College Football Nation: Kenjon Barner
As part of “College Football Live’s” 100 Days Till Kickoff countdown, here’s a look at the top 10 players in the Pac-12.
This list, by the way, may or may not match the Pac-12 blog's preseason top 25, which will be posted later in the summer.
1. Matt Barkley, QB, USC: Best QB in the nation. Would have been a top-10 pick in this past NFL draft. Could go No. 1 overall in 2013. He completed 69 percent of his passes for 3,528 yards, with 39 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2011.
2. De'Anthony Thomas, RB/WR, Oregon: Thomas is one of the nation's most explosive players and a leading Heisman Trophy candidate. He rushed for 595 yards and seven TDs in 2011, averaging 10.8 yards per carry. He caught 46 passes for 605 yards and nine TDs. He averaged 27.3 yards per kick return with two TDs.
3. Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah: Lotulelei may be the nation's best defensive tackle. He likely will be an early first-round pick in the 2013 NFL draft. The Morris Trophy winner as the Pac-12's best D-lineman, he had 44 total tackles, with nine coming for a loss. He had 1.5 sacks, a pass break-up, forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
4. Robert Woods, WR, USC: Woods, first-team All-Pac-12 in 2011, earned first-team All-American honors from the AP, The Sporting News and was second-team with Walter Camp. He caught 111 passes for 1,292 yards with 15 TDs in 2011.
5. Marqise Lee, WR, USC: Lee might share All-American honors with Woods this season. He stepped up late in 2011 when Woods was hurt, catching seven of his 11 TD passes over the final five games and hauling in 21 passes for 411 yards in the final two -- wins over Oregon and UCLA. For the season, he caught 73 passes for 1,143 yards with 11 touchdowns. He also averaged 28.5 yards on 10 kickoff returns, with an 88-yard TD.
6. Keith Price, QB, Washington: As a first-year, sophomore starter, Price passed for 3,063 yards with 33 touchdown passes, with those numbers ranking second and first all-time for the Huskies. His 66.9 completion percentage and 161.09 passing efficiency rating were both school records.
7. Chase Thomas, OLB, Stanford: Thomas was first-team All-Pac-12 and an All-American for The Sporting News in 2011. He had 52 total tackles and led the Pac-12 with 17.5 tackles for a loss, three more than anyone else. He was also second in the conference with 8.5 sacks and five forced fumbles.
8. Keenan Allen, WR, California: Allen earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors after ranking second in the Pac-12 in receiving yards. His 103.3 receiving yards per game ranked 10th in the nation and third in the conference. He caught 98 passes for 1,343 yards with six touchdowns and averaged 13.7 yards per reception in 2011.
9. Marquess Wilson, WR, Washington State: Wilson earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2011 and is an All-American candidate in 2012. He ranked first in the Pac-12 and sixth in the nation with 115.7 yards receiving per game. His 12 touchdown receptions ranked second in the conference. His 16.9 yards per catch ranked third. He caught 82 passes for 1,388 yards with 12 touchdowns.
10. Kenjon Barner, RB, Oregon: Barner was the nation's best backup running back in 2011 behind LaMichael James. He ranked eighth in the Pac-12 in rushing at 78.2 yards per game. He rushed for 939 yards and 11 TDs in 2011 and caught 17 passes with three other TDs. He has rushed for 1,856 yards and 20 TDs in his career.
In news that is no surprise, Oregon officially announced Monday that running back Tra Carson, who was in line to be the Ducks' power back behind Kenjon Barner and De'Anthony Thomas, is transferring.
In a news release, the school said Carson "did not return to school for the start of the spring term classes Monday, and intends to transfer closer to home."
The 6-0, 227-pound Carson ran for 254 yards and one touchdown in 10 games as a true freshman in 2011, in addition to catching one pass for six yards.
Carson's transfer opens the door for incoming freshman Byron Marshall to earn playing time this fall.
We've given you our thoughts recently on which Pac-12 player has the best shot at winning the Heisman. You've given your thoughts (an extremely tight poll) and now the folks at HeismanPundit.com have offered up their darkhorse candidates for 2012.
They looked at 12 not-as-mainstream candidates who could contend for the Heisman Trophy, and four of them are from the Pac-12.
First, the list:
Their thoughts on each of the Pac-12 players:
Fun list. With frontrunner Matt Barkley out there, along with Washington quarterback Keith Price, a couple of USC wide receivers and A-list running backs like John White IV and Stepfan Taylor, there is certainly no wanting for offensive talent in the conference. Per usual.
Which players emerge will definitely be one of the more fascinating stories to follow in 2012.
They looked at 12 not-as-mainstream candidates who could contend for the Heisman Trophy, and four of them are from the Pac-12.
First, the list:
- Eddie Lacy, Alabama
- Curtis McNeal, USC
- Fitzgerald Toussaint, Michigan
- Kenjon Barner, Oregon
- James Franklin, Missouri
- Braxton Miller, Ohio State
- Kiehl Frazier, Auburn
- Le'Veon Bell, Michigan State
- Cierre Wood, Notre Dame
- Christine Michael, Texas A&M
- Jesse Callier, Washington
- De'Anthony Thomas, Oregon
Their thoughts on each of the Pac-12 players:
On McNeal: A total of 150 carries have departed the program and there is little depth behind the senior, who will benefit from defenses focusing on USC’s strong passing attack. Give McNeal at least half of those departed carries and you are looking at a possible 1,500 yard season, if not more.
On Barner: There were times the rest of the year when he looked as good as, if not better than, James. This year, the Ducks lose not only James’ 247 carries, but also the 45 of freshman Tra Carson and the 56 of quarterback Darron Thomas, for a total of 347 carries to be redistributed.
On Callier: I actually think there is a good chance that Washington experiences no dropoff at this position and that Callier establishes himself as one of the top backs in the Pac-12 with a season exceeding 1,300 yards on the ground.
On Thomas: Thomas is obviously an interesting case since he is such an all-around dynamo. Last year, he had just 140 touches, with 39 of them coming in the return game. This was a wise move by Oregon, as keeping the rather slight Thomas fresh and healthy is the key to his effectiveness. It worked, as he had 18 touchdowns and 2,235 total yards. In that vein, Oregon might be tempted to put a huge workload on him in 2012, but I don’t foresee it unless there is a desperate need.
Fun list. With frontrunner Matt Barkley out there, along with Washington quarterback Keith Price, a couple of USC wide receivers and A-list running backs like John White IV and Stepfan Taylor, there is certainly no wanting for offensive talent in the conference. Per usual.
Which players emerge will definitely be one of the more fascinating stories to follow in 2012.
Pac-12 recruiting needs: North Division
January, 31, 2012
Jan 31
3:20
PM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
Every team needs to hit every position group each recruiting season, but there are always priorities. It's not just positions where starters are lost or going to be seniors, it's about addressing weaknesses where a true freshman might be a better answer than a returning player.
Up next is the North Division.
California
QB: Zach Maynard will be a senior, and it says something about the depth behind him that he never lost his job during his midseason swoon.
WR: Keenan Allen is back, but that's it in terms of returning production and experience.
S: Three of the top four safeties from 2011 are gone.
Oregon
Skill: In Chip Kelly's offense, you can never have enough fast guys. Sure, Kenjon Barner, De'Anthony Thomas and Josh Huff are back, but there's a lot of youth and uncertainty after that at running back and wide receiver.
TE: His name is David Paulson, but he's gone. Colt Lyerla was a productive backup -- at least in terms of finding the end zone -- but after him things are uncertain. Tight end is one of the most underrated positions in the Ducks offense, so having more than one Kelly trusts is significant.
S: Eddie Pleasant is gone and John Boyett is a senior. Avery Patterson, Erick Dargan and Brian Jackson are next in line, but the young talent isn't as certain as it is at corner.
Oregon State
OL: Oregon State lost three starters from a line that led the worst rushing attack in the conference and surrendered 27 sacks. Quarterback Sean Mannion has potential, but he needs time. And a running game.
DT: The Beavers had the worst rushing defense in the Pac-12 in 2011. 'Nuff said.
LB: The Beavers had the worst rushing defense in the Pac-12 in 2011. Almost enough said. Cameron Collins is gone, and all the contributors on the two-deep will be seniors, other than junior Michael Doctor.
Stanford
WR: Perhaps the weakest position for the Cardinal in 2011, this need is augmented by the loss of Griff Whalen and Chris Owusu and the lack of up-and-comers other than sophomore Ty Montgomery.
DB: Three of four starters are gone, including both safeties. In the Cardinal's two losses -- to Oregon and Oklahoma State -- an absence of top-end athleticism in the back half was exploited.
OL: Three starters are back, but the losses are huge: Tackle Jonathan Martin and guard David DeCastro. And backup tackle Tyler Mabry and backup guard Matt Bentler also are gone. If coach David Shaw intends to remain a physical, downhill running team -- and he does -- he'll need to continuously stock up on linemen who can get the job done.
