The Ducks didn't need LaMichael James against New Mexico, and they certainly didn't miss Jeremiah Masoli. Kenjon Barner and Darron Thomas seamlessly filled the roles of running back and quarterback for No. 11 Oregon in its 72-0 blowout of New Mexico on Saturday. With James suspended for a game, Barner scored five touchdowns, four on the ground and another via a pass from Thomas. He ran for a career-high 147 yards as Oregon racked up a school-record 720 yards in total offense. Thomas completed 13 of 23 passes for 220 yards and two scores in his debut as starter after the dismissal of Masoli in the offseason. If the Ducks were trying to put their troubled recent past behind them, it worked. "I guess it says a lot," Barner said. "Numbers don't lie." http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=302472483
Oregon was amazing. More amazing was that nearly all of the starters sat after the second quarter and they stuck with a dozen basic plays and formations. Even Duck fans started to feel bad, but when you're playing your forth-stringers and calling a basic running play over and over, it's hard to argue that Oregon was trying to run the score up. This was an excellent start to the season. It was a step above a scrimmage for our timing and young players. Can't wait for Saturday against Tenn!
The Ducks DID look awesome. I'm glad that Oregon didn't bring in any of the guys they are gonna redshirt it would have been a waste. There are no guarantees that things would have gone as well otherwise, but if James had been there the Ducks would have been able to go with the other RBs longer. I wonder how New Mexico does with the rest of their season. Ed O.
