Ducks Pulverize Purdue, 35-0
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning was mostly satisfied with his team’s 35-0 shutout of the Purdue Boilermakers, but in the middle third of the game, a quick lead against an obviously overmatched team showed there was a bit of a hangover from the thrilling victory over Ohio State the previous week. It’s quite natural that happen given the circumstances, but Lanning observed many positive aspects to his team’s performance that came after a shortened week’s practice and just the first of three cross-country trips and second Friday night game for the Ducks in their first year in the Big Ten Conference.
If anyone felt the Ducks might letdown after last week’s monumental win over Ohio State, it was not apparent from the start of the Purdue game. Dillon Gabriel, Oregon’s premier quarterback was hot as a fiddle from the start, driving the Ducks to three touchdowns their first three drives of the game. Gabriel was 14-of-16 passing, the Ducks gained 259 yards and had a 21-0 lead.
It was at this point that the Ducks showed the malaise that some expected at the beginning of the game. The defense missed tackles, not wrapping up, and the players responsible for the edge on either side of the formation, were inconsistent, allowing Purdue substantial gains on the ground. The Boilermakers outrushed the meek-blocking Ducks 54-3 in the second quarter, and the offense gave up two sacks to a defense that looked more porous than the Maginot line in the Great War.
If you were looking for aspects of the Ducks’ game that needed to improve, it might be for Coach Lanning and the offensive line to solve that both Ohio State and Purdue’s defensive lines had them figured out in short yardage run situations. Possibly because the Ducks are so predictable in those situations, the defensive linemen were submarining, literally crawling on their bellies underneath the offensive lineman on the snap: guards and center. The defenders eliminated the gaps in the middle of the line: the o-linemen couldn’t get contact with the defenders to drive them backwards. They were lower than the blocker and as a result didn’t allow leverage to blow them off the ball. Probably the biggest embarrassment of this contest that in the end, Purdue, a 1-6 team this year, outrushed the mighty Ducks 208-131. Oregon only rushing for three yards in the second quarter marked the stalling of the offense. It would seem the Ducks still needed to run, but outside the tackles.
Thanks to a fumble recovery and tackles for loss, Lanning’s Ducks left the field with a 21-0 lead; to the Oregon coaches continually stressing “execution” it was not pretty, but represented an opportunity–the coaching staff used the soft ending of the first half as a focus for better results in the second half. You knew the Ducks were going to prevail, but would they get back to the crisp execution of their first three possessions of the game?
Gabriel and his receiving corps showed from the start that there was no way Purdue’s young secondary was going to stand up to their advantage in speed and experience. Kenyon Sadiq had 58 yards on only two receptions, Tez Johnson seven for 66 yards and Evan Stewart had four for 96 yards including a 49-yarder that he caught while the defensive back had both arms wrapped around Stewart’s waist and arms. Gabriel cooled off in the second half, but ended up with 290 yards on 21-of-25 attempts and two touchdowns. However, he was sacked twice, unacceptable to coach Lanning and worse, had an interception, his fourth of the year, when he overthrew favorite target Tez Johnson and missed a receiver, (not Johnson), open, going into the end zone.
Lanning never wants to give an opponent the idea that the Ducks are vulnerable to the run. Purdue is not a great team; picked by those who know, to finish 18th in the Big Ten Conference. Their head coach fired the offensive coordinator two games ago and took over the play calling. In last week’s loss to Illinois, he rallied the Boilermakers in remarkable fashion to a 50-49 loss in overtime. Prior to that game, Purdue was inept on offense, averaging three points per game.
The Boiler’s surge against Illinois has promoted energy in the Boilermakers’ program and it showed at times against the Ducks. After a dismal first three drives, Purdue hurt Oregon’s defense on the flanks, but the inconsistency of the passing offense directed by a freshman could not push Purdue in the end zone. Purdue had only two pass completions over 15 yards, but had 10 rushing plays over 10 yards, which was six more than mighty Ohio State got last week in Eugene.
The Duck defensive line did not dominate a Purdue group they should have. Jordan Burch, the best defensive lineman the Ducks have, was more sorely missed this game than last week, as Purdue had success outside the red zone while defenders were swept up inside and lost contain several times. Oregon’s defense looked vulnerable to outside plays, not only being in the wrong position, but also missing tackles, which included safeties, corners and linebackers. The Duck defense looked slow at times, trying to corral Purdue’s quarterback and ball carriers breaking free at the line of scrimmage. There seemed to be a lot of slipping by Ducks trying to go fast, but the track was grass, not astro turf, and that may have made a difference.
You have to give some credit to Purdue’s effort, but Oregon’s effort was ineffective at times and gave the impression that better teams—like an explosive Illinois squad heading for Eugene this next week are not going to be easy. Such are the trials highly-ranked football teams face every week: lots of publicity and teams giving their best shot, often the best of the season.
Running backs Jordan James and Noah Whittington had their moments, with Whittington getting more reps that he put to good use, looking a bit quicker and more explosive than in previous games. He gained 42 yards on nine carries with a long run of 20 yards to go with a fabulous goal line back shoulder touchdown catch with a defender draped all over him. Reserves Jayden Limar and Jay Harris saw some action and appeared to be faster than the backs they are playing behind. It could be an idea to continue playing time for the duo, especially since they will be candidates to be poached through the transfer portal when the season is done.
Speaking of the portal, it appears that UCLA transfer Dante Moore is on the redshirt trail as redshirt freshman quarterback Austin Novosad got on the field for a few plays at the end and also had a couple at the end of the UCLA game. Players may appear in four games without it counting against their eligibility, thereby preserving a “redshirt year.” In that Moore had a lot of friends at the UCLA game and did not play and Novosad did, it looks to some that Novosad is the backup to Gabriel and Moore is the redshirt quarterback in waiting for next year. That’s the way it looks right now, but things could change over the home stretch.
Illinois will be Oregon’s homecoming visitor this week and they have a high-power offense that slugged it out against Michigan, putting a physical game plan in action in their own homecoming and knocking out the Wolverines, 21-7. The Ducks need to get better in several areas: run game offense and defense, pass protection, pass rush, and most importantly, disciplined edge defense from players replacing the injured Jordan Burch.
Oregon’s win over Purdue was decisive, but a similar effort against the Fighting Illini will make for nervous moments. Illinois has a dynamic quarterback who can run as well as Purdue’s signal caller and pass better. He’s led his team to a 6-1 record and they can play good defense. Defeating Michigan for the first time in many years, the Illini face the same potential letdown the Ducks just did. The Ducks will need their best to prevail.
Ken Woody coached college football for 18 years as an assistant at Oregon, Washington, Utah State and Washington State and as a head coach at Whitman College and Washington University-St. Louis. He conducts a coaching clinic, free to all, at the 6th Street Grill every Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. during the season. Plays from Oregon games are analyzed, there are scouting reports for opponents, and highlights from referees; all to learn and enjoy football and understand why the Ducks win or lose.
Questions and comments welcomed.
Contact Ken at: woody8783@comcast.net
