Third down among areas being addressed by Oregon Ducks during bye week

The Oregon Geese have spent their bye week practices specializing in a number of particular areas in want of enchancment, together with third down execution.

No. 12 Oregon (5-1, 3-0 Pac-12) is at or close to the highest of the Pac-12 in dashing offense and run protection, whole and scoring offense and sacks allowed. The Geese are additionally at or close to the underside of the convention in go protection, third down and crimson zone protection and a few particular groups models halfway by the season.

“We obtained these 4 issues on offense that we’re going to get higher at, these 4 issues on protection that we’re going to get higher at, particular groups (is) the place we need to see cited enchancment,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning mentioned. “I feel you must be actually clear. That is actually a giant week for self-scout the place we return and self-evaluate what we’ve finished nicely, what we’ve finished poor after which how we will construct off of that and develop from that.”

Oregon allowed a season-high 10 third down conversions on a season-high 17 makes an attempt in its 49-22 win over Arizona final week. It was Arizona’s highest conversion fee (58.82%) in opposition to a profitable FBS workforce since 2015, and significantly alarming contemplating UA went 5 of seven on third-and-medium.

“It was actually really poor on either side (offense and protection),” Lanning mentioned. “I do know we solely had I feel eight alternatives for third down on offense, however usually third down is an enchancment piece for us. We’ve evaluated it fairly shut.”

The Geese rank eleventh within the Pac-12 and 127th of 131 FBS groups in third-down protection (50.6%), a determine that will increase to 52.86% when accounting for under FBS competitors.

Oregon’s go protection (275.3 yards per recreation, twelfth in Pac-12 and 114th nationally) has been a significant challenge to this point, particularly on third downs and few of the situational splits are favorable for the Geese.

With UO main a lot in opposition to Japanese Washington, BYU, Stanford and Arizona, groups have needed to throw extra. However opponents are 35 of 53 for 450 yards (a hundred and twentieth) in opposition to the Geese on third down, with three touchdowns, an interception and 27 first down conversions, the second-most allowed nationally. Groups are 7 of 9 with six conversions throwing on third-and-three-or-less and solely eight of the 30 groups to permit not less than eight passing conversions on third-and-four-to-six have confronted much less go makes an attempt than Oregon’s 16. Most regarding, groups are 10 of 13 with two touchdowns and 7 conversions in opposition to the Geese on third-and-seven-to-nine, which is meant to favor the protection.

Offensively, Oregon is changing 45.9% of third downs (sixth within the Pac-12, thirty first nationally), however that drops to 40% when eradicating the Japanese Washington recreation. UO has transformed 18 occasions on 32 runs on third downs, together with 10 of 12 from brief vary, however simply 3 of 11 from mid-range. Oregon is 26 of 42 with 5 touchdowns, an interception and 14 conversions on third downs, together with 5 conversions on 12 makes an attempt from mid-range.

Third down isn’t the one space of focus this week although.

Penalties have been vastly improved in opposition to Arizona, in comparison with the 14 Oregon dedicated in opposition to Stanford, however a number of on protection might have been averted. Particular groups stays inconsistent by way of kickoff protection and at punter.

Even Oregon’s Pac-12 main operating recreation has some issues to regulate as the space between the operating again and quarterback Bo Nix has been an indicator of whether or not a run or go play is coming at occasions and higher opponents throughout the second half of the season, starting subsequent week in opposition to No. 11 UCLA (6-0, 3-0), will seize on such a inform.

“That’s the identical causes you’ll see us at weeks we’ll play with the again behind the quarterback in pistol formation, at occasions we’ll be within the gun,” Lanning mentioned. “We transfer them round fairly a bit; we shift, movement them a very good quantity. Actually one thing that we’re conscious of. I’ll say this, for my part nice groups have tendencies. Should you’re an incredible workforce, you’re going to have tendencies which might be going to point out up. You simply have to pay attention to these tendencies as a coach.”