you if your eyes tend to focus on Stewart each time the ball’s handed off to him, but every once in a while try to take a look at the line and see the type of running lanes they open up for everyone.
Bellotti called it the best offensive line Oregon’s ever had. It would be a shame if people didn’t stop to watch them every few plays.
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