Washington
DB: Lots of guys are back in the secondary, but the Huskies gave up 284.6 yards passing per game, which ranked 11th in the Pac-12. They couldn't cover anybody and often seemed out of position. So new blood might help.
DL: (See if you can notice a theme here that ignores questions at wide receiver and running back). Two starters are gone from a line that consistently underperformed based on preseason expectations.
LB: Second-team All-Pac-12 middle linebacker Cort Dennison is the only one of the eight men on the depth chart who won't be back, but he was the team's only consistent linebacker.
Washington State
DL: Three of four starters are back, but all three will be seniors.
OL: Three starters are back, but to make the next step on offense, the Cougars need to run the ball better. They ranked 10th in the conference in rushing offense. And that might reduce a conference-high 3.3 sacks per game. Mike Leach's quick-hit offense also might help.
RB: 170-pound sophomore Rickey Galvin is back, as is senior Carl Winston, but the backs need to share responsibility for a 3.1-yards-per-carry average, worst in the conference (of course, losing 237 yards to sacks doesn't help).
Up next is the North Division.
California
QB: Zach Maynard will be a senior, and it says something about the depth behind him that he never lost his job during his midseason swoon.
WR: Keenan Allen is back, but that's it in terms of returning production and experience.
S: Three of the top four safeties from 2011 are gone.
Oregon
Skill: In Chip Kelly's offense, you can never have enough fast guys. Sure, Kenjon Barner, De'Anthony Thomas and Josh Huff are back, but there's a lot of youth and uncertainty after that at running back and wide receiver.
TE: His name is David Paulson, but he's gone. Colt Lyerla was a productive backup -- at least in terms of finding the end zone -- but after him things are uncertain. Tight end is one of the most underrated positions in the Ducks offense, so having more than one Kelly trusts is significant.
S: Eddie Pleasant is gone and John Boyett is a senior. Avery Patterson, Erick Dargan and Brian Jackson are next in line, but the young talent isn't as certain as it is at corner.
Oregon State
OL: Oregon State lost three starters from a line that led the worst rushing attack in the conference and surrendered 27 sacks. Quarterback Sean Mannion has potential, but he needs time. And a running game.
DT: The Beavers had the worst rushing defense in the Pac-12 in 2011. 'Nuff said.
LB: The Beavers had the worst rushing defense in the Pac-12 in 2011. Almost enough said. Cameron Collins is gone, and all the contributors on the two-deep will be seniors, other than junior Michael Doctor.
Stanford
WR: Perhaps the weakest position for the Cardinal in 2011, this need is augmented by the loss of Griff Whalen and Chris Owusu and the lack of up-and-comers other than sophomore Ty Montgomery.
DB: Three of four starters are gone, including both safeties. In the Cardinal's two losses -- to Oregon and Oklahoma State -- an absence of top-end athleticism in the back half was exploited.
OL: Three starters are back, but the losses are huge: Tackle Jonathan Martin and guard David DeCastro. And backup tackle Tyler Mabry and backup guard Matt Bentler also are gone. If coach David Shaw intends to remain a physical, downhill running team -- and he does -- he'll need to continuously stock up on linemen who can get the job done.
Washington
DB: Lots of guys are back in the secondary, but the Huskies gave up 284.6 yards passing per game, which ranked 11th in the Pac-12. They couldn't cover anybody and often seemed out of position. So new blood might help.
DL: (See if you can notice a theme here that ignores questions at wide receiver and running back). Two starters are gone from a line that consistently underperformed based on preseason expectations.
LB: Second-team All-Pac-12 middle linebacker Cort Dennison is the only one of the eight men on the depth chart who won't be back, but he was the team's only consistent linebacker.
Washington State
DL: Three of four starters are back, but all three will be seniors.
OL: Three starters are back, but to make the next step on offense, the Cougars need to run the ball better. They ranked 10th in the conference in rushing offense. And that might reduce a conference-high 3.3 sacks per game. Mike Leach's quick-hit offense also might help.
RB: 170-pound sophomore Rickey Galvin is back, as is senior Carl Winston, but the backs need to share responsibility for a 3.1-yards-per-carry average, worst in the conference (of course, losing 237 yards to sacks doesn't help).
As expected, Oregon junior running back LaMichael James will enter the NFL draft.
James' decision was first reported by The Oregonian on Dec. 15.
James, a 2010 Heisman Trophy finalist and Doak Walker Award winner, will finish his career as the best player in Oregon history and one of the best running backs in Pac-12 history. His 5,082 career yards rushing and 53 TDs rank second all-time in the conference. He was the first running back to eclipse 1,500 yards rushing three consecutive years.
His obvious replacement would be talented junior backup Kenjon Barner, but Barner also is considering entering the NFL draft.
The deadline to declare is Jan. 15.
Here is the list of Pac-12 players who have opted to enter the NFL draft a year early.
Vontaze Burfict, LB, ASU
David DeCastro, OG, Stanford
Matt Kalil, LT, USC
Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
Nick Perry, DE, USC
Chris Polk, RB, Washington
LaMichael James, RB, Oregon
Arizona State QB Brock Osweiler is expected to shortly announce that he also will enter the draft.
James' decision was first reported by The Oregonian on Dec. 15.
James, a 2010 Heisman Trophy finalist and Doak Walker Award winner, will finish his career as the best player in Oregon history and one of the best running backs in Pac-12 history. His 5,082 career yards rushing and 53 TDs rank second all-time in the conference. He was the first running back to eclipse 1,500 yards rushing three consecutive years.
His obvious replacement would be talented junior backup Kenjon Barner, but Barner also is considering entering the NFL draft.
The deadline to declare is Jan. 15.
Here is the list of Pac-12 players who have opted to enter the NFL draft a year early.
Vontaze Burfict, LB, ASU
David DeCastro, OG, Stanford
Matt Kalil, LT, USC
Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
Nick Perry, DE, USC
Chris Polk, RB, Washington
LaMichael James, RB, Oregon
Arizona State QB Brock Osweiler is expected to shortly announce that he also will enter the draft.
Let's look at three keys for Oregon in the Rose Bowl against Wisconsin on Monday.
1. Win the battle of styles: At first, this was going to be: "Run and stop the run." But the key for Oregon might be flexibility. What the Ducks want is to get their fast players -- LaMichael James, Kenjon Barner, De'Anthony Thomas and Josh Huff -- into space and put pressure on Wisconsin to make one-on-one tackles. The Badgers' defense is sound and physical, but it's not terribly fast. Think Stanford. It doesn't matter how the Ducks get their speed guys into space, either through passes or runs; it just matters to get them there and let them do their thing. On the other side of the ball, Oregon's defense must find a way to create negative plays that take Wisconsin out of its comfort zone. The Badgers might gain 6 yards on five consecutive runs, but if they 2 lose two on first down, the Ducks' defense has a much better chance to get a stop. Second- and third-and-long turns the advantage from Wisconsin's size to the Ducks' speed.
2. Be special: Based on the regular season, Oregon is better on special teams. Punt and kick returns are where speedy players can make slower teams look bad. Wisconsin is 81st in the nation defending kickoff returns, and Thomas has gone yard twice this season. A special-teams touchdown could be a game-changer. Also, in terms of field position, Oregon is No. 1 in the nation in net punting while Wisconsin is 71st. In a tight game, special teams often make a difference in spectacular and subtle ways. This is an area where the Ducks would seem to have an advantage.
3. Clean sheet: While the national story from Oregon's opening loss to LSU was all that SEC size and speed overwhelming the Ducks, the secondary story was turnovers and penalties. The Ducks lost the turnover battle 4-1 -- LSU returned one fumble for a touchdown -- and had 12 penalties for 95 yards, including a pair of phantom "leg whip" penalties that if anybody saw those called in any other game this year, please email me. LSU was the better team -- after watching the Tigers this season, it's impossible to say otherwise -- but the Ducks made things easy for them. Wisconsin isn't LSU, but it will win this game easily if the Ducks lose the turnover battle 4-1 and get 95 yards in penalties. You can be almost certain that the Badgers aren't going to be sloppy; their eight turnovers are fewest in the nation. So the Ducks also need a clean afternoon. If the turnover tally is 0-0 or 1-1, Oregon should be in good shape.
1. Win the battle of styles: At first, this was going to be: "Run and stop the run." But the key for Oregon might be flexibility. What the Ducks want is to get their fast players -- LaMichael James, Kenjon Barner, De'Anthony Thomas and Josh Huff -- into space and put pressure on Wisconsin to make one-on-one tackles. The Badgers' defense is sound and physical, but it's not terribly fast. Think Stanford. It doesn't matter how the Ducks get their speed guys into space, either through passes or runs; it just matters to get them there and let them do their thing. On the other side of the ball, Oregon's defense must find a way to create negative plays that take Wisconsin out of its comfort zone. The Badgers might gain 6 yards on five consecutive runs, but if they 2 lose two on first down, the Ducks' defense has a much better chance to get a stop. Second- and third-and-long turns the advantage from Wisconsin's size to the Ducks' speed.
