BCS National Championship: If LaMichael James Struggles, Who Stars for Oregon?
It's no secret that the Oregon Ducks have relied heavily on LaMichael James this season. The second runner-up for the Heisman, James led the NCAA in both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in 2010.
The Ducks had the No. 1 scoring offense in college football, a statistic heavily dependent on James' production. James compiled 100 total yards in 10 of the 11 games he played in this season.
James isn't merely a sizable part of the Oregon offense. He essentially is the entire offense. The super sophomore is so heavily relied upon that he had the fourth most rushing attempts of any running back in the NCAA this season despite missing one game due to a suspension.
With so much riding on James' performance, what can Oregon do if James struggles, and why would the uber-talented James struggle in the first place?
Here are some reasons why James could struggle and how Oregon can replace his production if he falters.
Fatigue
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In the 2010 season, James compiled 281 rushing attempts, good for the fourth most in college football. Moreover, James missed the first game of the season and averaged just 15 attempts in his first two games.
Consequently, that means James has averaged 28 rushing attempts over the last nine games. That's a hefty workload for a sophomore running back.
James' yards per carry average dipped noticeably in the last four games of the season, possibly a result of fatigue settling in. Already the Ducks have begun to turn to backup Kenjon Barner with some extra carries (15 in each of the last two games).
If James is affected by fatigue, Oregon will have to rely more on Barner or rely more on the passing game.
Auburn's Rush Defense
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Auburn will undoubtedly game-plan around LaMichael James and his game-changing abilities. The Tigers will attempt to stack the box and force the Ducks to move the ball through the air.
Auburn has demonstrated the ability to do this before. In the SEC Championship Game, the Tigers held South Carolina's Marcus Lattimore to just 84 rushing yards without a touchdown. The previous week against Alabama, the Auburn defense held Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson to 60 yards combined.
The Tigers do not have a reputation for a stingy defense, but they do have a variety of playmakers who could focus on slowing down the running game.
It will be tough to completely shut down James, but if the Tigers can find some way to just limit his effectiveness, then the Ducks will have to turn to the pass to find offense.
Bad Luck
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Sometimes bad luck can simply be the difference in a game. It may sound ridiculous now, but luck can often play a major role in the outcome of a big game.
One possibility is that James simply has a bad game. While James has appeared unstoppable for most of the season, he did have a couple of average games against Arizona State and California. In those games, James averaged fewer than 3.5 yards per carry.
As with any player, injuries can also be a tragic event in a big game. If James gets injured, the Ducks will have to find a way to replace his output.
Who knows what will happen between now and the BCS National Championship Game? James was already suspended this year for off the field troubles. It may not be likely, but any of these could force the Ducks to turn elsewhere for offense.
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Inexperience
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As a redshirt sophomore, LaMichael James has only one year of bowl game experience under his belt. Last year, the Ducks played the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl.
Oregon lost that game, managing just 17 points against the Buckeyes defense. James had 15 rushing attempts for 70 yards.
While James is one year older with one more year of experience, it is unquestionably the biggest game of his football career. There is nothing quite like the spotlight of the BCS National Championship Game.
There is no way to tell how a player will react to the spotlight. In all likelihood, James, who is an astounding all-around player, should be able to continue his amazing performances against Auburn; however, inexperience could possibly play a factor.
How the Ducks Could Fill the Hole Left by James
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The past four slides listed possibilities of what could prevent James from his usual outstanding performance. While none of these reasons may be overwhelmingly likely, they all exist as possible obstacles or contingencies in which James could struggle.
So in the improbable event that James cannot fulfill his duties as the centerpiece of the Ducks offense, how can the Ducks replace his production?
Whether the remedy comes through replacing his production in the running game or shifting the focus point of the offense into the passing game, the Ducks should have a backup plan against Auburn.
The following slides provide five ways in which Oregon can fill the would-be hole left by James.
Same Plan, Different Running Back
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One option is to simply give all of James' duties to backup Kenjon Barner. Barner averaged 6.5 rushing yards per carry this season and also added eight total touchdowns.
Clearly, Barner is a talented backup capable of playing at a high level. The question is whether Barner could come close to replacing the production of James in case he is needed.
In the first game of the season, when James was suspended, Barner responded with 147 rushing yards and 207 total yards as well as two touchdowns. However, this performance came against the New Mexico Lobos, a 1-11 team that had the statistically worst defense in the NCAA this year.
The most obvious solution if James struggles would to be to turn to the backup. Barner is a very talented backup that should see five to 10 carries regardless of whether James plays well.
Target Jeff Maehl More
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Jeff Maehl was the Ducks' No. 1 wide receiver in 2010. If James struggles, Maehl will be the go-to target for Darron Thomas in the passing game.
Maehl, a senior, accumulated 943 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns on the season. Throughout the season, Maehl was somewhat inconsistent; however, he also proved that he can put up huge numbers in a single game.
Against the USC Trojans on October 30th, Maehl hauled in eight receptions for 145 yards and three touchdowns.
Maehl may not be the ideal answer to fill production, but he has demonstrated that he can be a game-changing performer.
Focus on the Passing Game
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Since Oregon's offense is mostly based on the running game, Darron Thomas has been mostly limited in his passing attempts per game. Thomas had more than 30 passing attempts just five times in 2010, and the most attempts he had in a single game was 33.
Consequently, Thomas is not amongst the NCAA leaders in passing yards solely because he has lacked the opportunity. Thomas, however, does have the arm strength and accuracy to be the focal point of the Ducks offense.
With 28 passing touchdowns on the season, Thomas has proven he can air the ball out and make plays with his arm. If Auburn decides to make Oregon beat them through the air, then Thomas should be ready to make the Tigers pay.
Let Darron Thomas Run Wild
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The last slide focused on how Thomas could beat the Tigers with his arm. While Thomas is a terrific passer, he also has the ability to beat teams with his legs.
Oregon could let Thomas loose with quarterback rollouts and draws in order to keep the defense honest.
Thomas may not be the best mobile quarterback in the NCAA. That honor belongs to his counterpart Cameron Newton. At the same time, Thomas is no slouch himself.
In the October 2nd game against Stanford, Thomas ran the ball 15 times for 117 rushing yards and a touchdown. Throughout the season, Thomas has displayed the ability to make plays with his legs as well as the capability to throw outside the pocket.
If LaMichael James is ineffective for some reason, the Ducks should go to their second most talented player. That player is Darron Thomas.
Hope the Defense Can Stop Auburn's High-Octane Offense
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If the unthinkable happens and LaMichael James is somehow rendered ineffective, the Ducks will need to find an offensive replacement. Oregon thrives on its offensive capabilities, and without them it is a very vulnerable team.
At the same time, the defense, while inconsistent, is still a very talented squad. Oregon's defense allowed an average of 18.4 points a game, good for the 14th-ranked scoring defense in the country. Inconsistencies, however, led to the Ducks giving up 30 or more points four times this season.
The challenge will be even more difficult against one of the best offenses in the country and do-everything quarterback Cameron Newton. Newton can beat teams in a variety of ways by extending plays and using his speed to weave through the defense.
If Oregon's offense fails them, it will be up to the defense to win the game. That will be tough against an Auburn offense that recently scored 56 points against the South Carolina Gamecocks.
LaMichael James is, without question, the best running back in college football. However, if he struggles or cannot play, the question becomes whether the Ducks can win without him. The answer will have to come from either Darron Thomas, Jeff Maehl, Kenjon Barner or the Ducks defense.
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