Oregon's Offense Contained: The Cowardly, Soccer-ish Way To Slow Down The Ducks

With Oregon's offense averaging a play every 23 seconds, it can be difficult for opposing defenses to keep up, adjust for the look, and to get substitutions in.  The result of this for Oregon is having the nation's No. 1 rated offense in points scored and overall efficiency.  

For defenses, it's a nightmare.  Oregon's read-spread-triple-air raid option style offense is already difficult to prepare for and becomes almost impossible to defend when applied at blistering speed.

One way coaches have been getting around the three time out per half rule is to have their defensive players fake injuries.  During many games this season defensive players have gone down with cramps or phantom injuries only to return for the next play.

Until NCAA Football starts handing out yellow and red cards, I suppose there's nothing you can do if you're Coach Kelly.

I suppose you could always shame them and make them feel like EuroSoccerFloppers.

Let's do that.

Exhibit A.

Examples from the ASU, Stanford and Washington State games.

Quarterback Darron Thomas Comments On The Phenomenon.

For the record, I'm working on my Darron Thomas impression, and it's really hard.

Exhibit B.

Nearly 15 minutes of footage focusing on the different ways teams choose to implement this un-American, FIFA inspired tactic.

The Smoking Gun.

Broken down like the Zapruder film, this video showcases the most recent instance of this techniques as executed by former Oregon offensive coordinator (now just plain offensive) Jeff Teford of Cal.

Exhibit C.

Rodney Dangerfield is to be looked up to as a comedian, not a gridiron strategist.

You Want Slow, Here's Some Slow For You.

As seen in the Cal game on Saturday, Oregon can manage the clock and pacing when needed without having to resort to slimeball gimmicks more suitable for the World Cup.

Oregon ran out the clock in the fourth quarter by driving the field in 18 plays in 9:25 while Cal burned their timeouts on route to a 15-13 victory.

No flopping was required, just smashmouth, ground and pound football.