"The games in November are the ones to remember" said former Oregon Coach Mike Bellotti.
This is especially true for Oregon's fall season of 2011. After losing their opening game to the now # 1 ranked LSU Tigers, Oregon is still in the hunt for an outstanding season and a BCS Bowl Game for the third straight year, an Oregon school record.
One thing that most fans have overlooked is the new Pac 12 schedule and its consequences for the players. Unlike in year's past, the Ducks have had only one week off this year when two weeks off per year had become customary. The week prior to the Cal game of October 6th was the sole respite from games this year. That's a long stretch; draining both physically and emotionally. Add to this the fact Oregon is a very young team and the conference championship game is a significant new wrinkle to the workload and you end up with a lot of new moving pieces to evaluate.
While you cannot consider it time off, the Colorado game provided some respite from the battle for the starters and the opportunity for more game-time for the younger players. And it provided some necessary recovery time for the injured LaMichael James and Darron Thomas, two players who account for 74% of Oregon's offensive production.
After resting versus Colorado, both James and Thomas returned for Washington State though each played limited roles - Thomas sitting out the second half against the Cougars. A well timed tune-up to get ready for the real season, as Mike Bellotti would have you believe.
If there was a time to listen to an old coach's wisdom, this would be the time for the Ducks. Heading up the road to Washington this weekend, going the other way on I-5 to play the Cardinal the following week, and then hosting USC at home is certainly an opportunity for the Ducks to finish the 2011 campaign with a flourish. .
Oregon gets to improve their strength of schedule with this setup, with Washington coming in as the 28th ranked team in the AP Poll, Stanford at a solid # 4 in the BCS and USC at #21 in the AP. This will put some shine on the resume that includes a win over #18 Arizona State and the loss to # 4 LSU at game time.
The gloss can cure properly if the Duck's win the next 4 games finishing with the Civil War at home.
The Huskies present a challenge this year with Jake Locker now in the NFL but they appear to be a better team with more balance and a better QB in Keith Price. Getting his first start in last year's visit to Autzen, he played well and that has continued as the full time starter this season, his stats rival those Stanford's Andrew Luck, everyone's premier college QB.
Admittedly, Oregon looked a little flat to some observers last week against WSU but a couple of things must be noted. Oregon did use the game to reintroduce both James and Thomas into the lineup. This disrupted the nice flow the team had found with Bryan Bennett at QB with Kenjon Barner the starting running back. While Thomas looked pretty good, he did have a little rust, especially when he overthrew a wide open David Paulson for a sure touchdown just before halftime. That was compounded two plays later when Thomas threw a pick six that changed Oregon's potential halftime score from 22-3 to 15-10.
The Duck's also started two freshmen corners to help season them for the stretch run Additionally, the defensive strategy of safety first and keeping all the WSU passes in front of them, made the defense appear passive.
But the intent was to make WSU sustain prolonged drives and capitalize on any mistakes, which is exactly how it played out. In the first half Oregon got two picks to killed WSYU scoring drives, holding them to three offensive points in the first 30 minutes.
Opening the second half with the ball, head coach Chip Kelly inserted Bryan Bennett who led three scoring drives. Add a 93-yard De'Anthony Thomas kick return and it's mission accomplished and on to the Huskies.
Make no mistake the 6-2 Huskies will be chomping at the bit to change their fortunes against the Ducks. Losing the last seven meetings will provide incentive as well as the final game in Husky Stadium before an extensive remodel.
But Oregon is pretty healthy at this point and has developed a depth no other team in the conference can match. The Ducks will be ready and they know they absolutely need this game, this day. Now.
Washington is competitive but the Ducks roll out their fast offensive tempo that wears down the Dogs. Oregon's defense gives up some yards to Price and Polk but in the end, Oregon just has too much firepower on both sides of the ball and special teams.
Ducks roll 45-28.
