The Ducks Need LaMichael James To Be A Work Horse
At the beginning of the college football season, the UO-Cal match-up became a trendy game to keep an eye on.
This was the game where a challenger to USC’s Pac-10 dominance could emerge.
The Cal Bears might just be that heir apparent. They are riding high, ranked sixth in the polls and featuring arguably the best running back in the country — Jahvid Best.
With USC’s shocking loss in Seattle last week, many national pundits have all but anointed Cal as the Pac-10 champion.
But there is more to Jeff Tedford’s squad than just Jahvid Best.
The Golden Bears feature a dynamic and quick defense, and a confident quarterback with Oregon roots in Kevin Riley.
If Oregon executes its defensive gameplan to perfection, this conference tilt could rest on Riley’s shoulders.
Oregon Defensive Coordinator Nick Aliotti is almost maniacal in his attempts to stop the run. Stopping Best’s backup Shane Vereen is just as important for Oregon.
The biggest question marks rest heavily on Oregon’s offensive execution. The Ducks need their offensive line to continue to gel and provide ample protection for Jeremiah Masoli. In addition to giving him time, the boys in the trenches need to break big holes open for freshman tailback LaMichael James.
The young lineman have improved every game so far, but this week the improvement needs to be significant.
The Ducks have no chance in this game without a nearly flawless defensive effort and the virtual elimination of offensive miscues. It feels like too much to ask of this team right now…that’s why I’m predicting a 28-17 Cal victory.
However, with the Autzen Stadium crowd at full roar, there is still hope for the Ducks. If Oregon’s opportunistic and speedy defense can generate some points for the Ducks, they could steal this game and end Cal’s magical season before it even fully starts. But regardless of how Saturday’s ballgame transpires, Oregon’s defense can’t make a habit of bailing out its offensive counterpart week after week. Otherwise this will be a long season for Ducks fans.
To the links:
- The Cal coaching staff is littered with former UO coordinators. The San Jose Mercury News says one former Duck, Bob Gregory, is writing the book on how to stop Oregon’s spread attack.
- ESPN’s Ted Miller caught up with Chip Kelly for an extended interview filled with classic Chip straight talk. Kelly is defending both Masoli and his quarterback’s inconsistencies (as you would expect him to). Kelly says a green offensive line and inexperienced skill players are huge factors:
“You can’t do anything to manufacture experience. You can create environments in practice and all those other things, but that’s not what it’s like when there are 60,000 screaming fans. That’s just part of the deal. The only way you get experience is by playing and that’s what they are doing now.”
- Adam Jude of the Register Guard profiles the Ducks linebackers. The strongest unit on the defense this year will have to do a lot to contain the speedy Jahvid Best. For their part the Ducks essentially say, “hey we’re pretty fast too.”
- Elsewhere in the Willamette Valley, the OSU Beavs look to rebound against a mysterious Arizona team. The Salem Statesman-Journal notes the Beavers are looking to end an ominous streak of Pac-10 openers.
-Everyone seems to agree the Pac-10 is wide open this year. The Corvallis Gazette Times asks, could the Beavs emerge as world beaters again? I think OSU had better sort out whether they have a QB controversy first.
- The Trail Blazers finalized their training camp roster. The final invite…you might’ve heard of him. As Joe Freeman notes, Ime Udoka brings another experienced voice to camp.