The 2012 season started plenty differently for Oregon running back De’Anthony Thomas than last season.
As a true freshman in the Ducks’ loss against LSU in 2011, Thomas’ 122 all-purpose yards were overshadowed by two lost fumbles in the third quarter in the eventual loss to the Tigers.
There were no such shortcomings for Thomas this time around in No. 4 Oregon’s 57-34 win over Arkansas State last Saturday
Once all was said and done, Thomas finished with three total touchdowns (one rushing, two receiving) and 125 all-purpose yards, entering his name into the Heisman conversation.
And how about those crazy, yet awesome, new uniforms?
“There is a reason they call him the Black Mamba; he just strikes,” said Oregon wide receiver Josh Huff on GoDucks.com. “I am always at a loss for words. It is so exciting to see him with the ball and play for our offense.”
Thomas scored three of the Ducks’ seven first half touchdowns, Oregon reached the end zone on each of its first seven possessions and no drive lasted more than 2 minutes, 54 seconds..
“This team is dialed in,” said Thomas on GoDucks.com.
Thomas is a byproduct of what coach Chip Kelly says has been the primary reason for the Ducks' recent ascend to the top of the national polls.
“(That’s) simple: players,” said Kelly on the Pac-12 teleconference this week. “We got good players. If you have good players, you’re a good program. We got good players.”
Others would point to Kelly’s fast tempo, no-huddle spread offense. With the success the Ducks have enjoyed, more teams are trying to quicken their approach, including Oregon’s opponent this week, Fresno State (1-0).
The Ducks (1-0) were finally able to get over their struggles in BCS games under Kelly, winning the Rose Bowl over Wisconsin in January, with a team Kelly says was one of the youngest he’s ever coached.
This season, despite having redshirt freshman Marcus Mariota at quarterback, the Ducks are moving faster offensively, which doesn’t do any favors for opposing defensive coordinators.
“(Our) offense is moving pretty well and I feel like we’re lining up faster,” Thomas said. “This is more of a tempo team now. Our tempo has been up but I feel like we really turned it up a little bit more.”
Thomas says the increase in tempo comes from this group having a better understanding for the playbook from system Kelly adopted some 14 years ago.
Kelly says no matter where he’s coached, there’s always been a supreme emphasis on “total conditioning,” regardless of the type of system his team ran.
“We prided ourselves on that (conditioning),” Kelly said. “We’ve always believed that physical fitness is a weapon. It’s at our disposal, so we need to take advantage of that.”
There’s also the concept of practicing fast. which has been a constant theme in Eugene since Kelly stepped on campus five years ago.
The tempo, however, is something he feels he receives too much credit for.
“That part’s overblown,” Kelly said. “The Buffalo Bills did it back in the day with Jim Kelly at quarterback. Sam Wyche did it in the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals so people have been doing that for a long time.”
Thomas has only been playing college football for a short time, but his impact has been huge. The sophomore has scored 21 touchdowns in 15 career games as a Duck and i he continues at that pace, the Heisman talk is only going to grow louder each week.
“I just use it as motivation,” said Thomas of hearing his name in Heisman discussions. “I’m a sophomore right now. I’m just coming off of my first year of college football, so pretty much I’m just trying to get to the BCS Games. Right now we’re just taking it one game at a time but when that time comes, best believe we’re going to be ready for it.”
