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 Sunday, October 21, 2001
The Cardinal need to put up big numbers
By Tim Brant
Special to ABC Sports Online
Oregon's winning streak at Autzen Stadium gives the Ducks a great deal of pride and a lot to play for. They have worked very hard to get the nation's longest winning streak. They believe it is the hardest place in the country to play. It certainly packs in the loudest 42,000 people each Saturday. They make it tough on any opponent.
Oregon has tremendous team speed and have great senior leadership. It all starts with Joey Harrington. He had all that hype and pressure to start the season, but it hasn't hit him. He is having a lot of fun. Whether he has Heisman numbers or not, he doesn't care as long as they win.
He is doing whatever it takes to win. He is throwing blocks, he has run it 37 times, has thrown 13 touchdowns against only three interceptions. He is doing everything he has to do to make this team the best it can do, and he is doing it without regard to the Heisman.
When Stanford has the ball
|  | | Randy Fasani leads a Stanford offense that ranks 12th in the nation in scoring with 37.3 points per game. |
Stanford is balanced and scores a lot of points (37.3 per game). They are difficult to defend against because they use 25 different formations a game. They run out of passing formations. If you load up in the box to try to stop the run -- which I expect Oregon to do -- the Cardinal have one of the most experienced offensive lines in the country and they are big and strong (averaging 303 pounds). They overpower you. It's a very potent, strong and quick offense.
The leader of the offense is quarterback Randy Fasani, a fifth-year player who reads defenses very well and is always composed. He has great size at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds. Although he isn't real fast, he is very elusive and dangerous on the scramble. He has a strong arm and is extremely confident.
Oregon's defense will be missing free safety Keith Lewis, the team's leading tackler, who is doubtful with a sprained ankle. The problem for the Ducks is that not only will they lose about four inches and 10 pounds with his replacement, 5-9, 182-pound Gary McGraw, but they will also miss Lewis' freelance capabilities. He's aggressive, reads on the run and is all over the field. One of the positives with McGraw is that he is experienced.
It's going to be size against quickness. Oregon is not a big defense, but it is very quick. The Ducks dare you to run by putting eight or nine guys in the box and they think their cornerbacks can defend in man coverage. They get everybody running to the football. Coordinator Nick Aliotti is a very aggressive coach who tries to bring players from all over the field and they have had success doing it.
Stanford is going to try to take advantage of that with its receivers, who will have a significant size advantage. Ryan Wells hasn't had a breakout season and is banged up coming into this game with a sprained knee. Teyo Johnson will move in. Johnson's a two-sport star who plays on the basketball team and played quarterback last year. He gives the Cardinal a very athletic 6-foot-7 wideout.
Stanford also believes it can overpower Oregon in the running game with its offensive line, and that it has mismatches at wide receiver and tight end. The tight ends are all 6-6 or better. They think they can have mismatches against Oregon's small cornerback Rashaud Bauman (5-8, 175 pounds) and the rest of the Duck secondary.
When Oregon has the ball
Harrington is the complete package. He is big, strong, has a good arm, has terrific composure, reads defenses well and has the ability to run, so he is difficult to defend against. His father, John, was a quarterback, so he learned about defenses when he was young. He's been through it all. His nickname in Eugene is "Captain Comeback" because of all the times he has brought them back, and the fact is he doesn't panic.
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Matchups to Watch:
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Stanford's WRs vs. Oregon's CBs: How will Oregon's cornerbacks do with their big size disadvantage?
Stanford's offensive line vs. Oregon's front seven: The Cardinal need to create holes to free up Brian Allen and Kerry Carter. Stanford needs to score at least 30 points to win this one.
--Tim Brant
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Oregon doesn't run the ball as much as it did last season. They are passing more. Keenan Howry is more involved in the offense. Howry has great speed and is a terrific receiver. They are running him on reverses, swing patterns and deep patterns. Once they get success in the passing game and start to spread the defense thin, they attack with Maurice Morris.
Morris has worked in well as a receiver. He catches the ball well, is starting to run better and the offense is getting more dangerous.
The one player who is starting to break out is tight end Justin Peelle. Any time the Ducks get into the red zone, they are looking for him. He leads the team with seven touchdowns, and has scored in five of the team's first six games.
That 1-2 punch of the pass and run is going to be difficult for Stanford. The defense gave up 45 points to Washington State last week and is allowing nearly 28 points and 275 passing yards per game. The Cardinal have to score a lot of points to win this one.
Tim Brant will do the analysis of Saturday's Stanford-Oregon game on ABC with Keith Jackson and Todd Harris. He is a regular contributor to ABC Sports Online.
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