The CheckerBoard

Scoring drives: 25 runs/19 passes Non-scoring drives:14 runs/25 passes. On our final touchdown drive to bring it to 51-44 we ran the ball 8 times and only passed it 5 times. The first 7 plays of this drive 5 were passes in which Bray went 1 for 5. The next 6 plays were runs on the drive to punch it in. Next drive started with the same, 2 more runs for 11 yards first down. Next play Bray forces a pass near the sideline for an interception. I'm sorry but there was an obvious trend developing in the fourth quarter that maybe we should have kept it on the ground. I am not down I am very pleased with where our running game is and I see very good things for the rest of the season. Again, I like Chaney but I think it is a valid to critique the play calling here. Numbers are numbers. Please tell me I'm ignorant again.

It wasn't 1 drive it was both drives. It is not nitpicking its common sense. When your consistently moving the ball on the ground and the defense does not adjust at all to stop it keep running the ball. There were a number of things that went wrong, but at this point in the game the defense held and we had the momentum and gaining steam on the ground. There was no need to even pass yet. These were two crucial possessions in the game in which we had run the ball 8 times in a row with success and then ran 8 pass plays on the next 9 plays. Why? The thing is we've seen this before. Florida, we stuff the fake punt up 20-13. Then pass on first down, grounding, then three and out. And then the same thing, pass on every down, three and out again.

Oregon run/pass totals this season : Against Ark St - 39 pass/57 runs Fresno- 27pass/58runs Tn Tech - 33pass/45runs Arizona - 36pass/53 runs. Then you you can look at other styles of winning football same thing. When you are averaging 5 yards per carry there is no need to put the ball up 40 times in a game. Heck, Dooley even said it himself after the Florida game there is no reason for us to put the ball up 40 times if you expect to win. We haven't won these types of games in the past b/c our running game was no existent, but that was not an excuse here. Just because our offense played well does not mean they automatically get a pass on any criticism. They could/should have scored 51 or 58 because they were playing well enough to do so. So to be content with a close loss is not for me. I'm sorry but we have had close calls before but it is these little things that cost you games. We have not beaten the elite teams passing the ball 45 times because you have to run the ball, and when you are running the ball like we were to go with the run over the pass every time. Bray was not playing his "A" game, 24-45 and he missed several wide open recievers. Don't call yourself a believer if you're just happy we were close. I am happy with the fact I believe we SHOULD have won this game, we were playing that well. Say what you will about our defense but they pitched a shutout in the 4th guarter THE 4TH QUARTER.