Behind Enemy Lines: 5 Questions With Oregon Expert

With the Oregon State football team (2-0) set to face the No. 9 Oregon Ducks (2-0) at Reser Stadium on Saturday, BeaversEdge catches up with our sister site DuckSportsAuthority to learn more about Oregon!

1. What's been the biggest reason(s) why Oregon hasn't lived up to preseason expectations?

DSA Publisher Scott Reed: "The biggest factor so far this season is inconsistency on offense – especially at the offensive line spot. The Ducks lost their Rimington Award winner to the NFL Draft and his Freshman All-American replacement has had to move to guard due to injuries to Matthew Bedford and Dave Iuli. That left walk-on Charlie Pickard snapping and he struggled with blocking and the right side of the offensive line has struggled some to protect Dillon Gabriel.

Some of that looked to be cleaned up in the second half last week with a change up to the rotation and the insertion of Nishad Strother in the lineup, but there were still some protection issues. The Ducks are close to getting Bedford back which should help stabilize that some."

2. What have been the biggest differences between last year's Oregon squad and this year's so far?

SR: "The biggest difference is the lack of explosive running plays. Because the Ducks have had far too many penalties and QB protection issues, they have been behind the chains too much. While Dillon Gabriel has been very efficient with his passing accuracy and finally got some explosion plays in the passing game against Boise State, there is a different feel without Bo Nix at the helm.

He has started to make more of the decisions at the line as Nix did, but there has definitely been a change in how the offense is run and getting Gabriel more comfortable in the new system.

If the Ducks can get better at protecting Gabriel and eliminate some of the penalties, then maybe the running game can start to get more rhythm. Right now, the longest run on the season is just 16 yards by Jordan James and the team has just two rushing touchdowns through the first two games. Excluding sacks, the rest of the team is averaging just over 2.5 yards per carry. That will also need to change as Oregon will need to get James some rest and the reserves need to be able to get more than 2.5 yards per carry for the Oregon offense to be successful."

3. If you're Oregon State, what's the recipe to give the Ducks a tough matchup offensively and defensively?

SR: "Offensively, the Ducks are struggling at times to defend edge stretch runs. Their biggest plays in run defense have been on those types of plays including Ashton Jeanty’s big 70-yard rush. They have not really faced a QB like McCoy, so I would also think they will look to attack the run game with McCoy to see if Oregon has an answer there.

The pass defense has been significantly better this year, but I think there are still some holes in the middle of the field when linebackers are in coverage that can be exploited.

For the Beaver defense, I would imagine that they will follow the script that has seemed to work early – attack the right side of the Oregon offensive line – especially in passing situations. The strength of the Oregon offense the last two seasons was the ability to protect the QB and that has been a significant issue this season.

I think Gabriel has shown some flashes with his arm, but if I were running the defense I would limit the number of man coverages as that is where the big plays happened against Boise State."

4. What is the status of Oregon's OL and do you expect that group to find their footing?

SR: "I do expect that they will find better footing. I think one of the biggest struggles is that right side players – who normally protect the ‘front’ side of the QB – are now protecting the blind side with he left-handed Gabriel and there is a difference in that kind of role that I think they are still adapting.

Bedford took some reps early in practice this week but I am not sure if he will be back. With Strother coming in at guard and Poncho Laloulu moving back to center, the offense seemed to find a little bit better stability and I expect that they will get better with each week, but it will be a work in progress until Bedford and Dave Iuli are both back on the field."

5. What's your score prediction and why?

SR: "I have gone back and forth on this. The Oregon defense is better than last year – especially against the pass, but there are some things that they have not yet seen. I know that the scout team is working to give looks similar to McCoy and that the Ducks at least got some good game film of McCoy as they prepped for Idaho, but they did give up a couple of explosive plays to Jeanty a week ago, and some big plays to Idaho in the opener.

I think that Oregon State will have plenty on the line in this game and will be amped up in front of the home crowd. I have the first half being one of those really tight games and do not see this one being a blowout for either side.

I do think that the Oregon offense has more playmakers at the edge and the difference makers this year on defense are defensive linemen Derrick Harmon, Jamaree Caldwell along with a relentless pass rush with depth and very good coverage on the back end which will keep this low scoring.

I think Oregon will pull ahead late and win a closer-than-expected game in the range of 35-24."

• TALK ABOUT IT ON THE DAM BOARD

• SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE

• SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCASTS ON APPLE & SPOTIFY

• LIKE US & FOLLOW OUR FACEBOOK

• FOLLOW THE STAFF ON TWITTER - @Beavers_Edge, @b_slaught, @RivalsDylanCC, @tjmathewson, & @ryan_harlan