After the Oregon Ducks’ unimpressive win against the Idaho Vandals in week one, they need to make a statement against Boise State in week two. The Broncos came out of week one 1-0, and they’ll also be trying to protect their undefeated record against Oregon.
The Ducks outmatch the Broncos on paper, but this will be a dogfight. Boise State has one of the best running backs in the country, and they are a popular pick to secure the group of five bid for the 2024 College Football Playoff.
This game has the late-night slot this weekend, so we’ll have to see if after-dark madness translates from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten. After the stress of week one, I’m sure Oregon fans would prefer a calm, nerves-free win over Boise State this week to a thriller.
Below are the three biggest keys for the Ducks to secure a comfortable win.
Stout Up Front
The biggest concern raised by the Ducks’ week one performance was inconsistency on the line of scrimmage. On the offensive line, mistakes came often, and quarterback Dillon Gabriel rarely had quality protection. The absence of Oregon’s offense for most of the Idaho game isn’t solely the fault of the O-line, but it was a big issue. This week, the run and pass game will both need more consistent blocking for Oregon to be successful.
Neutralizing Jeanty
Dan Lanning said it earlier this week, “I think it’s the best running back I’ve seen since I’ve since I’ve been here. You know, he’s certainly an NFL guy.” In the Broncos’ week one game, RB Ashton Jeanty rushed for 267 yards and 6 TDs, almost single-handily carrying Boise State to a win. If the Ducks can shut him down on Saturday night, they’ll be putting themselves in a good spot to win.
Offensive Timing
Throughout the Idaho game, Oregon’s timing on offense was just off. Linemen and running backs were tripping over one another as they filled their spots, penalties were frequent, and many of Dillon Gabriel’s throws weren’t coming out on time. Being out of sync like that is to be expected in week one, especially on a team with so many new faces. In week two, the Ducks need to work out those timing issues, so they can create fluid offense.
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