1. A win is a win is win
If you watched 15 minutes of the Arizona State game or caught the box score, you realize that any win in a bowl game is a good one. College football holds its exhibition season at the end, and half the teams don't show up. Oregon State played in the Alamo Bowl last year, and gave the game away in the fourth quarter (photo from Addicted to Quack).
The Ducks struggled on offense. They were miserable in the red zone, settling for four field goal attempts. The offense hampered itself with penalties, brain cramps and leg cramps and managed only one touchdown, outscored by the Oregon defense in a very sloppy game. There's lots to nit-pick for next year, and the Ducks seem to have misplaced their tailback running game, the screen pass. Marcus Mariota, for all the great things he did, still needs to work on his ball security, stripped twice on plays that could have been costly.
2. In Nick Aliotti's last game, it was a dominating defensive performance
Case McCoy was miserable at quarterback for Texas, but the pressure, hitting and ball-hawking helped make him miserable. The former four-year starter at Graham High School was 9-23 passing for 56 yards, 0 touchdowns and two interceptions. Tyrone Swoopes was 1-6 for 8 yards.
The Longhorns had one sustained drive and six three and outs. They were forced to punt 7 times. Oregon's defense won this game almost by itself, outscoring UT 14-7. They got 7 tackles for loss and two sacks, forcing McCoy into a lot of third and longs, disastrous situations for him. They held the Horns to 6-19 on third downs and shut them out in the second half.
It was a determined performance by the Oregon defensive line. Taylor Hart and Wade Keliikipi combined for 18 tackles. Safeties Brian Jackson and Avery Patterson had 19. Those four will be sorely missed next season.
3. The Ducks need to develop a competent, game-ready backup quarterback.
If Mariota is going to be 80% of the offense next season (as he was tonight, accounting for 386 of the Ducks 469 yards) Oregon has to be prepared for the fact that he will occasionally get shaken up, dinged up, cramped or hurt. No one wants him to miss a play (championship seasons happen when an elite quarterback like Vince Young or Cam Newton stays healthy all year) but if he does, the backup has to be poised enough and prepared enough to take a snap, hand the ball off successfully and run the offense.
Lockie appeared in 8 games this year, Rodrigues in 7. Neither looks ready to take over for a series, let alone a half or a game. Bryan Bennett is busy winning Player of the Year Awards in the Southland Conference. Somebody has to show he's ready to become the next Oregon quarterback, or at least a competent fill-in for a few plays.
4. Play-calling lacks the spark, imagination and effectiveness it had when Chip Kelly was here.
Oregon's offensive execution and attack sputtered in November, and faltered in the Alamo Bowl as well. While it's a blessing to have a capable field goal kicker, going 1-5 in the red zone is not remotely acceptable. Every time the Ducks got close, they had a key penalty, a missed assignment, or plays that went nowhere. The shovel pass to Huff was the lone bright spot, and even that was a triumph of determination rather than a moment of brilliance in scheme.
In addition to Kelly, the Ducks also miss James Harris, who oversaw the team's nutrition program and personal development program. Leg cramps? Really? In a climate-controlled stadium in December? That stuff is not supposed to happen.
5. Officiating was miserable.
If the defender grabs and twists any part of the helmet opening, it's a facemask penalty. The foul on Mariota at the goal line was obvious, blatant and dangerous, and a no-call there was inexplicable.
6. Ifo's announcement, the choice of a new defensive coordinator, and a strong close in the recruiting season loom large.
With the right outcomes in these three areas, Oregon could become one of the favorites for the PAC-12 crown and the national championship next year. Ekpre-Olomu is an impact player a lock-down corner with the physical toughness of a linebacker. His sliding stop of a punt at the three was one of the plays of the game, pinning Texas deep at the start of the fourth quarter, a play that led to Malone's clinching interception.
The right coordinator, whether John Neal, Clancy Pendergast or Randy Shannon, can take the raw material of the fast, athletic Oregon defense and continue the legacy of Nick Aliotti. It was great to see a passionate and intense coach go out on such a terrific note.
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