Special Guest Post by Andrew Coppen, writer/editor for wiscobadgers.com
As part of the ongoing agreement with The Duck Stops Here we bring you our 2nd feature in Opposition Recon and it’s a bit different than anything we’ve really done before, we’re giving the opposition the reasons they will win the Rose Bowl. So, Ducks fans, I hope you enjoy our 5 Reasons Why Oregon Will Win.
1) Offensive Speed
Honestly this has to be the biggest part of the game, heck it even affects the preparation with game officials, something that our HC Bret Bielema brought up in his weekly press conference this week. The only part of the offense that the Badgers can really try to replicate is the running game because of players like Jeff Lewis and Melvin Gordon (both fast and powerful backs).
However, it is really impossible to Wisconsin as a whole to emulate what the Ducks do in terms of the speed on the offense as a whole and the tempo they play at, it’s just not in the D.N.A. of the program.
The other thing that bodes well for the Ducks in terms of using their speed to win this game is that from time to time we’ve been gashed on the defensive edges and it doesn’t help that outside of Marcus Cromartie the secondary isn’t all that adept at open field tackling for some reason. Don’t get me wrong they aren’t terrible, but they have shown at times to be unreliable on their own in space making tackles.
2) The OTHER RB
A lot of the attention in Badgerland has been on LaMichael James and rightfully so, the guy is scary good. However a lot of people are sleeping on the “other” running back, Kenjon Barner. The guy has 947 yards on the year, averages 6.3 yards a carry, and has 11TD’s as the man behind James. All very good numbers and he is just as capable of going off at any point as James, but does it with a bit more speed (if that’s possible) than James does. I look at Barner as the Lightning to James’ Thunder (he also brings a lot of Lightning on his own).
The combo of James and Barner have to worry Badgers fans, should they get going because that means we aren’t keeping your offense off the field and it will make for a long day should that happen.
3) Our Offensive Line Issues
You might be saying to yourself, “Huh? Wisconsin has issues on the offensive line?” Well, with the latest reports out of the Badgers program our All-American center Peter Konz hasn’t been cleared to return to practice and we’re less than 2 weeks out, meaning it’s becoming less and less likely we’ll have him available come Jan. 2nd.
Sure, the move of Travis Frederick to center from guard and inserting Ryan Groy to the left guard spot has been good, but that’s really born out only in the run game. Groy is vulnerable in pass protection and over the past few games, albeit against All-American level DT’s in Devon Still and Jerel Worthy, he has been shakey at best in pass protection, making Russell Wilson scramble more than needed.
Oregon’s defensive tackles aren’t to the level of Still or Worthy, but they aren’t slouches either and if they can get pressure up the middle with the DT’s it could foce Wilson into some very bad throws, which brings me to my next reason.
4) Ducks Secondary vs. our WR’s
Sure Nick Toon, Jared Abbrederis, and Jacob Pederson are all very good receiving options, but Oregon’s secondary isn’t bad either. As a unit the Ducks defense is only giving up 243.5 yards a game passing. It may sound like a lot compared to say… Wisconsin’s 155 yards a game, but you have to take into consideration that Oregon’s opponents for the most part have been so far behind they’ve had to basically become passing only teams and thus the numbers are going to be inflated. As Ducks fans I’m sure I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know really.
Oregon has given up a ton of TD’s in the passing game, allowing 23 TD’s through the air out of 38 total, but again how many of those are coming in situations that are forcing teams to nearly exclusively throw the football?
Eddie Pleasant could be a huge X-Factor in the game from his rover position, which could become a spy position against a QB with the escapablity and pass first mentality of Russell Wilson.
5) Special Teams
Yep, that’s right, I’m writing an article that includes special teams and for good reason. It could be the biggest advantage that the Ducks have over Wisconsin. Oregon and Wisconsin both have very good punters and kickers, but that’s where the similarities stop.
The Badgers protection units for both punting and kicking have been just terrible. Everyone points to the “Hail Mary” plays against Michigan State and Ohio State, but if Wisconsin doesn’t have a punt blocked in their own territory in each of those games easy TD’s aren’t scored and the Badgers are looking at playing in a whole different game right now.
Oregon on the other hand haven’t had those issues, only having one punt blocked and zero field goals blocked.
Adding to the concern for Wisconsin are the guys awaiting our punts and kicks in LaMichael James and De’Anthony Thomas. Wisconsin hasn’t been great with kick returns allowing opponents an average of 22.7 yards a return, good for only 82nd in the nation. If the Badgers kick to James and/or Thomas you are looking at a huge weapon and advantage for you.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my reasons for why Oregon will win this game and if you ever have questions, things you’d like to point out, or anything of that nature please look us up on twitter: @wiscobadgers or on facebook.com/WiscoBadgers. Enjoy your Holiday Season and look forward to speaking with as many Ducks fans as possible ahead of our Jan. 2nd match up.
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