Oregon Football: 10 Hurdles Between the Ducks and the 2012 BCS Championship
Any team that gets to the national championship would tell you that making it there takes hard work, talent, health and luck. Not only do you need those elements, but also you need them all to come together for one season.
Early in the year, Oregon is being talked about as a national championship contender and a team that is poised to head back to the BCS National Championship game. While Oregon certainly has the talent to do so, there are some major hurdles in their way.
Here are the challenges that Oregon faces as they hope to return to vie for the national championship.
LSU
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While most title contenders will be playing a glorified scrimmage in Week 1, Oregon heads on the road for a neutral site game against LSU down in Dallas. Both teams are in the top 10 coming into the year and the winner of this game will receive a boost from the media and will have cleared a major hurdle in their quest for the national championship.
This game may come down to how well Oregon can run the ball and stop the run on defense. LSU is an extremely deep team but still has questions at quarterback. If Oregon can force LSU into throwing situations, the Ducks could create some big plays.
Offensive Line
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While Oregon has been a popular pick to be in the top five nationally and to make a return trip to the national championship, the Ducks must find the right combination up front on the offensive line.
Oregon lost three starters from last year, and making those adjustments will be key to both Oregon's running game and pass protection. If the line can continue to provide stability to this offense, the Ducks will be in for another great year.
Defensive Line
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Just like the offensive side of the ball, Oregon is looking to fill some big shoes left by Brandon Bair and Kenny Rowe on the defensive side of the ball. Coming into 2011, the Ducks will be looking for players to step up and help stop the run.
The benefit that Oregon has is the defensive style they run allows for substitutions throughout the game. This style has allowed multiple backups to get reps in games and will be coming into 2011 with some experience under their belt.
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Road Game Versus Stanford
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Since landing the head coach spot at Oregon, Chip Kelly has taken the Pac-10 by storm. Kelly is an impressive 17-1 in conference, with his only loss coming at Stanford.
Last year, the Ducks hosted the Cardinal in a huge conference matchup that they ultimately won going away. This year, Kelly will lead the Ducks on the road, into a game that may not only have conference championship implications but also national championship implications.
A Healthy Darron Thomas
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The engine that helps this team run will be second year starter Darron Thomas. Thomas had a tremendous sophomore season as Oregon's quarterback and has Duck fans confident going into 2011.
While last year the Ducks enjoyed the safety net of senior quarterback Nate Costa, this year the Ducks will not have a backup at quarterback with any significant game action.
If Thomas can stay healthy, the Ducks will be a dangerous team to play against, but if they have to turn to Bryan Bennett, the may endure the bumps in the road that come with a young backup.
Wide Receiver Group
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In 2010, the Ducks received large contributions in both the passing game and running game from Jeff Maehl and D.J. Davis. With both players graduating this past year, the Ducks will need to replace the impact they made.
Last year, the Ducks saw huge strides made by Josh Huff and also saw Lavasier Tuinei step up his game.
When teams match up with Oregon, they will look to put the pressure on the shoulders of the passing game, and this group as a whole will need to elevate their play if Oregon has aspirations of returning to the national championship.
Pac-12 Championship Game
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With the realignment of the Pac-10 comes a new challenge for all conference teams. Not only do teams now need to win their division, but they will also need to win a conference championship game. To make things even more difficult, there is a chance the conference championship could be played on the road.
For Oregon, this is another game to win but also an opportunity to further their BCS case. If Oregon can win the Pac-12 championship, it could punch their ticket to a BCS bowl game, including the national championship.
Chip Kelly's Coaching Style
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For anyone who watched the Ducks last year, one thing often stood out. No matter the situation, Coach Kelly was always ready to roll the dice and take a risk. Even into the national championship, Kelly was going for it on fourth down, looking for two-point conversions and also did a fake punt.
While everything worked out in the Ducks favor this past year, it is only a matter of time before the Ducks' luck runs out and one of Kelly's gambles backfires.
Special Teams Being Special
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Last year a clear advantage Oregon had over most opponents was its special teams. Between their kicking game, kick coverage and kick return teams, Oregon was able to take advantage of all opportunities given to them.
This year, Cliff Harris returns as maybe the most dangerous punt returner in the nation. If Oregon can maintain their level of play from last year, they will be able to control the battle for field position.
Winning the Day
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Chip Kelly was able to keep his entire roster focused on the most important thing, that day. Oregon adopted a mentality that there was no more important focus then the task at hand. Players drove to win during warm -, practice, sprints and then games.
This focus is something that has become a way of life for players at Oregon, and if they are able to show the same focus and discipline as they did last year, Duck fans could be in for another magical year.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
