re: Key to stopping Oregon's Offense?

Three main points about the NCG:

#1.) Oregon got cute on offense in that game & ran some two back sets that nobody had seen out of them all year. They did not look adept running it, and I think you blame that on Kelly trying to get too cute and going away from what brought him there. Especially early. Those kids were amped up to be in that situation, and trying to get them to "gotcha" someone had them flustered. Coupled with...

#2.) Kelly made another tactical error in leaving Fairley unblocked. He made a gross miscalculation about what leaving him uncovered on their midline option read plays would yield the offense. They thought they were too quick. They were very wrong. Their tempo is fast, but their athletes aren't faster. At all.

#3.) The offense Oregon runs is something like a tempermental woman. The slightest variation or problem throws the whole thing off. Things like miscalculating the "Gotcha" advantage of those early tweaks in their offense (#1) and the poor coaching decision to leave Fairley uncovered (#2) combined with the fact that the large amount of time off prior to the NCG itself to really throw Oregon's timing and tempo off.

My personal opinion is that offense runs rough at the beginning, and at the end. Look at its woes with Boise to start the year two years back (The LeGarrette Blount post-game punch). Look at last year. That offense wasn't ready to start right up and hum.

But, look at the mauling that Kelly & The Blur did once they got going. They need to find rhythm in not only the game, but in the season itself.

They're almost like Tom Glavine, the former MLB pitcher who had this weird deal about having incredibly shaky 1st innings. HOF pitcher, but would give up tons of hits & runs every now and again without ever escaping the 1st inning.

Oregon can get rusty very easy, simply because of what time off does to their tempo.

Now, I doubt that Kelly makes mistakes with #1 & #2 again. He seems to be too good a coach to not learn from his mistakes. But, with the brand & style & tempo that Oregon runs, I don't see how there's any way in hail they can do something about #3 except just get game reps and suffer through the rough starts & ends come bowl season.

I think the way we start & end bodes VERY well for LSU. Especially in comparison to how I see Oregon faring & the beginning and on the back end of their schedules.