A needed improvement and two other keys for Oregon Ducks to beat Boise State
Enough has been discussed when it comes to the Oregon Ducks' narrow Week 1 win over Idaho. It wasn't good enough. Head coach Dan Lanning expressed that he was "disappointed in the process" to the team following the game. The Ducks tumbled to No. 7 in the AP Poll following the first game.Time to move […]
Enough has been discussed when it comes to the Oregon Ducks' narrow Week 1 win over Idaho. It wasn't good enough. Head coach Dan Lanning expressed that he was "disappointed in the process" to the team following the game. The Ducks tumbled to No. 7 in the AP Poll following the first game.
Time to move forward. Week 2 is upon us, and the only thing that matters is the opponent that's next on the schedule.
Boise State has the ability to pose some difficulties to Oregon in a couple ways. Let's look at three keys to the Ducks' success in Week 2 as they welcome the Broncos to Autzen Stadium for a late night game.
Stop the run
Nothing is more crucial in this game than slowing down the Boise State rushing attack, which is headlined by arguably the best running back in the country in Ashton Jeanty. It's an absolute must. Jeanty rattled off 20 rushing attempts for 267 yards and six touchdowns in Week 1. Lanning had rave remarks about Jeanty when speaking with the media on Monday night.
"I think he's the best running back I've seen since I've since I've been here," Lanning said of Jeanty. "He's certainly an NFL guy, and he doesn't go down on first contact ever. He's one of the best stiff arm guys that we've gone against. You know, he runs really, really physical. And then, the next guy they brought in ran for 100 yards too. So, it's a really powerful rushing attack."
Stopping the run is of the utmost importance. The Ducks will need to come hungry to collapse rushing lanes and free up linebackers, who can't afford to miss tackles when given the opportunities against this running back.
Communicate on offense
The offensive line was a question in Week 1, as they struggled to identify stunts and missed several assignments. As a group, it was sloppy, and they didn't do enough to open up runs on the interior, nor did they keep quarterback Dillon Gabriel clean. This week, we will want to see the group take a step forward, building on chemistry and communication and overall effectiveness.
That would be helped in a big way if Matthew Bedford is able to return to the starting lineup at right guard, which Lanning said he is "optimistic" about, it will allow for opportunities for Lanning to evaluate the lineup and potentially make some changes. Iapani laloulu could return to center, or they could continue to roll with Charlie Pickard. Either way, the offensive line needs to step up their ability to communicate on stunts and establish dominance at the line of scrimmage.
Create explosive plays
The lack of explosive plays is a topic that both Gabriel and Lanning mentioned following the Week 1 game, and it was palpable when watching. Gabriel attempted 40 of his 49 pass attempts within 10 yards of, or behind, the line of scrimmage. Wide receiver Tez Johnson, who finished the game with 12 receptions for 81 yards and two touchdowns, finished the game with 81 yards after the catch. No, that is not a typo. It shows just how much the offense prioritized screens and other routes that focused on getting the ball to him early.
For this offense, they should have the talent and speed to push the ball down the field. Boise State's secondary is a weakness. They allowed 322 passing yards on 28 completions last week, allowing Georgia Souther's top receiver Derwin Burgess to catch two of three deep targets for a total of 79 yards, and nine total receivers to record a reception of at least 10 yards.
It's time to take the reins off the offense and push the ball down the field.
Dan Lanning addresses critical areas the Oregon Ducks must improve heading into Week 2
Oregon has to be better.
Follow along all year for more Oregon Ducks coverage on A to Z Sports. You can find me on X @JonHelmkamp, as well as follow our main page @AtoZSportsNFL for all the latest news.
