10-26-2018, 09:05 AM
I am posting a link to this article because it illuminates some of the difficulties Oregon faced in playing WSU (and, by parallel, some challenges that Stanford will likely face this Saturday) and includes interesting game statistics at the end. Ken Woody has coached at WSU, Washington and Oregon and worked as a TV commentator and journalist. His perspective on the sport is normally very sound.
Of particular relevance was this passage:
• Oregon’s big uglies were no match for the smaller, faster and more athletic defensive front WSU threw out on the field. Somehow, an adjustment needs to be made; maybe making yards becomes more important than “grinding it out.” Not being prepared to handle the stemming of the Cougar defense or the noise at a lively venue is totally unacceptable. It will take some hard work, focus and creativity to prepare the players to be successful when it comes down to game time, but that is the essential job of the coach.
https://www.ducksports.com/sports/201810...contenders
Of particular relevance was this passage:
• Oregon’s big uglies were no match for the smaller, faster and more athletic defensive front WSU threw out on the field. Somehow, an adjustment needs to be made; maybe making yards becomes more important than “grinding it out.” Not being prepared to handle the stemming of the Cougar defense or the noise at a lively venue is totally unacceptable. It will take some hard work, focus and creativity to prepare the players to be successful when it comes down to game time, but that is the essential job of the coach.
https://www.ducksports.com/sports/201810...contenders