2. Be special: Based on the regular season, Oregon is better on special teams. Punt and kick returns are where speedy players can make slower teams look bad. Wisconsin is 81st in the nation defending kickoff returns, and Thomas has gone yard twice this season. A special-teams touchdown could be a game-changer. Also, in terms of field position, Oregon is No. 1 in the nation in net punting while Wisconsin is 71st. In a tight game, special teams often make a difference in spectacular and subtle ways. This is an area where the Ducks would seem to have an advantage.
3. Clean sheet: While the national story from Oregon's opening loss to LSU was all that SEC size and speed overwhelming the Ducks, the secondary story was turnovers and penalties. The Ducks lost the turnover battle 4-1 -- LSU returned one fumble for a touchdown -- and had 12 penalties for 95 yards, including a pair of phantom "leg whip" penalties that if anybody saw those called in any other game this year, please email me. LSU was the better team -- after watching the Tigers this season, it's impossible to say otherwise -- but the Ducks made things easy for them. Wisconsin isn't LSU, but it will win this game easily if the Ducks lose the turnover battle 4-1 and get 95 yards in penalties. You can be almost certain that the Badgers aren't going to be sloppy; their eight turnovers are fewest in the nation. So the Ducks also need a clean afternoon. If the turnover tally is 0-0 or 1-1, Oregon should be in good shape.
According to National Geographic, "Black mambas are fast, nervous, lethally venomous, and when threatened, highly aggressive. They have been blamed for numerous human deaths, and African myths exaggerate their capabilities to legendary proportions. For these reasons, the black mamba is widely considered the world’s deadliest snake."
Which reminds me: Did I tell you about the time Oregon's De'Anthony Thomas caused a sonic boom at Autzen Stadium? He caught a kickoff against USC and -- just as he crossed the Trojans' 30-yard line -- BOOM! It shook the stadium as he strutted into the end zone. I thought we were under attack.
Or what about when the player known as the "Black Mamba" caught that screen pass against Nevada and the field caught on fire behind him as he jetted for a 69-yard TD? I wouldn't lie to you.
Or that time Thomas hypnotized Washington State safety Tyree Toomer at the end of a 45-yard screen pass for a TD? He said to Toomer, "Look right, look left, look right, look left!" As Thomas went left, went right, went left, went right.
Kobe Bryant calls himself the Black Mamba, and that's cool. He's a righteous basketball player. But Snoop Dogg started calling Thomas the Black Mamba when Thomas was playing Pop Warner ball way back in 2005. Against Snoop's team.
Advantage: Thomas.
"I guess I'm deadly on the field," said Thomas, the Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year, when asked for the significance of the nickname.
No doubt. While USC QB Matt Barkley is the conference's leading Heisman Trophy candidate heading into 2012, plenty of smart money next preseason will chase Thomas. Is there a more electric player in college football? No, because no other college football player can send bolts of electricity from his eyeballs.
OK. We made that one up. But Thomas' résumé of thrills, numbers and prone defenders lying in his wake is electrifying.
He was the Ducks' leading receiver with 42 catches for 571 yards and nine TDs. So 21.4 percent of his receptions ended up in TDs. USC receiver Robert Woods also is a spectacular player (see all of his All-American honors). But his 15 TDs on 111 receptions breaks down to a TD rate of just 13.5 percent.
But that's not all!
Thomas was the Ducks' third-leading rusher with 440 yards. He averaged 8.3 yards per carry and scored five TDs.
But that's not all!
Thomas also led the Pac-12 in kickoff returns with a 27.7 average, including two TDs. His 16 touchdowns not only set a school record for a freshman, no other freshman in the nation scored as many. He was Oregon's first true freshman to earn team MVP honors, too, which he shared with tight end David Paulson.
"The first thing that jumps out is his athletic ability -- how quickly he can do things," Ducks coach Chip Kelly said. "Not only is he fast, but his ability to change direction is incredible. It's how quick he gets out of cuts. There's a suddenness to him. I don't think people appreciate it until they really see him in person. Then they're like, 'Wow!'"
Thomas' elusiveness became legendary during his career at Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles, but his figurative shake-and-bake move on USC just before signing day also inspired a few "Wow" reactions. He grew up a USC fan and was a longtime commitment before switching to the Ducks the final week before signing day.
"It still doesn't make sense," USC coach Lane Kiffin said before the teams' met in Eugene on Nov. 19. "It was very strange."
Thomas has been consistent when explaining his change of heart, which has inspired more than a few unsubstantiated conspiracy theories. He liked USC until he fell in love with Oregon after a visit.
As for trading the Southern California sunshine for the tenacious winter drizzle of the Northwest, Thomas is unbowed.
"To me the weather, it doesn't really affect me," he said. "I adapted to it real fast. It doesn't bother me."
If junior running back LaMichael James departs for the NFL draft, as expected, Thomas should step into the role of primary playmaker for the Ducks, though James' backup, Kenjon Barner, is hardly chopped liver. Kelly, known for his offensive creativity, said Thomas will continue to play a hybrid role that allows him to challenge a defense from many spots on the field.
"That's the fun part for us," Kelly said. "How many ways can we get him into the right spots to exploit a matchup without him getting confused? He's done a great job of it so far, but we haven't put everything on his plate, either."
As in: What happens if Thomas touches the ball 200 times instead of 126? Zeus himself might come down from Mount Olympus and hang out with Phil Knight in his Autzen Stadium box to see such a thing.
Thomas seems pretty blasé about his budding stardom. Sure, he and Snoop keep in touch. Heisman talk? It will be great motivation next season. Does he have a favorite play from this season? Nope. Does he watch YouTube highlights of himself? Nope.
Those spectacular plays that sometimes inspire mythologizing are just what Thomas does.
"It's always been the way I was," he said. "Sometimes I don't even know where the moves come from. It's just playing the game of football and having fun."
Did you hear about the time a Pac-12 defensive coordinator spontaneously combusted while thinking about Thomas? Well, that's because it hasn't happened, silly.
Not yet, at least.
Which reminds me: Did I tell you about the time Oregon's De'Anthony Thomas caused a sonic boom at Autzen Stadium? He caught a kickoff against USC and -- just as he crossed the Trojans' 30-yard line -- BOOM! It shook the stadium as he strutted into the end zone. I thought we were under attack.
Or what about when the player known as the "Black Mamba" caught that screen pass against Nevada and the field caught on fire behind him as he jetted for a 69-yard TD? I wouldn't lie to you.
Or that time Thomas hypnotized Washington State safety Tyree Toomer at the end of a 45-yard screen pass for a TD? He said to Toomer, "Look right, look left, look right, look left!" As Thomas went left, went right, went left, went right.
[+] Enlarge
Jonathan Ferrey/Getty ImagesFreshman De'Anthony Thomas was Oregon's leading receiver with 42 catches for 571 yards and nine scores. He also rushed for 440 yards and five more scores, while adding two return TDs.
Jonathan Ferrey/Getty ImagesFreshman De'Anthony Thomas was Oregon's leading receiver with 42 catches for 571 yards and nine scores. He also rushed for 440 yards and five more scores, while adding two return TDs.Advantage: Thomas.
"I guess I'm deadly on the field," said Thomas, the Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year, when asked for the significance of the nickname.
No doubt. While USC QB Matt Barkley is the conference's leading Heisman Trophy candidate heading into 2012, plenty of smart money next preseason will chase Thomas. Is there a more electric player in college football? No, because no other college football player can send bolts of electricity from his eyeballs.
OK. We made that one up. But Thomas' résumé of thrills, numbers and prone defenders lying in his wake is electrifying.
He was the Ducks' leading receiver with 42 catches for 571 yards and nine TDs. So 21.4 percent of his receptions ended up in TDs. USC receiver Robert Woods also is a spectacular player (see all of his All-American honors). But his 15 TDs on 111 receptions breaks down to a TD rate of just 13.5 percent.
But that's not all!
Thomas was the Ducks' third-leading rusher with 440 yards. He averaged 8.3 yards per carry and scored five TDs.
But that's not all!
Thomas also led the Pac-12 in kickoff returns with a 27.7 average, including two TDs. His 16 touchdowns not only set a school record for a freshman, no other freshman in the nation scored as many. He was Oregon's first true freshman to earn team MVP honors, too, which he shared with tight end David Paulson.
"The first thing that jumps out is his athletic ability -- how quickly he can do things," Ducks coach Chip Kelly said. "Not only is he fast, but his ability to change direction is incredible. It's how quick he gets out of cuts. There's a suddenness to him. I don't think people appreciate it until they really see him in person. Then they're like, 'Wow!'"
Thomas' elusiveness became legendary during his career at Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles, but his figurative shake-and-bake move on USC just before signing day also inspired a few "Wow" reactions. He grew up a USC fan and was a longtime commitment before switching to the Ducks the final week before signing day.
"It still doesn't make sense," USC coach Lane Kiffin said before the teams' met in Eugene on Nov. 19. "It was very strange."
