Oregon Ducks Focus on Reducing Penalties Ahead of Key Matchup with Colorado
The Oregon Ducks are gearing up for a showdown with the Colorado Buffaloes, but before that, they need to address an issue that has been plaguing them throughout the season: penalties. So far, Oregon has been flagged 16 times for a total of 144 yards, with the majority of the penalties occurring in their recent victory over Texas Tech. In that game, the Ducks were penalized 14 times for 124 yards.
Coach Dan Lanning is fully aware of the impact that these penalties can have on the team’s performance. He stressed the importance of eliminating these careless mistakes and emphasized the need to drill discipline in practice. Lanning highlighted how drives were disrupted and opportunities were missed due to penalties such as false starts and pass interference calls.
Despite their penalty troubles, Oregon managed to secure a 38-30 win against Texas Tech. However, they had to come from behind to snatch the victory. In order to fine-tune their performance before facing Colorado, the Ducks will host Hawaii, who are considered heavy underdogs by FanDuel Sportsbook.
Hawaii, under the guidance of coach Timmy Chang, has also struggled with penalties, accumulating 29 penalties for 273 yards in the first three games of the season. Quarterback Brayden Schager has been impressive, leading the nation with 972 passing yards and ranking second with 10 touchdowns. However, the team’s penalty issues serve as a hindrance to their success.
Oregon quarterback Bo Nix was recognized for his outstanding performance against Texas Tech and was named the Pac-12’s Offensive Player of the Week. Nix threw for 359 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for a team-high 46 yards.
On a more somber note, Hawaii suffered a major setback with the loss of weak-side linebacker Taylor Logan, who tore his ACL and will be sidelined for the remainder of the season. Logan was a key leader for the team and the leading tackler from last year.
In preparation for their matchup, Chang has emphasized to his players the importance of not backing down against a formidable Oregon team. He expects his team to rise to the challenge and give their best effort.
Oregon has several players from Hawaii on their roster, including Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota. In honor of their connections to Hawaii, Mariota and his Motiv8 Foundation, along with former Ducks quarterback Justin Herbert and basketball star Sabrina Ionescu, will be taking 1,000 local kids to the game. Additionally, Mariota is urging fans to contribute to the relief efforts for victims of a recent fire on Maui.
As the Ducks focus on their penalties and gear up for their upcoming matches, they have an opportunity to make significant improvements and establish themselves as a dominant force. The clash with Colorado will test their progress, and the Ducks are determined to come out on top.
