Game Thread 2015 National Championship Game: (2) Oregon vs. (4) Ohio State, Jan 12th @ 8:30p ET, ESPN

[Marcus Steinbauer]

Mariota gets the ball out of his hands really quick. Do Bosa and co. have a chance to sack him in this game?

 

[Joe Stewart]

Oregon's D will obviously need some turnovers to make a difference in this game, since giving up a lot of yards is statistically their MO this year.

Again, the yards allowed is deceiving since the Ducks have only trailed a couple times all year. Most teams have had to play from significant deficits. That means they had no choice but to throw the ball a lot. Does it really matter if you give up another 200-300 yards if you're winning by 35 points in the second half? No, it really doesn't.

Another thing was getting adjusted to our new D-Coordinator the first half of the season. As I already mentioned, we've been much better in points allowed over the last 7 games.

In addition, Oregon broke in a LOT of freshman during the season for added depth at certain positions. We'll regularly rotate 18-20 players on defense, so we have to find the depth somewhere. That means a lot of young players play and that usually results in giving up more yards than you normally would.

Off topic, but regarding playing freshmen goes, I just discovered the other day that 40% of our points scored on offense this year has been by either true or redshirt freshmen. That's astounding and bodes for a bright future. :-)

 

[UpNorth_Buckeye]

We forced 12 Int and 9 fumbles before the FSU game.

So you were agreeing? You had nearly 60% of your turnovers being int and then had 4/5 being fumbles vs FSU.

 

[BayBuck]

Again, the yards allowed is deceiving since the Ducks have only trailed a couple times all year. Most teams have had to play from significant deficits. That means they had no choice but to throw the ball a lot. Does it really matter if you give up another 200-300 yards if you're winning by 35 points in the second half? No, it really doesn't

I think it kind of does.

But we're all about choking you over a game of checkers these days.

 

[Joe Stewart]

So you were agreeing? You had nearly 60% of your turnovers being int and then had 4/5 being fumbles vs FSU.

No. Those stats were from before the FSU game.

 

[BUCKYLE]

Regarding the D comparison between this and the Rose Bowl D..I don't know stats on T.O.P., but having a Tresselball offense compared to Urban Warfare would have to skew defensive stats in favor of '09, right? I mean shit, it sure feels like this year's d has been on the field for faaaaar more plays than any d under JT. We're certainly no longer a grinding, ball controlling offense.

If I had to choose, I'd put this year's defense on the '09 season and watch the bodies and statistics pile up. I'd also think if you put '09's D in this year's schedule and offense, we'd see a team that gets gassed and gives up a good bit more points and yards.

 

[Joe Stewart]

I think it kind of does.

But we're all about choking you over a game of checkers these days.

Back atcha. I can see where this is heading. Time to head back to the nest.

 

[mattynokes]

14 Bell: 86 tackles, 6 int (including 15 tackles and 2 INTs in the last two games)
09 Coleman: 68 tackles, 5 int (including 8 tackles and 2 INTs in the two games leading up to the Rose Bowl)

14 C. Grant: 63 tackles, 5 tfl, 1 sack
09 Spitler: 38 tackles, 5 tfl, 1 sack

So, once again, I think you're underselling the current team and the level they are playing at.

I also think it's a mistake comparing position to position rather than the units as a whole.

C. Grant obviously is no Rolle but Darron Lee is comparable in terms of impact and skill set.

I think Bell is certainly underrated, but Coleman was still easily better. The stats might make Bell look better, but at this point he's played in two more games than Coleman. Plus tackles are a lot like RBI in baseball.

 

[BayBuck]

Back atcha. I can see where this is heading. Time to head back to the nest.

No harm meant, it's just a great Urban quote we like to use around here. But I do think having a #80+ D in yards allowed is a product of more than just getting up early and playing prevent the rest of the way.

 

[Jaxbuck]

Mariota gets the ball out of his hands really quick. Do Bosa and co. have a chance to sack him in this game?

at least as good of a chance as Oregon has to sack Jones

another thing the two teams are virtually even at

 

[UpNorth_Buckeye]

No. Those stats were from before the FSU game.

Yea I'm confused. That's my point. Going into that game it was roughly 40% of your forced turnovers being fumbles. Then in that game it was 80% of the turnovers being fumbles. That's double the rate.

 

[Jaxbuck]

Oregon has forced 18 fumbles and 12 int this year

back out the 5 from FSU and do what ever nit picking you want with it but the Ducks force a shit ton of TO's

 

[Daisy Duck]

Time to head back to the nest.

Wait...you have a nest?

Why don't you live in a house like the rest of us ordinary ducks?

 

[UpNorth_Buckeye]

Oregon has forced 18 fumbles and 12 int this year

back out the 5 from FSU and do what ever nit picking you want with it but the Ducks force a [Mark May] ton of TO's

My entire point was towards the anomaly that was 4 fumbles in that game. So they averaged 1 per game before that and then had 4. That's not typical output.

 

[BUCKYLE]

Oregon has forced 18 fumbles and 12 int this year

back out the 5 from FSU and do what ever nit picking you want with it but the Ducks force a [Mark May] ton of TO's

Does the site you pulled those stats from give a game by game breakdown?

Not trying to nitpick, just wondering if their TO margin was the result of any "clowneying around". Like how Clowney last year had 400 sacks against FCS teams and Tennessee but virtually zero against the meat of their schedule.

Also wondering if ball security was a PAC wide issue, or if Oregon forced a bunch more to's than their opponents avg.