Duck Tape: Film Review of Oregon @ Penn State

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There were only two garbage time possessions in this game (including overtime), each when Oregon had the ball with less than a minute left in the half. Over their first five possessions (all in the first half for the Ducks) Oregon ran 41 plays, had two full field drives (40+ yards), and averaged 35.5 yards in non-garbage time but only managed to go 1-2 on field goal attempts. Penn State’s first five drives (including their first of the second half) included only 34 plays, no full field drives, and averaged 18.6 yards netting a single made field goal. Reviewing the film the cause for the lack of explosiveness was clear: both defensive fronts had the advantage over the opposing offensive line.

Oregon’s next two drives resulted in touchdowns and it was clear on film that the play count differential was beginning to pay dividends: the Nittany Lions defense was wearing down. Penn State forced overtime by changing up their play calling strategy for a quick score and extending their final drive long enough for Oregon’s defense to also tire. By the end of the game, both teams’ defenses were exhausted and the outcome was determined by turnovers: the Ducks recovered their own fumbled exchange and the Nittany Lions threw an interception… again.

Play Type

Plays

Success Rate

Explosive Rate

Adj. YPP
Rush 31 58.06% 9.68% 5.00
Pass 37 51.35% 10.81% 6.61
Total 68 54.41% 10.29% 5.81

Oregon’s staff knew that given their offensive line situation explosive plays would be difficult to come by in this game. The play calling emphasized efficiency, quick throws, and screens to stay ahead of the chains. The reliance on screens instead of perimeter runs turned out to be an ineffective decision, which I will go into more detail below. There seems to have also been a deliberate decision raise the risk tolerance on 4th and short, as without explosive plays the Ducks would need to extend drives to get in scoring position.

The Oregon coaches also knew that they wanted to protect QB Dante Moore from Penn State’s pass rush in obvious passing situations. The trade off was they would need to use him in the running game to be efficient enough on the ground to sustain drives. He wasn’t used as a regular read-option runner as often as some previous Oregon QBs, but frequently kept the ball in critical short yardage situations. I didn’t differentiate statistical analysis between interior/off tackle vs perimeter runs in this game, as there were too few perimeter attempts for a meaningful split. Here is a representative sample of successful rushing plays.

(Reminder: you can control the playback speed by using the gear icon in the lower right of the player.)

  1. :00 – Early on the Ducks offensive line wasn’t getting much push.The Nittany Lions are running a scrape exchange on the offense’s right which causes difficult blocking angles for RT #71 A. Harkey and C #72 I. Laloulu. The result is the backer running himself out of the play and the DE getting turned around so RB #6 N. Whittington can bounce off him. The safety was supposed to be TE #9 J. Johnson’s responsibility but he misses so Whittington just runs him over.
  2. :21 – Oregon’s staff made the deliberate decision to have QB Dante Moore run in critical situations so they could have an extra blocker. With Penn State in deep coverage to prevent any explosive passes on third and short, Moore could have gotten a chunk run if he could go straight ahead. Interior penetration allowed by Harkey and LG #75 E. Pregnon prevents that, but he sees room to his left where a block from RB #27 J. Limar gives him room to slide after gaining the first down.
  3. :39 – Big true freshman RB #0 J. Davison saw frequent use as a lead blocker. He’s supposed to take on the DB PSU #2, but when Harkey and RG 74 #D. Iuli get split by the DT he has to help Harkey with the linebacker. This forces RB #27 J. Limar to cut back where the unblocked safety has a free shot at him, but Limar does well to make sure the tackler only gets his ankles so he can fall forward and keep the offense ahead of the chains. On the offense’s left LT #76 I. World was displaying this technique all game but was only flagged once during the last minute of the 1st half for it.
  4. :49 – This wasn’t explosive true freshman #23 D. Hill’s longest run, but it was his clearest path. The entire line and Ja. Johnson have a hat-on-a-hat with with proper leverage. The backside linebacker learns that Davison’s hips don’t lie so the only defender who can save a touchdown is the deep safety. Notice veteran WR #4 M. Benson controlling his defender downfield while true freshman WR #1 Dak. Moore is thrown to the ground.

