Rose Bowl 2015: Keys to Victory in Oregon vs. FSU Clash
The Rose Bowl may traditionally be a matchup between the Big Ten champion and the Pac-12 champion, but nobody is complaining about the showdown in the 2015 version.
The Oregon Ducks and runaway Heisman Trophy favorite Marcus Mariota will take on the defending national champion Florida State Seminoles and last season’s Heisman winner, Jameis Winston.
There are sure to be offensive fireworks with two of the nation’s best quarterbacks and offenses taking the field. Here are some of the keys to victory that will help determine which team advances to the national title game.
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Turnovers
Not only is Oregon’s offense third in the country in points per game, but it simply doesn’t turn the ball over.
The Ducks coughed it up a measly eight times this entire season, which is all the more impressive when their style of play is factored into the conversation. Oregon’s uptempo, no-huddle attack means it runs more plays than a typical offense, which would theoretically give it more chances to turn it over.
That has not been the case.
Florida State, on the other hand, turned the ball over 27 times, which is an abysmal 116th in the country. To make matters worse for the Seminoles, the Oregon defense forced more turnovers than all but seven defenses in the country, so this key seems to suggest good things for the Ducks.
The reason so many of Florida State’s games against inferior competition were so close this season was those early turnovers. Winston threw 17 interceptions, which ultimately cost him a spot in New York as a potential Heisman Trophy finalist and kept the likes of Louisville and Florida in their games against Florida State well into the fourth quarter.
Winston discussed his interceptions earlier in the season, according to The Associated Press (via ESPN.com): “I'm hurting this team, I really am. Make smarter decisions, stop always looking for the big play. I stressed about checking the ball down and making smart decisions, and I've got to go back to that. I can't be careless with the ball."
Mariota, on the other hand, only threw two interceptions the entire season. That is simply ridiculous, considering many of the other better quarterbacks in the country threw that many or more in a single game this season.
The bottom line is Oregon is far too talented of an opponent to give extra chances with turnovers. The Seminoles have to clean up their sloppy play because Oregon will make them pay much more severely than Florida, Boston College, Louisville, Virginia and Clemson did.
Clock-Controlling Rushing Attacks
The Rose Bowl features two powerful quarterbacks who lead two of the most dynamic offenses in the country.
The best way to stop Winston and especially Mariota is by keeping them on the sideline. This is particularly important for Florida State because the fast pace of Oregon’s offense will dictate the tempo and wear out the Seminoles defense. If Florida State’s offense can move the ball on the ground and keep the chains and clock going, it will give the defense a much-needed breather.
Dalvin Cook has emerged into a superstar in the Florida State backfield and has 392 yards in his last two games. Karlos Williams can also serve as the thunder to Cook’s lightning against an Oregon defense that was only 57th in the nation against the run.
On the other side, though, Mariota and running back Royce Freeman should exploit a Seminoles defense that just allowed 331 rushing yards to Georgia Tech the last time out. The Yellow Jackets may confuse opponents with misdirection, but from a pure speed, athleticism and tempo perspective, Oregon should put up monumental numbers by comparison.
The Ducks are 22nd in rushing yards per game and Florida State is 104th, so this key may favor the Ducks on paper; however, an effective running game early from the Seminoles would help set up their 14th-ranked passing attack for big plays later in the game against a vulnerable Oregon secondary.
Florida State’s Defensive Line vs. Oregon’s Offensive Line
Oregon doesn’t have many weaknesses on offense, but it did give up 29 sacks this season. Sure, that was partially due to injuries earlier in the season, but Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller and Trent Smallwood of Rivals were not impressed during the blowout win over Arizona in the Pac-12 title game:
That could be a problem for the Ducks against Eddie Goldman, Mario Edwards and the rest of the Florida State defensive line.
They both bring incredible size and athleticism to the table and could bully their way up-front against Oregon’s offensive line. While this is a completely different Oregon team than in the past, college football fans have seen former Ducks squads lose to more physical opponents up-front that simply overwhelmed the line.
Florida State’s best chance at stopping Oregon’s dynamic offense is by exploiting that offensive front. The question now is whether it can execute the plan.
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