My FishDuck Friends, this is a difficult analysis to do because I cannot sugar-coat it as I would like. You all know that I love what Dan Lanning is building at Oregon and I believe fervently that he is the coach who can take us to a first ‘Natty, but I will not suck-up to any coaching staff as other sites will do. I made thousands of enemies (truly) when everyone was loving Mario Cristobal in his first season, but I stated his offense would “not take us to the promised land.”
The venom I received on other sites made me ill, and even now the hatred for me is strong. Why? Because I spoke my truth then, and now they hate me because I was right. So while I believe in Coach Lanning and this staff, I was astounded at what I saw when I broke down the Idaho game. So get your favorite Java, and soak it all in. Or read it late in the day with enough Oregon Craft Beer IPAs to ease the pain.
In short, in my dozen years of making videos and over 100 analysis articles—this is the worst I’ve ever witnessed from the entire offensive line in one game. Every single player missed crucial blocks more than once, and I do not have the time or room to show them all, so I will summarize.
- Josh Conerly Jr. was not exempt; on a third down in the Red Zone, a pass was batted away as the Vandal beat Conerly to the inside.
- Marcus Harper was beat on a key third down, and his man forced Dillon Gabriel to throw the ball immediately to the man in the flat–short of the first down.
- We all know about Ajani Cornelius getting beat for a sack and fumble, but he missed other blocks on the perimeter as well.
- The tight ends made me gasp as Terrance Ferguson missed blocks on the perimeter that stuffed plays, and Patrick Herbert missed a slew of blocks; outside and inside.
- Running Backs Roughed Up: Our quarterback hurt his hand because running back Jordan James missed his block picking up a blitzing linebacker. Noah Whittington missed one as well that blew up a play.
The Double-Team Combo Block
The most fundamental part of every offensive blocking scheme is the center-guard double team of the opposing nose tackle of defensive tackle. The objective is to take him on, and then once the center has control of the defensive tackle, the guard peels off and nails the linebacker. It is very effective, and was the cornerstone of the great blocking offensive lines when Steve Greatwood coached for Mike Bellotti, Chip Kelly and Mark Helfrich.
Last year our outstanding center, Jackson Powers-Johnson, would take over the opposing defensive tackle after he and the guard made contact, but JPJ could actually move the defender away a touch, and with the guard blasting the linebacker–we had massive holes in the middle of the field that I’ve never witnessed at Oregon before. A-Gaps that big? Whew! JPJ could make an average guard look great, and our running backs even better.
Watch the center, Jackson Powers-Johnson, No. 58 above begin with a double-team, and move his defender to create a massive hole for Bucky Irving. Note that No. 72 (Poncho) did well with his double-team, and a Counter play that was meant to go to the right ended up going right up the middle because of the blocking.
On Saturday versus Idaho with Charlie Pickard, No. 70 at center and with No. 72 Iapani Laloulu (Poncho) at guard–here were the common results:
- They double-teamed the defensive tackle, Pickard took over and Poncho successfully blocked the linebacker. (This did not happen very often)
- They double-teamed the defensive tackle, and Pickard took over, but got beat by the defender who then filled the gap and stuffed the running back.
- They double-teamed the defensive tackle, and Pickard took over and controlled him, but Poncho missed the linebacker who then stepped up into the hole and stuffed our running back.
- They double-teamed the defensive tackle, and both stayed on him with the linebacker running free–who stopped the play for a very small gain.
I do need to say that all of this is just my opinion, as there are thousands of coaches who know more than I do, and I welcome their input in our free forum if they feel I am mistaken. I also want to let you readers know that while there are a ton of videos below–each is only 15 seconds, thus it goes fast.
A failed double-team blows up a play… (Screenshot from B1G Network Video)
What you see above is the beginning of a play and the red circle is a double-team of center Charlie Pickard No. 70, and Poncho No. 72. Watch what happens to this double-team in the video below…
As the play develops above, Pickard sees that the linebacker is running up to fill the gap, so he has to leave the double-team to block the linebacker, and turn the block of the defensive tackle over to Poncho. Unfortunately, Laloulu gets beat to the inside and the play is blown up. We did not execute combo-blocks well in this game, and they are the foundation of a running game.
You must seal the backside to prevent their pursuit angles. (Screenshot from B1G Network Video)
A big problem in the run blocking was the poor sealing of the backside pursuers. By walling-off the backside defenders from the playside, it allows the running back to cut-back without running into a blast of backside defenders. Above we see that all starts fine; the green dotted line is a receiver going to block a safety; the yellow dotted line is an offensive lineman going for the linebacker.
The red arrows above are a double-team on the defensive end, and all we need are the defenders in the blue circle shielded from pursuing to their right, and into our playside. Seal the backside defenders out!
Such a promising start to this running play above was destroyed by not sealing the backside defenders. Give the running back some room to move!
