It is time. We have all discussed in the Our Beloved Ducks forum how Oregon has clearly not completely opened both the defensive and offensive playbook over the course of this 2024 season. We agreed that it made sense to save unique plays, and new sequential plays off our base plays for the Playoffs…and that time has come. To beat the Buckeyes will take not only an innovative game-plan, but popping out new surprises that were not present in the prior 13 games for Our Beloved Ducks.
On defense, it does not feel like we have had same number of unique blitzes we saw in 2022 and 2023, While we have had many sacks, (10 against Washington alone) most of those were due to individual player skills at beating the offensive lineman, or usual twists and stunts on the defensive line. Not many overload blitzes, or blitzes from our corners or safeties. Head Coach Dan Lanning has a big playbook of blitzes, and my hope is to see many dusted off and used in the Rose Bowl.
Goodness knows they have plenty of time to install and practice new plays and blitzes before January 1st! I was pondering all this, and had to take a break from my fun at Onlinecasinohex to share my thoughts about Oregon’s upside for the Rose Bowl.
I have been beating the Evan Stewart drum for a couple of months; this receiver is known to come down with 50/50 Bird-Bombs, and if not, can get the interference penalty. The point is–throwing long to Stewart is actually a good percentage play for Oregon, but the Duck offensive staff has refrained from featuring Stewart the entire season except for one game. It was in the first game against the Buckeyes that Stewart had a career day, and a massive impact on the outcome. Since then?
He is being held…not by the defenses, but by our coaches.
Tez Johnson is back, and so are the Touchdowns. (Photo by Eric Becker)
The savvy Oregon fans at the OBD forum know better than I that when the Bird-Bombs are being thrown and occasionally completed, then the drag routes for Tez Johnson are significantly more open, as well as the seam routes for the tight ends, and flat routes for the running backs. Throwing long to Stewart will open up the running game in addition to the aforementioned passing options. I sense the coaches have been saving the best for the Playoffs.
I believe strongly that Ohio State is the most difficult opponent among all the others in the Playoff, hence time to throw the kitchen sink at the Buckeyes and make them defend the entire field, both horizontally and vertically. Recall all the Bubble passes to the sideline that Penn State blew up often? The Buckeyes will be ready for them too, but I would expect some constraint plays off the Bubble to appear, and take advantage of their aggressive defense.
I expect to see more of the passing to the running backs, as that remains as a good matchup against their linebackers. At minimum, it keeps the linebackers from crowding the line-of-scrimmage and allows Oregon’s blocking to open running lanes a touch easier. In short, this Ohio State defense is tough to run on, especially with how fired up the Buckeye defenders will be. Oregon has the uber-skilled receivers and quarterback to score through the air and open things for all phases of the game. Explosion plays change the game, and Oregon’s passing game creates them.
Special Teams plays that turn games! (Screenshot from NBC Sports Video)
Trick plays? The answer is yes, as anything that Ohio State has not seen is worthy of throwing them off with, and chipping away (Pun intended) at their confidence. We have not had many Special Teams plays this season, and again–something innovative like the kickoff at the front line can set a tone of making the Buckeyes react to Oregon, and not the reverse.
In short, what has been held back is appropriate for use now, with a massive game in the Rose Bowl. I have confidence in the players, but I also have confidence in this coaching staff more than any other time in Duck football history. Do you think it is time to unleash the playbook? Let me know your thoughts in the only free, civilized Oregon Football Message Board available because…
“Oh, how we love to ponder about Our Beloved Ducks!”
Charles Fischer (Mr. FishDuck)
Eugene, Oregon
Top Photo by Naji Saker
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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…