When the grousing, predicting and supposing is done, the Ducks kick it off and play football. They’ll be in silver and black today, an unintended tribute to Al Davis, perhaps, but fitting in that Chip Kelly and his coaches share Davis’ celebrated affection for speed. The NFL’s longtime mad genius used to say “Just Win, Baby” while the Ducks say “Win The Day.”
Every team in any competitive field, whether football or the battle for corporate supremacy, looks for a rallying cry that means something and a formula that isn’t empty hype. Davis found his for a while, then he got old and lost his edge, got distracted by petty squabbles and pet projects that didn’t work. But he won rings and sent coaches and players to Canton. By any measure his football life was a success, even though a checkered and lampooned one: he innovated and got to the top. You can’t hear silver and black without thinking of the Raider skull and crossbones and crazy fans in KISS makeup. Davis knew about branding before they wrote books about it. Up here in the Northwest, Chip Kelly is creating a brand of his own.
The Ducks have 19 in a row at home, but the trouble with streaks is that they only predict the past. Here are the keys to the game, remembering a streak has no power of its own, just the power of an energized crowd and a committed defense. ASU comes to town 5-1, eager to spoil everything and enact a tribute of their own to their own cause. Long on the hot seat, Dennis Erickson is celebrated again and newly dangerous, all because of a 6-8 quarterback and a sociopathic linebacker with a knack for jumping the snap count. Here are the keys to the game:
photo left: The Ducks, in silver in black tonight, create an unavoidable echo of one of the NFL’s most storied franchises and their recently departed mastermind. Before he lapsed into self-parody, Al Davis was as thorough, innovative and successful as Chip Kelly (Getty images photo).
Be fine on the offensive line
The Sun Devils have a fast, swarming defense that likes to inflict damage, create mayhem and force turnovers, not unlike the 11 Angry Men of the Oakland Raiders in the 60’s and 70’s, the long chain of nasty from Ben Davidson to Ted Hendricks to Howie Long, from Willie Brown to Jack Tatum to Lester Hayes. Vontaze Burfict you know about, but fellow linebacker Colin Parker and safety Eddie Edsel are equally destructive, just less likely to commit a personal foul.
The Oregon offensive line has to protect Darron Thomas and Kenjon Barner from collateral damage. They have to make sure their stars are able to finish the game, one, and be productive in the offense, two. Oregon can’t move the ball without LaMichael James unless the big fellas make a supreme commitment to securing their blocks and finishing them. This is a tough defense, limiting teams to 19.5 points a game and 3.8 yards a carry. Last year they limited the Webfoots to a paltry 125 yards on the ground. Oregon’s two best runs of the game were John Boyett and Boseko Lokombo, swooping in with a pair of defensive touchdowns. The offense has to do better against ASU in Autzen, and it starts with the offensive line. They must sustain and prevail, or it will be a long, miserable night for the Autzen faithful. In particular, Darron Thomas has to have time to choose his targets and find some rhythm. Under extreme pressure, he’s a very average quarterback, even worse than average. You can say the same for almost any quarterback, except maybe Nick Foles, who can complete passes with his off hand while getting drilled in the ribs.
Have the knack at quarterback
In Darron Thomas’ ten best quarters of football this season, he has been utterly phenomenal. Against Nevada, when he tied a school record with six touchdown passes, against Missouri State, when he completed an Andrew Luck-like 73% of his passes, and in the second half against California, when he led three precise touchdown drives and completed 5-6, he was laser-sharp, in command and seeing the field with vision and decisiveness. The rest of the time he’s been out of tune and deplorably erratic.
LaMichael James will be standing on the sidelines with a visor on, maybe hiding his arm in a raincoat. Kenjon Barner will make a solid contribution, but this is Darron Thomas’ game to win. He needs to keep Edsel out of the box. He has to find Paulson, Lyerla, Vaughn and Tuinei, involve the other weapons in his offense. He has to get it done. He needs a poised, focused start, and no ugly lapses. DT must play like an experienced junior who’s 16-2 as a starter. His team needs him to be a leader tonight and drive, and keep his foot on the gas, just over the speed limit.
Turn Brock Osweiler into David Bowie: keep him under pressure
On the road, the 6-8 Osweiler was underwhelming against The Fighting Illini. At home with time to survey the defense and trigger the Sun Devils’ zone read and bubble screen-based attack, he shredded the Trojans by three touchdowns. Oregon’s defense has to assert itself in this game. They have to take the fight directly to Osweiler’s quarterback handsome face. They need to make him uncomfortable and disrupt his rhythm, and take the ball away at least three times.
Be a loud crowd and an ungracious host
A loud, racous Autzen Stadium and a swarming nasty OREGON defense can take the fight out of ASU, who’s had things almost completely their way in their five wins. This is team defined by their lead bully, the pointing and flamboyant middle linebacker Burfict. But it’s easy to stand up to a bully. You have to hit him first, and when he gets up up, hit him again.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=7lRk2J921d4
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
