Badger Bits: Did the Oregon defenders have a point?
by Louis Bien on Dec 15, 2011 9:01 AM CST
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Yesterday's article out of The Oregonian had everyone all up in a tizzy yesterday. In it, a few Oregon defenders let slip that they had "no concern" for Wisconsin's big offensive line, and cited the Badgers' weakness in pass protection. At first I was like "nuh uh!" but after a second glance I get that these guys are probably sick of hearing about Wisconsin's front wall of free-range hippos, and wanted to let people know that they aren't so bad themselves. And they really aren't so bad.
The Ducks faced six teams ranked in the Top 60 in the country in rushing offense: Nevada (8), LSU (17), Stanford (22), UCLA (30), Cal (48) and USC (57). In four out of those six games the Ducks held their opponents to well less than their yearly per-carry average. LSU excelled out of non-conference play, averaging 5.0 yards per touch against the vaunted defenses of the SEC. The Ducks held the Tigers to just 3.7 YPC in the season opener, just a tick more than the 3.6 that Alabama allowed. Stanford, UCLA and USC were were all held to over a yard less than their yearly YPC. This is a concern, dude.
What about the outliers? Hard to say, considering Nevada and Cal were never in contention in either game. Still, you have to believe that people got chewed out for giving up 283 yards on the ground to the Wolfpack. Against the Bears, Isi Sofele reeled off runs of 34 and 25 yards on his way to 119 yards for the day. He coulda/shoulda had more but he ran the ball just twice in the second half, finishing the game with 12 carries. Sofele definitely fits the speedster mold, and Nevada runs the pistol, a.k.a., the same offense Wisconsin was completely unprepared for in the season opener. Without actually having seen either game, I'd say there could be something to Oregon being weak on the edges--it'd make sense considering their two-gap, 3-4 scheme seems predicated on making the middle of the field a wasteland.
The conclusion here is that there is reason for Oregon's front seven to feel slighted. Of course, the Ducks haven't seen an offense that takes running the ball as seriously as Wisconsin does. The Badgers faced All-American defensive linemen against Penn State, Michigan State and Illinois, and Montee Ball overran them all when he had the chance. The proof will be in the pudding come Jan. 2. Until then, enjoy the rest of the news-hole induced wildfires sure to spring up over the next couple weeks.
Thursday's Links:
A breezy explanation of a two-gap defense from Georgia Tech blog From The Rumble Seat.
Kevin Zeitler and Montee Ball get tabbed as AP first-team All-Americans. Peter Konz made the second team.
Zeitler was also invited to the 2012 Senior Bowl, along with Russell Wilson and Nick Toon.
Bret Bielema is the Byronic Man (via EDSBS).
LaMichael James will be joining the professional ranks once the Rose Bowl is through. I respect and support any decision you make Montee ... but it is technically one more body clogging the draft pool. No pressure. Sorry.
An incredibly thorough recap of the 2000/2001 home-and-home series between the Badgers and Ducks. It's long and well worth every minute of your time (via FishDuck).
Spencer Hall pays fitting tribute to Ball's run to the Heisman trophy presentation in this week's Alphabetical. C is for Consolation:
The five people nominated for the Heisman Trophy each possess as much athletic ability as five normal men. The things they can do with their bodies and a ball would shock even the dancers and amateur marks-ladies of Patpong. Montee Ball is sitting there in fifth place, and I am all but sure Montee Ball could beat you in anything including H.O.R.S.E., paper football, cornhole, Skee-Ball, toe-wrestling, cribbage, sepak takraw, chess-boxing, and math. (Math isn't a sport, but it should be, because that would mean way more groupies for Neil deGrasse Tyson.) Montee Ball is an incredible athlete, and an amazing football player, and he's the caboose choking on all the exhaust way back there at the end of the train.
Looking to next year, James White comes in 14th in College Football News' 2012 Heisman look.
... aaaaand they're gone. The athletic department has sold out its entire allotment of Rose Bowl tickets.
Wrapping up: You're welcome Neil Diamond.
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I implied it yesterday and I'll state it outright today
None of the quotes cited in yesterday’s post were bulletin board material.
In fact, the post came across as trying to create controversy for the sake of stirring up discussion.
Step Two: Develop an organizational plan
by Shanghai Badger on Dec 15, 2011 9:58 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
Totally worthless...
The fact that it is being said that Stanford, UCLA and USC are good examples of what the Ducks have faced and how good they are because of their respective ranks in rushing offense is sad. Does anyone in the world, including non-English speaking countries look at those teams and see anything similar to how Wisconsin runs the ball? How about looking at how bad the PAC-12 is from 4th place down! There are high school teams that could do what they did in that conference. I have all the respect in the world for the Ducks, but they are men among boys in the PAC-12.
by Bohica1010 on Dec 15, 2011 12:23 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
Stanford and USC both have quality run games with plenty of all-american, future NFL types, among their O-lines, but Cal and UCLA were completely one-dimensional.