Thomas has been consistent when explaining his change of heart, which has inspired more than a few unsubstantiated conspiracy theories. He liked USC until he fell in love with Oregon after a visit.
As for trading the Southern California sunshine for the tenacious winter drizzle of the Northwest, Thomas is unbowed.
"To me the weather, it doesn't really affect me," he said. "I adapted to it real fast. It doesn't bother me."
If junior running back LaMichael James departs for the NFL draft, as expected, Thomas should step into the role of primary playmaker for the Ducks, though James' backup, Kenjon Barner, is hardly chopped liver. Kelly, known for his offensive creativity, said Thomas will continue to play a hybrid role that allows him to challenge a defense from many spots on the field.
"That's the fun part for us," Kelly said. "How many ways can we get him into the right spots to exploit a matchup without him getting confused? He's done a great job of it so far, but we haven't put everything on his plate, either."
As in: What happens if Thomas touches the ball 200 times instead of 126? Zeus himself might come down from Mount Olympus and hang out with Phil Knight in his Autzen Stadium box to see such a thing.
Thomas seems pretty blasé about his budding stardom. Sure, he and Snoop keep in touch. Heisman talk? It will be great motivation next season. Does he have a favorite play from this season? Nope. Does he watch YouTube highlights of himself? Nope.
Those spectacular plays that sometimes inspire mythologizing are just what Thomas does.
"It's always been the way I was," he said. "Sometimes I don't even know where the moves come from. It's just playing the game of football and having fun."
Did you hear about the time a Pac-12 defensive coordinator spontaneously combusted while thinking about Thomas? Well, that's because it hasn't happened, silly.
Not yet, at least.
Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio
December, 4, 2011
12/04/11
11:34
PM ET
By
Brian Bennett and
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
Wisconsin Badgers (11-2) vs. Oregon Ducks (11-2)
Jan. 2, 5 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Wisconsin take from Big Ten blogger Brian Bennett: The memory of last year's 21-19 loss to TCU in the Rose Bowl helped motivate Wisconsin this offseason.
The Badgers made it their mission to get back to the BCS and change the outcome this year, a plan that was nearly derailed by two straight dispiriting October losses. But they battled back to clinch consecutive trips to Pasadena for the first time since the 1998-99 seasons. And the players say they're not satisfied just to get there.
"We didn't finish it right last year," safety Aaron Henry said. "To have a chance to go out there and finish off something is a truly amazing, special feeling."
It won't be easy. Oregon is one of only three teams in the country that scored more points than Wisconsin this season, and the Ducks' speed could cause major problems for a defense that struggled against swiftness in space at times this year.
The Badgers' best defense, though, could be its offense. Their imposing offensive line could wear on the smaller Ducks, and the ground game led by Montee Ball -- who needs just two more touchdowns to set the single-season FBS record -- will help keep Oregon's offense off the field. Quarterback Russell Wilson should thrive against a less physical defense than he faced in the Big Ten, and he embraces the big stage.
An NC State transfer, Wilson will be making his first BCS appearance. The rest of his teammates know the Rose Bowl well. They hope to find out what a Rose Bowl victory feels like.
Oregon take from Pac-12 blogger Ted Miller: Oregon is headed to its third consecutive BCS bowl game and second Rose Bowl in three years. That's great, but the Ducks are 0-2 in those games, so the program is no longer just happy to be there. They need to win to climb another rung in the national pecking order.
The Ducks are not unlike previous varieties. They are again an offensive juggernaut, ranking third in the nation in scoring, fifth in rushing and sixth in total offense. Their relentless, up-tempo offense wears opposing defenses down and causes them to lose concentration and gap integrity. The perceived Achilles’ heel that will be tested, however, is this: Coach Chip Kelly has lost six times. In five of those losses, high-quality teams had extra time to prepare their defenses. Your turn, Wisconsin.
That's one take of the Ducks' opener against LSU in Cowboys Stadium. They lost 40-27 in large part because their rebuilt offensive line struggled with the Tigers’ front seven. Of course, Oregon fans will point to losing the turnover battle 4-1. And it's worth noting no other team scored as many points against the Tigers this year. Only West Virginia had more total yards against LSU.
After the LSU loss, Oregon mostly cruised. The marquee showdown at Stanford was underwhelming, as the Ducks' defense controlled Cardinal QB Andrew Luck and the offense just looked too fast for Stanford.
The win at Stanford put the Ducks back into the national title discussion. A week later, however, they were out with a 38-35 loss to USC, missing a late field goal for the tie as time expired. They bounced back with easy wins over Oregon State and UCLA in the Pac-12 championship game.
The Ducks' chief star is running back LaMichael James, the 2010 Doak Walker Award winner and the first back in conference history to rush for more than 1,500 yards three consecutive seasons. But there are plenty of weapons on offense, including multipurpose true freshman De'Anthony Thomas, backup running back Kenjon Barner and tight end David Paulson. The defense produced three first-team All-Pac-12 players and a second-teamer, so it's not a nameless bunch in conference circles. It's solid in most areas and ranks third in the nation with 3.3 sacks per game.
Jan. 2, 5 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Wisconsin take from Big Ten blogger Brian Bennett: The memory of last year's 21-19 loss to TCU in the Rose Bowl helped motivate Wisconsin this offseason.
The Badgers made it their mission to get back to the BCS and change the outcome this year, a plan that was nearly derailed by two straight dispiriting October losses. But they battled back to clinch consecutive trips to Pasadena for the first time since the 1998-99 seasons. And the players say they're not satisfied just to get there.
"We didn't finish it right last year," safety Aaron Henry said. "To have a chance to go out there and finish off something is a truly amazing, special feeling."
It won't be easy. Oregon is one of only three teams in the country that scored more points than Wisconsin this season, and the Ducks' speed could cause major problems for a defense that struggled against swiftness in space at times this year.
The Badgers' best defense, though, could be its offense. Their imposing offensive line could wear on the smaller Ducks, and the ground game led by Montee Ball -- who needs just two more touchdowns to set the single-season FBS record -- will help keep Oregon's offense off the field. Quarterback Russell Wilson should thrive against a less physical defense than he faced in the Big Ten, and he embraces the big stage.
An NC State transfer, Wilson will be making his first BCS appearance. The rest of his teammates know the Rose Bowl well. They hope to find out what a Rose Bowl victory feels like.
Oregon take from Pac-12 blogger Ted Miller: Oregon is headed to its third consecutive BCS bowl game and second Rose Bowl in three years. That's great, but the Ducks are 0-2 in those games, so the program is no longer just happy to be there. They need to win to climb another rung in the national pecking order.
The Ducks are not unlike previous varieties. They are again an offensive juggernaut, ranking third in the nation in scoring, fifth in rushing and sixth in total offense. Their relentless, up-tempo offense wears opposing defenses down and causes them to lose concentration and gap integrity. The perceived Achilles’ heel that will be tested, however, is this: Coach Chip Kelly has lost six times. In five of those losses, high-quality teams had extra time to prepare their defenses. Your turn, Wisconsin.
That's one take of the Ducks' opener against LSU in Cowboys Stadium. They lost 40-27 in large part because their rebuilt offensive line struggled with the Tigers’ front seven. Of course, Oregon fans will point to losing the turnover battle 4-1. And it's worth noting no other team scored as many points against the Tigers this year. Only West Virginia had more total yards against LSU.
After the LSU loss, Oregon mostly cruised. The marquee showdown at Stanford was underwhelming, as the Ducks' defense controlled Cardinal QB Andrew Luck and the offense just looked too fast for Stanford.
The win at Stanford put the Ducks back into the national title discussion. A week later, however, they were out with a 38-35 loss to USC, missing a late field goal for the tie as time expired. They bounced back with easy wins over Oregon State and UCLA in the Pac-12 championship game.
The Ducks' chief star is running back LaMichael James, the 2010 Doak Walker Award winner and the first back in conference history to rush for more than 1,500 yards three consecutive seasons. But there are plenty of weapons on offense, including multipurpose true freshman De'Anthony Thomas, backup running back Kenjon Barner and tight end David Paulson. The defense produced three first-team All-Pac-12 players and a second-teamer, so it's not a nameless bunch in conference circles. It's solid in most areas and ranks third in the nation with 3.3 sacks per game.
Oregon offense never out of options
November, 9, 2011
11/09/11
4:00
PM ET
By
Kevin Gemmell | ESPN.com
PALO ALTO, Calif. -- We know Oregon has speed. Chip Kelly might as well have it printed on his business card:
Chip Kelly, head coach, Oregon. “I recruit speed.”
Speed at the skill positions, speed in which they get off plays and speed in which they execute those plays.
In the time it took you to read this, Oregon has run four plays and gained 72 yards.
But it’s what they do with that speed that makes them so dangerous.
Let’s take a look at what Oregon does on offense that makes them so potent.
Setting up in the shotgun, a standard run play starts with the double-option. Quarterback Darron Thomas reads the defensive end and then decides whether to hand off to one of his blistering backs if the defensive end dives or he keeps it himself.
