Auburn Adjustments Do In the Ducks
Published on 1-Sep-2019 by Alan Adamsson
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Oregon's Justin Herbert was in the mix this past spring for being the No 1 QB selected in the NFL draft.
However, dude decided to return for his senior year, intent on ripping college secondaries apart, and he's well capable of doing so.
Thus, when Auburn coach Gus Malzahn and DC Kevin Steele decided at halftime to make the Ducks one-dimensional, who figured they'd plan to take away the pass and get away with it?
The Tigers went into halftime trailing, 14-6 -- and they're fortunate it wasn't by more -- got coached up, did the War Eagle thing, and came out dominating the Ducks to post a last-minute, 27-21 comeback that put frosh slinger Bo Nix on center stage rather than the much more heralded Herbert.
Less than 10 months ago, Bo Nix was playing in front of a couple thousand people on a high school field in Pinson Valley, Alabama.
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) September 1, 2019
Tonight, Nix threw a game-winning TD pass in front of a capacity crowd on national television against the No. 11 ranked team.
WHAT. A. MOMENT. pic.twitter.com/0sKYFdieNp
As usual, the offense got the glory, but it was the Tiger D that made the difference.
After Oregon slashed and dashed for 77 speedy rushing yards and in the first half, allowing Herbert the time and his receivers the space to move virtually at will, Malzahn and Steele orderd their DBs to start pressing and their front seven to stuff the run.
The Ducks were stifled and had no real response. A mere 13 yards on the second-half ground wasn't gonna cut it.
Sure, Herbert hit 18 of his last 20 passes, but they were West Coasters -- virtual running plays -- for the most part, and ground was gained too grudgingly for Oregon to sustain drives.
It gave Auburn the time they needed to get a bitta rhythm, and they had just enough time to make it count:
So now Auburn's being touted as a force to be reckoned with in the SEC this year while the Ducks waddle home with the weight of another Pac-12 loss in the limelight going with them.
Kinda like the Tigers left last season's first game against Washington.
Turns out the game was simply an entertaining start to the season.
While the Ducks edged the Huskies in Pac-12 pre-season polling -- and we know what that's worth -- there's still a prevalent feeling that Mario Cristobal and his staff don't totally have their act together yet.
Based on their performance of sitting Ducks in the second half of this one, the doubters may have a point.