As with all sport, we go into the week with a whole lot of predictions for a way issues are going to end up. It’s the character of the enterprise that we’re in.

I, for one, thought that this matchup between the Oregon Geese and Washington State Cougars was going to be a blowout. I figured the Geese would proceed to roll, coming off a giant BYU victory, and put it on the Cougars in Pullman. Others figured Washington State would preserve issues shut and provides the Geese a run for his or her cash.

I’m undecided anybody predicted this final result, although.

Oregon was getting beat for many of the day. It fell behind as many as 12 factors a few occasions, and solely due to a miracle comeback, scoring 21 factors within the remaining two minutes of the sport, had been they capable of stroll out of The Palouse with a victory.

There was loads to love in regards to the efficiency, and a ton to be pissed off by. Ultimately, a win is a win, although, and the Geese will roll into a comparatively straightforward a part of their schedule with a 3-1 report.

Listed here are a few of my largest takeaways from the victory:

Ugly Wins Matter

James Snook-USA TODAY Sports activities

To date this 12 months, we’ve seen an array of outcomes from the Geese. There’s been a blowout loss, a blowout victory and a cushty win over a extremely strong, top-25 workforce.

On Saturday we gained one other type of successful.

This was an unpleasant sport for the Geese. For the primary three and a half quarters, they didn’t look comfy, they usually hardly resembled the workforce we noticed final week inside Autzen Stadium. The offense moved the ball extraordinarily effectively, however was incapable of capping drives. The protection had some good performs, however as soon as towards struggled with tackling. Psychological errors put the end result in jeopardy.

The Geese performed badly sufficient to lose, no query about it. However, they discovered a solution to win, which is a large accomplishment. It won’t be each sport the place the protection is requested to coral a cellular quarterback who seemed like a clone of Kyler Murray. It won’t be each sport that Oregon is unable to punch performs in from the 3-yard line and has to accept subject objectives. However the reality the Geese had been capable of put all of that unhealthy play behind them and buckle down when crunch time got here provides me a whole lot of confidence going ahead.

You don’t all the time need 30-point wins the place the end result is rarely in query. Typically you wish to be examined, and see your workforce step up when the stress is on. Oregon did simply that on Saturday.

Is it time to speak about Bo Nix?

James Snook-USA TODAY Sports activities

Simply asking the query right here … please inform me if I’m overstepping.

Are we giving Bo Nix sufficient credit score?

Apart from the struggles of the offense contained in the 10-yard line and the one, egregious, EGREGIOUS interception that went for a Washington State landing, Nix was fairly spectacular on Saturday. He completed with a career-high 428 yards and three touchdowns on 33-for-44 (75%) passing. That’s a formidable stat line, regardless of who you play, not to mention a protection that ranks contained in the top-20 in most classes.

If you wish to harp on his interception, I can’t cease you. It was a telegraphed move on a nasty play name that may go on the educating tape for younger quarterbacks to study what to not do within the crimson zone. These are the kind of performs we knew got here with the Bo Nix bundle, although. I didn’t know any of the opposite issues we had been getting from him had been doable, although.

Working underneath offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham, it seems Nix is comfy and assured, and he’s keen to push the ball down the sphere when the protection provides it to him. Can he proceed to enhance? After all. Each QB has quite a few throws per sport that they need again. The ceiling that we’ve seen from No. 10 via these first 4 video games although has been exceptional, and fully surprising if I’m being trustworthy.

The Defensive Errors

James Snook-USA TODAY Sports activities

As a lot as I wish to preserve issues optimistic in what was a formidable win for the Geese, I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out the errors. None higher sums up the day than Brandon Dorlus’ blunder within the fourth quarter.

With simply over 8 minutes to play and Oregon trailing by 5, the Geese had been ready to carry Washington State to a subject aim and preserve it a one-possession sport. It was third-and-18, and a cease would have given Oregon’s offense the ball with an opportunity to tie the sport.

Dorlus bought the wanted stress on quarterback Cameron Ward, who threw the ball away. Dorlus then hit Ward within the face along with his fingers, getting flagged for roughing the passer. Contemporary set of downs, and extra day off the clock. Three performs later, WSU made it a 12-point sport with a TD.

These usually are not the actions you may let occur if you wish to win video games. The Geese bought fortunate and pulled out this victory, however when a veteran member of your protection has rookie errors within the largest moments, it’s worrisome. All through the sport there have been penalties — DJ Johnson was ejected for a focusing on name within the second half — and missed tackles galore.

Have fun the victory now, however I wouldn’t wish to be subjected to Oregon’s practices this week.

A variety-it-out offense

James Snook-USA TODAY Sports activities

I discovered it considerably comical after the sport to see Oregon followers relish in the truth that they lastly have a WR1 like Troy Franklin to pepper with targets, understanding that he can step up when the second issues. It’s not usually the Geese have had elite huge receiver expertise able to breaking the sport open like Franklin.

What’s ironic is, regardless of this elite expertise on the prime of the WR depth chart, Oregon’s offense is as balanced as we’ve seen it in fairly a while. Take a look at this listing of touches for the Geese on Saturday:

Bucky Irving — 16 touches
Noah Whittington — 11 touches
Chase Cota — 7 touches
Troy Franklin — 5 touches
Kris Hutson — 5 touches
Terrance Ferguson — 3 touches

It’s clear the Geese are capable of unfold the ball round and really feel assured with whoever they’re going after. Within the final couple of video games, it’s been Franklin and Ferguson who’ve been on the receiving finish of many good performs. Going ahead, I’d be shocked if we didn’t see Hutson pop up or Dont’e Thornton make a splash. Regardless of the place you look, the Geese have somebody to unfold the ball to. That may make them harmful down the stretch.

These unsettling crimson zone struggles

James Snook-USA TODAY Sports activities

Nearly as good as you are feeling in regards to the Geese proper now, I wish to strive for a second to carry you again to actuality. This was an exhilarating victory, for certain, however don’t let the end result blind you of the performs that made a wild comeback vital within the first place.

If we’re being trustworthy, the Geese ought to have by no means been in that place, and it was the crimson zone offense that bought them there. The stat sheet will present  Oregon was 5-for-7 scoring contained in the 25-yard-line, however shall I remind you ways a couple of of these journeys into scoring place went?

Oregon ball, first-and-goal from the 5. Ensuing performs: false begin; no achieve; achieve of three; lack of 2; subject aim.
Oregon ball, first-and-goal from the two. Ensuing performs: Lack of 1; lack of 2; lack of 5; subject aim.
Oregon ball, first-and-goal on the 7. Ensuing play: Interception, taken again for a WSU landing.
Oregon ball, first-and-10 from the 11. Ensuing performs: Acquire of two; achieve of 1; lack of 3; subject aim.

In case you make it contained in the opponent’s 10-yard line 4 occasions in a half and find yourself with 9 factors, you will have critical issues to repair. Whether or not it was the play-calling or the execution is above my pay grade, however I an definitely certified to say that the Geese had been abysmal within the crimson zone on Saturday, they usually’re fortunate that it didn’t price them the sport.