The Texas passing game was never really dangerous this season, with just 47 passes of over 15 yards, ranking 102nd in the nation. Case McCoy was able to wrest the starting job from David Ash in part due to Ash's continuing concussion, but was able to complete just 57.4% of his passes for only six yards per attempt and had just 11 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. His second half numbers were worse, just a 56.4% completion rate, 5.7 yards per attempt and more interceptions(7) than touchdowns(6). It did not help that the most explosive receiver Texas has in Daje Johnson missed three games and averaged just 7.4 yards per catch. Mike Davis also missed time this season, but did manage to haul in 49 catches for 715 yards. The ground game was what propelled the Texas offense, riding Jonathon Gray until he injured his Achilles against West Virginia. That left Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron to handle the load. Brown averaged 4.1 yards per carry this season, and had a pair of more than 120 yard efforts after Gray's injury. He and Bergeron were able to combine for 30 runs of more than 10 yards.
The Ducks offense has had no such issues moving the ball, gaining the second most yards per game this season at 573 yards per game. Marcus Mariota was one of the most efficient passers in the nation this season, completing 63.1% of his passes for 9.5 yards per attempt with 30 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He did struggle some on third downs, completing just 58.5% of his passes and converting only 33.9% of his attempts. However, 40% of those attempts were on third and more than 10 yards to go; he was 46.8% on converting from third and 9 or less. Mariota was also a prolific runner, with 26 runs of 10 yards or more and averaging 7.2 yards per attempt. He also seems to have healed from a nagging knee injury that limited him during the end of the season. The run game though had several dangerous runners in Byron Marshall, Thomas Tyner and De'Anthony Thomas, despite all three missing some time this season. Overall, the Ducks running game averaged 6.4 yards per carry and had 108 runs of more than ten yards. Possibly more impressively 40 of those went for more than 20 yards, and averaged 5.3 yards per carry inside the maroon zone (with 35 touchdowns).
Texas defensively was very good against the pass. Allowing just a 56% completion rate and 6.8 yards per attempt, they allowed only 12 touchdowns through the air while intercepting ten of them. CB Quandre Diggs was the best player in the unit despite not intercepting a pass by breaking up 10 of them and recording 51 tackles. Fellow CB Duke Thomas lead the team with three picks, and defended 5 other passes. The run defense was greatly improved after the team gave up 550 yards to BYU, allowing only four more opponents run run for more than four yards per carry the rest of the season. Jackson Jeffcoat is the front sevens best player, totaling a team high 76 tackles with 18 of them for loss. He was a menace to opposing passers, recording 12 sacks and 14 QB hurries.
The Ducks defense will have to be better than they had been down the stretch against the run to make defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti's last game successful. They allowed 4.4 yards per carry throughout November, and allowed 10 rushing touchdowns; they also allowed 925 yards, only 50 fewer than they had though the previous 8 games. LB Derrick Malone lead the team with 102 stops this season, but had just a pair of tackles for loss. CB Avery Patterson was probably the best all around defender for the team, recording 71 tackle,s six of them for loss with a pair of interceptions and breaking up 6 more passes.
This game really is all situated for Oregon to run away in, but the team has had lapses this season in focus and execution that have cost them. Texas will also likely be playing up a bit as Mack brown is leaving. The combination is having us stay away, but Oregon should be able to win this one.
The Ducks offense has had no such issues moving the ball, gaining the second most yards per game this season at 573 yards per game. Marcus Mariota was one of the most efficient passers in the nation this season, completing 63.1% of his passes for 9.5 yards per attempt with 30 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He did struggle some on third downs, completing just 58.5% of his passes and converting only 33.9% of his attempts. However, 40% of those attempts were on third and more than 10 yards to go; he was 46.8% on converting from third and 9 or less. Mariota was also a prolific runner, with 26 runs of 10 yards or more and averaging 7.2 yards per attempt. He also seems to have healed from a nagging knee injury that limited him during the end of the season. The run game though had several dangerous runners in Byron Marshall, Thomas Tyner and De'Anthony Thomas, despite all three missing some time this season. Overall, the Ducks running game averaged 6.4 yards per carry and had 108 runs of more than ten yards. Possibly more impressively 40 of those went for more than 20 yards, and averaged 5.3 yards per carry inside the maroon zone (with 35 touchdowns).
Texas defensively was very good against the pass. Allowing just a 56% completion rate and 6.8 yards per attempt, they allowed only 12 touchdowns through the air while intercepting ten of them. CB Quandre Diggs was the best player in the unit despite not intercepting a pass by breaking up 10 of them and recording 51 tackles. Fellow CB Duke Thomas lead the team with three picks, and defended 5 other passes. The run defense was greatly improved after the team gave up 550 yards to BYU, allowing only four more opponents run run for more than four yards per carry the rest of the season. Jackson Jeffcoat is the front sevens best player, totaling a team high 76 tackles with 18 of them for loss. He was a menace to opposing passers, recording 12 sacks and 14 QB hurries.
The Ducks defense will have to be better than they had been down the stretch against the run to make defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti's last game successful. They allowed 4.4 yards per carry throughout November, and allowed 10 rushing touchdowns; they also allowed 925 yards, only 50 fewer than they had though the previous 8 games. LB Derrick Malone lead the team with 102 stops this season, but had just a pair of tackles for loss. CB Avery Patterson was probably the best all around defender for the team, recording 71 tackle,s six of them for loss with a pair of interceptions and breaking up 6 more passes.
This game really is all situated for Oregon to run away in, but the team has had lapses this season in focus and execution that have cost them. Texas will also likely be playing up a bit as Mack brown is leaving. The combination is having us stay away, but Oregon should be able to win this one.
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