Simple enough. But then…
Oregon starts bringing slot backs across in a fly motion or arc motion which adds a pitch element -- turning the double option into the triple option. They’ll also do this out of a triple-I formation or split backs -- which is what you would see from traditional wishbone teams, only the Ducks do it out of the shotgun.
Getting tougher. But then…
Thomas starts reading the man inside of the defensive end -- be it an inside linebacker or nose guard in the 3-4 scheme -- and it becomes a mid-line option.
Getting a lot tougher. But then…
Oregon pulls one of its athletic guards on a trap block and Thomas fakes the dive and follows the trap.
Getting really hard now. But then…
Eight or nine defenders have been sucked in and are committed to the run and Thomas pulls off the play-action -- or simply spreads out his receivers to create crater-sized pockets in the secondary.
By the way, they will do all of the above out of multiple formations, from the hurry-up and with the nation’s leading rusher LaMichael James -- or the equally fast Kenjon Barner or De'Anthony Thomas -- standing next to or behind Thomas. Starting to the get the picture?
“It’s pretty tough,” said linebacker Jarek Lancaster, who then corrected himself. “Actually, it’s really tough. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. They do a lot of different things. But we’ve put in some really good calls that have made it as simple as possible for us … The type of defense we have is built-in to stop those runs. Just play your man and don’t be a hero out there. That’s how you do your job.
“No freelancing on these guys because they will burn you if you freelance.”
A defensive coach whom I admire greatly once told me there is no way to stop the triple-option on a chalkboard because the defense is always outnumbered.
Some pretty doom-and-gloom stuff if you happen to play defense for the boys in red. But there are ways around it – option rules that players can adhere to in order to minimize the impact of what Oregon can do offensively.
“What Chip and the guys do, they do a great job picking different formations every week,” said Stanford co-defensive coordinator Jason Tarver. “What he’s shown, he’ll run the same play out of different formations. He uses all of that speed he has to cross your vision.”
And then you start thinking. Too much.
“If you think about all of those things when you are on the field, that’s when you get into trouble,” said safety Michael Thomas. “ … Coaches are coming up with a game plan that is very simple for us and allows us to go out and play fast. They are going to have motions and move guys around. You can’t get caught up in all of that. You just have to line up and play fast.”
An important key for Stanford is to stay multiple on defense. Keep changing up the looks. Keep changing up the formations and the blitz patterns so that Thomas’ reads are increasingly difficult. Teams that become stagnant in their alignments make it easier for Thomas to make his reads as the game progresses. The more multiple Stanford can be, the tougher it will be Thomas to make a clean read.
“That’s their pace,” Tarver said. “Their pace goes so fast that they want the simple looks so they read you in the same spot all of the time. The biggest thing you have to do is be ready and play sound. We’re a multiple-look team anyway.”
Stanford head coach David Shaw said there is no way to simulate Oregon’s players in practice. But he can simulate the pace. He’s running two scout teams -- right when one gets done, the other is on the line ready to go. The safeties have to react quickly and make the calls in a short amount of time so they can get a feel for how quickly Oregon moves.
And there is always the trap of getting away from what you do well to try to stop a certain play.
“You gotta remember, this game is being played by 18-22 year olds,” Shaw said. “And you asked them to do a lot against an offense that does a lot. There is a lot of variance in there where one guy just has to be out of position to give up a big play. You want to give multiple looks, but you have to trust your base defense to a certain degree because the guys know it and they know where to line up.”
Every play is a chess match. A 2-yard Oregon run might be setting up another play two drives later. Likewise a Stanford blitz might be setting up a different coverage later in the drive.
“This is the kind of game where you better be on your best behavior schematically,” Shaw said.
Chip Kelly, head coach, Oregon. “I recruit speed.”
Speed at the skill positions, speed in which they get off plays and speed in which they execute those plays.
In the time it took you to read this, Oregon has run four plays and gained 72 yards.
But it’s what they do with that speed that makes them so dangerous.
Let’s take a look at what Oregon does on offense that makes them so potent.
[+] Enlarge
Steven Bisig-US PRESSWIREThe speed of Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas and the rest of the Ducks will be a challenge for Stanford.
Steven Bisig-US PRESSWIREThe speed of Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas and the rest of the Ducks will be a challenge for Stanford.Simple enough. But then…
Oregon starts bringing slot backs across in a fly motion or arc motion which adds a pitch element -- turning the double option into the triple option. They’ll also do this out of a triple-I formation or split backs -- which is what you would see from traditional wishbone teams, only the Ducks do it out of the shotgun.
Getting tougher. But then…
Thomas starts reading the man inside of the defensive end -- be it an inside linebacker or nose guard in the 3-4 scheme -- and it becomes a mid-line option.
Getting a lot tougher. But then…
Oregon pulls one of its athletic guards on a trap block and Thomas fakes the dive and follows the trap.
Getting really hard now. But then…
Eight or nine defenders have been sucked in and are committed to the run and Thomas pulls off the play-action -- or simply spreads out his receivers to create crater-sized pockets in the secondary.
By the way, they will do all of the above out of multiple formations, from the hurry-up and with the nation’s leading rusher LaMichael James -- or the equally fast Kenjon Barner or De'Anthony Thomas -- standing next to or behind Thomas. Starting to the get the picture?
“It’s pretty tough,” said linebacker Jarek Lancaster, who then corrected himself. “Actually, it’s really tough. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. They do a lot of different things. But we’ve put in some really good calls that have made it as simple as possible for us … The type of defense we have is built-in to stop those runs. Just play your man and don’t be a hero out there. That’s how you do your job.
“No freelancing on these guys because they will burn you if you freelance.”
A defensive coach whom I admire greatly once told me there is no way to stop the triple-option on a chalkboard because the defense is always outnumbered.
Some pretty doom-and-gloom stuff if you happen to play defense for the boys in red. But there are ways around it – option rules that players can adhere to in order to minimize the impact of what Oregon can do offensively.
“What Chip and the guys do, they do a great job picking different formations every week,” said Stanford co-defensive coordinator Jason Tarver. “What he’s shown, he’ll run the same play out of different formations. He uses all of that speed he has to cross your vision.”
And then you start thinking. Too much.
“If you think about all of those things when you are on the field, that’s when you get into trouble,” said safety Michael Thomas. “ … Coaches are coming up with a game plan that is very simple for us and allows us to go out and play fast. They are going to have motions and move guys around. You can’t get caught up in all of that. You just have to line up and play fast.”
An important key for Stanford is to stay multiple on defense. Keep changing up the looks. Keep changing up the formations and the blitz patterns so that Thomas’ reads are increasingly difficult. Teams that become stagnant in their alignments make it easier for Thomas to make his reads as the game progresses. The more multiple Stanford can be, the tougher it will be Thomas to make a clean read.
“That’s their pace,” Tarver said. “Their pace goes so fast that they want the simple looks so they read you in the same spot all of the time. The biggest thing you have to do is be ready and play sound. We’re a multiple-look team anyway.”
Stanford head coach David Shaw said there is no way to simulate Oregon’s players in practice. But he can simulate the pace. He’s running two scout teams -- right when one gets done, the other is on the line ready to go. The safeties have to react quickly and make the calls in a short amount of time so they can get a feel for how quickly Oregon moves.
And there is always the trap of getting away from what you do well to try to stop a certain play.
“You gotta remember, this game is being played by 18-22 year olds,” Shaw said. “And you asked them to do a lot against an offense that does a lot. There is a lot of variance in there where one guy just has to be out of position to give up a big play. You want to give multiple looks, but you have to trust your base defense to a certain degree because the guys know it and they know where to line up.”
Every play is a chess match. A 2-yard Oregon run might be setting up another play two drives later. Likewise a Stanford blitz might be setting up a different coverage later in the drive.
“This is the kind of game where you better be on your best behavior schematically,” Shaw said.
Oregon has looked ragged on offense this year. Running back LaMichael James got hurt and missed a couple of games. Quarterback Darron Thomas got hurt and missed a game, then came back and was benched at halftime.
So things haven't been perfect this fall, at least not like 2010, when the Ducks were darn near perfect on offense.
Or is that actually just bunk?
It's mostly bunk.
Oregon averaged 530.7 yards and 47 points per game last year. It's averaging 510.7 yards and 46 points this year. So the numbers are only slightly down. But the Ducks also are averaging more rushing yards (298.4 yards per game versus 286.2 in 2010) and have a better passing efficiency rating (158 versus 151.7).
The difference in total yards comes from passing: The Ducks averaged 244.5 yards passing in 2010. They are averaging 212 this year. That, obviously, can be attributed to losing the top two receivers from 2010, Jeff Maehl and D.J. Davis.
When Stanford coach David Shaw looks at the Ducks, he sees an offense that is a little different from 2010's edition. But still scary.
"Every year they tweak it," he said. "Every year they add something. They didn't use to pull a lot of linemen. Now they have a few plays where they pull the center, pull the guards. They give you enough to keep you off balance."
