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[h2]Top 25 Intel: No. 11 Oregon[/h2] [h3]Ducks coach thinks offense, D-line will mask secondary shortcomings[/h3]
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By Chris Sprow
ESPN Insider
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Donald Miralle/Getty ImagesBlount force: With a 1,000-yard rusher back, the Ducks' offense should be scary once more.
If you talk to Chip Kelly, the new head coach at Oregon, you never worry that perhaps you accidentally called Lou Holtz instead. It's the differencebetween the two in salesmanship and optimism. Give Holtz the Taj Mahal and he'd complain about the cleaning bill. Give Kelly a burning outhouse andhe'd call it warm and cozy.
Oregon's football team this year is somewhere between those extremes. It could be oversold or undersold, depending on what -- or whom -- you want tobelieve. Kelly, for one, believes in the positive.
"I think of a case where before last season a reporter said, 'Well, there's no way they can do what they did in his first season, and average467 yards a game."' The team had lost Dennis Dixon and Jonathan Stewart from his offense in Eugene, Kelly says. "And after last season, Isaid, 'Yeah, you're right, we didn't. We averaged 485 yards per game.'"
In doing so, during his second year as offensive coordinator under longtime coach Mike Bellotti, Oregon led the Pac-10 in offense, and after running intoserious injury issues with their quarterbacks -- they were pulling people out of the student section to play in a painfully close loss to Boise State that mayhave kept them out of the BCS mix -- Kelly made his offense into the best rushing team in the country.
Really.
To read the rest of this Top 25 Intel, you must be an ESPN Insider.
With apologies to Navy (which averaged 290 yards per game), last year Oregon rushed for just 10 fewer yards a game at 280, but in 130 fewer carries. Onlyproblem was, Oregon was so good at running the ball out of Kelly's interpretation of the shotgun spread that the defense didn't get much rest. Oregonled the nation in runs of over 10 yards, with 128, a number that led the Pac-10 by 50. They were also third in the country with 37 runs of 20-plus yards.
[h4]Ducks' rushing attack[/h4]
Oregon's rushing game has steadily improved since 2004.
| National rushing rank | 2nd | 6th | 14th | 79th | 55th |
| Yds/G | 280.1 | 254.6 | 183.2 | 135.4 | 159.4 |
| Yds/Att | 6.2 | 5.5 | 5.1 | 3.9 | 4.1 |
| Rushes 10+ Yds | 128 | 118 | 78 | 45 | 58 |
| TDs | 47 | 32 | 26 | 16 | 12 |
[/th] [th=""]2008[/th] [th=""]2007[/th] [th=""]2006[/th] [th=""]2005[/th] [th=""]2004[/th]
Of course, that left the defense on the field for roughly 35 minutes a game, most in the league. Kelly doesn't care.
"There's only two stats that mean anything to me," he says, "scoring offense and scoring defense. I don't get paid on anything elseother than the fact that we score 42 points a game and give up less."
This is what you'd expect to hear from an offensive coordinator -- and Kelly has been a revelation in that role for Oregon, shattering school records ineach of his two years since migrating west from New Hampshire. But he's the head coach now. So he is forced to address both sides of the issue.
And this year, there are two sides to it all.
Start on offense. The Ducks are loaded at skill positions, as they return a 1,000-yard rusher in LeGarrette Blount and, more important, a quarterback in Jeremiah Masoli who can do it all. Kelly says Masoli was forced to learn on the job lastyear after being injured in the spring and is just now mastering things. It also means that a quarterback who managed to run for over 700 yards is ready toaugment an already awesome running game with a deft passing attack.
"He's the real deal," Kelly says. "You're talking about a guy who did all his learning on the job, made his first-ever start in theColiseum [at USC], but every week he got better 'til the end of the year, and he's the MVP of the Holiday Bowl."
Because of that, expect the Ducks to achieve better balance … if they want it.
"There might be a certain balance when we get comfortable. But it just depends on who you're playing," Kelly says. "If they insist ontaking something away, the key is just to be able to get 'em elsewhere."
Skill positions? Check. Oregon has a brilliant tight end in Ed Dickson -- maybethe best in the country, according to Kelly -- and speed to burn out wide. But again, there's always a flip side.
The Ducks lost three offensive linemen who should be playing on Sundays this fall. In particular, center Max Unger really brought things together. So even an optimist like Kelly must admit,"That's our biggest question: How good can we be up front, and how quickly can we come together there?"
But after the way his offense responded after losing two All-Americans after the 2007 season, he's confident.
Then there are the two sides to the defense.
