The Oregon Ducks faced off against the Boise State Broncos is a close 37-34 contest that saw the Ducks walk away with a win.
While Oregon may have won the game, they certainly did not look good doing so and once again struggled along the offensive line. The Ducks have allowed seven sacks this season already while only allowing five all last season, and Oregon has played against arguably two of the lesser opponents they will face. Oregon has a relatively easy schedule this season but still must face #3 Ohio State and #17 Michigan later this season, both of whom will bring heavy blitzes.
Oregon Ducks Offensive Line Again Struggles Against Boise State Broncos
The Oregon football team has gotten off to a 2-0 start to the season and held the ninth-overall ranking in the country. However, the Ducks have not looked fantastic in doing so, putting up just 24 points against the Idaho Vandals and allowing the Boise State Broncos to score 34 points. The most concerning issue of them all has occurred behind the offensive line, where defenses are breaking the Ducks offense down.
A season ago, the Ducks allowed just five sacks all season and did not allow defenses to get near quarterback Bo Nix. This season, however, the Ducks have already allowed seven sacks and are projected to allow 30 more sacks this season. While many fans believe it to be a quarterback issue, the new starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel has been far from the problem early on.
Gabriel previously played for UCF and Oklahoma, and had been sacked 92 times across five total seasons including one where Gabriel was injured. The quarterback was sacked just 17 times last season and works his game around getting rid of the ball quickly. Gabriel is also an accomplished rusher, scoring 12 touchdowns with his legs last season, but cannot do so when the offensive line has been in shambles.
Currently, Gabriel is on track to be sacked the most he has ever been sacked in a single season.
What can the Oregon Football Staff do to Improve Their Offensive Line Issues?
The Oregon football staff is truly going to have to find ways to become more physical upfront moving forward. Both the Idaho Vandals and the Boise State Broncos did not have necessarily experienced or accomplished units upfront defensively. However, both teams were still able to find themselves in the back field often, causing plenty of trouble for quarterback Dillon Gabriel.
Gabriel has a quick throwing motion and his entire game is designed around getting rid of the football as quick as he can. However, Gabriel still needs his line to hold and give him enough time to allow the routes to develop. Oregon is not looking to nickel and dime their way down the field with small gains, but would rather find a way to throw points on the board as efficiently as possible.
If the Oregon football staff can get their offensive line to play more physical upfront, they should be able to hold off would-be sacks in the future. Oregon has returned their entire starting offensive line, but for some reason has gotten off track to start the season. The Ducks will need to find a way to get back on track before physical defenses like Michigan State and Purdue play the potential upset.
Get More NFL and College Football Content
For more news and trends in the college football world, follow me on Twitter @JarrettGuerrera
