Third Quarter Problems - Question

[GeotechDuck]

Oregon has been starting fast and playing outstanding in the first half.  Why do they keep deferring to get the ball after half when they win the toss?? 
 

Two FGs in 6 games in the 3Q?  Just wow.  

 

 At this point, I would argue that they should just take the ball first every time and try and get points on the board on the first few drives as quickly as possible.  
 

The defense is outstanding and the team has done a great job of getting out to a fast start.  Against Michigan, once again they only had 1 full possession in the 1Q.  
 

If they take the ball first, do they have 14 after Q1?   Most likely, yes. 

 

 

Edited Sunday at 04:13 PM by GeotechDuck

[JabbaNoBargain]

I thought the same thing, but I’m guessing OBD will stick to their guns to try to “right the ship”. DL bristled at the question during the broadcast which means OBD will probably double down.

Edited Sunday at 04:26 PM by JabbaNoBargain

[Mike West]

Has anyone noticed that Stein doesn't call the same kind of plays to open the second half, like he calls to open games?  I see a completely different pattern.  It seems Like he is shutting the engines off.  

 

To me he calls plays like we are on a mission to Mars.  He turns the jets on to get there faster, then shuts them off to preserve energy.  How long does it take to get to Mars? Nine months?  Seems like we're on a seven-month trajectory. 

 

The only time I didn't notice that pattern was the Ohio State game.  He was way more aggressive the entire second half-Ohio State's defense is just really good.  Before and after, it seemed like it didn't matter because losing the momentum he creates in the first half isn't going to cost the team the game.  The Defense is too good to surrender a three TD lead.  

[David Marsh]

On 11/3/2024 at 8:12 AM, GeotechDuck said:

Two FGs in 6 games in the 3Q?  Just wow.  

 

We have only had 2 games all year where we scored more than 3 points in the 3rd quarter. Oregon State and Boise State. 

 

It's bad in the third quarter offensively. In the fourth the Ducks are quite respectable. 

 

But I've been critical that the Ducks haven't broken 40 more than once this year and it has been a cause for concern. But the reality is that Oregon breaks fourty in almost every game if we score a touchdown in the third quarter. 

 

I hope Lanning fixes this soon because the Ducks are leaving the door open for some teams to stage a comeback. Thankfully our defense doesn't let that happen.

[Jon Joseph]

 

Far Better than 4th Q Problems. Didn't These Guys Beat LSU?

 

 

Lincoln Riley collapse gets worse as USC loses yet another close game

TROJANSWIRE.USATODAY.COM

---

USC might not make a bowl game this season. The Trojans will probably need to beat Nebraska and UCLA if they are going to play in the postseason.

 

It's Head Coach Hostile in South Central. Riley was 1-5 at Oklahoma vs Top-5 teams. So, let's steal Lincoln from Norman. It will only cost US(C) $10 Million a year. What a bargain!

[HappyToBeADuck]

While the 3rd quarter lack of scoring is concerning and may end up biting OBD's in a future game, I didnt feel that was cause for concern yesterday.

 

The Ducks go 3 and out to start. Michigan loaded the box and also brought a 5th pass rusher on the 3rd down pass play. DG had no time to get the ball past the line to gain.

 

Ducks punt. The wolverines go on about a 6 minute drive and score.

 

Michigan kicks off, Stein adjusts his play calling and with the aid of  penalties uses all but 47 seconds of the 3rd quarter and puts up 3 points.

 

On that drive DG called some last second audibles and all worked out okay.

 

In the 4th quarter Michigan drives into the redzone and comes up empty.

 

The Ducks engineer their 2nd, 90 plus yard scoring drive of the game to ice it. Leaving Michigan just a few seconds to operate with.

 

The offense readjusted to Michigans half time adjustments and took alot of time off the clock while putting 10 points on the board.

 

The Ducks outscored the Wolverines in both half's. And 4 true freshmen played in this gane for the Duck's

 

Great job by the offense and defense. For me, special team play is a concern at times.

 

GO Ducks beat Maryland.....

[Jon Joseph]

 

But for a fumbled punt, OBD had total game control.

 

Yards - 470 OBD/ 270 Michigan

 

1st Downs - 23/ 11

 

Time of Pos - 32:28/ 27:32

 

Plays - 71/ 53

 

Against the defending national champion and in front of 110,000+ The B1Ggest crowd OBD has played in front of going back to 1894

 

[David Marsh]

On 11/3/2024 at 9:37 AM, Jon Joseph said:

 

But for a fumbled punt, OBD had total game control.

