Game plans
Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2014 11:51 pm
OK, now that Rick Neuheisel and Curtis Conway have screwed with RichRod mojo by both picking Arizona to win the Pac-12 championship, down to business.
On Friday, how will Arizona approach Oregon, and vice versa, on both sides of the ball? My thoughts:
Arizona offense: Test the tackles, then the edges, with Wilson, although I'd like to see Anu go deep and work the Ducks' defensive backs early as Oregon will be keying on the Cats' running game. Bring back the wheel route and play-action opposite-field passes.
Arizona defense: Don't get caught down the middle in single coverage, as Grandon has been hit-and-miss his whole career providing help on the long ball. Shift Scooby all over the line to avoid the double teams sure to come from the "new and improved" Oregon offensive line. Bump and run tightly and from the LOS (please?).
Oregon defense: Pinches on Wilson and makes Anu Solomon beat the Ducks. Look for Helfrich to load some uncharacteristic blitzes around the edge on some unusual downs early to get Anu out of the pocket and rattled. They know that Solomon prefers to hand off in the zone read and is nowhere close to the run threat Mariota is. Try to force him to commit an early turnover.
Oregon offense: Quick routes. Get the O going with hitch passes, jamming the defensive backs with blocks by multiple receivers repeatedly to force a play that will eventually break open. Pinch convincingly towards the middle but only go there in a four- or five-receiver formation. Otherwise, stay away from Scooby, including Freeman.
It will ultimately be very interesting to see who wants this game more. Revenge vs. the chip on the shoulder--barring stupid mistakes, that clash will keep us all on our couches until the 10 o'clock news, easily.
On Friday, how will Arizona approach Oregon, and vice versa, on both sides of the ball? My thoughts:
Arizona offense: Test the tackles, then the edges, with Wilson, although I'd like to see Anu go deep and work the Ducks' defensive backs early as Oregon will be keying on the Cats' running game. Bring back the wheel route and play-action opposite-field passes.
Arizona defense: Don't get caught down the middle in single coverage, as Grandon has been hit-and-miss his whole career providing help on the long ball. Shift Scooby all over the line to avoid the double teams sure to come from the "new and improved" Oregon offensive line. Bump and run tightly and from the LOS (please?).
Oregon defense: Pinches on Wilson and makes Anu Solomon beat the Ducks. Look for Helfrich to load some uncharacteristic blitzes around the edge on some unusual downs early to get Anu out of the pocket and rattled. They know that Solomon prefers to hand off in the zone read and is nowhere close to the run threat Mariota is. Try to force him to commit an early turnover.
Oregon offense: Quick routes. Get the O going with hitch passes, jamming the defensive backs with blocks by multiple receivers repeatedly to force a play that will eventually break open. Pinch convincingly towards the middle but only go there in a four- or five-receiver formation. Otherwise, stay away from Scooby, including Freeman.
It will ultimately be very interesting to see who wants this game more. Revenge vs. the chip on the shoulder--barring stupid mistakes, that clash will keep us all on our couches until the 10 o'clock news, easily.