Oregon was most efficient when running their staple inside and outside zone running plays even without Hill’s explosiveness or the defensive fatigue in the second half (although that factor did result in more explosives and higher YPC). Gap scheme runs and counters had less success, and the line continues to show technique deficiencies that need to be continually addressed as the season goes on. Below is a sample of unsuccessful rushing plays.

  1. :00 – ATQ’s preview noted that in 2025 Penn State had essentially never successfully stopped a short yardage run by its previous and far inferior opponents, so the advantage should be with Oregon’s offense running the ball on 3rd and 1 with two tight ends. The only lineman who doesn’t whiff or get pushed back is Pregnon and Whittington is stuffed for no gain. A false start on the ensuing 4th down attempt killed the drive.
  2. :06 – Iuli is supposed to pull around to kick out the corner who has outside contain but he whiffs completely. Ja. Johnson also lets the defensive end free so there is no hole for Limar to get to the boundary.
  3. :22 – This toss is a true perimeter run that is supposed to force the boundary corner to bring down the 238 lb. Davison alone. Harkey lunges out of his stance and nearly trips Pregnon so the linebacker and safety are free to assist with a gang tackle.
  4. :38 – Despite Moore being in the shotgun, this run resembles a weakside sweep that would have looked familiar to Vince Lombardi. Iuli pulls around to block the DE head on and is rocked back into TE #18 K. Sadiq. This leaves the nickel back unblocked and he makes a shoe string tackle for a loss.

With perimeter protection shaky and Penn State having disrupters on the line the plan in the passing game was to get the ball out quickly. Moore had to use his legs to avoid pressure quite a few times and the only explosive completions came with him on the move (scrambles and/or bootlegs) or a single high risk/high reward 4th and 1 pass. Here is a sample of successful passing plays.

  1. :00 – This naked bootleg action from under center has been in every game so far with Moore at quarterback. In this case the field side DE is now in tension and Sadiq is wide open in the flat. He gets a few extra yards with one of his trademark hurdle moves, but on the reverse angle you’ll see he would have gotten a lot more if WR #1 Dak. Moore had made a block downfield.
  2. :22 – This is classic Will Stein quick passing. The corner is giving Dak. Moore is a big cushion out of respect for his downfield speed and the linebacker has run responsibilities. A short completion to the flat is essentially free yards on 1st and 10. The receiver is able to turn downfield to set up 2nd and 1.
  3. :29 – Oregon ran some version of this tunnel screen five times, nearly as much as all their other screens combined. This was the one time it worked as designed. Dak. Moore takes on the corner and Harkey knocks the linebacker down. Laloulu makes minimal contact with the safety and though Iuli should turn around to cut off the backside linebacker Hill is fast enough to slip through to the end zone.
  4. :44 – The Ducks went to an empty set several times when they needed a short conversion. The backup boundary safety keeps his feet planted at the snap so the ball can be dumped off to Sadiq for a first down. The ball is slightly behind him, but I think that was on purpose so he could shield it from the oncoming defender and more easily secure the catch.

OC Will Stein ran 10 screen passes in this game (an 11th in overtime turned into a downfield pass when Moore saw the defense). That is well over the FBS average (approximately 9% of all plays) and makes sense given the game plan to try and minimize the impact of Penn State’s pass rush, which was often disruptive. As with last season though, the results did not justify this play calling distribution.

Play Type

Plays

Success Rate

Explosive Rate

Adj. YPP
All Passes 37 51.35% 10.81% 6.61
Dropback 27 55.55% 14.81% 7.62

If the passing game is less efficient with screens than without they should only be used occasionally. It would have been better to call about half as many screens and use other quick release concepts (or perimeter runs) until the defense had worn down enough for the run game to take over. Some examples of failed passing plays:

