The Nebraska game was bizarre because of the way it played out in two halves of vastly different styles of football--fast and sluggish.
A first half that conjured memories of the hyper-frenetic Ducks under Chip Kelly, when the team's explosive offense scored quickly and often. And a second half that prompted memories of recent ignominy--namely last season when Oregon finished 4-8 and had the worst defense in all of college football.
That last year's team actually won four games and came close in a couple of others was a testament to the talent level of the Ducks' young offensive players.
That talent was demonstrated again on Saturday--at least in the first half--and Oregon will have a chance again to win more than they lose.
But they need to play fast both halves, which they did not do against Nebraska. Kelly seldom slowed his teams down, unless he was nursing a lead in the fourth quarter, or didn't want to embarrass the other team.
Oregon played the second half to not lose--which is as old-fashioned as an offensive huddle.
Oregon's defense is only slightly better this year but has some nice new parts, with the addition of some beef up front and a couple of mega-talents in the secondary.
Oregon's "gonna have to score a ton," as ex-Oregon coach Mark Helfrich might say, because the defense is being rebuilt from the ground up.
I think you'll see more close games this year, and fewer blowouts like last year's Washington game at Autzen when the Huskies slapped 70 on a Duck team that quit, thus starting the countdown to a coaching change.
The Ducks have good to great talent scattered throughout their roster. They're looking for identity and cohesiveness and the next step forward.
Willie Taggart is the man now, and he's going to have his coaching chops tested in a very powerful league for the first time in his career.
We'll see how it goes.
(Photo by the Oregonian)
And now for something completely different.
TS
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