When Your Weakness is Your Strength

As this season began we all thought our offense would be a juggernaut and score at will. We thought there would be season and career records for players and for the team. Because our defense lost nine starters and thirteen contributors our offense would have to carry our defense. While this is true, it should have sent some redflags to us and the experts. We are a defensive team, with a defensive coach and a defensive identity. Saying that our offense was to carry us is like saying Oregon must rely on its defense to win. While our offense may be improved(may...) it has not been able to offset the defensive setback. Our offense is not dynamic, even at its best we have never had a dynamic offense and we have instead struggled. Our philosophy is to pound people, wear them out and take advantage of that in the fourth quarter, which has not really happened. Our line has been whipped at times in both the passing and rushing games and we have not executed all around on offense to carry the team to greatness. I have been surprised how mich love we have received in the media. Our main struggle has been our defense. Our front seven never dominates, our secondary is always a play away from a TD and we struggle to get off the field on 3rd down. LSU converting on 3rd and 13 reminded me of the Shula years (sorry). Our weakness (offense) could not carry us to greatness when our strength (defense) is strugging and not executing. Now I would like to see us shift our offensive philosophy a little by adding some speed rushing to outside, maybe use an athlete (Blake Sims????) in a wildcat/ throwing package mixed with our power game and improving our passing game. Next year should be interesting with the loss of so much talent (Julio, Ingram, Dareaus, Hightower, Barron??) and what we will do. I hope our defense will return to being our strength and I have confidence in CNS that he will fix it this year or next.