  1. :00 – Moore still doesn’t have a full season of starts under his belt and he has room to improve reading coverages. One way this shows is to lock on to Dak. Moore even when there are better options available. The corner over him at the bottom of the screen is giving a large cushion and bailing at the snap, so he is in a good position to defend this sideline route. If the QB had read the linebacker blitzing he would see WR #2 G. Bryant Jr. breaking into open space on a slant route. The interior pressure being given up by Harkey doesn’t help.
  2. :15 – The protection breaks down immediately against a five man blitz. Whittington is expecting Harkey to take the blitzing linebacker, the inside man and most immediate threat, so he will pick the DE coming off the edge. Harkey goes outside (and is beaten anyway), so the back has to dive at the blitzer. This trips up Iuli who now has no chance to pick up the looper.
  3. :34- Here is an example of a typical failed screen pass. It’s a great call as the Nittany Lions are running a simulated pressure and the throw is right into the blitz. Moore needs to leave the safety to Sadiq and block the corner. Oregon converted the ensuing 4th and 1, but it was a risk they might not have needed to take with better execution.
  4. :42 – If he had more time the QB could make a pump fake toward Moore and Bryant to freeze the middle safety, then check down to Limar who has green grass in front of him. With pressure in his face though, he throws it away to try again on third down.

Penn State came out with what was a pretty typical game plan for them. There was a typical mix of “gadget” plays in the first three quarters, and an attempt to replicate their success from last year’s Big Ten Championship Game. In the run game it was generally ineffective, though there was success on the first touchdown drive when they used no huddle in the passing game. The Ducks were only dipped underwater in rush efficiency defense at the end of the game, because of YACO runs due to fatigue in the fourth quarter and overtime.

After completing this film study, I think Penn State would have had a much better chance to win the game had they mixed in more up-tempo passing and sweeps early in the game to try and build a lead. As it was, they only adjusted their typical tactics when the game situation left them no choice. This left them vulnerable to a high variance scenario, and we all saw how that turned out.

Oregon’s defensive line fared much better in this game against Penn State’s run blockers than last December. While there were a few noticeable instances of the defense not being completely aligned when the Nittany Lions quick-snapped the ball, it never led to any breakdowns in run defense. There were no explosive runs before the 4th quarter, and only late in the game did efficiency go under water. Here is a sample of successful rush defense.

  1. :00 – Penn State broke out this wildcat formation early but Oregon was ready for it. The running back who takes the snap is trying to get around the defense toward the boundary, but quick penetration by DT #1 B. Alexander forces him to cut upfield. Both DT #52 A. Washington and DE #10 M. Uiagelelei have gotten off their blocks and help stop the play for no gain.
  2. :09 – Allar is reading OLB #44 T. Tuioti on the offense’s left and tosses to the back when he steps down to the middle of the field. Quick reactions from S #2 K. Lopa and CB #3 S. Laulea protect the edge and hold the runner to a short gain on 2nd and long.
  3. :17 – The Nittany Lions try to use tempo to gain an advantage on this run but it doesn’t help. Alexander easily sheds a blocker and tracks down the back after Tuioti forces the give.
  4. :30 – Washington beats the RT inside and puts him on skates. The back’s path is completely cut off as Tuioti sheds his own blocker and closes in. Even if the runner escaped LB #26 D. Jackson has properly read the play and is in position to assist.

A greater role for QB Drew Allar in the run game combined with late game fatigue finally brought success for the Nittany Lion’s ball carriers in the fourth quarter and overtime. Had Oregon’s offense not stalled out between Penn State’s two fourth quarter drives it would have been too little, too late. As it happened it was just enough to force overtime. Here are examples of failed rush defense.

