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They are what we thought they were. For the Oregon Ducks football team, it's both good and bad.
On a Saturday night under the lights of Harvest Moon and Autzen Stadium, the Oregon Ducks defeated the Montana Grizzlies 35-3. It was a result that was expected but that does not come without questions.
Montana is what the Ducks, their fans and college football thought to be. It's a decent FCS program but an FCS team at that. Their athletes, while impressive, do not have the ability to keep pace with every game in Oregon. Great games are rare and discipline is sometimes lacking. Thus, the final score on Saturday night should not surprise the casual observer, nor those on the east coast who can not stay awake.
Oregon was by far the most talented team on the ground. And when he began to realize that gambling was far from within Montana's reach, Oregon's backups and likely redshirts appeared, showing depth and potential for the future.
Nevertheless, after Nevada Wolfpack was dismantled last week, Oregon's victory over Montana was not the complete effort that many were hoping for. With Pac-12 playing from next week with Stanford, the Ducks still seem unpolished. For a team that many still see as a candidate for the Pac-12 championship and college football match, there is still work to be done.
Good
Let's start with one thing: Oregon won. There was no smell of anger on Saturday night. Once Oregon scored 14 points on the board, it was clear who would win. You can not say as much of every match where an FCS team is playing against a heavily favored FBS program. But in this one, with the way the Oregon defense played in the first period, many knew that 14 points would be enough, at least until the Ducks returned to their offensive pace.
Speaking of Oregon's defense, wow. What new defensive coordinator Andy Avalos did was remarkable, although Jim Leavitt is to be congratulated for recruiting the right staff for a tough 3-4. Oregon's defense was disciplined, instinctive and overwhelming. The ability of the top seven to crush any hasty attack and force the pass has allowed the Ducks' talented side team to earn a place among the best in the Pac-12.
On an individual note, Mykael Wright made his first interception and seemed impressive when he faced the biggest experienced receivers in Montana. Verone McKinley III also continued to shine in defense of Avalos, performing instinctive readings and having a near interception early in the second half.
Offensive quarterback Justin Herbert had the same numbers as Heisman. He became the first quarterback of Oregon to have cashed five touchdowns in a row and proved strong and elusive in two important games for the Ducks, one of them. it was a touchdown pass for Johnny Johnson III who completed the first half. Johnson III, meanwhile, continued his season of escape. The Chandler, Arizona, junior took two touchdown passes and led the team to the reception.
Tight End Jacob Breeland was another bright spot for Oregon, scoring the first two touchdowns of the match.
Overall, the wide body of receivers has been outstanding in 2019. There are injuries to the position but current players have proven themselves more than capable of leading the Ducks forward. Once others are back, the Oregon receivers could be one of their best units.
The bad
Oregon's offensive line and running, not their big receivers, were supposed to be leading units in 2019. What happened to the Ducks' explosive attack is baffling. Is it the incorporation of the gun? Have Oregon players been overfed? Is it a problem of too much talent to run for players to have enough reps?
Whatever it is, something is wrong with the offensive line and the running of Oregon. The line, which is supposed to be one of the best in the nation, can not open holes for the Ducks' backs and is constantly putting pressure on Herbert. This against an FCS team, they should be intimidating in the field. Yet this was not the case.
No running back has really started, even though Sean Dollars had a nice explosive explosion at the end of the fourth quarter. Travis Dye totaled 101 yards but was far from Oregon's effort. Verdell and Darrian Felix, on the other hand, were non-relative factors.
In addition, when the offensive line began to look impressive, it was not with its standard rotation. The senior center Jake Hanson left in the locker room before the end of the first period and the waiting line was mixed to account for his injury in the second. The best game was well received, but raised a lot of questions as to the right formula to go forward.
Another offensive concern against the Grizzlies becomes a little fussy. Herbert and the other starters played well until the fourth quarter. It was supposed to be an opportunity for them to find their representatives, to find a rhythm, to go out and find health again. But when there is still a lot to do in attack, it's not hard to understand why Oregon starters have been so long held. Inconsistencies are common with the Oregon Ducks of 2019.
Injuries can also be a source of concern for the future of the Ducks. Daewood Davis, Thomas Graham Jr. and Jake Hanson all showed up at one time or another. And although Davis has returned to the field and contributed in the second half, none of these three players can lose or risk injury.
Key to take away
Oregon has won. It was not the most convincing nor the most depressing victory. It was just a little, there. The Ducks did not completely dominate Montana as did the top Oregon teams in the past. Although there is plenty of room for a special season in Eugene, there are still many issues to be solved and problems to be solved. While in the past, the largest teams in Oregon were pretty much themselves from the beginning to the end of the season, the Oregon Ducks of 2019 still have work to do.
It will also be exciting, especially considering how this defense plays. By the end of the 2019 season, it will be fun to see how the Ducks have progressed. But do not have a head start on ourselves, there is a lot of football to play and thinking at the end of the season is depressing.
Then Stanford. It's time to get into the glove.
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