Oregon vs. Arizona Week 4: 4 Reasons Ducks Blast Wildcats in the Desert

When Oregon travels to Tuscon, Arizona to take on the Wildcats in their Pac-12 opener, the Ducks will be the better team and have a chip on their shoulder—which is quite a lethal combination—as they are still trying to rebound from the tough loss to the LSU Tigers in their season opener.

The Ducks had their opportunities to work out some kinks in their undemanding matchups against Nevada and Missouri State in the friendly confines of Autzen Stadium, but will now be tested as they face a more skillful team in Arizona.

Despite the fact that Oregon will be playing in the hot, musty, and unfriendly confines of Arizona, Oregon will still have the advantage in numerous aspects of the game, hence the reason they are ranked 10th in the country.

However, there is no doubting that the Wildcats will be a tough opponent for the Ducks this upcoming weekend. This game was one if the first ones circled on the calender since Arizona will be looking to beat Oregon for the first time in three years. It was only two years ago when the Ducks came into Tuscon and beat the Wildcats in overtime and ended their dreams of a Rose Bowl berth.

With the history and talent that both of these teams have, it will certainly make for an entertaining matchup.

However, here are four reasons why the Ducks will march all over the Wildcats when the two teams meet on Sept. 24.

4. Arizona Is Coming off of Tough Matchups

The Arizona Wildcats opened their season with a cakewalk win against Northern Arizona.

Then all of a sudden, their schedule got a little tougher. They traveled to Stillwater, Oklahoma and lost handily to the Oklahoma State Cowboys 37-14. Then last week, they returned home to Tuscon and lost to the visiting Stanford Cardinal 37-10.

Things won't be getting any easier for the Wildcats as they host the high-flying Ducks in a pivotal early season matchup. 

Arizona's two previous games will certainly take a toll on the team's ability to physically prepare for the Ducks. Playing talented and physically-natured teams like Stanford and Oklahoma State is no easy task, especially when played in back-to-back weeks.

Expect the residual effects from the two previous games to cause the Wildcats to struggle in keeping up with Oregon's high-tempo and relentless attack.

3. Oregon Can Combat Arizona's Strength on Offense

If Arizona could be characterized as a specific type of football team, it would certainly be defined by its passing attack.

Led by a standouts Nick Foles at quarterback and Juron Criner at wide receiver, Arizona has the ability to score through the air with the best.

Last year when the two teams met, Foles threw for an incredible 448 yards and three touchdowns in a losing effort to the Ducks. However, even though Foles is another year older and another year wiser, so is the Ducks secondary who has returned the majority of its starers from last year.

Led by cornerback Cliff Harris—who returned to the team two weeks ago after concluding his suspension—the Ducks defensive backfield is overwhelmingly the strength of their defense and will be primed to stop Foles and the Wildcat's aerial attack. Senior Anthony Gildon will be starting opposite of Harris at the second cornerback position and will look to build upon his recent success in man coverage thus far in 2011.

On top of that, safeties John Boyett and Eddie Pleasant are playing in their second year as the team's starting safeties and have shown signs of becoming one of the better tandems in all of college football.

2. Arizona Can't Run the Ball

While Arizona has flourished in the passing game—or is certainly capable of doing so—they have struggled to establish the running game in 2011.The Wildcats rank 116th in the country in rushing with a measly 56 yards per game.

Even though Oregon's defense has been proved to be susceptible to the run, it will likely take a running-centralized offensive scheme to gash through Oregon's run defense which isn't necessarily Arizona's forte.

Arizona runs the ball to simply set up the passing game. They don't rely on the running game to control the clock or wear down the defense so you can't count on them to completely change their offensive mindset for one game in order to adapt to a defense's weakness.

Arizona is a passing team and will continue to be one when they take on Oregon, which will fall right into the hands of the Ducks defense.

1. Wildcats Can't Stop Ducks Rushing Attack

It's quite simple. Arizona wasn't able to stop Oregon's high-octane rushing attack last year and they certainly won't be able to in 2011.

Last year when the two teams matched up, Oregon ran right through the Arizona defense and gained nearly 400 yards on the ground with an average of 6.8 yards per carry.

With the departures of starting defensive lineman Brooks Reed, Ricky Elmore and Lolomana Mikaele, Arizona will be as thin and inexperienced as ever as they try to clog the running lanes that Oregon will inevitably open up.

Also, coming off of two physically demanding games against Oklahoma State and Stanford, the Arizona defense will have to quickly recuperate and adapt to the quickness of LaMichael James, Darron Thomas and DeAnthony Thomas who all have the ability to break a run down field at any given moment.