Oregon is defying conventional wisdom in the pass-happy Pac-10. The 13th-ranked Ducks are putting up their big numbers on the ground.
Oregon (3-0) is averaging 325.67 yards rushing, behind only Navy (378.67) and West Virginia (343.67) in the national rankings.
“It’s never enough. You can never rush for too many yards,” Oregon center Max Unger said. “Coach (Mike) Bellotti preaches that every game. If you can rush the ball that many yards every week, you’re going to go places.”
The Ducks seem to be leading a trend in the Pac-10, where rushing numbers are up almost across the board. Overall, Oregon has the top offense in the Pac-10, averaging 519.3 yards and 46.3 points.
Speedy quarterback Dennis Dixon has settled comfortably into new coordinator Chip Kelly’s spread-option offense and is putting up big numbers.
Dixon has thrown for 565 yards and seven touchdowns, and is the only quarterback in the Pac-10 who hasn’t been intercepted. He’s also rushed for 339 yards and three scores.
In Oregon’s 39-7 victory two weeks ago over Michigan, he had 368 yards in total offense. The most memorable part of his performance? After a real Statue of Liberty play, Dixon faked one, running 9 yards into the end zone to make it 25-7.
Then there’s running back Jonathan Stewart, who had 165 yards rushing in Oregon’s 51-21 victory over Fresno State last weekend. He set an Autzen Stadium record with an 88-yard touchdown run.
Stewart is averaging 114.3 yards rushing, second in the Pac-10, and is the league leader in all-purpose yards with an average of 171.
“The sky’s the limit right now,” Dixon said. “This offense is really clicking.”
Oregon (3-0) opens conference play this Saturday at Stanford, which is coming off a 37-0 victory over San Jose State. Jim Harbaugh, the new Cardinal coach, is well aware of Oregon’s offensive strengths.
“I think that’s what everybody’s trying to figure out – how to slow them down,” Harbaugh said.
Last year the Ducks rushed for 182 yards a game to lead the Pac-10. It was the best rushing average for a conference team since UCLA in 1976.
But this season, the Ducks, top-ranked USC, No. 6 California and Arizona State are all averaging 200 yards a game on the ground.
“This has been a league where people have thrown the ball, and known as a conference that throws and throws successfully – which people are doing. They’re mixing it up,” said Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson, in his third stint in the Pac-10.
“I think it’s probably more balanced now with the run. Things have changed. I think everyone looks at the personnel that they have and the strengths that they have offensively and tries to take advantage of it.”
Add A Comment