  1. :00 – Penn State only ran the sweep action twice in the first half. This is the first half, and though it is not an explosive play it is still effective. Uiagelelei is the unblocked edge defender and does well to induce the QB keep. Nobody else can get off a block though and Allar shows his toughness by pushing forward for five yards.
  2. :14 – This was the longest run of the night by any Nittany Lion other than Allar. Oregon has five DBs on the field with two safeties deep and is content to allow a short gain on 2nd and 1. An assignment error by LB #28 B. Boettcher results in an explosive run though. The other LB, #54 J. Mixon, has the B-gap on the offense’s right taken care of and DB #31 D. Thieneman is coming down to occupy the RG, so Boettcher needs to be in position to guard the other B-gap on the offense’s left. A poor angle by NB #22 J. Canady playing as a deep safety makes a bad situation worse.
  3. :37 – Tuioti and the secondary have to guard against the sweep motion toward the offense’s left so they can’t help with the QB keep on 4th and short. The only way to get a stop in such short yardage situations in with backfield penetration, so DE #29 A. Porter needs to get low against the double team and give the linebackers a free shot at the quarterback. When he’s moved backwards Boettcher still turns Allar back inside, but by the time Jackson can get off his block and make contact Penn State already has the yard they needed.
  4. :53 – In overtime it was apparent that fatigue had taken its toll on the defense physically and mentally. As the unblocked man Uiagalelei has to take the sweep. The other defenders to that side have coverage responsibilities and don’t have the leverage to stop the receiver once he gets up to speed. When the end loses his focus and gives up the edge to hit the quarterback it guarantees a first down. A poor breakdown by Thieneman gives up even more.

Drew Allar displayed all of the high potential and maddening inconsistency that has characterized his college career during this game. Oregon’s pass rushers frequently affected him and forced a number of errant throws by inducing poor mechanics. Below is a sample of successful pass defense.

  1. :00 – Penn State tried several versions of outside screens to backfield players but Oregon did a good job defending them. This had the potential to be a big play, but Washington correctly reads the blocks and forces the quarterback to throw the ball high over his head. The subsequent bobble buys time for Boettcher to react and combine with Washington for a huge TFL.
  2. :23 – All of the short routes are covered, thanks to the umpire getting out of the way of the mesh so he didn’t rub Thieneman in man coverage. Uiagalelei stays disciplined in his rush assignment and cuts back under his blocker so the QB cannot escape out to his right. Even after running a stunt on the offense’s left there are rushers in all the gaps and Allar is trapped.
  3. :50 – Stuck in third and long the Nittany Lions know the pocket needs to hold so the back stays in pass protection. He helps with the stunt to the offense’s left, but on the right Uiagalelei is coming free and Washington is bowling over the tackle. The quarterback’s mechanics fail under pressure. He releases the pass with open hips off of his back foot and it is nowhere close to his receiver.
  4. 1:09 – Alexander’s swim move against the center means there is pressure right in Allar’s face. He has no chance to set his feet properly and give his receiver a chance to make the catch in bounds.

Despite their quarterback seeming at his most comfortable in hurry up mode with his receivers spread out, the Nittany Lions rarely went to this look. The strangest part of the passing game is that though Allar would occasionally miss open receivers even not pressured, he would also make heroic throws under duress only a handful of college passers are capable of. Some examples:

  1. :00 – The coverage holds up long enough for the rush to break through, but Washington needs to work back outside after Tuioti loops around him. When he doesn’t it leaves room for Allar to scramble and find an open receiver who makes a strong catch while being hit by Thieneman.
  2. :12 – On 3rd down the Ducks show pressure. The linebackers back out but Canady rushes from his nickel spot toward the boundary. He takes an odd angle, seeming to aim in front of the quarterback rather than where he’s planted. Allar shows off his arm strength by recovering his footing and getting a throw away even with DT #42 A. Breland about to get to him. The receiver has gotten lost in the zone coverage and goes up high to make the catch.
  3. :37 – This is the deep shot that attentive ATQ readers knew was coming. Washington trips over the guard’s foot so the quarterback can sit back and step into the throw. Watch Thieneman’s hips on the reverse angle. He starts to turn toward his right just before the receiver breaks to his left and has no chance to stay on top of the route. Lopa might have a chance to get in position to defend this, but seems to stumble out of his backpedal and also gets his hips turned the wrong way.
  4. 1:02 – The pass rush still has some juice left late in the 4th quarter and forces a checkdown to the back. Jackson needs to defend the runner inside/out as all his help in coverage is to the outside. He overpursues to the sideline and allows a cutback for five yards. The ensuing pile up amply illustrates the state of the defense once overtime had started.

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