[BostonCard]

WIM, I think the concern about the defense is because the offensive struggles have already been priced into our expectations.  We know we have issues on the offense, and while not optimal, we understand our limitations.  To the extent that we have been hoping for a good season this year, our hope has rested on defense (and special teams), which has been one of the top defenses in the Pac-12 this year (and, in fact, the last three years).

The headline numbers on the offense weren't too bad.  428 yards (296 passing, 132 rushing).  That was actually a bit above our average of 383 yards per game, which is worse if you take out the Army and Davis games.  It's worse than what Oregon typically gives up (462), but within a standard deviation of that. We were a respectable 6/13 on third down, and averaged 5.9 yards per play (almost 9 yards per attempt passing).  Obviously, we struggled to convert those yards into points, and we had two ugly turnovers.  But part of the reason is the offense started in a hole.  Our starting position this game:

37, 20, 12, 25, 23, 29, 40, 8, 22, 25, 35

Our average starting position was at our own 25 yard line.  With our offense, that's a recipe for very few points.

I'm not arguing that this was a great offensive performanc by any stretch.  But it was an ok performance; one that an elite defense and good special teams should have made a much closer game than it was.  That's why we are all disappointed in the defense.

BC

[BostonCard]

WIM, I think the concern about the defense is because the offensive struggles have already been priced into our expectations.  We know we have issues on the offense, and while not optimal, we understand our limitations.  To the extent that we have been hoping for a good season this year, our hope has rested on defense (and special teams), which has been one of the top defenses in the Pac-12 this year (and, in fact, the last three years).

The headline numbers on the offense weren't too bad.  428 yards (296 passing, 132 rushing).  That was actually a bit above our average of 383 yards per game, which is worse if you take out the Army and Davis games.  It's worse than what Oregon typically gives up (462), but within a standard deviation of that. We were a respectable 6/13 on third down, and averaged 5.9 yards per play (almost 9 yards per attempt passing).  Obviously, we struggled to convert those yards into points, and we had two ugly turnovers.  But part of the reason is the offense started in a hole.  Our starting position this game:

37, 20, 12, 25, 23, 29, 40, 8, 22, 25, 35

Our average starting position was at our own 25 yard line.  With our offense, that's a recipe for very few points.

I'm not arguing that this was a great offensive performanc by any stretch.  But it was an ok performance; one that an elite defense and good special teams should have made a much closer game than it was.  That's why we are all disappointed in the defense.

BC