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That, our friends, is a workout.
EUGENE — The Duck’s push-up form was far from textbook. The elbows chicken-winged outwards, and calling some of those quarter dips a full rep would be flat out malpractice.
But can you really blame him?
The poor mascot had already turned in over 150 of them by halftime Saturday. As the afternoon ensued, the tally ballooned to 546.
“[I] hear the Duck’s still doing push ups,” joked Oregon football coach Dan Lanning to open his postgame press conference.
No. 15 Oregon and Portland State kicked off at 12 p.m. The Ducks had 50 points before 1:30 p.m and their longest scoring drive of the day, until garbage time that is, lasted only three minutes and 18 seconds. And that was an outlier.
It was just that type of day inside Autzen Stadium, where the scoreboard reached a number the Ducks had never touched in modern history, one Dana Altman likely would have been pleased with, had his men’s basketball team reached it.
Oregon won 81-7 in a game where the attendance reflected the level of competition, the energy matched a yearning for the bigger and better, and the press box conversations revolved around mercy rules and a running clock, before the first half had even come to a close.
“It was good to see us move the ball and be efficient,” Lanning said.
Don’t sound too excited, Dan.
Lopsided outcome and caliber of opponent notwithstanding, the Ducks looked sharp. They played fast, relatively miscue-free football (just two penalties for 20 yards). And, all things considered, Lanning’s program gave little-to-no real indication of what this team might look like when the first Pac-12 opponent rolls into town three weeks from now.
So, as for what we do know?
Oregon can still put up points in bunches. And that’s a good thing, because while the Ducks’ 81 may have won the day, the rest of the Pac-12 wasn’t far behind. Washington hung 56 on Boise State, Colorado somewhat-surprisingly outgunned TCU 45-42 and Cal — yes, that Cal — put up 58 on North Texas, among other high-flying displays throughout the afternoon and early evening.
The Ducks’ offensive trio of quarterback Bo Nix, wideout Troy Franklin and running back Bucky Irving is going to be as good as advertised. But, more impressive than Nix’s 23-for-27, 287-yard, three-touchdown day (in just one half and one drive worth of game time), or Franklin’s 106-yard, two-score outing, or even Irving’s four rushes for 119 yards and two touchdowns, was the unit’s balance.
As Oregon set the points record, the Ducks also showed off what could be one of its deepest groups of skill positions in recent memory, and an offensive system prepared to utilize it to the fullest extent.
Jordan James ran for three scores, and USC transfer receiver Gary Bryant Jr. pitched in 100 yards and two touchdowns of his own.
“Just going out there and being electric,” Bryant Jr. said, recapping the unit’s performance. “I think it kind of shows like, ‘Okay, we know we do have something but we just have to keep building upon it every day… It’ll be great.”
So, check, an offense that was excellent last year may be even better this season.
Great.
And the rest?
That’s where things get tricky.
Oregon’s defense was stout, albeit not record-setting on Saturday. More than lighting up the scoreboard, the Ducks need to prove they can be at the very least competent on that side before the Buffs’ and their budding star at quarterback, Shedeur Sanders, come to Eugene to open conference play.
Oregon didn’t force any turnovers against Portland State. They didn’t record any sacks, either. And those numbers mean… likely absolutely nothing. Projected defensive starters Evan Williams and Mase Funa outright missed the game and many others appeared merely in spurts.
“I’m not really in for stats,” Lanning said, referring to his offense, although he might as well have been talking about the other side of the ball. “I’m in for Ws.”
The jury is still out, if anyone’s surprised.
It’s one week, one game. A season-opener against a Big Sky opponent, at that. But the Duck better keep those arms loose and start tweaking that form either way.
— Shane Hoffmann, for The I-5 Corridor
Editor’s note: A big, big, big thank you to Shane Hoffmann and JJ Anderson for their work today. One of my best friends, and one of the biggest influences in my journalism career, got married today in Montana. And I got to be there.
