I finally got a chance last night to sit down with my DVR remote control and watch the game again. I particularly focused on the eight big pass plays that led to Oregon scores. Yes, there were big runs too, but on every scoring drive other than the first one, Oregon completed one or more big passes that kept the drive alive, or put them in the red zone . Watching those 8 pass plays in slow motion three things were clear:
1. Mariotta made a perfect throw every time. He is a much, much better passer than I thought he was.
2. We blitzed once in those eight plays. Four times we rushed 4. Three times we rushed 3. Wilcox was clearly playing conservative and it didn’t work. Mariotta was completely comfortable and had plenty of time. Rushing 3 or 4 guys against 5 blockers is not going to generate pressure very often. Oregon, on the other hand, rarely rushed less than 5 guys. They blitzed. We didn’t. Big difference in coaching.
3. On every one of their big pass plays our guys made mistakes in coverage. Oregon, more than any team I have seen, likes to bunch up their receivers. Two or three receivers would leave the line together, and then break in different directions, and our DBs would hesitate, not sure who to take, the receiver would gain a step or two, and Mariotta would make a perfect throw. In addition, like us, there is run fake on every pass play. On the 65 yard TD pass you could see Shamburger first pause on the play fake, then hesitate when the two receivers came into his area. The WR went right by him.
Coaching , coaching, coaching
Our coaches chose not bring pressure. Our kids should have been better prepared to deal with their pass routes. Yes, Oregon is great. They seemed to block and tackle a little better than we did. Mariotta is more accurate than Price. They are super fast. But we were also out schemed and out prepared.
Rushing 3 or 4 guys seemed to work just fine for Oregon.
Blocking and tackling are fundamentals. Good coaching takes care of that. UW doesn't have good coaching.
This was very insightful. I didn't realize our secondary would have trouble covering receivers for 7 seconds ...
Can't wait for the breakdown next week.
Their pass plays were thrown on time, as designed. Why are people so reluctant to blame the DBs? They screwed up repeatedly.
because of what he said: what the DBs are doing is academic if the QB and receiver have too much time. the long TD to Huff was a perfect throw, Huff was by our guy but the coverage was pretty tight nonetheless. the throw was right over his shoulder where it needed to be. perfect throws are usually an indicator of a QB who had time.
Not as bad as saying Boise State could be Sark's signature win then following sentence points out how Boise State was Ty's signature win showing that signature wins over Boise means nothing.
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Blocking and tackling are fundamentals. Good coaching takes care of that. UW doesn't have good coaching.
Not as bad as saying Boise State could be Sark's signature win then following sentence points out how Boise State was Ty's signature win showing that signature wins over Boise means nothing.
That's the great thing about Aubbie.
Auburn has years and years on him though so he's still #1 Doog on here.
I don't know what got into PLSS lately.