Kelly says a unit that gave up 28 points a game, good for seventh in the Pac-10, and ceded 389 yards, good for eighth, is going to be much better.
But it returns just five starters. (The Oregon team returns just 10 overall, minus special teams, the lowest total in the conference.)
Kelly says that after losing Patrick Chung and Jairus Byrd to the NFL draft, his secondary is admittedly a concern. They were torched lastyear to the tune of 270 yards a game, worst in the league.
[h4]Doing the splits[/h4]
The stats show some distinct differences between Oregon's offense and defense.
| Time of Poss. | 25:18 | 34:42 | 10 | 1 |
| Plays PG | 73.8 | 79.8 | 1 | 10 |
| Plays of 20+ Yds | 77 | 53 | 1 | 8 |
| 3rd-Down Pct. | 39.6 | 38.9 | 4 | 7 |
But with a loaded defensive line, the coach says, "I really think we can do enough [to protect the secondary]." That's because the Ducks'defense should be able to stop the run and put a lot of pressure on quarterbacks, a secondary's best friend. Kelly also added: "What's going tosurprise people is how fast our defense is. We're very deep at linebacker; [we] can probably play nine guys there."
The new head coach is also thrilled that he brought in Jerry Azzinaro to work with the defensive line. He points out that Azzinaro groomed the likes ofDwight Freeney, and Kelly says he will do big things in Eugene.
If you find a hole, Kelly points to a solution. Thus far, he's been able to back it up. Of course, his Ducks will also have to back it up, and fast.They start their season at Boise State, and then face the likes of Purdue, Utah and Calbefore October.
No other team in America will deal with that kind of slate to get things going. But this is Oregon, now under an innovator and optimist like Kelly.
He'd tell you it's as good a way as any to work out the kinks.
- Jan 13, 2001
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Originally Published: June 17, 2009
[h2]Top 25 Intel: No. 13 California[/h2] [h3]The defense may be as much a foregone conclusion as the brilliant Jahvid Best[/h3]
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By Chris Sprow
ESPN Insider
Archive
All-American candidate Syd'Quan Thompson and the Cal defense look to be even better in 2009
When Cal defensive coordinator Bob Gregory explains what he lost from his linebacking corps, you might wince if you're a Bears fan -- until you really put things in perspective.
"Our guys were really good," Gregory says. "And it hurts to lose them. I mean, we lost our linebackers -- but they weren't USC's linebackers."
The man's just being honest.
It's no disrespect to Anthony Felder, Zack Follett and Worrell Williams, the outgoing linebackers who helped make Cal's transition to the 3-4 so successful and players Gregory thinks the world of. But if you consider where the USC trio of Rey Maualuga, Clay Matthews Jr. and Brian Cushing was drafted -- none lower than No. 38 overall -- in terms of raw draft placement, nobody can really compare.
So forgive Gregory for his frankness. That said, he has quietly put together an exceptional run and turned this program known for Jeff Tedford's offensive prowess into one of the best defensive units in the country, year in and year out. If only USC weren't around. In three of the past five years, including last season, Cal finished second to the Trojans in scoring defense.
This year, the team is primed to top the Trojans.
To read the rest this Top 25 Intel, you must be an ESPN Insider.
"I will say this: We're not quite as bare at all at linebacker as it looks based on what is gone," Gregory says. "Case in point is we have maybe our best overall linebacker back. Michael Mohamed backed up every position, so he can play anywhere." Mohamed was tied for second in tackles, with 87, on a unit that ranked high nationally in multiple areas.
[h4]Bear-Hugging the Opposition[/h4]
The Cal D ranked near the top in a number of key defensive categories.
[th=""]Category[/th] [th=""]No.[/th] [th=""]NCAA Rank (of 119)[/th]
Interceptions 24 3 Opp. Comp. Pct 51.6 4 Opp. Red Zone Scoring Pct. 68.2 2 Opp. third-and-7+ Conv. Pct. 14 2 Forced TO 34 4 Points off TO 122 4 Yards/Play 4.4 9 3-and-outs 48 6
One reason the Bears can be so good is their penchant for creating turnovers. The team was among the nation's leaders in interceptions last year, and is bringing back its entire secondary, including likely first-team All-American Syd'Quan Thompson at cornerback. That's especially true when you consider that Tyson Alualu and junior Cameron Jordan, a pair that's likely to have Sundays in their future, anchor the D-line. "I hope there's not a drop-off, but maybe we won't get 24 picks," says Gregory. "The thing is, in terms of creating turnovers, when the guys up front are so good in creating pressure and causing problems, it doesn't matter how good the secondary is -- you're going to have interceptions."
