Tennessee vs. Oregon: 10 Things We Learned in the Ducks' Win

The Oregon Ducks proved just how dominant they can be on the offensive side of the ball in a 59-14 decimation of Tennessee.

While the volunteers are certainly not the best team on the Ducks schedule, they are a formidable SEC opponent. That did not seem to matter to much to Oregon, as the Ducks scored 59 unanswered points in just more than two quarters to break this one wide open.

Here are 10 things we learned in the Ducks victory over the Vols.

Marcus Mariota Has No Problem Passing the Ball

Even though he started off the game only completing 2-of-7 passes, Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota turned it on late.

The Vols slowed down the run, particularly along the interior, so Mariota was forced to throw the ball early on. Once he got going, he did not stop. 

Mariota finished the game 23-of-33, passing for 456 yards and four touchdowns. He also carried the ball six times for 25 yards and another score. 

No question he has the mobility to beat teams with his feet, but if he continues to pass like he did against Tennessee, this team will be even more dangerous than originally expected. 

Johnny Mundt Has Some Skills

With starting tight end Colt Lyerla not suiting up, true freshman backup Johnny Mundt showed that the Ducks may not need Lyerla anytime soon.

Mundt finished the game with five catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns. He had a 57-yard catch-and-run that was something to behold.

With how much speed and athleticism Oregon has on offense, Mundt is an excellent change-of-pace tight end for the Ducks.

The Oregon Secondary Is the Real Deal

After struggling on the first drive, the Oregon secondary was dominant the rest of the game.

Led by cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon only allowed 138 yards through the air on 15-of-29 passing.

No wide receiver had more than 51 yards for the Vols, and the secondary batted down numerous balls, while displaying excellent coverage all game long.

No question, this is one of the strengths of the defense in 2013.

Josh Huff Might Have All-American Potential

If Oregon continues to pass the ball as much as it did on Saturday, senior wide receiver Josh Huff might put up All-American type numbers.

Against Tennessee, Huff hauled in six passes for 125 yards and a touchdown.

He has big play potential every time he touches the ball.

Look for a huge season from Huff in 2013.

The Front Seven May Not Be so Bad

After getting dominated for the better part of the first quarter, the Oregon front seven came on strong the rest of the game. 

The linebacker group was thought to be a weakness heading into the season, but it played very well against an extremely talented Tennessee Vols offensive line. 

While the group did not get a lot of pressure on Tennessee quarterback Justin Worley, they did hold the Vols to 178 yards on 38 carries, with a lot of those yards coming in mop up time.

Thomas Tyner Still Needs Some Time to Develop

Oregon did run for 216 yards on 41 carries, but nobody in particular stood out.

One player who has a wealth of potential is true freshman running back Thomas Tyner. Tyner rushed for 29 yards on eight carries with a touchdown but was not hitting the holes like fellow running backs Byron Marshall and De'Anthony Thomas.

It was only his 19th birthday, but this kid has as much potential as almost any player on the roster.

No question he is going to be a stud. It just might take a little bit of time.

Still No Mention of Missing Chip Kelly

While most figured Oregon would not miss a beat this season with former offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich taking over for Chip Kelly, not many could have imagined it would go this smoothly.

Oregon is actually running at a faster pace than it was last season.

The Ducks totaled 687 yards of offense against a talented Tennessee defense. They did that with the starters playing less than three quarters.

So far there has been no mention of Chip Kelly, and that is a good thing for Oregon fans.

Bralon Addison Could Be a Difference Maker

With all the playmakers Oregon has on the offensive side of the ball, it is easy to overlook a guy like wide receiver Bralon Addison.

Last season as a freshman, he caught 22 passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns.

This year, he is almost certain to play a much larger factor, particularly on special teams. He made some big-time plays returning punts and showed why a lot is expected out of him this season.

Addison also caught six passes for 78 yards on the offensive side of the ball.

Look for him to continue to develop in 2013 and be a huge factor by the end of the season.

De'Anthony Thomas Can Do It All

Even though he did not have a typical De'Anthony Thomas type game, the "Black Mamba" still showed why he is the most explosive player in the nation.

Thomas finished the game with 86 yards rushing on 13 carries and one touchdown. He also caught one pass for 28 yards.

There were a few plays where he flashed his talent, including a 28-yard touchdown run around the left side.

He also had a huge kickoff return that was called back at the beginning of the game because of a penalty.

It was not his best showing, but Thomas was still very impressive for the Ducks.

Stanford Appears to Be the Only Real Threat to the Ducks

Even though Oregon still has to take on the likes of Washington and UCLA, it appears that the only team with a legitimate chance to knock off the Ducks is Stanford. 

The Cardinals have one of the best front sevens in college football, and they knocked off the Ducks in 2012.

Teams like UCLA and Washington do not appear to have enough talent on defense to hang around with Oregon.

I think it is safe to say, Stanford is the only thing in the way of Oregon and a berth in the BCS National Championship game.

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