| 08 September 2010
From time to time we like to hit up our non-conference friends for their take on an upcoming game. In the eyes of many, the Oregon Ducks vs the Tennessee Volunteers game this weekend has many implications.
Tennessee is opening up at home against a powerful (read: FAST) Oregon squad that very well will have a chip on their shoulder. A 13.5 opening line dog, the Vols have a tough row to hoe.
The Vols are not as talent laden as in previous years, are still attempting to re-glue a fractured fan base, and win ball games ... this game is HUGE for any UT fan.
With all of the introductory jargon said, we would like to introduce Keith from UOSportsDude.com. You can also find the Oregon student blogger via twitter @UOsportsdude
SECRivals appreciates Keith's willingness to take not only the time for our interview with him, but the straight forward nature in which he delivers.
SECRivals: Masoli leaves Oregon ... you guys really missed him in game one, didn't you? Would he have been too much of a distraction if he had been able to stay in Oregon?
As it turns out, it’s probably for the best that Masoli blew his third chance (when police found marijuana in his possession at a routine traffic stop, after Chip Kelly already suspended him for the year). He would have been a black cloud hanging over the season. With redshirt sophomore Darron Thomas winning the quarterback job, what would happen if he had a great year? Would Thomas just go back and sit on the bench while a rusty Masoli steps right back in in 2011? I’m not sure how well that’d go over in the locker room. Thomas is going to be really good. I’m really looking forward to the next three years with him at the helm.
SECRivals: Offensively, most SEC fans only know @ Oregon via Sports Center, etc ... who are the play makers on offense?
Obviously LaMichael James is the name everyone knows, and for good reason, but it doesn’t just stop there. Kenjon Barner filled in for the suspended LMJ against New Mexico last Saturday, touching the ball 18 times for 207 yards and five touchdowns in just a quarter and a half. He might be the backup but he’s a top-five running back in the conference.
At wide receiver, Jeff Maehl has really become a legitimate No. 1 target. The Ducks don’t throw a lot but when they do, Maehl is the guy. He had 700 yards last season and I wouldn’t be surprised if he surpassed 1,000 this season. David Paulson is a nice target at tight end and true freshman Josh Huff is dangerous out of the slot.
But the thing that makes the offense go is the line. The unit returns all five starters from a tandem that was already dominant last season.
SECRivals: While everyone was stunned by the bazillion point performance last week, let's not forget that Oregon has a defense that shut their opponent out ... who are the key players on defense?
Crazy as it sounds, Oregon’s defense might be even better than its offense this year. Kenny Rowe, Brandon Bair and Casey Matthews are the big names, but the Ducks are so deep that at linebacker (nine strong) they could afford to move their leading tackler from last season, and their fastest 40-time, Eddie Pleasant to rover to fill in for the departed T.J. Ward.
John Boyett (big hitter) and Cliff Harris (ball hawk/return specialist) are fan favorites in the secondary.
Tennessee’s best chance is probably in the running game; Oregon has a solid defensive line but it isn’t very deep.
SECRivals: Even though UT is rebuilding (3rd coach in 3 seasons, etc) ... how do Oregon fans view this game? Is it a trap game for the Ducks?
Right now, Oregon fans couldn’t be more confident, almost to the point where I’m worried.
This is very well a possible trap game, but I’ve never seen a team more focused on a weekly basis since Chip Kelly took over as head coach. That said, playing in front of 100,000 rabid SEC fans is something Oregon doesn’t do very often.
My biggest concern is how Thomas will handle his first start on the road. He played well at home against the Lobos, but Neyland is a different animal. I expect him to take on more of a game manager type roll, letting the offensive line, James and Barner do most of the work.
SECRivals: The opening line favors Oregon by 13.5 points ... are you surprised by the line? Is it too low, too high, about right?
I think that’s about right (Vegas is pretty darn good), but I’m still taking Oregon to cover.
SECRivals: What would a loss mean to the Ducks?
It’d be devastating but it might not mean much in the long run.
Every Duck fan is thinking BCS title game in the back of their mind, but the Rose Bowl is probably more realistic – and still pretty darn good. It pretty much all comes to quarterback play. The team around Thomas might be Oregon’s best in decades.
It should be a fun game. I’m excited to see how Oregon’s speed matches up with SEC speed. This game really does feel like a referendum on what's better: Pac-10 offenses or SEC defenses. At least for this one, I’m taking the offense.
Prediction: Oregon 38, Tennessee 17.
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