🏈 "Why Oregon is Only Team with Chance to Knock Off Crimson Tide"

[PhillyGirl]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ly-team-with-chance-to-knock-off-crimson-tide


Opinion piece, obviously, but what do you guys think?

 

[bama29fan]

i say our offense would be able to maintain possession and win the TOP battle. this would keep their offense off the field and limit their play numbers. which in turn would keep our defense a little fresher than what Oregon is used to playing against in the 3rd and fourth quarter.

we would win by 2-3 TD's

 

[TerryP]

I don't think they are the only team, but I do think they would have as good of a chance as several others.

The only issue I have with that piece is the following paragraph.

Rich Rodriguez was able to get his Arizona Wildcats to score 115 points in the two games prior to their meeting with the Ducks. But in Eugene, Arizona was blanked in a 49-0 rout.

Arizona was in the red zone six times against Oregon in that game. They shot themselves in the foot four times with turnovers, and had another possession that ended on downs.

Oregon has improved on defense. Don't get me wrong. But the analogy used here doesn't tell the entire story by any means.

 

[RollTideRandy]

Oregon? After six weeks of preparation? Doubtful. I still think our scariest opponent is aTm. Mizzu-UT-State-LSU-aTm, that’s a tough stretch. If the Aggies come to play, they could stick around in that game.

 

[ColoradoTide]

Mizzu-UT-State-LSU-aTm, that’s a tough stretch.

Exactly. Individually, I'm not overly worried about any one of these games. Taken as a stretch of consecutive games though does concern me greatly.

 

[jdpas29]

i believe miss st. has the best shot at beating Alabama out of this lineup.

 

[Houndstoothpuller]

I don't think they are the only team, but I do think they would have as good of a chance as several others.

The only issue I have with that piece is the following paragraph.



Arizona was in the red zone six times against Oregon in that game. They shot themselves in the foot four times with turnovers, and had another possession that ended on downs.

Oregon has improved on defense. Don't get me wrong. But the analogy used here doesn't tell the entire story by any means.

agreed.

This potential matchup between Oregon and Alabama would be cast in the light of "oregon's high-powered offense vs. Alabama's stingy defense" or some such as that, which I agree with.
That being said, if this game happens, I actually think an equally interesting story of the game victory would be found inside the numbers on the other side of the ball.

How does Oregon play in a 'slower' game?
Can Oregon's shoot-out mentality hold up when they can't get rhythm on offense?
Is Alabama's offense going to be able to control (slow) the pace of the game with a more balanced attack?

Our potential for maturation this year is also higher, i.e. we have more room for improvement than do they.