ScoopDuck Predictions: Offensive Player of the Game
The Ducks will need to score more points than Utah to win Friday night. That’s some hard-hitting analysis right there right?
But really, Oregon needs to find some points or else we might just see a repeat of a couple of weeks ago. And nobody wants to see that.
Here are some offensive predictions from our staff on who will step up against the Utes this week.
Jarrid Denney: Travis Dye
Travis Dye’s worst game as Oregon’s starting running back came in the Utah loss two weeks ago. The star running back had just 29 yards on six carries and one catch. That’s not necessarily his fault; the Ducks fell behind early and never really had a chance to run the ball because they were so bad on first and second down.
If Oregon is going to beat Utah in Vegas, it’s going to need to find a way to move the ball on the ground. There’s going to be an emphasis on starting strong, and establishing the run will be crucial in that aspect. I think Dye will have a massive first quarter and play one of his best games of the season.
Joel Gunderson: Devon Williams and Anthony Brown
Indoors. A defense selling out to stop the run. A quarterback hell-bent on avenging his previous performance. A wide receiver who is fully blossoming into his own, with his eyes set on the NFL. It’s all easy to see coming (which maybe means it won’t), but no matter how I slice this, I cannot for the life of me think of a more significant x-factor – good or bad – than these two. When they’re in sync and AB has time, they’re one of the best duos in the conference.
When they’re not – like they weren’t two weeks ago – it’s a disaster.
If Williams’s stat line is along the lines of six catches, 107 yards, and a touchdown at the end of the night, Oregon has a good shot at being victorious. If he doesn’t…yikes.
Jhop: Seven McGee
It’s time. Let Seven eat.
In what we all expect to be Joe Moorhead’s swan song, I vote he unloads on Utah.
Here’s the deal, Oregon will have to run to have success, but they absolutely must be able to throw to win. Have to. It can be screens or intermediate routes, but the pass game has to find some success.
If the Ducks won’t go downfield, I think they will find ways to get Seven the ball and let his speed do the rest. I believe Seven was going to become a focal point of this offense next season, Moorhead might as well let him eat in this one.
#SevenForSeven
