110th Rose Bowl: Let’s Get Physical–
Ducks, Buckeyes Tackle Nightmares, Psychology of Revenge
By Ken Woody
The Oregon Ducks take on revenge-minded Ohio State in the 110th Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day intent on increasing their win streak over the Buckeyes to three in a row, including their regular season 32-31 thriller in Eugene this year. It seems it would take a team of counselors to help the Ohio players and coaching staff overcome the nightmares caused by the outcome of that game, because at Ohio State, nobody dares the thought of the Buckeyes ever losing a football game.
Ryan Day, who has a 62-9 record as the head nut in Columbus, has had a rough season this year, with the loss to the Ducks and a subsequent loss in OSU’s rival game to Michigan, for their fourth year in a row. It seems the more upset the Buckeye Nation gets with a loss to the Wolverines; the worse things get for Day. It’s unfortunate, Ohio State fans were screaming for his head even while he is a candidate for the prestigious George Munger College Coach of the Year for the Buckeye’s accomplishments this year (as is Oregon’s Dan Lanning for his team’s undefeated season).
Looking back at the October classic, Ohio State’s quarterback Will Howard had a stellar game, throwing for 326 yards and two touchdowns, but was too late giving himself up on a pass play scramble with six seconds remaining and the Buckeyes in possible field goal range. When he looked up at the Jumbotron, it read 0:00 and thus, that picture was cemented in his nightmares for the rest of the season. Likely, those grew worse after his final game against Michigan where he was ineffective and threw two interceptions. To be twenty-point favorites, have the skill players OSU has and score only 10 points against a mediocre Wolverine defense gave Howard a double feature nightmare that he carried in his head through their first-round national playoff victory over sloppy, sleep walking Tennessee, 42-17.
It remains to be seen if the victory over the Volunteers wiped out the Duck Nightmare, but as long he still dwells on it, the seeds are there for disaster. Looking up “Revenge as Motivation,” we see two thoughts that standout and make this Rose Bowl game more interesting:
“The craving for revenge is a powerful motivator, but it can also be a deadly poison.” From the beginning of spring football, Day’s mantra and thus, that of his team, was “Natty or bust.” Counselors say this emphasis on outcome could likely disrupt prospects for an even, centrally-focused process for improvement over the season.
“Revenge is a motivator for the weak willed.” One of coach Lanning’s most important crucibles is every game his Ducks are playing the Ducks, not the opponent. Who the opponents are doesn’t matter as much as the players improving their performance every way, every day in practice; this is the key to success. The players shut out the noise and focus on themselves and their commitment and mutual dependency on their team mates. There will be ups and downs, but the key is the next play, not the last one. Revenge is not as important, or lasting, as an outcome; the player is dedicated to the process, play by play.
Ohio State lost two fumbles against Oregon and had eight penalties for 70 yards and these two areas are where games are often decided. The Ducks had an edge in third-down conversions, but left at least ten points on the field. Look for this area to be important in who wins and loses this game.
The Buckeyes have receivers and running backs who provide the Bucks with explosive long-range scoring potential: freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is a big guy, hauling in nine passes for 100 yards and a touchdown against the Ducks and is the first freshman to gain over one thousand yards receiving. According to him, his nightmare still comes from an official’s offensive pass interference call that hurt his team in the last 30 seconds of the loss to Oregon: “evidently, you can’t play physical anymore.” Better to keep your hands to yourself, Buckeye.
Running back Treveyon Henderson is big, fast, and gained 87 yards in October, including an impressive 53-yard run that set up a first-half touchdown. The Buckeye offensive line is missing two starters and has struggled at times. It is vital that defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi press that weakness and having Jordan Burch, the Ducks’ all-star defensive lineman who was injured and missed the game in Eugene, is critical. Lanning can’t afford to allow Will Howard time to connect with his receivers and see his October nightmares disappear. The Ducks defense had ten sacks in their last game against Washington—it would be good to get four or more against OSU, plus tackles for loss that don’t get a lot of statistical attention, but can have a deleterious impact on the play caller’s (former Duck head coach Chip Kelly, by the way), ability to call a consistent offensive attack.
Blake Toppmeyer, USA Today writer, making an observation for this game said, “If you’re selecting a quarterback to go win a national championship, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel would come off the board first.” Gabriel’s stats and Howard’s are nearly the same in all categories, but Gabriel, although having a couple of “quiet” games statistically, never had a terrible game, while Howard had the Michigan debacle. Gabriel was a year-long Heisman contender and his cool ability of reading defensive coverages and hitting open receivers has been consistent and he is a definite threat as an open-field runner. A late Christmas Wish would be that offensive coordinator Will Stein be aggressive in throwing deep to Tez Johnson, Evan Stewart and Traeshon Bolden. In the last half of the season it seemed at times, Gabriel was not given many long ball shots to his wide receivers who are as gifted as Ohio State’s.
In the October clash, running back Jordan James ran for 115 yards against Ohio State and that was considered an insult by Buckeye faithful. Noah Whittington has made progress from an early-season injury and provides a powerful one-two punch that can set up the long ball and provide ball possession time that can keep the Bucks’ hot rods on the bench.
The Duck secondary is a most crucial element to victory and improved safety play is necessary to help out their corners and put a clamp on “Big Plays,” gains of over 15 yards per catch. In addition, don’t forget the kicking game, often overlooked—in victories over Ohio State, Michigan and Maryland, Lanning called plays that caught opponents flat footed and provided an emotional lift to close games. In their October meeting, neither the Bucks nor Ducks gained any yardage in kick or punt returns. Since that time, Oregon’s special teams have improved, no doubt working to the same “every day, every way” mantra the rest of the Ducks have absorbed under the leadership of Lanning. This could be an underestimated element to whomever is going to fly home a winner.
Jeremiah Smith said last week, “Ready to go to Pasadena and put on a show.” After their shocking win in Ohio State’s home stadium, Michigan’s defensive coordinator bluntly said, “We just physically outplayed them.” If the Wolverines can accomplish that, there’s no question the Oregon Ducks can do the same thing. Afterall, they’re not in the show business and as Lanning once famously said, “We don’t play for clicks (‘show’). We play to win.”
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 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8TH AT 6:00 P.M. 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
