Bowling Green Falcons Versus Oregon Ducks Game Preview
What’s one good thing about sports? A horrible year can be replaced in just seven months. That’s the opportunity staring the Oregon Ducks in their faces as the 2018 season opener against Bowling Green is just days away.
The 2017 Ducks were the most penalized team in college football and if there’s a main aspect head coach Mario Cristobal is concerned about, it’s the number of penalties called against his team. Athleticism can only take you so far, but if this team continues to make the mental mistakes then Bowling Green is going to make the season opener a nail-biter.
Good thing for Duck fans is that Cristabol knows what he’s doing. With two preseason scrimmages in the books, he is pleased with how his team has reduced the dirty laundry thus far. Oregon will have to play very solid on defense to stop the sophomore duo of quarterback Jarret Doege and running back Andrew Clair.
Doege was named the starter midway through his 2017 freshman season and had the Falcons soaring high averaging 35-points per game. This team can score with the best programs in the country, so it’s all about putting pressure on the QB with minimal blitzing and staying solid in the secondary.
Defensive end Jalen Jelks will need to make his presence felt with speed rushes and containing Clair by forcing him back to the middle. If he and the rest of the defensive line cannot sustain pressure on the QB, or they allow Clair to get to the outside, the Falcons will have a chance to win.
Offensively, well, we all know Oregon is a catalyst for lighting up the scoreboard. With an entire summer learning the ways of the new coach, junior QB Justin Herbert should be primed to lead his feathered friends to multiple high scoring outings with seven returning offensive starters.
The biggest matchup to watch for in this game will be the Ducks offense versus the Falcons defense. With explosive receivers like Dillon Mitchell and Brenden Schooler, the Ducks must run precise routes in order to create separation from the Falcons long and athletic cornerbacks.
Still, Oregon will have the advantage on this side of the ball. Although the Falcons have had plenty of time to scout and game plan against the Ducks, Bowling Green hired Carl Pelini, the former defensive coordinator of Florida Atlantic. With a new defensive coach and scheme for Bowling Green, look for the Ducks to be aggressive and use the no-huddle offense to keep the Falcons defenders back on their heels.
If the Ducks take care of the ball, cut down on the mental mistakes, and allow their athleticism to be unleashed then Oregon will rule the skies against these Falcons. Easily covering the 23-point spread.