If this is not one of the worst blocked running plays ever…then it has to be in your top three! (Screenshot from B1G Network Video)
Above is the beginning to one of the worst blocked running plays ever. It starts great, as you see the small red arrows of Josh Conerly Jr. No. 76, and Marcus Harper No. 55 matched up to block their defenders. Above in large red arrows is a double-team where the guard will leave the block, and stop the oncoming linebacker, and a triple team of which one will peel off and get the safety coming up. So far, so good!
It is hard to believe all the blocks that were defeated in the play above. With the triple-team, they seemed confused as to who was going to peel off, and the double-team got split and beat before either of them could peel off and get the linebacker. Look at every blocker above….every one got beat on this play, hence my reference to it being the worst blocked running play ever.
This is not a B1G defense Oregon was facing, but an FCS team? And their defense beat both a double-team AND triple team? Disgusting.
As the game progressed, Idaho found a weak spot as they began attacking Pickard and driving him back. On this play above, he was driven a full seven yards back and nearly into the quarterback, with his assigned defender tipping the ball and preventing a touchdown. Look at the defensive back covering Tez Johnson…he stumbled, so if the pass was on time–Johnson scores.
A simulated pressure fools the Oregon offensive line into a disastrous sack. (Screenshot from B1G Network Video)
Idaho had some superb preparation, and they ran a Simulated Pressure on Oregon, the kind that Dan Lanning brought from Georgia to the Ducks. When you watch the video below, note that we had six blockers to pass protect against four rushers, and still gave up the sack. The screenshot above shows the yellow dotted line of Jordan James coming out to block the delayed Blitzer, and the green dotted line shows four inside offensive linemen to block two Vandal rushers.
The ending of the play above with the four Oregon offensive linemen doing nothing…was just a cluster. If Pickard had taken over the defender that he and Poncho were blocking, then Poncho could have caught the looper coming around. I’m sure they practice their protocol for this situation, but they could not execute. Wowsa.
No doubt about it; they were Picking-on-Pickard. (Screenshot from B1G Network Video)
This defensive play later in the game stunned me, as it was really a brilliant strategy by the damn Vandals, as they rushed six and we only had five to block. Note how everyone above has a defender to block, but Pickard has two!
Idaho knew they could drive Pickard back with one defender, so what would happen with two rushers crashing down on him alone? Gabriel (above) had no chance to throw further downfield on third down, and thus the “Picking-on-Pickard” tactic worked perfectly for the Vandals.
How Does Oregon Solve This?
I see a number of items that can change things quickly for the Ducks…
- These players looked around at all the transfers, believed the hype and were inexperienced in handling it. Georgia, Alabama, and Ohio State are hyped up every year, and the players ignore it, while at Oregon–it has not happened in a decade, and not to any of these players. Ignore the media, focus on your goals!
- Get some rest. Rumors persist about the intensity of practice leading up to the game, and this might be another area of learning for our new head coach.
- Give Idaho some credit; they knew we would only run about a half-dozen basic running plays, and they had their keys to recognize them immediately to race to the ball.
- I am quite sure Will Stein will now open the playbook, which will help our offensive linemen. Boise State defensive backs look vulnerable, so let’s get the Duck WRs involved!
- I believe that with a good guard next him, Poncho (No. 72 Iapani Laloulu) can be an adequate center for us. So get a healthy offensive guard back!
- Dillon Gabriel will gradually flourish in this offense, and just like Tez Johnson last year–it will probably happen in the second half of the season.
- Play great defense. This can be an outstanding defense that can keep us in games as the offense gradually returns to form.
- Get some fire in the belly; every damn bastard they play wants to take it from them. Get mad and blast these opponents! (Calm down Charles!)
Yes, this was one of my longest analysis articles ever, but it is easy reading, and the videos are very short. Forward this onto a friend, and join us in our forum-with-decorum to discuss because…
“Oh, how we love to ponder about Our Beloved Ducks!”
Charles Fischer (Mr. FishDuck)
Eugene, Oregon
Top Photo by Steven Chan
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Charles Fischer has been an intense fan of the Ducks, a season ticket holder at Autzen Stadium for 38 years and has written reports on football boards for over 26 years. Known as “FishDuck” on those boards, he is acknowledged for providing intense detail in his scrimmage reports, and in his Xs and Os play analyses. He is single, has a daughter Christine, and resides in Eugene Oregon where he was a Financial Advisor for 36 years.
He now focuses full-time on Charitable Planned Giving Workshops for churches and non-profit organizations in addition to managing his two Oregon Football Websites, of FishDuck.com and the Our Beloved Ducks forum. He is a busy man!
He does not profess to be a coach or analyst, but simply a “hack” that enjoys sharing what he has learned and invites others to correct or add to this body of Oregon Football! See More…