After 4 games, two against warm ups, two against legitimate FBS foes, we seem to find ourselves in the odd but welcome position of extolling, drum roll, Duck defense. Something we thought, not too long ago as not possible because we used to score too fast and our D grew weary and sieve like and no one cared because we outscored everyone else. But now? When we are mediocre in 3rd down conversion, preventing sacks and nursing a sleep walking running game, our D doesn't seem to mind the extra work?
Entering the seasons the hype was on fire that our Ducks had the best offensive line in the nation, something that is now embarrassing in the disrobing of that notion. And no, Nevada and Wyoming do not lend much weight to a counter argument. And we seem to hearing the same, coach driven inter game mantra that we have to get better pad level, focus, avoid mistakes, etc. etc. etc.
Reality bites and we seem to be in the same funk, with the same results, the same plays, the same mantra, the same excuses as last year. Either we admit we don't have the best O line since the 4 Horsemen or we don't have the best instruction or play calling. Something is clearly wrong and invites fair comment from fans and staff.
The Stanford game was a mirror image of Red Box and other sorrows, and the finish to Auburn was, well, something that finished us.
Time to junk our maddening predictability, repeating what isn't working and then repeating it again. And please, don't invoke projectile hurling with the sop that we are taking what the defense is giving us.
As a rabid fan I don't need to take a loyalty oath and will hoist a bourbon with a glad and grateful heart with every win. But the running game provides itches that need to be scratched.
