Oregon Avoids Another Early-Season Stumble, May Be Better For It

LaMichael James did everything but take flight, and the rest of the game was more or less academic, at least as far as the binary, win-lose outcome was concerned. But it’s the way Oregon demolished Tennessee is worth noticing.

The Ducks were gashed for 196 yards in the first quarter. After falling behind 13-3, they conceded just 89 yards the rest of the way and turned one Matt Simms wobbler into a touchdown.

Oregon’s turf-churning offense stalled early, producing three punts and two field goals in its first five possessions. Then Darron Thomas hit David Paulson for a touchdown, and the Ducks put together five second-half drives of 40 or more yards.

It’s early, far too early for declaratives that become conventional wisdom, but this Oregon team demonstrated more than a bit of resilience on a stormy night in unfriendly Neyland Stadium that could well have seen an incredible shrinking BCS contender succumb to the young and hungry Vols. If that toughness turns into a hallmark seen throughout the Pac-10 slate, it will be exceedingly difficult to beat Oregon this season.

The Ducks can swarm and blitz on defense, and have, in James and Kenjon Barner, a pair of miniscule running backs seemingly capable of blurring the air around them on long, back-breaking runs. Thomas appears to be a capable passer and runner, and the near-forgotten receiving corps is an arsenal of reliable possession guys.

And what of highly touted freshman Lache Seastrunk? He has zero carries in two weeks. He might not need to have any for Oregon this season.

Tennessee is a team in flux, with its peak well in the future. But there was enough talent, drive, and general stadium-based hostility to make the Vols a test for Oregon. The Ducks aced it.