If PAC-12 opponents allow the Oregon quarterbacks to wear red jerseys, and they start three walk-ons and six freshmen on defense, the Ducks will have a dominating offense this season.
Yesterday under the always-sunny skies at Autzen Stadium the Webfoots three quarterbacks completed a dazzling 48 of 62 passes (77%) for 451 yards and 6 tds in leading a 65-10 rout. Mark Helfrich freely admitted the defense was jobbed by the scoring system, but fans have to be encouraged that the Helfrich Ducks seem to have maintained the quick-strike scoring punch, churning out 802 total yards of offense in 117 plays.
The statistics have to be adjusted for the conditions, but starter Marcus Mariota looked especially sharp and precise, commanding the offense to two quick scoring drives to start the scrimmage, featuring midseason decision making and execution in 13-15 passing (86%) for 169 yards, ripping off three good runs that displayed his timing and speed. Byron Marshall, one of the select 120 observers who get to watch him practice every day, flatly called him, “the best quarterback in college football.” Everything we saw yesterday provided supporting evidence that he could be, that Super Mario and his remarkable collection of offensive weapons could dominate the college football story in 2014.
Except, yesterday the defense couldn’t blitz or tackle the quarterback. And Tyson Coleman, Ricky Havili- Heimuli, Derrick Malone, Avery Patterson, and Ifo Ekpre-Olomu didn’t play. The Ducks will face better and more complicated defenses in the fall, at least beginning in October, and when they do the demand load and the pressure and the stakes will be dialed up to 11.
Saturday was a tuneup, but it was a pretty good tuneup. The effort and energy were high. 77% efficiency is strong even in a skeleton passing drill. In particular Oregon’s receivers looked sharp, getting open, taking the ball in with good concentration, cutting upfield after the catch. Bralon Addison showed he could be a play-making weapon with 8 catches for 136 yards. Josh Huff grabbed two touchdowns from Mariota, looks confident and comfortable in the interview room, focused on making his senior season his ticket to twelve to fourteen more wins and an opportunity to join the five Ducks that were drafted into the NFL over the weekend.
Don’t hassle the Huff. He’s stepped very comfortably into the role of senior leader, and with his gold phone receiver and comic tee shirt, that comfort and confidence will allow him to blossom in his fourth year as a starter. A good Oregon career is likely to finish with a great senior season. With a bevy of young stars in the offensive lineup, the Ducks need him to take that mantle, to be a cornerstone of the 2014 offense, playing in a relaxed, focused state that allows his talent and physical package to bust loose.
On defense, Christian French stood out with nine tackles and a sack. He wore number 96 as a tribute to former roommate and mentor Dion Jordan, and French has the size and speed to be a Jordan-like presence over the next three years, although Nick Aliotti said, “I’m not ready to annoint him just yet,” adding that he needed the same fierce effort from him every day. That was a hallmark of Jordan as a veteran player. Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner looked agile and sufficiently hungry getting after the quarterback, even though they were reduced to two-hand touch once they got to him.
We shouldn’t be ready to annoint these Ducks just yet. But the key takeways from the last practice of spring are that under Helf, the Ducks have retained the same commitment to pace and preparation. They look organized and energized, and speak with the same maturity about their goals and desire to improve every day.
If they can get players healthy, stay out of trouble over the summer, and avoid a high speed collision with the NCAA, the Harley should be at full throttle this fall, and the Duck will have to do a copious amount of those notoriously shortened pushups.
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