Defense Shows Up; Offense A No Show

The Ducks went into Autzen stadium hoping to rekindle the spark from last Saturday’s scrimmage and the summer like heat. The defense showed up on par to last Saturday but that’s where it ended. Amid multiple fumbles, interceptions, and large chunks of yards lost the Oregon offense could not get into any type of rhythm and the defense dominated the windy and very chilly Friday afternoon scrimmage.

The defense made numerous big hits against what one could assume an inferior offensive squad as the offense had trouble moving the ball across the entire depth chart. Sophomore Justin Roper had a fumble on the offense’s 35-yard line that immediately promoted a yank from Bellotti and Sophomore Cody Kempt replacing Roper.

With Kempt in the game to replace Roper, Sophomore Spencer Paysinger intercepted his first pass attempt as the pass was a terrible force and Paysinger was waiting for the pick. The previous play that forced the offense into a passing situation resulted from Senior Nick Reed and Paysinger blowing up an option read and putting Junior LeGarrette Blount on his back for a five-yard loss.

Once again Bellotti was upset with the offense and put in true Freshman Darron Thomas with the 2nd team offense and Thomas took full advantage. His first play was a 30-yard scamper that had the fans in attendance ooing and ahhing as the play resembled many long runs made by departed Senior Dennis Dixon. Watching that play Thomas easily showed the crowd why he is dubbed a Dixon clone.

The defense buckled down however and the next three plays resulted in yards lost as Freshman Eddie Pleasant stuffed Sophomore Remene Alston for a five-yard loss. Sophomore Tonio Celotto stuffed Alston in the backfield not once but two times in a row resulting in a combined loss of 8 yards.

Justin Daugherty salvaged the drive with a 39-yard field goal as he kicked the ball right threw the goalposts with plenty of yards extra.

True Freshmen John Boyett started off the very next series with a big hit that jarred the ball loose from walk-on Junor Rory Cavaille. The defensive players on the sideline made sure to let the rest of the offense know that the entire offense was scared as Boyett got up from the play.

True Freshmen Chris Harper proceeded to show great scrambling ability and vision as he ran twice for 15 yards with an 11 yard run coming first. However, Harper relied on his running one too many times and tried to scramble out of a pass rush and forced the ball into traffic and from the looks of things seemed totally lost on the his last play.

During a goal line situation where the offense was on their own one-yard line the defense was able to stop the offense twice with one stop including a dropped interception by Junior Riley Showalter on a pass from Roper. The offense was only able to manage one first down in three tries as Junior Cade Cooper connected with Sophomore Drew Davis for a nine yard pass completion on the sideline and followed by a three yard option read from Cooper up the middle.

Marvin Johnson had a great break on a ball deep and laid the wood on Sophomore Jeffery Maehl. The hit by Johnson brought back the defensive chants and hollers from the sidelines once more. Junior Simi Toenia continued the banter the very next play as he blew up a dive from Junior running back Andre Crenshaw.

The very next series with Cooper at the helm the offense threw two interceptions. The first going to sophomore Talmadge Jackson on an over throw that was heading to no receiver in sight. The next pick came two players later when Cooper threw a strike to Maehl in traffic that resulted in the ball bouncing off the chest of Maehl and Sophomore linebacker Casey Matthews making a great play as he dove into Maehl and grabbed the ball for the interception.

The very next series with Harper at QB the defense continued to make the QBs look lost out on offense. Harper dropped back to pass on his first pass attempt and couldn’t find anyone open and forced a ball to the sideline but Sophomore Chad Peppers made a great break on the ball from his Corner Back spot and prevented a completion. Peppers showed great speed and baiting ability to lure in a pass. The very next play the defense again locked up receivers downfield and Harper thought he could out-quick the defense and scramble up field but found himself quickly being blown up by Freshmen Brandon Hanna from his linebacker spot.

Paysinger made the hit of the day but didn’t get much reaction from the crowd. He came on a blitz from his linebacker spot and read a option read to Blount perfectly and quickly put Blount on his back. The hit wasn’t flashy but it showed the power and quickness from Paysinger against a running back that’s become a back known for breaking through tackles and carrying multiple defenders.

The offense gave one of their few answers to the defense’s big plays following the tackle from Paysinger as Cooper hit Davis on a swing option swing pass to the sideline that resulted in Davis showing his speed and gaining 11 yards. The next play Blount, eager to redeem himself, ran hard up the middle breaking an arm tackle and ending the 13-yard run falling forward over his tackler.

Story of the day came the next play as walk on freshmen Matt Simms from his defensive end spot blew past his man and recorded a seven-yard sack on Cooper.

Blount had the lone touchdown on a 25-yard option read to the right side of the field as he carried defenders for a good 10 yards into the end zone. Watching the run you got chills seeing how similar Blount runs to departed Junior Jonathan Stewart and former back Ruben Droughns.
The scrimmage ended with two series ending resulting from bad snaps and handles from the center to the quarterback all resulting in large chunks of yards lost and the offense failing to make up the yards.

Walk on Junior Mike Ballagamba blocked a field goal earlier in the scrimmage that resulted in Freshman William Wallace picking up the blocked kicked near the goal line and trying to run the ball back but getting put on his back by Senior Jeff Kendall.


Notes: I arrived a tad late to the scrimmage so to the defense of the offense they could have scored a ton of touchdowns earlier, however with how lost the offense looked and the defense dominating I doubt they did much…When I arrived to practice Walter Thurmond was out of his pads with a sling on his shoulder as it iced his shoulder. He looked fine and it appeared to be a cautionary measure…Senior Jaison Williams, Freshman Darrion Weems, and Junior Simi Toenia all had minor injuries during practice but after taking a few plays off all continued to play…There appeared to be a few other recruits attending practice but I was unable to figure out who they were.