After the first five games,it seemed Oregon was still capable of putting up points, already spoiled by the Bellotti "quick strike" and Chip's "blur"...even Helfrich's innovations and scoring capacity, even if he failed in other ways.
But none of our first four wins were against quality opponents, though Cal is getting serious under Justin Wilcox while we are in certain decline. To ascribe this to the loss of a QB is, IMHO, patent sophistry. This is so because we have a more seasoned O line, augmented by the return of Crosby and, arguably, better coaching with Cristobal.
We have Nelson back, and Mitchell, though receiving is not where we want it. But we have a thunderous and speedy cadre of running backs. One could say, who needs a Justin Herbert when we have Freeman, Benoit, Brooks-James, et al.?
Putting our pathetic offense on Braxton Burmeister is nonsense. The throwing options given him are either long ball because of third and long or screens, which he seems not capable of completing...yet. We are devoid of any semblance of a short passing game. It's hard to believe that we keep to the same, losing formula because Taggart doubts Burmeister's ability.
The only rationale for Taggart's obstinance is that he's cashed the year in and is only interested in developmental football of his young recruits...getting the basics down for next year, because we are now certainly non-competitive and resigned to the bottom.
I really don't believe we have the best of offensive minds among the Taggart staff...not even the equivalent of Helfrich. What got us to the heights was innovation...cutting edge offense and speed that made us the envy of most. What we seem to have now is an amalgam of Harbaugh hard nosed football with what Taggart had at USF and the Gulf Coast Offense, without the coaches who made it so. As a result we are neither a juggernaught nor lightning in a bottle. We are mediocre, the complete opposite of what made PK invest his millions for.
Taggart may be a great motivator and recruiter. But he has yet to prove he's a great coach.
