What does Oregon get because of its difficulties after a 52-27 reduction last week at home against Stanford? : A road game against a much better version of this Cardinal.
The Ducks play in No. 11 Utah Saturday at Salt Lake City, Utah, and on newspaper have no chance to win, or even stay close. So much so that the 14-point spread appears to be an insult to Utah by about ten points.
Oregon (3-7, 1-6 Pac-12) will roll into Utah (8-2, 5-2) using the second-worst rushing defense at the Pac-12 at 255.4 yards allowed per game to confront the hottest rushing attack in the seminar.
“Same thing as last week, actually,” Oregon defensive coordinator Brady Hoke said. “You’ve got to stop the run. There’s little doubt about it.”
Uh oh!
Oregon has not stopped the run . Not even against UC Davis and Virginia in what appears like ions ago. Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey ran rampant last week, scoring three touchdowns as the Cardinal, owners of the worst crime in the conference, averaging 340 yards per game, place up 540 yards of total offense on the Ducks.
Utah, averaging 433.7 yards per game is better on offense than Stanford thanks to the wonderful performances of running back Joe Williams. He”retired” for four games to start the season only to be talked back into enjoying. Since his return, Williams has averaged 216 total yards and 156.5 yards rushing per game. He has gained 939 rushing yards on 7.0 yards per carry.
“He’s maybe the most volatile and also the fastest of some of the backs we have had here as far as a home run-type back which could extend the distance away from anywhere on the field,” Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham told colleagues this week.
To make matters worse for Oregon, Williams runs behind a veteran offensive line.
“They’re bodily upfront,” Hoke said. “Very senior-oriented offensive line together with three men up there which have played a great deal of football.”
The Ducks would be the opposite with one senior starting on a young defense that has rotated through 14 defensive linemen this year.
“We had a fantastic week of training precisely the same thing we did the week before,” Hoke said. “Our guys have come out and struggled and been physical each time we go on the field.”
That intensity has not translated into strong performances on game titles. Saturday will probably be no different.
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