After a lackluster first quarter in which the Ducks had the ball for just over a minute, it looked like a long day at Stanford was in the immediate forecast. It also wouldn’t have made this report card a pleasant one.
But Oregon’s offense picked its play up, and the defense dominated the rest of the way. The team scored 42 unanswered points to improve to 5-0 for the first time in a decade.
While the offense was finding its footing, this defense is showing time and time again that it’s bordering on elite. It has held three of the first five opponents in single digits, including two conference foes. It is getting pressure on the quarterback and when he has time to throw, it’s into a secondary that leaves small windows.
But the real test comes in two weeks and beyond when the Duck defense will face some of the best quarterbacks, not only in the conference but in the country. So far, Tosh Lupoi’s group seems up to the task.
Here’s another happy report card after Saturday’s 42-6 win over Stanford.