The idea that ‘a good defence wins Championships’ is a popular mantra that has defined so many successful teams at all levels of football. However, the Oregon Ducks are on course to flip that narrative with ‘The Law Firm’ – a fearsome offensive unit that could deliver a National Championship this season.
The Law Firm
‘The Law Firm’ moniker was born during the early days of new University of Kentucky head coach Will Stein in his first spring in Eugene. Two years ago, the Ducks were coached by A’lique Terry, (Screenshot Above) Mike Cavanaugh (analyst), and Cutter Leftwich (graduate assistant). Stein liked the way their last names rolled off the tongue. It sounded more like a law firm than football staff, and the nickname was born.
What stands out the most about the play of the Oregon offensive line is their ability to retool and maintain their dominant identity. Terry was handed a leading role in the Ducks’ offensive line, while Leftwich returned to Oregon after one season at North Texas. Iapani Laloulu was the only returning starter from last year, yet Oregon has managed to develop and recruit players to plug the gaps in the team. When they needed to dip into the transfer portal, they landed smart recruitments and managed to keep the offensive core intact.
That has played a huge role in their remarkable run to the playoffs. Oregon has developed a reputation for elite offensive line play that can rival any team in the country. Proof is how the Oregon offensive line are finalists for the Joe Moore Award, which honors the best offensive line in college football. The Ducks are the only collegiate team that has been a finalist for the third season running.
That level of consistency is rare, but the Ducks also excel in other areas. They’re ranked as the best pass-blocking team in the nation by PFF, and are not far off the top spot in sacks and tackles for loss allowed. They are also one of the most productive rushing teams in the country, averaging nearly six yards per carry and more than 200 rushing yards per game.
Perfect Running Lane for Jordon Davison by the Law Firm. (Screenshot from B1G Network Video)
Oregon’s Play-Off Path Fuels Championship Belief
Dan Lanning’s team are heading into the playoffs on the back of a remarkable 11-1 record and couldn’t have asked for a more favorable draw. Oregon will kick things off at home against James Madison Dukes. There are no easy play-off games, so the Ducks would be foolish to underestimate the weight of their upcoming task.
However, they will head into the game as the bookmakers’ favorites and are well-positioned in a bracket that allows them to build momentum rather than burn out at the first hurdle. The expanded post-season is more demanding than ever, as some teams could end up playing up to 17 total games in a single season, which puts a huge strain on players and squad depth.
With that in mind, the importance of getting a favorable draw cannot be overstated, and the Ducks have been handed what looks like the best route of any team in the country. If all the favorites go on to win, Oregon will likely face Texas Tech Red Raiders, Indiana Hoosiers and Ohio State Buckeyes if they get past James Madison.
These games will test Oregon’s strength in different ways, but fans will be keeping a close eye on how they handle those match-ups, especially those who love betting. The sportsbooks featured on comparison site bettingtop10.com rate Oregon as 9.00 shots to win the championship, a price that will undoubtedly tempt bettors given their potential path. The margin for error gets significantly thinner in post-season football. It is a period where small mistakes can be catastrophic, but Oregon have what it takes to deliver a winning return.
No. 72 Iapani Laloulu, “Poncho,” runs the offensive line. (Photo by Brad Repplinger)
Laloulu Creating O-Line History at Oregon
While Oregon have their sights firmly set on a first-ever national championship success, Laloulu is making offensive lineman history for the Ducks by being a finalist for the highly coveted Rimington Trophy. Oregon has never had back-to-back finalists until now, as Laloulu has led three different squads throughout his time with the Ducks, earning him a finalist spot for both the Rimington Trophy, and the Polynesian Player of the Year Award.
The Rimington Trophy is awarded to the best centre in the country, while the Polynesian Player of the Year Award is given to the most impressive player of Polynesian descent. The Rimington winner was Iowa center Logan Jones, but “Poncho’s” presence as a finalist was another honor for “The Law Firm” at Oregon. Intriguingly, Laloulu replaced Jackson Powers-Johnson as Oregon’s starting centre after he joined Las Vegas Raiders.
The Playoffs are known to have tough defensive lines among all opponents, thus this impressive offensive line has the opportunity to truly pave-the-way for Oregon running backs, and Dante Moore to unleash the scoring that the season has hinted at. At full health, this offensive line could be the best in the Playoffs, and Saturday is opportunity to get the points rolling.
OregonReigns
Lakeside, Oregon
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OregonReigns is an occasional contributor to FishDuck and loves his Ducks!