The Oregon Ducks’ season opener against Portland State is a day away. The Ducks are heavy favorites in the game as they’ve never lost to the Vikings and have never won by fewer than 41 points. This definitely won’t be Oregon’s toughest test of the season, and it’s likely the game won’t be close. Still, this is our first chance to see the 2023 Oregon Ducks in full form, and there are some things that will be important to see in order to forecast the entire season.
Below are the three biggest things I want to see the Ducks do tomorrow in order to feel confident heading into the bulk of the season. Throughout the season I call these “Keys to victory,” but today they’re probably more like keys to long-term success.
Solidity upfront
The biggest talking point all offseason has been about uncertainty on the offensive line. The Ducks have lost 4 of their 5 starters from last year’s group, but the players filling those holes are plenty talented. What remains to be seen is if their talent can make up for their lack of experience. In this first game, all I really want to see is Bo Nix having plenty of time to throw the football each time dropback he drops back, and Bucky Irving having plenty of holes to run through against Portland State’s subpar front seven.
Consistency across the board defensively
While it was an injury to QB Bo Nix that derailed the Ducks’ 2022 season, a better all-around defense could’ve made up for the lessened offensive production Oregon saw late in the season. The Ducks’ defense struggled all of last year against the pass and the run, but they’ve added and hopefully developed plenty of new players who should make a positive impact. Head coach Dan Lanning said at Pac-12 Media Day that the defense this year is much more physical than the one who took the field last season, which should improve all facets of the defense.
For tomorrow, there are a few things I would like to see. No. 1, I like to see no missed tackles, especially against an offense that is far from as talented as what the Ducks will face this season. Secondly, I want to generate at least one turnover, just to see that it’s something the defense is capable of doing week to week.
Bo being Bo
Lastly, I want to see Bo doing what we know he can do. He could be primed for a Heisman season, and I would love to see flashes of that this weekend, even if it is just against Portland State. As a dual-threat QB, I want to see him creating in the passing game and the run game early on Saturday.
It is worth noting that Nix had an elite O-line last year, which is a luxury he may not have this time around. If that’s the case, I want to see Nix adjusting properly, and still making the plays we love to see him make.
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