James said he thought the offense was faster. And the Ducks have packages when they get James on the field at the same time with Kenjon Barner, De'Anthony Thomas and Josh Huff, players who are as dangerous in space as any in the Pac-12. Miss a tackle, and they are celebrating in the endzone.
"It's a tough matchup," Shaw said. "They've got a lot of team speed. They've got the best back in the nation. When he's not in there, they've got a guy [Barner] who is just as fast and runs just as hard... If you are out of position, they will find you."
Much is made of the Ducks storming back from a 21-3 deficit last year, as it should be. That was impressive. What many forget is the Ducks' 52-31 win was a 7-point game heading into the fourth quarter. But that's when the Stanford defense cracked, yielding a 25-yard touchdown pass and 76-yard touchdown run from James.
A first key to slowing the Ducks is not yielding big plays. A second key is not letting the big plays that almost certainly are going to happen have a negative emotional/psychological effect. A defense that starts to play paranoid is one that is ripe to be exploited by misdirection.
"It can be frustrating," Shaw said. "I've talked to my guys about composure. [The Ducks] are going to make some plays."
Oregon has won eight of the past nine against Stanford. The lone Ducks defeat in that span came in 2009, a 51-42 upset win for the Cardinal in Palo Alto, Calif. The key element in that game was the Cardinal building a 31-14 halftime lead and then not buckling when the Ducks made a couple of second-half runs. The Stanford defense yielded 570 yards, but it also held the Ducks to 71 plays. The Ducks had 80 last year and finished with 626 yards.
One thing that doesn't matter to Ducks coach Chip Kelly is playing on grass instead of the artificial turf at Autzen Stadium. He doesn't see a connection between the 2010 win and the 2009 loss.
"A lot is made when you lose on grass," Kelly said. "Then obviously it's the grass's fault. But if you win, no one talks about, 'Ah, you played on grass.' If they want to play in the parking lot, we'll play in the parking lot."
Stanford wouldn't want that. Asphalt is a faster surface.
So things haven't been perfect this fall, at least not like 2010, when the Ducks were darn near perfect on offense.
Or is that actually just bunk?
It's mostly bunk.
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Wily LowServing as the No. 2 back in Oregon's offense, Kenjon Barber has amassed 601 yards on 89 carries with 8 touchdowns.
AP Photo/Wily LowServing as the No. 2 back in Oregon's offense, Kenjon Barber has amassed 601 yards on 89 carries with 8 touchdowns. The difference in total yards comes from passing: The Ducks averaged 244.5 yards passing in 2010. They are averaging 212 this year. That, obviously, can be attributed to losing the top two receivers from 2010, Jeff Maehl and D.J. Davis.
When Stanford coach David Shaw looks at the Ducks, he sees an offense that is a little different from 2010's edition. But still scary.
"Every year they tweak it," he said. "Every year they add something. They didn't use to pull a lot of linemen. Now they have a few plays where they pull the center, pull the guards. They give you enough to keep you off balance."
James said he thought the offense was faster. And the Ducks have packages when they get James on the field at the same time with Kenjon Barner, De'Anthony Thomas and Josh Huff, players who are as dangerous in space as any in the Pac-12. Miss a tackle, and they are celebrating in the endzone.
"It's a tough matchup," Shaw said. "They've got a lot of team speed. They've got the best back in the nation. When he's not in there, they've got a guy [Barner] who is just as fast and runs just as hard... If you are out of position, they will find you."
Much is made of the Ducks storming back from a 21-3 deficit last year, as it should be. That was impressive. What many forget is the Ducks' 52-31 win was a 7-point game heading into the fourth quarter. But that's when the Stanford defense cracked, yielding a 25-yard touchdown pass and 76-yard touchdown run from James.
A first key to slowing the Ducks is not yielding big plays. A second key is not letting the big plays that almost certainly are going to happen have a negative emotional/psychological effect. A defense that starts to play paranoid is one that is ripe to be exploited by misdirection.
"It can be frustrating," Shaw said. "I've talked to my guys about composure. [The Ducks] are going to make some plays."
Oregon has won eight of the past nine against Stanford. The lone Ducks defeat in that span came in 2009, a 51-42 upset win for the Cardinal in Palo Alto, Calif. The key element in that game was the Cardinal building a 31-14 halftime lead and then not buckling when the Ducks made a couple of second-half runs. The Stanford defense yielded 570 yards, but it also held the Ducks to 71 plays. The Ducks had 80 last year and finished with 626 yards.
One thing that doesn't matter to Ducks coach Chip Kelly is playing on grass instead of the artificial turf at Autzen Stadium. He doesn't see a connection between the 2010 win and the 2009 loss.
"A lot is made when you lose on grass," Kelly said. "Then obviously it's the grass's fault. But if you win, no one talks about, 'Ah, you played on grass.' If they want to play in the parking lot, we'll play in the parking lot."
Stanford wouldn't want that. Asphalt is a faster surface.
Final: Oregon 43, Washington State 28
October, 29, 2011
10/29/11
7:26
PM ET
By
Ted Miller | ESPN.com
Does Oregon have a quarterback controversy?
Darron Thomas returned after missing the Colorado game with a sprained knee, but he threw two first-half interceptions before being replaced by Bryan Bennett in the second half. Bennett threw for two TDs and rushed for 25 yards as Oregon won 43-28.
It wasn't a dominant Ducks performance. The Cougars, who trailed only 15-10 at the half, actually outgained Oregon 463 yards to 456.
As for where things stand at QB, Ducks coach Chip Kelly opted not to make things clear to reporters after the game. From a Tweet from Rob Moseley, Ducks beat writer for the Eugene Register-Guard: "Kelly on whether he knows who will start at QB next week: 'Yeah, I do. I don't have to answer that question but I know.'"
Moseley, however, also Tweeted this: "[Ducks offensive coordinator] Mark Helfrich pours cold water on the idea of a QB controversy, expressing "100 percent" confidence in Darron Thomas."
So Thomas, if healthy, is the starter. But is he healthy? Oregon visits Washington on Nov. 5, then goes to Stanford on Nov. 12 for what is expected to be the Pac-12 game of the year.
Oh, by the way, RB LaMichael James returned to action after missing two games with an elbow injury. He had 13 carries for 55 yards. His backup, Kenjon Barner, had 11 carries for 107 yards.
As for the Cougars, they were competitive but the bottom line is it was a fourth consecutive conference defeat. They are now 3-5 overall and 1-4 in conference play.
QB Marshall Lobbestael returned to the starting role after Jeff Tuel was lost for the season due to a calf injury. He completed 28 of 49 passes for 337 yards with a TD but also threw two picks.
The Cougs visit Cal next week.
But the big question is who will the Ducks QB be over the next two weekends, when the North Division figures to be decided?
Darron Thomas returned after missing the Colorado game with a sprained knee, but he threw two first-half interceptions before being replaced by Bryan Bennett in the second half. Bennett threw for two TDs and rushed for 25 yards as Oregon won 43-28.
It wasn't a dominant Ducks performance. The Cougars, who trailed only 15-10 at the half, actually outgained Oregon 463 yards to 456.
As for where things stand at QB, Ducks coach Chip Kelly opted not to make things clear to reporters after the game. From a Tweet from Rob Moseley, Ducks beat writer for the Eugene Register-Guard: "Kelly on whether he knows who will start at QB next week: 'Yeah, I do. I don't have to answer that question but I know.'"
Moseley, however, also Tweeted this: "[Ducks offensive coordinator] Mark Helfrich pours cold water on the idea of a QB controversy, expressing "100 percent" confidence in Darron Thomas."
So Thomas, if healthy, is the starter. But is he healthy? Oregon visits Washington on Nov. 5, then goes to Stanford on Nov. 12 for what is expected to be the Pac-12 game of the year.
Oh, by the way, RB LaMichael James returned to action after missing two games with an elbow injury. He had 13 carries for 55 yards. His backup, Kenjon Barner, had 11 carries for 107 yards.
As for the Cougars, they were competitive but the bottom line is it was a fourth consecutive conference defeat. They are now 3-5 overall and 1-4 in conference play.
QB Marshall Lobbestael returned to the starting role after Jeff Tuel was lost for the season due to a calf injury. He completed 28 of 49 passes for 337 yards with a TD but also threw two picks.
The Cougs visit Cal next week.
But the big question is who will the Ducks QB be over the next two weekends, when the North Division figures to be decided?
Oregon blew the shutout. Just blew it. Bad Cliff Harris! Bad!
Despite the absences due to injury of quarterback Darron Thomas and running back LaMichael James, Oregon rolled over Colorado 45-2. They jumped ahead of the injury-ravaged Buffaloes 29-0 in the first quarter and then mostly coasted over an overmatched team.
But the Ducks failed -- FAILED! -- to record the shutout because Harris was tackled in the endzone on a third quarter punt return that allowed the Buffaloes to avoid their first shutout at home since losing 28-0 to Oklahoma in 1986.
Backup running back Kenjon Barner gained 115 yards on 10 carries, and backup quarterback Bryan Bennett added 69 yards rushing to go with 156 yards through the air with two touchdowns. Both were eating orange slices with James and Thomas on the sidelines before the third quarter was over.
