I read a lot of posts in this forum on how LSU will run run run on the Oregon defense. For the last few years, nobody has put up lots of points on Oregon with a running game. The Ducks have given up lots of points to some opponents in the last few years, but in each and every one of those games, it was from a massive passing attack. Last year's Arizona-Oregon game is still on ESPN3, and you can watch Nick Foles carve up the Duck defense, or the 1st half of the Oregon-Stanford game, where Andrew Luck passes for 4 touchdowns in Stanford's first 4 possessions, also still on ESPN3. Nick Allioti, the Duck defensive coordinator is fixated on run stopping. He will put 9 men in the box, if that's what it takes. If you look at the Rose Bowl 2 years ago, Terelle Prior had a lot of running yards on scrambles, but the running backs averaged less than 2 yards a carry. The Ducks shut down the running game. Last year Auburn ran a lot on the Ducks, particularly in the second half, but only scored 20 offensive points, and both touchdowns came on long pass plays on busted coverages. (Early on the Ducks went with only one safety in pass coverage, the other was roving close to the line shadowing Cam Newton to prevent scrambles, after the 2nd TD pass, they went back to 2 safeties, and Auburn had no more touchdowns.) Ducks lost because of Auburn's superior defense. I am not saying that LSU can't win this game, you have an amazing defense, and I can easily see LSU winning a close low scoring game, but the Ducks just don't give up many points to run based offenses. If you do score lots of points, it will be because your 2nd string QB, Lee, who I hear is a good passer, gets turned loose to throw 50 times. To those of you who think you can pound the ball up the middle on the Ducks just are not taking into account the Ducks incredible success vs the run. P.S. I still have no prediction for the game. You lost your starting QB, we lost our star defensive back. Both teams are elite, but it's the first game of the season, and in college football, teams change too much year to year to be able to predict much in week one.
Have you forgotten Auburn, already? :lol: Damned if I can understand how a good Oregon run defense last year against other teams somehow means that LSU can't run the football. :huh:
Ya, We had no answer for Gebhard that day vs Stanford, although that was in large part because Luck was passing so well we could not stack the box to stop the run. If Lee can pass as well as Luck, and you all have a runner as untackleable as Toby Gebhard, then you all will run wild on the Ducks. I say that's not going to happen. Stanford did not beat us that day with run run run, they beat us with run pass run pass run pass run pass. Gebhard-Luck was too much for us that day. And vs Auburn, I said people don't score much with the run, not that they don't run for many yards. The two touchdown drives Auburn had were mainly pass plays, with both touchdowns on long pass plays. And Auburn showed how to beat the Ducks, not with pounding runs, but with stiffling defense, and passing for touchdowns. We can be beat, just not by a mono run style offense. I am saying that if LSU tries a run run run style of offense, they will not score very many points.
Excuses, excuses. Watch and learn, Hoss. The fact that we choose to run doesn't mean that we are limited to it.
Good point about Stanford, but they did have one of the most awesome power running games in recent memory. We couldn't stop em, though we did mostly shut down their running game last year. I think Oregon focused so much on Cam Newton, that the coaches let Auburn hurt us with the run. In most cases what OldDuckFan stated in his nice post holds true.
LSU is a strong running team with a questionable passing game. Anyone that thinks LSU isn't going to try and establish the run is crazy. However if LSU is not able to complete some high percentage passes to get the ducks out of the box it will be tough going. I haven't seen many posts predicting that LSU will run all over the ducks, but they will certainly try. With just a little success in the passing game the LSU running game could be tough to stop.
The recipe you define is much more likely with the shift at QB. Not sure I would put 9 in the box to sell out and stop the run with Lee. This is a senior who has been in big games and has a nice release. I actually saw LSU being much more stubborn with the rushing attack with JJ because of his big play running ability. If Oregon has to sell out the defense to stop hemorrhaging in the running game with Lee at QB, you may be thinking Stanford before the evening is over.
