Welcome to the 12th of 17 — yep, 17 — BCS National Championship Game preview pieces here on OGS. Each day until Jan. 10, we'll take a comparative look at Auburn and Oregon. Today's 12th topic examines the Oregon rush offense vs. the Auburn rush defense.
By JOHN P. WISE
One Great Season
Auburn's offense isn't the only one expected to present a pick-your-poison affair in the BCS National Championship Game on Monday.
Oregon can beat — hell, crush — opponents with its dangerous running game, but can open things up with a potent aerial attack as well. Regardless of your metric — statistics, overall talent or big-play ability — the Ducks are just as balanced, it not moreso, than Auburn.
Until maybe mid-October, I had LaMichael James as my Heisman Trophy favorite, as did many others. Then Auburn's Cam Newton took over that race and while he certainly deserved to win it last month, James is the best running back in the country.
His numbers (1,682 yards, 21 TDs) are sick; his speed and quick burst are unmatched; and he has more big plays than anyone in the country. In the last two seasons, no other player has more gains of at least 20 yards than James' 36, according to ESPN.
But Auburn's defensive front seven is no slouch. The Tigers are ranked 10th in the country, allowing only 112 yards rushing per game. Led by star tackle Nick Fairley and solid linebackers Josh Bynes and Craig Stevens, Auburn will present problems for the Ducks, a team not used to facing capable run stoppers.
Oregon's rushing attack, however, is ranked fourth in the country, averaging 304 yards per game. That means that outside of James' FBS-best 153 yards per game, the Ducks get 151 more rushing yards from other sources each time out. That's pretty impressive.
Much of that comes from No. 2 back Kenjon Barner — 519 yards and six touchdowns in 10 games — and quarterback Darron Thomas, whose rushing numbers would make any observer take note if Oregon was playing anyone other than Auburn. But Thomas called his own number enough to pick up 492 yards and rush for five touchdowns.
The difference may be found in style, not necessarily substance. Auburn's defense has faced some impressive SEC offenses, but none that calls a play seven seconds after the ball is spotted. Oregon's hurry-up spread doesn't only utilize the Ducks' superior skill and conditioning, it also reveals where the other team might be deficient in terms of stamina. And once that weak link is spotted, Ducksploitation shall prevail. Fairley is a great defensive player, but he can't dominate from the sideline with an oxygen mask strapped to his face.
Edge: Oregon
More Auburn-Oregon Previews:
+ The Quarterbacks
+ The Running Backs
+ The Receivers
+ The Offensive Lines
+ The Defensive Lines
+ The Linebackers
+ The Defensive Backs
+ Special Teams
+ The Coaches
+ Auburn Rush Offense vs. Oregon Rush Defense
+ Auburn Pass Offense vs. Oregon Pass Defense