BYU fullback Masen Wake (13) runs towards Oregon Geese linebacker Jeffrey Bassa (33) at Autzen Stadium in Eugene on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information
Flat and outplayed in Pac-12 territory.
On Saturday at Autzen Stadium, Oregon popped No. 12 BYU’s balloon, ending what was a 5-0 run for the Cougars towards the Pac-12 relationship again to final season with a 41-20 convincing victory.
BYU’s post-Baylor act on the street was ugly.
The Cougars got here out sapped, performed Keystone Kops protection on the primary possession and the normally environment friendly Jaren Corridor offense sputtered large time with no run menace towards the Geese, who had been ranked No. 11 within the preseason AP ballot earlier than shedding the opener to a scary Georgia workforce.
No. 25 Oregon, enjoying with excessive octane power within the stadium the place the Geese had gained 20-straight, had been fired up and clearly quicker, extra bodily and extra targeted than the Cougars.
BYU’s protection featured missed tackles, mistaken hole assignments, little penetration, failure to carry the sting on either side of the road of scrimmage and couldn't put strain on Oregon’s star quarterback Bo Nix.
The previous 5-star QB minimize the Cougars asunder along with his arm and legs in consequence. Nix accomplished 13 of 18 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns by way of the air, and ran 9 occasions for 33 yards and three touchdowns.
Oregon outgained BYU 439 to 366 whole yards.
Oregon was 3 for 3 on fourth down tries. BYU was 0 for 4, which tells a narrative in itself, together with the primary strive early within the recreation in Oregon territory.
On Nix’s 4-yard TD run to start out the second half, which gave the Geese a 38-7 lead, his choice faux had 4 BYU defenders confused as to the place the ball was as he drove in from 10 yards within the backfield after his faux handoff.
It was a circus for BYU. On some Oregon offensive performs, you may depend three or 4 missed tackles from Cougar defenders, who struggled with the Duck misdirection and countermotion blocking.
This was a recreation BYU actually, actually wanted a run assault to melt up Oregon’s protection.
Nada.
Consequently, the Geese managed your entire area on the Cougars for many of the recreation.
Corridor accomplished 29 of 41 passes for 305 yards and two TDs, however BYU’s run recreation averaged simply 2.5 per try, with Chris Brooks gaining simply 28 yards on 10 carries.
BYU’s protection was a sound tackling workforce in wins over USF and Baylor. The distinction needed to be Oregon’s pace and execution, however a part of it needed to be what Baylor took out of the Cougars in two overtimes every week in the past.
That protection you noticed cease Baylor’s energy run recreation late within the fourth and two overtimes in Provo? It didn’t go to Eugene.
Even when BYU had been capable of area injured gamers, receivers Puka Nacua and Gunner Romney, and defensive linemen Earl Tuioti-Mariner and Tyler Batty, it could not have been sufficient for the Cougars on at the present time.
This complete narrative about not making any adustments is absurd.
— Benjamin Criddle (@CriddleBenjamin) September 17, 2022
Lanning even stated within the 2nd half to the sideline reporter that Oregon was capable of run it doesn't matter what "heavy units" BYU's protection employed.
Oregon was a greater workforce at present and BYU did not capitalize when given opps https://t.co/Pv5D49SVL1
Oregon’s move protection was additionally excellent. BYU’s move professional was adequate, however BYU’s offensive line, for the second straight recreation, couldn't push round a Energy 5 opponent successfully sufficient to ascertain a run assault.
That could possibly be a priority going ahead.
Corridor’s 18-yard landing to Issas Rex within the second quarter minimize Oregon’s result in 10-7, however when the Geese had been busy scoring on what can be their first 4 possessions of the primary half, Jake Oldroyd missed a 38-yard area objective that might have minimize Oregon momentum.
Corridor’s 18-yard landing move to freshman Kody Epps early within the fourth quarter was an ideal route and strike that minimize Oregon’s result in 38-14. When Brooks ran for a brief TD late the Cougars trailed 38-20.
Oregon put Nix again in after they’d taken him out of the earlier two collection, one in all which resulted in a choose by Ben Bywater off reserve freshman Ty Thompson.
On Thompson’s first possession, he tousled with a lateral that ended up on the turf, however BYU’s defenders couldn’t get to the ball deep in Oregon territory and seemed like they didn’t know the place the ball was in any respect.
To me, this recreation jogged my memory of BYU’s loss in Autzen with Ty Detmer in 1990. That season, BYU got here to Eugene 4-0 and ranked with lofty heads having defeated UTEP, defending champion Miami, Washington State and simply put up 62 factors on San Diego State the week earlier than.
On that day, a fired up Oregon workforce deflated Detmer and the Cougars 32-16. Detmer used the phrase “flat” to explain his Cougars that day. You can see materials proof of that on this loss.
Soccer is a recreation of momentum. Oregon had it for 90 % of Saturday’s recreation, and BYU couldn't create a severe menace.
BYU’s 5-1 report over the previous two seasons towards the Pac-12 got here with wins over Utah and ASU in Provo, Arizona in Las Vegas, USC in Los Angles and Washington State in Pullman.
This journey to Eugene was a giant ask.
The important thing to BYU’s setback on Saturday, which definitely will result in taking a success within the rankings leaving Autzen at 2-1, is how this workforce handles every week of prep for Utah State, then Wyoming, earlier than dealing with Notre Dame and Arkansas.