I’ve watched a few Wisconsin games over the past few years, and their offense seems somewhat similar scheme-wise as Stanford. Not that I think Oregon will control Wisc like they did Stanford, but it is a bit of a stretch to say the comparison is worthless.
by AtticusDuck on Dec 15, 2011 3:01 PM CST up reply actions 5 recs
Dude,
if LSU went up against the schedule you did, they run for over 6 ypc. Sorry, you played UNLV, OS (coming off a loss to Sac St.), NIU, an FCS school, Purdue and Indiana. When you played a team with a defense like Penn State and the Illini, they had absolutely no offense. Michigan State was the one good team you played that was well rounded. Martinez throws like a girl.
Anyway, LSU, Stanford and USC are good in every facet of the game: offense, defense and special teams. I would put one team on your schedule in that category.
We have seen very good rushing offenses.
"I love Oregon's obsolete recruiting report on an unhealthy level. Just more proof how balla Chip Kelly really is." Dr. Saturday
by BisonDucks on Dec 16, 2011 3:59 PM CST up reply actions 3 recs
Whatever. I'm sure they have a fine defense.
So did Michigan State (73 points in two games), Penn State (45 points), Nebraska (48 points) and Ohio State (29) points. Wisconsin is going to put points on the board against them. A lot of points. The question is just whether they can score more.
by BadgerInDC on Dec 16, 2011 8:21 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
Rec'd
I think we will be fine, as too will the Badgers, PAC 12 vs. Big 10 arguements should be pretty mute as once again we both have the good and the bad.
Nope the honest comment is
The question is just whether they can score moreas anyone on either side that is saying we are gonna woop up on you hasn’t been watching either team that close.
Go Ducks! (& ATQ fam – please don’t Rec this as I think we made our point, thanks)
For Oregon, King Kelly, and St Quack!
by DamienS on Dec 16, 2011 11:35 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Thank you
As co-owner of FishDuck.com, first I would like to say thank you for linking to our article about the 2000/2001 Wisconsin-Oregon games.
I would like to point out that Oregon runs multiple base defenses, the Ducks switch between a 4-3 and 3-4 alignment often, and occasionally will play a radar defensive scheme where there are zero defenders in a 3-point stance.
Finally, FishDuck.com will have much more on this game. We put out a video analysis of the Wisconsin offense vs. the Oregon defense this morning, which can be found here:
http://fishduck.com/2011/12/fish-report-scoring-on-wisconsin/
"Stay the $#%& away from the Pelican’s PBJ!!!"
Go Fish, Get Hooked! www.FishDuck.com
by keeerrrttt1 on Dec 16, 2011 4:45 PM CST reply actions 1 recs
Trolling
If Oregon plays as well as Oregon fans do at trolling sites to defend their team, Wisconsin is screwed. The good thing is, the game has to be played on the field and not in a blog. You guys get a gold star and a smiley face but don’t overlook your opponent and don’t talk smack before the game because it can come back and bite you. On Wisconsin!
Really?
I HARDLY think any Duck fan was “trolling”. And the only smack-talking is done by Wisconsin fans on here. All I see are constructive posts trying to give Wisconsin fans more insight into the defense.
Thinking Wisconsin will run over and push around Oregon’s defense is as false as thinking Oregon’s defense will stuff Wisconsin’s running game. Wisconsin is one of the best rushing teams in the NCAA, Oregon has one of the best rush defenses. Something’s gotta give…and we won’t know until Jan 2nd.
by Quackhead503 on Dec 20, 2011 1:19 AM CST up reply actions
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| UNLV | Thu 09/01 | W 51 - 17 |
Oregon St.
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Sat 09/10 | W 35 - 0 |
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Northern Illinois
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Sat 09/17 | W 49 - 7 |
| South Dakota Coyotes | Sat 09/24 | W 59 - 10 |
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Nebraska
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Indiana
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Sat 10/15 | W 59 - 7 |
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Michigan St.
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Ohio St.
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Sat 10/29 | L 29 - 33 |
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Purdue
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Minnesota
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Sat 11/12 | W 42 - 13 |
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Illinois
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Sat 11/19 | W 28 - 17 |
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Penn St.
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Sat 11/26 | W 45 - 7 |
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Michigan St.
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Sat 12/03 | W 42 - 39 |
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Oregon
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Mon 01/02 | L 38 - 45 |
