So what happened?: An editorial

I completely removed myself from my small island in the media circuit for the Oregon Vs. LSU game. Was it wise? Not likely. It was the biggest game of the week and a marquee match up which would have been the game that all other games would have been compared to for the rest of the year. On paper, this was the dream writing match-up. New faces, the biggest stage, the biggest stadium, Top 5 teams, controversy and a national audience. However, I did not feel as though I could write objectively about the game, so I didn't. I still can't. That's why this is falling under an editorial instead of a recap.

Everything was set to go Oregon's way. After one quarter, Oregon had the lead and the momentum. LSU was about to punt to one of the more electric Ducks on the squad. Kirk Herbstreit was commenting on how tired LSU was starting to look on defense. Chip Kelly was poised to put some separation between these two teams.

So what happened?

A perfect storm. One half of the game is scheming and I felt as though Oregon schemed well. The other half of the game is execution and when it came down to it, LSU made plays when they had to and Oregon did not. The scheme had worked, LSU was forced to punt and Kenjon Barner went back to return. Only he didn't execute. Trying to run backwards he was stripped of the football at the 3 yard line by Tyrann Mathieu and even after LaMichael James' score put Oregon back on top they never had control for the remainder of the game.

One fumble is tough to overcome but with a strong team like Oregon, you expect them to bounce back and get right back in the game. Well, phase two of the perfect storm didn't help. Players on both sides of the ball were dropping like flies from cramps. Unfortunately for Oregon, two of those players were #1 and #2 on the depth chart at running back. Coach Kelly turned the reins over to promising but inexperienced true freshman De'Anthony Thomas, who to that point in the game had been solid. The next two times he touched the ball though, he put it on the carpet and LSU recovered. 4 Oregon turnovers lead to 20 LSU points. Oregon lost by 13. You do the math.

Last season, Oregon was one of the best teams in the country in terms of turnover margin. You wouldn't have been able to tell that by watching Saturday night. They got beat at their own game, and ultimately it was their undoing. 40 points never speaks well of a defense but I feel as though they played well enough to win the game. Give the Ducks three more offensive possessions and take those away from LSU and the score could have been 40-27 the other way. However, as I had mentioned you have to execute. LSU did. Oregon didn't. Congratulations to LSU on a well fought, well executed game.

Looking beyond the box score, Cliff Harris was a huge factor in this game by his absence. Because he wasn't dressed and ready to play, redshirt freshman Terrance Mitchell was given the task of defending Reuben Randle and it was a mismatch from the moment Jarrett Lee found it. This doesn't even take into account his absence in the kick return game. Harris is a dicey player and there's no way to say he doesn't fumble on those kick returns either, but you feel like a little experience in the position would have gone a long way.

Bright spots I saw in the game came from the youth on both sides of the ball. They made their mistakes as one would expect on the biggest stage of their lives but the raw talent from Hronnis Grasu, Terrance Mitchell and De'Anthony Thomas can not be denied. They have the physical tools to be special, special players and I expect them to be difference makers in the games and seasons to come. I look forward to the future.

Coming soon: Preview of Oregon and Nevada