[from a UO blog writer] An essential part of playing to a vision is having one, and it's easy to envision stunning success for Chip Kelly and the Oregon Ducks of the coming seasons. The next phase of total team football in Eugene will be revolutionary, legendary and game-changing, and an incredible amount of fun to watch. Imagine the possibilities a couple, three years down the road. Here a few off the top of my head: On a cold, wet night in Berkeley, the Oregon offense is having trouble getting untracked. Cal's physical and quick defensive line is blowing up the zone read, the safeties are crowding the line of scrimmage and cutting off angles in the outside running game, and the Bear's secondary gets away with holding two or three times to frustrate the passing game. Sound familiar? Here's what happens next. In the second quarter, the Ducks get 38 yards from Tacoi Sumler on a fly sweep. No one on the Cal defense has the speed to stay with Sumler getting a running start. No one in college football can. It's James Rodgers to the tenth power, and when the Bear defense tries to adjust, overcommitting to the fly sweep, Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota fakes it and finds receiver BJ Kelly on a streak route for a 42-yard touchdown. In the third quarter, the Ducks get two crucial first downs on third and long when Mariota breaks out of a crumbling pocket for 15 and 21-yard scrambles. The drive stalls at the Cal 36, however, and when Oregon faces a critical fourth and one, Kelly doesn't hesitate. He goes fullhouse backfield with Colt Lyerla, Dontae Williams and Tra Carson, and behind the power blocking of left side stalwarts guard Jake Fisher and tackle Andre Y, Carson bulls for five and a first down. But the Ducks aren't done. Sensing the Bear defense is gassed and overwhelmed by the sudden shift in strategy, Mariota lines them up in the power formation for five straight plays, Williams walking into the end zone behind another pile drive by Yruretagoyena and Fisher on a second down counter play from the four. Late in the third quarter, Kelly busts out a Wildcat Formation with Devon Blackmon running option pitch plays in tandem with speedy De'Anthony Thomas. This has the Cal defense on a swivel, and they don't have an answer when Blackmon shows another triple option look and flips a shovel pass underneath to Lache Seastrunk, Seastrunk untouched for 55 yards, one cut and gone for another score. Three times in the game Oregon gets inside the red zone, but the Bears are still stonewalling the zone read with penetration inside. It doesn't matter, because the Ducks have a huge matchup edge outside with receivers Lyerla, Kelly and Blackmon. Lyerla, 6-5, 240, 4.55 speed with a 40-inch vertical jump, is unstoppable on the fade route, and Mariota places it perfectly for a pair of easy touchdowns. When Cal tries to double over the top with a safety, Lyerla uses leverage and his powerful frame, breaking off the fade to slant inside for his third touchdown of the game and 14th of the season. On defense, Jeff Tedford and his junior college transfer quarterback have no answer for the swarming pressure of Dion Jordan, Christian French, Anthony Wallace, Michael Clay, Cliff Harris, Terrance Mitchell, and the waves of other Duck defenders. Bo Lokombo flattens the Cal tailback on a swing pass, and Erick Dargan picks it up on the scoop and score. The Ducks repeatedly stuff the Bear running game and there's no room to pass, with a long play from scrimmage of 13 yards. Final score: Oregon 58-Cal 3. The 8-0 Ducks move to number three in the BCS behind undefeated Georgia and Oklahoma. Asked about the fairness of the defending champions ranked behind the touted powerhouses from the SEC and Big Twelve, Kelly quickly responds, "Doesn't matter. We're not concerned about rankings. We're playing in the Super Bowl against Utah next week."