The Ducks outgained the Buffs 527 yards to 231.
Adding to the Buffs' misery: quarterback Tyler Hansen sustained a concussion late in the first half and was replaced by freshman Nick Hirschman, who was 8 for 18 for 71 yards.
Oregon, now 6-1 and 4-0 in the Pac-12, returns home to face Washington State next weekend. Colorado, 1-7, 0-4, will be at Arizona State.
Despite the absences due to injury of quarterback Darron Thomas and running back LaMichael James, Oregon rolled over Colorado 45-2. They jumped ahead of the injury-ravaged Buffaloes 29-0 in the first quarter and then mostly coasted over an overmatched team.
But the Ducks failed -- FAILED! -- to record the shutout because Harris was tackled in the endzone on a third quarter punt return that allowed the Buffaloes to avoid their first shutout at home since losing 28-0 to Oklahoma in 1986.
Backup running back Kenjon Barner gained 115 yards on 10 carries, and backup quarterback Bryan Bennett added 69 yards rushing to go with 156 yards through the air with two touchdowns. Both were eating orange slices with James and Thomas on the sidelines before the third quarter was over.
The Ducks outgained the Buffs 527 yards to 231.
Adding to the Buffs' misery: quarterback Tyler Hansen sustained a concussion late in the first half and was replaced by freshman Nick Hirschman, who was 8 for 18 for 71 yards.
Oregon, now 6-1 and 4-0 in the Pac-12, returns home to face Washington State next weekend. Colorado, 1-7, 0-4, will be at Arizona State.
If you're a betting person, your odds are better that Darron Thomas will start at quarterback for Oregon on Saturday at Colorado than that running back LaMichael James will get any carries.
But nothing will be certain until the No. 10 Ducks walk onto Folsom Field.
This from Rob Moseley of the Eugene Register-Guard after practice Thursday on Thomas, who left last Saturday's victory over Arizona State in the third quarter with a knee injury: "Quarterback Darron Thomas was dressed out with the rest of the team, as he has been all week, so there were no further clues today as to his status for Saturday's game at Colorado."
This from Ken Goe of The Oregonian after practice on James, who dislocated his elbow against California on Oct. 6 : "Running back LaMichael James, college football's leading rusher, did not participate much -- if at all."
Goe added: "I wouldn't expect to see him carry the ball Saturday."
If James can't go, as expected, he'd be replaced by Kenjon Barner, who has similar skill set. The Ducks' running game wouldn't change much.
But what might happen if Thomas can't go and redshirt freshman Bryan Bennett makes his first career start?
"First, it's not his first start, so don't go there," coach Chip Kelly said. "And second we just practice. I think you're making way too much out of it. If Bryan has to play this week, he has to play. We don't make it any bigger than it is."
Kelly is saying, first, that he won't let a sneaky question from a sneaky Pac-12 blogger cause him to provide a hint of what might happen Saturday, and, second, that the Ducks offense will be (mostly) the same, whether Thomas or Bennett is running things.
Maybe. But it's reasonable to assume a redshirt freshman making his first career start on the road likely won't be unleashed in the passing game, even if Colorado's secondary has been ravaged by injuries. Bennett, who completed 2 of 5 passes for 22 yards after replacing Thomas against Arizona State, has a strong arm, but he wasn't terribly consistent passing during spring or preseason practices, though it's possible he's become sharper during regular-season practices that have been close to reporters.
"Bryan is very athletic," Kelly said. "He's got a very, very strong arm. He can throw the ball, make every throw you need to make. He's got everything you're looking for in a quarterback. The only thing he lacks is experience."
Asked to assess Bennett's performance against Arizona State, Kelly noted a missed pass in the flat -- "He didn't set his feet and throw it; that's correctable," Kelly said -- but otherwise was pleased, which makes sense considering the Ducks outscored the Sun Devils 20-3 when he was in the game.
"Thought he did a real good job of managing the game, taking what the defense gives him," Kelly said.
Oregon doesn't figure to need much more than that against the Buffaloes. And they likely will be OK at home against Washington State on Oct. 29 without James and/or Thomas.
But things get tricky in November. The Ducks visit Washington on Nov. 5, Stanford on Nov. 12 and host USC on Nov. 19.
In those games, it would be nice to have James and Thomas feeling chipper and ready to go.
But nothing will be certain until the No. 10 Ducks walk onto Folsom Field.
[+] Enlarge
Jim Z. Rider/US PresswireInjured running back LaMichael James partipated little, if at all, in Oregon's practice Thursday.
Jim Z. Rider/US PresswireInjured running back LaMichael James partipated little, if at all, in Oregon's practice Thursday.This from Ken Goe of The Oregonian after practice on James, who dislocated his elbow against California on Oct. 6 : "Running back LaMichael James, college football's leading rusher, did not participate much -- if at all."
Goe added: "I wouldn't expect to see him carry the ball Saturday."
If James can't go, as expected, he'd be replaced by Kenjon Barner, who has similar skill set. The Ducks' running game wouldn't change much.
But what might happen if Thomas can't go and redshirt freshman Bryan Bennett makes his first career start?
"First, it's not his first start, so don't go there," coach Chip Kelly said. "And second we just practice. I think you're making way too much out of it. If Bryan has to play this week, he has to play. We don't make it any bigger than it is."
Kelly is saying, first, that he won't let a sneaky question from a sneaky Pac-12 blogger cause him to provide a hint of what might happen Saturday, and, second, that the Ducks offense will be (mostly) the same, whether Thomas or Bennett is running things.
Maybe. But it's reasonable to assume a redshirt freshman making his first career start on the road likely won't be unleashed in the passing game, even if Colorado's secondary has been ravaged by injuries. Bennett, who completed 2 of 5 passes for 22 yards after replacing Thomas against Arizona State, has a strong arm, but he wasn't terribly consistent passing during spring or preseason practices, though it's possible he's become sharper during regular-season practices that have been close to reporters.
"Bryan is very athletic," Kelly said. "He's got a very, very strong arm. He can throw the ball, make every throw you need to make. He's got everything you're looking for in a quarterback. The only thing he lacks is experience."
Asked to assess Bennett's performance against Arizona State, Kelly noted a missed pass in the flat -- "He didn't set his feet and throw it; that's correctable," Kelly said -- but otherwise was pleased, which makes sense considering the Ducks outscored the Sun Devils 20-3 when he was in the game.
"Thought he did a real good job of managing the game, taking what the defense gives him," Kelly said.
Oregon doesn't figure to need much more than that against the Buffaloes. And they likely will be OK at home against Washington State on Oct. 29 without James and/or Thomas.
But things get tricky in November. The Ducks visit Washington on Nov. 5, Stanford on Nov. 12 and host USC on Nov. 19.
In those games, it would be nice to have James and Thomas feeling chipper and ready to go.
Issues to consider heading into the eighth week of games.
Price vs. Luck: Think back to your college football brain in August. Now look that bolded intro. Who would've thunk it, right? Well, turns out that Andrew Luck is a heck of a quarterback, but at present not only is Washington's Keith Price nipping at his heels in terms of passing efficiency, but he's also got more touchdown passes than the leading Heisman Trophy contender -- 21 vs. 18. Luck is almost certain to play well at home against a fair-to-middling Huskies defense. To lead the upset for Washington, Price will need to match -- if not exceed -- Luck's numbers.
Barkley to Woods: USC QB Matt Barkley and WR Robert Woods are the best pass-catch combination in the Pac-12, and one of the two or three best in the nation. They've combined for six TDs and 130.5 yards per game. But they were not in sync last week against California. It's likely the Trojans will struggle to run against a tough Notre Dame front seven. So the way USC wins in South Bend is Barkley to Woods, Barkley to Woods.
Who starts at QB, RB for Oregon? Not much to this one: Do Darron Thomas (knee) and LaMichael James (elbow) start for the Ducks at Colorado? Or do their backups: Bryan Bennett and Kenjon Barner? This pretty much is the only expected intrigue in Boulder on Saturday.
Hays or Maynard? While there's no single reason Utah and California are both 0-3 in Pac-12 play, the biggest is inconsistent play at QB. Utes QB Jon Hays replaced injured starter Jordan Wynn for the second half against Washington and has mostly improved in two starts. Cal's Zach Maynard started the season well but has struggled since the conference slate began, bottoming out last Thursday with three interceptions against USC. With two good defenses at AT&T Park, it's unlikely either offense will be able to run the ball 40 times and win. The team that is more efficient passing the ball likely ends up smiling.
Wildcats set free? There's a feeling that Arizona's players were playing tight -- more worried more about mistakes than focused on making plays -- in recent weeks as the losses piled up and coach Mike Stoops got more frenzied on the sidelines. We'll get a better feel for that Thursday night. The Wildcats have started slowly all season. If they get off to a quick, enthusiastic start against UCLA, you'd have to think a lot of players have loosened up since Stoops was fired. That shouldn't be over-construed as an indictment of Stoops, by the way. After all that losing and a coach firing, sometimes it becomes easier to play when you have nothing to lose.
