A postmortem on the Oregon Ducks loss.

This one was difficult to write.

It's usually true that the team who wins the turnover margin wins the game. Unfortunately for Oregon they couldn't capitalize on those turnovers, despite being +4 (ignoring the last second deep throw by Mariota out of frustration) in the game. Oregon lost on every other battle, except the turnover margin, and they lost badly.
The game was lost:

• In the trenches on defense. On defense they faced what might be best described as the Stanford power run combined with Auburn's spread. Whether it was the off-tackle or counter run with both pulling guard and tackle, Oregon's front four could not get off their blocks. Before long, the ends lost contain trying to collapse the middle. On the bright side for USC in 2015, there is a clear game plan to use with the giant o-line who outweigh the Ducks' d-line by some 50 pounds, each.
• In the trenches on offense. Mariota just didn't have the luxury of time to sit back and hit his receivers, as the pocket would collapse and in a rare sight, he was sacked a couple of times in the game. The run game was nearly nonexistent, too, as the Buckeye defensive front four often pushed the Oregon offensive line backwards, early and often. Worse, sometimes the line didn't seem to know what blocking scheme they were in.
• In the secondary. When the Ducks held both safeties deep, the Buckeyes exploited it by running and short passes. When they played cover-1, the Buckeyes split the safety and Cardale Jones threw long.
• Tackling. The Ducks did not tackle. They were trying to make high tackles and arm tackles on 225 pound back Ezekiel Elliott and 250 pound quarterback Cardale Jones and failed miserably. No one makes high tackles on Marshawn Lynch, either, but still, some people try.
• Laterally. The one thing the running backs haven't figured out yet, apparently, is when to take one cut and go. Trying to bounce to the outside wasn't working against the Buckeyes, and it doesn't usually work in the NFL. Likewise, the WR bubble screen wasn't working either. I hope this wasn't a page out of the Lane Kiffin playbook.
• Refs. The Ducks lost big on this one. The Big-12 refs missed a lot of calls against Ohio State. In the first quarter alone, there were seven missed calls -- I'll put together a separate post of the images showing the missed fouls. I don't know how the back judge missed Buckeye #50's take down late in the first quarter. I saw two takedowns, actually, and I kept waiting for the call that never came. If the PAC-12 calls phantom fouls, the Big-12 apparently doesn't se many fouls, particularly ones on the o-line. Now, it's okay if they're calling it on both sides and therefore consistent, but they weren't.

You can't blame the lack of defense, the terrible blocking and the lack of tackling on the refs, though, and that one squarely rests on the Ducks. Plus, the Buckeyes clearly outplayed the Ducks, had a better defensive game plan, better adjustments at the half, a balanced attack, and stronger in the trenches.

Congratulations to the Buckeyes with a huge win.

By the way, USC hasn't lost to the Buckeyes since 1974 -- a string of 7 straight wins -- including an 18-15 win in the Horseshoe with a true-freshman quarterback in Matt Barkley. I just wanted to remind the Ducks and the Buckeyes that some PAC-12 teams have no trouble beating the Buckeyes' power run game. Can't wait to see you guys next year in the playoffs.