A year ago, we watched with horror as Boise State waltzed into Autzen Stadium and pantsed Oregon 37-32. This year, it won’t happen again because the Ducks have rediscovered the forward pass.
Given that coach Eddie Cochems, known as the “father of the forward pass,” had Brad Robinson attempt the first legal forward pass in 1906, one might expect Oregon to have had a better grasp on the concept in the first three quarters of last September’s ill-fated game.
Brad Robinson attempted the first legal pass, then watched in horror as Oregon went all 1905 and ran the ball over and over again.
Yet, there they were, attempting a total of seven passes in the first three quarters of play. In that same span, they ran the ball 51 times (if my attempt to read the drive charts at ESPN is correct). Let’s see a 51 to 7 run/pass ratio…yeah, that probably shouldn’t work. And if you think it’s all because Boise landed a cheap knock-out blow to Jeremiah Masoli (see, I told you I could do this all week), consider that the lone touchdown drive of the first half for Oregon consisted of 13 running plays and one pass (the pass, consequently, being the one where Ellis Powers flagrantly…well, you get the idea).
The score in this time frame was 37-13, Boise.
At the start of the 4th quarter, Eddie Cochems started calling plays with Darron Thomas under center and the passing bonanza (25 passes, 3 rushes) yielded a 19-0 4th quarter rout of the Broncos.
Operating under the assumption that Boise will employ the late hit play at least twice (man, I can’t stop!), Oregon should still prevail because it has the luxury of four throwing quarterbacks on scholarship. Therefore, we can conclude that Oregon will easily win this game.
Of course, there is no evidence that Oregon’s defense has learned how to stop the play-action pass, but I’ll leave that to Nick Aliotti.
Note: Forward pass info is according to Wikipedia, which in academic circles is thought of as the ultimate truthful resource for knowledge.
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That is a CLASSIC article right there. I just can’t wait for this game to start. Though slightly apprehensive I have great feelings about how this one is going to go down. The other thing NOBODY AT ALL talks about is that Walter Thurmond did NOT play last year. This was huge! I don’t care what anyone says (not even Rob Moseley) about the safeties being entirely to blame for last years debacle with coverage. Though Jackson did a great job in the game Boise St was able to score their 1st touchdown of the game because of a pass interference call (as horrible of a call as it was) on Talmadge Jackson on a 3rd down play. I expect Walter to play big because I doubt Boise St will try to avoid throwing at him and this just might be the difference maker in the game! GO DUX!!!!
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Interesting thought. I haven’t seen any mention anywhere else about the fact that WT3 didn’t play last year. Of course, one could argue losing Jairus Byrd for this season negates getting Thurmond back this year, but it does say something about the poor pass defense in that game last year.
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The Ducks will win big in route to a National Champinship. They are way to talented and motivated for Boise State. We all saw the cheap shots and Oregon with no QB’s last year. Not this year, The ducks have so much depth with Masoli, Costa, and Thomas. And not to mention all that motivation they have to feed off from those late hits last year. They will get some get back on that smurf turf, and it shall be BIG, yea BIG i said! GO DUCKS!!!!!!
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yo my names dylan longton too
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Cupcake State is doomed. Doomed I tell ya!
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Oregon wins by at least four touchdowns! GO DUCKS!!!!
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Why do I get the feeling this rant is going to get worse [better] as the week goes on. You better not show your face in papa smurf-vil after this one or I tell ya It ain’t going to be pretty. for the blue people mean. GoooOOOOooo Ducks!!!!!!
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I love that picture. YES.
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