 

Yards - 470 OBD/ 270 Michigan

 

1st Downs - 23/ 11

 

Time of Pos - 32:28/ 27:32

 

Plays - 71/ 53

 

Against the defending national champion and in front of 110,000+ The B1Ggest crowd OBD has played in front of going back to 1894

 

Yeah the fumbled punt I think was a major teaching moment for Pellum. 

 

He caught the punt fine and took the initial hit but kept on struggling and then the ball popped out. 

 

He just needed to fair catch and call it good. 

 

Or when he took the first hit just go down. 

 

Struggling for more yards in that position makes ball security a lot more difficult. 

 

You could tell in the sideline he was so shaken by the expirence that it might take some time before he feels comfortable with punt return duties again. 

 

I think that might be the biggest reason why we saw Stewart fielding punts afterwards. 

[The Kamikaze Kid]

On 11/3/2024 at 10:00 AM, David Marsh said:

Yeah the fumbled punt I think was a major teaching moment for Pellum.

When the game looks like The Globetrotters vs the Generals, just secure the ball and let the offense go to work. That game should have been 14-0 before the crowd was halfway through their first chilidog. Instead even after two great defensive stops, it was 7-7 and anyone's ball game. 

[30Duck]

On 11/3/2024 at 10:10 AM, The Kamikaze Kid said:

Instead even after two great defensive stops, it was 7-7 and anyone's ball game. 

I agree it should have been 14-0, before chilidog consumption. But I never thought it was anyone's ball game. 

[Just Ducky]

It seems to me that the Ducks are extremely conservative at the start of qtr 3 in games and the defenses have scouted it.

 

loading the box with bodies at the line of scrimmage. Even on the wideouts.

 

I would like to see them be more aggressive and try to put games away instead of milking the clock which seems to be the strategy. 
 

That game yesterday should have been a blowout. 

[Solar]

Mario used to do the same thing trying to coast for a full half.

 

DL wasn't like this previous years where he cared most about winning the middle 8 minutes of the game, which included putting up a lot of points in the first drives of the 3rd quarter.

 

Players coming out flat is a very real thing too. My son's U14 soccer team did just that yesterday too. It's physiological, and they need to get it figured out with the on staff sports science and sports psychology staff.

[David Marsh]

On 11/3/2024 at 11:04 AM, Solar said:

DL wasn't like this previous years where he cared most about winning the middle 8 minutes of the game, which included putting up a lot of points in the first drives of the 3rd quarter.

I think what Lanning wants to do here is get the ball and then cap the middle eight off with a long drive that eats up 4-6 minutes of clock. Yes... A 6 min drive ends after the middle eight but it still serves the same purpose with keeping the opposing offense off the field for an exceedingly long time.

 

The problem is that we aren't getting those drives. 

[Solar]

On 11/3/2024 at 11:17 AM, David Marsh said:

I think what Lanning wants to do here is get the ball and then cap the middle eight off with a long drive that eats up 4-6 minutes of clock. Yes... A 6 min drive ends after the middle eight but it still serves the same purpose with keeping the opposing offense off the field for an exceedingly long time.

 

The problem is that we aren't getting those drives. 

Agreed. If it isn't working, then change it. 3 and out of 6 and out accomplishes nothing that early in a game.

[Lono]

My take is a little different. In most games we dominate the first half. We go in at half with almost nothing to adjust, because everything is working. The other team can adjust and come out with a new game plan to match us. We then take a couple series to adjust to their adjustments.

Just my 2 cents

[woundedknees]

"Against the defending national champion and in front of 110,000+ The B1Ggest crowd OBD has played in front of going back to 1894"

 

Seemed like a lot less folks were hanging around in the 4th quarter... Reminded me of play at Bean Dip...

[Solar]

On 11/3/2024 at 12:02 PM, Lono said:

My take is a little different. In most games we dominate the first half. We go in at half with almost nothing to adjust, because everything is working. The other team can adjust and come out with a new game plan to match us. We then take a couple series to adjust to their adjustments.

Just my 2 cents

That's a possibility too. And It isn't smart to stop doing what is working until the other team proves they can stop it.

[PittDuck]

So far this season OBD have scored 29 points in the 3rd quarter.  Just over 9% of our total points.

 

38% of our points have been scored in the 2nd quarter, and 28% in the 4th quarter.
 

Last year DL made a point of winning the middle 8.  In the middle 8 this year, OND are 3-2-4. This year we have won the middle 8 vs MSU, Illinois and Michigan.  We lost the middle 8 to BSU and UCLA.  We tied the middle 8 at either 7 all or 0 all in the remaining 4 games.

 

Could Stein & Lanning be letting up in the middle 8 during the regular season only to lull opponents into thinking they have a chance in the 3rd quarter during the playoffs?