And Cal will rely on them -- hopefully not to the point where a small drop-off from such a massive interception total hurts the team. Turnovers played a huge role for the Cal defense in 2008. The Golden Bears forced 34 total -- good for fourth in the country. But winning depended on it. The numbers had a direct correlation to their wins and losses during the campaign. In their nine wins, they averaged 3.1 forced turnovers a game. In their four losses, they averaged 1.5.
The same concept held true on the issue of third-down stops. When the Bears could make stops in key situations, the wins were there. When they couldn't, they suffered.
[h4]Third and Crucial[/h4]
How Cal played on third down was an indicator of the outcome.
[th=""]4 Losses[/th] [th=""]Opp. Conv.[/th] [th=""]Opp. Pct[/th] [th=""]9 Wins[/th] [th=""]Opp. Conv.[/th] [th=""]Opp. Pct[/th]
Third-and-2 or less 5/6 83.3 Third-and-10+ 5/19 27.8 Third-and-2 or less 11/22 50.0 Third-and-10+ 4/48 8.3
One of the tricks to Gregory's system involves the kind of players he and Tedford look for on the recruiting trail. He admits that part of his switch to a 3-4 was because it's easier to find versatile players who can play linebacker in that system than it is in the 4-3. It can be an oversized safety, a fast, undersized defensive end or even a converted tight end or running back.
"It's weird, but a part of it is how hard it is to find good interior defensive lineman who are ready to play," Gregory says. "Maybe it's different down South, in terms of what we can find, but to get a lot of them and keep them healthy is tough."
What won't be tough for Cal starts on the other side of the ball. That's where junior Jahvid Best should do for Cal's running game what DeSean Jackson did for the return and passing game two years ago. Best averaged 8.14 yards per carry in 2008.
Where Cal should have concern is at quarterback. Last year Tedford rotated between Nate Longshore and Kevin Riley, and both struggled. This season, the pressure rests on Riley and favorite passing target Nyan Boateng.
[h4]Bears Trapped on O[/h4]
Of 119 teams, Cal's passing offense was among the worst in 2008.
[th=""]
First-down comp. 44.4 115 Third-and-3+ conv. 25.3 109 Third-and-7+ conv. 18.4 105 Third-and-7+ pass conv. 19.4 108
[/th] [th=""]Pct[/th] [th=""]NCAA Rank[/th]
But in the end, it all comes back to USC. Last year, in a 17-3 loss to the Trojans in which Gregory's defense did an exceptional job against the loaded Southern California offense, the passing game couldn't make up for it when Best was stifled. In fact, he was held to just 30 yards on 13 carries.
Best struggled, of course, because he was going against one of the greatest defenses the college game has ever seen, which included four linebackers who will be playing on Sundays this fall. But USC lost those linebackers.
And, as Gregory points out with a wink, Cal didn't.
Statistical information and research provided by Mike Trainor of ESPN Stats & Information.
- Nov 4, 2006
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already posted above by crafsty...
- May 10, 2007
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best racked all of his yards up last year against terrible teams.. SMH
- Jul 23, 2007
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the Cal fans dont wanna hear it ...
but its the truth
but its the truth
- Jun 14, 2007
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Originally Posted by Craftsy21
Originally Published: June 17, 2009
[h2]Top 25 Intel: No. 13 California[/h2] [h3]The defense may be as much a foregone conclusion as the brilliant Jahvid Best[/h3]
Comment Email Print
By Chris Sprow
ESPN Insider
Archive
All-American candidate Syd'Quan Thompson and the Cal defense look to be even better in 2009
When Cal defensive coordinator Bob Gregory explains what he lost from his linebacking corps, you might wince if you're a Bears fan -- until you really put things in perspective.
"Our guys were really good," Gregory says. "And it hurts to lose them. I mean, we lost our linebackers -- but they weren't USC's linebackers."
The man's just being honest.
It's no disrespect to Anthony Felder, Zack Follett and Worrell Williams, the outgoing linebackers who helped make Cal's transition to the 3-4 so successful and players Gregory thinks the world of. But if you consider where the USC trio of Rey Maualuga, Clay Matthews Jr. and Brian Cushing was drafted -- none lower than No. 38 overall -- in terms of raw draft placement, nobody can really compare.
So forgive Gregory for his frankness. That said, he has quietly put together an exceptional run and turned this program known for Jeff Tedford's offensive prowess into one of the best defensive units in the country, year in and year out. If only USC weren't around. In three of the past five years, including last season, Cal finished second to the Trojans in scoring defense.
This year, the team is primed to top the Trojans.
To read the rest this Top 25 Intel, you must be an ESPN Insider.
