Oregon Ducks: Keys To The Season, Top Game, Top Transfer, Fun Stats
Oregon Ducks: Key To The 2022 Offense
Get more downfield plays out of the passing game.
Speed isn’t an issue with the Oregon receiving corps, pass protection won’t be a problem, and the running game should do a whole lot of heavy lifting. Now it’s up to Bo Nix to do what he couldn’t at Auburn and consistently connect on the midrange to deep balls.
He’s got the arm, and he’s got the experience. Now he has to crank up a passing game that averaged 7.6 yards per pass. That’s hardly awful, except it’s the lowest mark at Oregon since 2009. Obviously, more downfield connections will open up everything else.
By the way, for his career, Nix averages 6.9 yards per attempt.
Oregon Ducks: Key To The 2022 Defense
Oregon needs … a pass rush?
It sounds crazy with all the talent the Ducks had, but the defense did more on pass rushing reputation than just about any team in America.
Kayvon Thibodeaux was always banged up after his great freshman year, but teams still freaked out about stopping him and the other Oregon pass rushers.
And, there were times when the Oregon defense just couldn’t do enough in the backfield.
Oregon was among the worst teams in America on third down stops, and it averaged a mere 1.64 sacks per game – the lowest in well over a decade.
This coaching staff won’t allow this D with this much talent to fail to generate two sacks in eight games like last year. That’s why …
Oregon Ducks: Key Player To The 2022 Season
DE DJ Johnson, Sr.
The 6-4, 273-pound Johnson was a defensive end, then a tight end, and now a defensive end again. Now it’s up to him to be a pass rushing terror along with Bradyn Swinson in the Jack linebacker role.
No one’s expecting either one to be Kayvon Thibodeaux, and the linebackers will take care of a lot of work in the backfield, but this D goes to another level if Johnson flourishes under the new coaching staff and lives behind the line.
Oregon Ducks: Key Transfer
QB Bo Nix, Jr.
Nix, the former Auburn quarterback is mostly known for shocking Justin Herbert and Oregon in the 2019 season opener – and effectively keeping the Ducks out of the College Football Playoff – after doing absolutely nothing for about 58 minutes and 30 seconds.
If you thought Anthony Brown wasn’t exactly consistent, wait until you get a load of Nix. However, he’s got great passing skills and he’s been through the SEC wars.
Oregon Key Game To The 2022 Season
BYU, Sept. 17
There’s no USC on the slate, and Utah, UCLA and Washington have to come to Eugene. Considering divisions aren’t around anymore, the Pac-12 road slate couldn’t be easier. More on that in a moment.
Assume a loss to Georgia to start the season. If it’s not, then all this changes. But if the Ducks drop the date in Atlanta – seriously, Oregon, why the hell did you take this game? – the season is effectively over with one more loss.
At least the College Football Playoff dream is done.
BYU is just good enough to roll into town, get all physical, and leave the Ducks with a 1-2 start. However, win this, and at Washington, Stanford, at Arizona, week off – Oregon should be 5-1 to get ready for UCLA.
Oregon Ducks: 2021 Fun Stats
– 4th Down Conversions: Opponents 24-of-35 (69%) – Oregon 9-of-19 (47%)
– 2nd Half Scoring: Oregon 251 – Opponents 172
– Oregon Yards: Passing 3,098, Rushing 3,043 (2,833 net)
Oregon 2022 Preview
Offense, Defense Breakdown
Season Prediction, What Will Happen
Oregon Top 10 Players | Oregon Schedule & Analysis