Tag: Fiesta Bowl

DuckTV Sports Staff Correct in Fiesta Bowl Predictions

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Before Oregon’s 35-17 victory in Thursday’s Fiesta Bowl, the DuckTV Sports staff made some predictions on the final outcome.

Oregon was explosive from the opening kickoff when De’Anthony Thomas kicked things off with a 94 kick return touchdown. Oregon was up from that point on and clinched things with a game clinching field goal by much maligned kicked Alejandro Maldonado.

Senior running back Kenjon Barner paced the Ducks with 143 rushing yards on 30 carries. Barner also caught a 24 yard pass from RS freshman quarterback Marcus Mariota. Mariota finished his debut season with flying colors in the form of three total touchdowns, two in the air.

There is widespread speculation Kelly could bolt for the NFL. Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

The domineering storyline in this contest though was the impending future of Oregon coach Chip Kelly. Kelly is reportedly close to a deal with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns, according to Fox Sports report. Kelly will be interviewing with Buffalo and Philadelphia soon.

If Kelly were to leave, offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich will be the leading candidate to take over, according to USA Today’s George Schroeder.

McLean Cannon, DuckTV Sports Producer
Oregon 35, Kansas State 20
Kansas St. hangs tough with Oregon for the majority of the game to keep it close, but Ducks distance themselves in the fourth quarter. Mariota tosses two scores and runs for another and DAT has a long touchdown run. Barner adds a TD run of his own but is otherwise a non factor. On the other side, Klein throws an ill-timed interception and struggles to find a rhythm throughout the game.

Shannon Hartley, DuckTV Sports Reporter
Oregon 36, Kansas State 27
The Oregon Ducks will be able to run their offense effectively against the Wildcats. The Wildcats have a great offense and defense, but won’t be able to keep up with the pace at which Oregon scores. I have the score as 36 instead of 35 because Chip Kelly will undoubtedly go for two to throw the Wildcats off.

Preston Hiefield, DuckTV Sports Producer
Oregon 34, Kansas State 28
While many think Oregon will run roughshod all over this Wildcats defense, people forget how talented and well-coached this team is on that side of the ball, led by All-American linebacker Arthur Brown. Klein keeps K-State in it with his legs, but eventually Oregon’s defense stifles the Wildcats’ ground game and forces Klein into a late interception.

 

Fiesta Bowl Preview: Defensive Outlook

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Leading up to the Fiesta Bowl, DuckTV will be breaking down every aspect of the game.

Keep up with previous posts

Keys to the Game
Linebackers
Defensive Backs
Defensive Lines

By McLean Cannon

While most eyes will be on the dazzling speed and playmaking ability of the Oregon backfield or the bruising running style and efficient quarterback play of Kansas State’s Heisman finalist Collin Klein, the defenses on both sides present an intriguing matchup that may prove to be the difference in the game.

For Oregon, it comes down to forcing turnovers, which the number four Ducks have been able to do successfully all season long. Oregon ranks tied for first in the nation with 38 forced turnovers, leading the country with 24 interceptions, four of which have been returned for touchdowns. Cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu and linebacker Kiko Alonso lead the team with four interceptions apiece, while safeties Avery Patterson and Erick Dargan have tallied three picks each.

Oregon’s defense swarms to the ballcarrier– even when they try to go over them. US PRESSWIRE

However, KSU has committed just 10 turnovers all season, third fewest in the country, with Klein throwing only seven interceptions in 272 pass attempts. Should the Wildcats continue to limit their mistakes, the pressure could be on the Ducks’ defense to find other ways to get off the field and provide its offense with good field position.

Senior linebacker Michael Clay, who will be playing in his final game for the green and yellow, leads the Ducks in tackles with 92. Alonso, a fellow senior, has recorded 75 tackles and a team-leading 12 tackles for loss. Junior defensive tackle Taylor Hart has paced the Ducks with eight sacks on the season, and senior defensive end and projected 1st round NFL draft pick, Dion Jordan, has tacked on five sacks of his own.

On the other side, the Wildcats boast one of the nations most efficient teams, and most of that stems from their defense, which leads the nation with a +22 turnover margin. The Wildcats also boast a top 25 scoring defense at 21 points per game, and an elite rushing defense, which allows just 119 yards per game.

Big 12 Defensive player of the year Arthur Brown leads a strong Kansas State defense. Scott Sewell-US PRESSWIRE

Kansas State lost the turnover battle only twice this season, once against lowly North Texas, and again against Baylor, the Wildcats’ only loss.

Senior linebacker Arthur Brown leads the Wildcats with 91 tackles on the year. Senior defensive end Meshak Williams has paced the team with 9.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss, and fellow defensive end Adam Davis has recorded 7.5 sacks of his own. Defensive backs Allen Chapman, Nigel Malone, and Ty Zimmerman lead KSU with 5 interceptions each.

While the high turnover margin and elite rushing defense indicates a successfully aggressive defense, Kansas State will likely play a relatively basic and conservative defensive scheme, allowing its disciplined defenders to make tackles in space and prevent explosion plays. Against eleven of their twelve opponents, the scheme worked, and played directly into the hands of their equally efficient offense.

When the Wildcats don’t make mistakes, their scheme works, and allows the Wildcats to play and beat nearly any team in the country. But as we’ve seen before, Oregon’s offense can conjure many mistakes from their opponents, and containing it for an entire game is a very hard thing to do. Even for the nation’s elite defenses, the Ducks’ offense poses some of the most challenges in the nation.