Oregon Ducks

Oregon can fulfill its potential with a healthy Vernon Adams Jr.

Published Oct. 19, 2015 9:48 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

Despite the fact that the Oregon only scored 26 points against Washington, the Ducks finally looked like the team everyone expected to see in September. The reason? The health of QB Vernon Adams Jr. 

Adams, who has missed most of the prior four game due to a broken right index finger, returned against the Huskies and threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns. The Ducks offense finally looked right. 

It wasn't just that Adams excelled throwing the ball down the field, which he did, but it was his execution on third down that set him apart. Without Adams, the Ducks combined to go 9-of-29 on third downs in losses to Washington State and Utah. Oregon was 9-of-18 vs. Washington in the same situation against the Huskies on Saturday.

The Ducks averaged 25 passes and 50 rushes a game without Adams. With him on Saturday, they threw 25 times and rushed 51, meaning the game plan wasn't all that different at all. It all came down to offensive execution. 

“Where he adds value to them is when the play breaks down, he’s able to extend the play whereas with the other two quarterbacks if the play wasn’t there they might not be able to create magic, so to speak,” said Washington defensive backs coach Jimmy Lake, according to ESPN. “He’s very much like a Russell Wilson type guy where if the initial play is stopped you still have to play the extended part of the play as he scrambles around for eight to 10 seconds.”

(h/t ESPN)

share

Get more from Oregon Ducks Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

Oregon Ducks