Tuel time: Washington State QB Jeff Tuel didn't pick a great team for his first start since a fractured clavicle forced him to miss the Cougars' first five games: Stanford. While Tuel had his moments, he looked a little out of sorts against an A-list defense. But after getting his game legs back, Oregon State's defense offers a much softer landing. Tuel is the Cougars unquestioned leader. This is a must-win game for the Cougs' bowl hopes and for coach Paul Wulff — and in such games, unquestioned leaders step up, lead and make plays that turn must-wins into victories.
Hogs on the Farm: While the rise of Stanford football is not unreasonably connected to Luck, more than a few folks will tell you a culture shift was more important. A program that was seen as soft, one populated by smart young men with aspirations other than pro football -- because they wanted to make more money than the NFL could pay them -- transformed into an edgy, physical and, yes, maybe slightly dirty unit that played until the very echo of the whistle. Washington coach Steve Sarkisian has been talking about the Huskies playing physical football since he was hired to take over a team that went soft under Tyrone Willingham. The Huskies have taken some big steps forward -- see the dominant victory over Nebraska in the 2010 Holiday Bowl. But they aren't there yet on either line. Or are they? We'll see Saturday in the trenches.
Prince wears the crown: Kevin Prince is (again) UCLA's quarterback. While this has many Bruins fans slapping their foreheads, Prince was a capable passer in 2009 and ran the pistol offense well in 2010. He's just never been consistent and, most important, never stayed healthy. Well, Richard Brehaut is out for the year, so the QB job is (again) Prince's. At least as long as he can stay healthy, and barring any horrible play -- see Prince against Texas -- that forces embattled coach Rick Neuheisel to turn to true freshman Brett Hundley. Yet there is a potential positive spin here. What if Prince rises to the occasion? A UCLA win at Arizona would set the Bruins up nicely for a second-half run.
Price vs. Luck: Think back to your college football brain in August. Now look that bolded intro. Who would've thunk it, right? Well, turns out that Andrew Luck is a heck of a quarterback, but at present not only is Washington's Keith Price nipping at his heels in terms of passing efficiency, but he's also got more touchdown passes than the leading Heisman Trophy contender -- 21 vs. 18. Luck is almost certain to play well at home against a fair-to-middling Huskies defense. To lead the upset for Washington, Price will need to match -- if not exceed -- Luck's numbers.
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Douglas C. Pizac/US PresswireWashington quarterback Keith Price enters Saturday's game with 21 TD passes, more than Stanford counterpart Andrew Luck.
Douglas C. Pizac/US PresswireWashington quarterback Keith Price enters Saturday's game with 21 TD passes, more than Stanford counterpart Andrew Luck.Who starts at QB, RB for Oregon? Not much to this one: Do Darron Thomas (knee) and LaMichael James (elbow) start for the Ducks at Colorado? Or do their backups: Bryan Bennett and Kenjon Barner? This pretty much is the only expected intrigue in Boulder on Saturday.
Hays or Maynard? While there's no single reason Utah and California are both 0-3 in Pac-12 play, the biggest is inconsistent play at QB. Utes QB Jon Hays replaced injured starter Jordan Wynn for the second half against Washington and has mostly improved in two starts. Cal's Zach Maynard started the season well but has struggled since the conference slate began, bottoming out last Thursday with three interceptions against USC. With two good defenses at AT&T Park, it's unlikely either offense will be able to run the ball 40 times and win. The team that is more efficient passing the ball likely ends up smiling.
Wildcats set free? There's a feeling that Arizona's players were playing tight -- more worried more about mistakes than focused on making plays -- in recent weeks as the losses piled up and coach Mike Stoops got more frenzied on the sidelines. We'll get a better feel for that Thursday night. The Wildcats have started slowly all season. If they get off to a quick, enthusiastic start against UCLA, you'd have to think a lot of players have loosened up since Stoops was fired. That shouldn't be over-construed as an indictment of Stoops, by the way. After all that losing and a coach firing, sometimes it becomes easier to play when you have nothing to lose.
Tuel time: Washington State QB Jeff Tuel didn't pick a great team for his first start since a fractured clavicle forced him to miss the Cougars' first five games: Stanford. While Tuel had his moments, he looked a little out of sorts against an A-list defense. But after getting his game legs back, Oregon State's defense offers a much softer landing. Tuel is the Cougars unquestioned leader. This is a must-win game for the Cougs' bowl hopes and for coach Paul Wulff — and in such games, unquestioned leaders step up, lead and make plays that turn must-wins into victories.
Hogs on the Farm: While the rise of Stanford football is not unreasonably connected to Luck, more than a few folks will tell you a culture shift was more important. A program that was seen as soft, one populated by smart young men with aspirations other than pro football -- because they wanted to make more money than the NFL could pay them -- transformed into an edgy, physical and, yes, maybe slightly dirty unit that played until the very echo of the whistle. Washington coach Steve Sarkisian has been talking about the Huskies playing physical football since he was hired to take over a team that went soft under Tyrone Willingham. The Huskies have taken some big steps forward -- see the dominant victory over Nebraska in the 2010 Holiday Bowl. But they aren't there yet on either line. Or are they? We'll see Saturday in the trenches.
Prince wears the crown: Kevin Prince is (again) UCLA's quarterback. While this has many Bruins fans slapping their foreheads, Prince was a capable passer in 2009 and ran the pistol offense well in 2010. He's just never been consistent and, most important, never stayed healthy. Well, Richard Brehaut is out for the year, so the QB job is (again) Prince's. At least as long as he can stay healthy, and barring any horrible play -- see Prince against Texas -- that forces embattled coach Rick Neuheisel to turn to true freshman Brett Hundley. Yet there is a potential positive spin here. What if Prince rises to the occasion? A UCLA win at Arizona would set the Bruins up nicely for a second-half run.
If you cover Oregon, you are just a couple of steps -- and gross crime scenes -- short of being an CSI investigator.
Injured Ducks walk by after a closed practice, and reporters observe. Then they trade ripostes with coach Chip Kelly, looking for flickers of information. Great fun.
Obviously, the big question heading into the Ducks' visit to Colorado is the health of running back LaMichael James and quarterback Darron Thomas.
My purely speculative reading of the tea leaves, along with local beat writer reports and Kelly's quibbling during the coaches conference call over questions about backup quarterback Bryan Bennett, is this: Both James and Thomas are very questionable.
Or very "day-to-day," to use Kelly's term.
This from Ken Goe of The Oregonian:
You must realize that the players are fully aware of Kelly's position on providing no injury information as well as reporters' obsessive curiosity about their injuries. My take on James is that he's the sort who is amused by the back-and-forth -- at least sometimes -- and he's perfectly aware that reporters are looking for hints in everything he says. So it's risky to read too much into what he says.
This is from the Eugene Register-Guard, which includes video of James:
Our takeaway from this: It's unlikely we will know for sure if James or Thomas will play until just before kickoff on Saturday.
Injured Ducks walk by after a closed practice, and reporters observe. Then they trade ripostes with coach Chip Kelly, looking for flickers of information. Great fun.
Obviously, the big question heading into the Ducks' visit to Colorado is the health of running back LaMichael James and quarterback Darron Thomas.
My purely speculative reading of the tea leaves, along with local beat writer reports and Kelly's quibbling during the coaches conference call over questions about backup quarterback Bryan Bennett, is this: Both James and Thomas are very questionable.
Or very "day-to-day," to use Kelly's term.
This from Ken Goe of The Oregonian:
James said he has been limited to conditioning work in practice thus far, and that a brace is being made for the injured elbow.
Asked about his range motion, James replied: "I haven't got full yet, but it's close. ... I definitely could play. It's one of those things, if they need me to play. Kenjon is doing a great job of running the ball, and De'Anthony (Thomas). And Darron (Thomas) and Bryan Bennett. Those guys are doing a great job. So I don't know if they'll need me."
Darron Thomas, Oregon's starting quarterback, left last week's game with Arizona State because of an apparent left knee injury.
Thomas looked fine leaving practice in the Moshofsky Center on Tuesday. He was walking without a limp, and was in full pads.
You must realize that the players are fully aware of Kelly's position on providing no injury information as well as reporters' obsessive curiosity about their injuries. My take on James is that he's the sort who is amused by the back-and-forth -- at least sometimes -- and he's perfectly aware that reporters are looking for hints in everything he says. So it's risky to read too much into what he says.
This is from the Eugene Register-Guard, which includes video of James:
Running back LaMichael James remains sidelined by an elbow injury, and though quarterback Darron Thomas was in full pads, the in-house Oregon Sports Network reported that backup Bryan Bennett is practicing with the first-team offense this week in the wake of Thomas' knee injury.
"Bryan's been the same as he was last week in practice, very good," UO coach Chip Kelly.
Our takeaway from this: It's unlikely we will know for sure if James or Thomas will play until just before kickoff on Saturday.
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