"I will say this: We're not quite as bare at all at linebacker as it looks based on what is gone," Gregory says. "Case in point is we have maybe our best overall linebacker back. Michael Mohamed backed up every position, so he can play anywhere." Mohamed was tied for second in tackles, with 87, on a unit that ranked high nationally in multiple areas.
[h4]Bear-Hugging the Opposition[/h4]
The Cal D ranked near the top in a number of key defensive categories.
[th=""]Category[/th] [th=""]No.[/th] [th=""]NCAA Rank (of 119)[/th]
Interceptions 24 3 Opp. Comp. Pct 51.6 4 Opp. Red Zone Scoring Pct. 68.2 2 Opp. third-and-7+ Conv. Pct. 14 2 Forced TO 34 4 Points off TO 122 4 Yards/Play 4.4 9 3-and-outs 48 6
One reason the Bears can be so good is their penchant for creating turnovers. The team was among the nation's leaders in interceptions last year, and is bringing back its entire secondary, including likely first-team All-American Syd'Quan Thompson at cornerback. That's especially true when you consider that Tyson Alualu and junior Cameron Jordan, a pair that's likely to have Sundays in their future, anchor the D-line. "I hope there's not a drop-off, but maybe we won't get 24 picks," says Gregory. "The thing is, in terms of creating turnovers, when the guys up front are so good in creating pressure and causing problems, it doesn't matter how good the secondary is -- you're going to have interceptions."
And Cal will rely on them -- hopefully not to the point where a small drop-off from such a massive interception total hurts the team. Turnovers played a huge role for the Cal defense in 2008. The Golden Bears forced 34 total -- good for fourth in the country. But winning depended on it. The numbers had a direct correlation to their wins and losses during the campaign. In their nine wins, they averaged 3.1 forced turnovers a game. In their four losses, they averaged 1.5.
The same concept held true on the issue of third-down stops. When the Bears could make stops in key situations, the wins were there. When they couldn't, they suffered.
[h4]Third and Crucial[/h4]
How Cal played on third down was an indicator of the outcome.
[th=""]4 Losses[/th] [th=""]Opp. Conv.[/th] [th=""]Opp. Pct[/th] [th=""]9 Wins[/th] [th=""]Opp. Conv.[/th] [th=""]Opp. Pct[/th]
Third-and-2 or less 5/6 83.3 Third-and-10+ 5/19 27.8 Third-and-2 or less 11/22 50.0 Third-and-10+ 4/48 8.3
One of the tricks to Gregory's system involves the kind of players he and Tedford look for on the recruiting trail. He admits that part of his switch to a 3-4 was because it's easier to find versatile players who can play linebacker in that system than it is in the 4-3. It can be an oversized safety, a fast, undersized defensive end or even a converted tight end or running back.
"It's weird, but a part of it is how hard it is to find good interior defensive lineman who are ready to play," Gregory says. "Maybe it's different down South, in terms of what we can find, but to get a lot of them and keep them healthy is tough."
What won't be tough for Cal starts on the other side of the ball. That's where junior Jahvid Best should do for Cal's running game what DeSean Jackson did for the return and passing game two years ago. Best averaged 8.14 yards per carry in 2008.
Where Cal should have concern is at quarterback. Last year Tedford rotated between Nate Longshore and Kevin Riley, and both struggled. This season, the pressure rests on Riley and favorite passing target Nyan Boateng.
[h4]Bears Trapped on O[/h4]
Of 119 teams, Cal's passing offense was among the worst in 2008.
[th=""]
First-down comp. 44.4 115 Third-and-3+ conv. 25.3 109 Third-and-7+ conv. 18.4 105 Third-and-7+ pass conv. 19.4 108
[/th] [th=""]Pct[/th] [th=""]NCAA Rank[/th]
But in the end, it all comes back to USC. Last year, in a 17-3 loss to the Trojans in which Gregory's defense did an exceptional job against the loaded Southern California offense, the passing game couldn't make up for it when Best was stifled. In fact, he was held to just 30 yards on 13 carries.
Best struggled, of course, because he was going against one of the greatest defenses the college game has ever seen, which included four linebackers who will be playing on Sundays this fall. But USC lost those linebackers.
And, as Gregory points out with a wink, Cal didn't.
Statistical information and research provided by Mike Trainor of ESPN Stats & Information.
thnx, Best is gonna be a beast again this year. No matter who he plays
- Jul 23, 2007
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yea, that made total sense....
kudos for your response
kudos for your response
- Jun 14, 2007
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Im sorry what did you say??
- Feb 12, 2005
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Dude, what happened to the Oregon Ducks signature I saw YESTERDAY? haha
