Football Talk

James Hanley in reply to Scott says:

Scott,

I make no excuses for Oregon. The Ducks led twice and had the game tied with under two minutes to go. That needs no excuses. The long run that set up the game-winning field goal came off a guy that had effectively been tackled. That is to say, he was not actually down, and so the run was perfectly legit and the refs made the right call, so I’m not complaining. But it wasn’t a play where they managed to break through Oregon’s defense for a big gain.

Oregon also contained Cam Newton, turning him into a one dimensional player (he could fall forward for a three yard gain very effectively). By controlling his running they made a gamble that his passing would not be that effective, and for the most part it wasn’t.

Where the game was lost was in the strength of Auburn’s defensive front, which was for-real, no-jokes, no-excuses, outstanding; and in Oregon’s incomprehensible decision to keep trying to run straight through it between the tackles. That was an especially bad mistake when they were snapping from the one–without that safety, again the game is different, and Oregon has the lead (although obviously not enough of one) on Auburn’s last possession. When Oregon used screen passes or went downfield, they were very successful–they just didn’t do it enough (which might have opened up that ferocious D-line a little more).

Face it, the game turned into a slugfest between two defenses that both kept the offenses off-balance and well below their scoring averages. But as well as Oregon’s defense played, Auburn’s defense did it just enough better to earn the win.Report