Holiday Bowl opinion: Oregon looks a lot like Missouri
Published: 12/26/2008 11:11 PM
Last Modified: 12/26/2008 11:11 PM
SAN DIEGO -- Unlike their Big 12 counterparts, Pac-10 football coaches are known for having relaxed media policies. As Oregon resumed preparation for Tuesday's Holiday Bowl clash with Oklahoma State, Ducks coach Mike Bellotti allowed reporters to watch every minute of Friday's two-hour practice.
After having researched the Ducks for three weeks, and after having watched them work on San Diego State's practice field, this is my impression of Bellotti's team:
Offensively, it looks a lot like the Missouri Tigers.
Oregon QB Jeremiah Masoli strongly resembles Mizzzou's Chase Daniel, both physically and in the way he conducts himself in the pass pocket. Masoli, like Daniel, is undersized at 5-foot-11. But Masoli carries 225 pounds very well, and in the Ducks' spread-option attack he is a genuine dual-threat guy. In his last three games, he has completed 67 percent of his passes. For the season, he has rushed for 612 yards.
Daniel works almost exclusively from the shotgun. So does Masoli. Missouri likes to hand the football to motion backs. So does Oregon. Daniel gets rid of the football very quickly. So does Masoli.
Oregon has some big receivers and a big running back, Jeremiah Johnson, who has rushed for more than 1,000. Oregon has a defensive end, Nick Reed, who ranks among national sack leaders. Reed is listed at 6-2 and 255 pounds. He doesn't seem that big. If he plays pro football, he'll be a linebacker.
The Ducks were not dazzling during Friday's practice. Receivers dropped passes. Defensive backs dropped balls that should have been interceptions. The special-teams session looked ragged.
It was obvious, though, that Oregon has the type of athletes you would expect on a team ranked No. 15 in the country.
This is Oklahoma State's third consecutive bowl appearance, and the Ducks undoubtedly are the best of the three opponents (much more settled than an Alabama team that was going through a coaching change, and significantly more talented than Indiana).
For OSU, from a style standpoint, the Holiday Bowl looks to be a second meeting with the Missouri Tigers.
On Oct. 11, OSU won 28-23 at Missouri.
-- Bill Haisten
Written by
Bill Haisten
Sports Writer
