Somebody tweeted last week that Cal's QB Zach Maynard missed a lot of throws -- throws that Stanford's Andrew Luck will NOT miss. The point he was making was that Oregon's defense gave up a lot of yards again, particularly passing yards.
ASU's QB doesn't miss much either. This will be a good test for Oregon. Can they shut down a prolific offense when they have to?
The answer to this could hinge on the comeback of one player, Cliff "CASH" Harris. His performance on the field is legendary. Unfortunately, so are his offseason screw ups. He's been under Coach Kelly's thumb for so long, he's got a thumb print on the back of his head.
This article by Ken Goe in today's Oregonian sums it up:
Ducks Insider: How Oregon's Cliff Harris conundrum influences the defense
EUGENE -- It's worth noting that Cliff Harris leads the No. 9 Oregon Ducks in pass break-ups this season. .
The junior cornerback hasn't started a game this year and isn't listed on this week's two-deep depth chart. But he has broken up five passes in limited playing time. Three players have four.
It's a strange situation. Four organizations -- the Football Writers Association of America, Sporting News, SI.com and ESPN.com -- named Harris a first-team All-American in 2010.
But at midseason 2011, with 18th-ranked Arizona State rolling into Autzen Stadium on Saturday for a 7:15 p.m. nationally televised showdown, Harris is -- on paper, anyway -- a third-stringer.
Much of what happens in the UO football program is as transparent as the bottom of a Coke bottle. This much we know.
Harris didn't have an offseason to remember. He was ticketed for driving 118 mph on I-5 with a suspended license in the wee hours of a Sunday morning in June. When the state trooper asked who had the marijuana he could smell, Harris replied: "We smoked it all." [Now available on T-shirts!]
He was suspended indefinitely, the suspension lasting through the Ducks' season-opening 40-27 loss to LSU.
All of that supposedly is -- excuse the expression -- in the rearview mirror. Coach Chip Kelly lifted the suspension. Harris made what seemed to be a heartfelt public apology on Comcast SportsNet, expressing regret for his actions and a determination to be a positive role model in the future.
That apparently didn't move him up the depth chart. Neither did the three fourth-quarter pass break-ups Harris had off the bench during last week's 43-15 victory over California.
"Everything we do is earned in this program," Kelly said Tuesday, responding to a question about Harris. "Nothing is handed to anybody."
Kelly, apparently, is talking about performance in practice, because Harris' play in games would seem to earn him a spot on center stage. This is a player who led the Pac-10 last year in interceptions and the NCAA in passes defended.
Asked to define in what way Harris needs to improve in practice, Kelly said: "Specifically? Breaking on a 'T' cut on a 45-degree angle out of a post-corner route."
Uh huh. After Wednesday's practice, Kelly again was asked about Harris.
"Cliff's effort was as good as the questions I've had today," Kelly said, eyes twinkling.
Asked how good he thought the questions were, Kelly responded: "Again, as good as Cliff's effort."
[Oh, OK. Hey, wait a minute coach, . . . . . Are you messin' with us?]
Kelly's "Win The Day" mantra is about giving maximum effort for each hour of each day, each day of each week, each week of each year. The idea is to make pursuit of excellence a habit. As a personal philosophy, it's not bad.
Some players, though, are gamers. Harris seems to rise to the occasion when the lights go on. And his teammates respond to the elan he brings to the field.
Cornerback Anthony Gildon, while claiming full confidence in all of his teammates, said: "Anytime Cliff is on the field it adds an extra bit of confidence to the field. I mean, you just know he knows what he's going to do."
As a 17-year-old freshman, Harris reportedly stood up in a team meeting and introduced himself by saying: "My name is Cliff Harris, and I'm here to lock (stuff) down."
It's not bragging if you do it.
Harris had to play his way onto the field last year too. He didn't start until the seventh game of the season. The Ducks are only five games into this one. Last week Harris apparently resumed his role as primary punt returner. Maybe things are right on schedule.
Last year, though, the Ducks forced 37 turnovers in 13 games. So far this year, they have forced four in five games.
"We've had a lot of chances," Gildon said. "We just have to finish. We have to finish plays. We've touched the ball a lot of times. We just have to finish with the ball in our hands."
There would be no time like the present. ASU's spread offense averages 421.3 yards per game. Quarterback Brock Osweiler can pick between four receivers with 17 catches or more.
The best way to put a crimp in that Osweiler-triggered attack would be to take away the ball.
"We're doing a really good job in ball security in not turning the ball over," Kelly said. "We had one turnover against Cal, and obviously those four in the opening game. That's it so far through five games. On the flip side, we need to create more turnovers. ... You're not going to continue to be really, really successful if you're even or losing the turnover battle."
The UO students, who spent parts of last week's game chanting "We want Cliff," think they have the solution.
Kelly is trying to teach Cliff discipline, like playing a 45 on a T-bone at the corner post office or whatever. But in doing so, is he also breaking Cliff's spirit? What if Cliff is more of a free spirit type who has to be turned loose before he can come back with the love? If this tough discipline, "keeping him down" method isn't getting Cliff to perform like his old self on the field, I recommend he switch tactics.
Friday before a game, Kelly should throw Cliff the keys to a sports car and say, "Harris I have a job for you. I need you to skip your afternoon classes, drive to Portland, pick up a pizza, and come back to my office. And I want that pizza on my desk in three hours."
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| Cliff "Disciplined, Behaved, Yes Sir" Harris |
That should get his mojo back. Let Cliff be CASH again.
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| Cliff "Oh no, Lock Down Sh*t, CASH" Harris |
LaMJ is doubtful for Saturday night's game. No worries. Between the three other running backs (I don't even want to call them backups. They're all so talented.), along with Darron Thomas, the Ducks will get the job done.
ESPN College Gameday from Eugene @ 7am. Game Kickoff at 7 pm on ESPN.
--KB
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