Chip Change

One year later, and the same result. An excellent Oregon team ends its season with a loss. Difference is, last year the players lost it out on the field. This year the coach lost it from the sidelines. Chip Kelly is an unbelievable coach who's uptempo style offense is something that needs to be seen to be believed. His play book is innovative, fast, and out for blood. Yet somehow I feel like he got away from it too much in last nights BCS title game, and possibly even panicked. Oregon left a lot of points off the scoreboard early on and late in the game, and I felt alot of it had to do with the play calling. Highlight example: Late in the game Kelly runs a successful fake punt, and on the next play catches Auburn sleeping with a deep ball that gets taken down to around the 2 yard line. As the Oregon receiver was stumbling towards the goal line, my initial thought was he better get in or they may not score. Four plays later, first and ten Auburn from the one yard line. I don't mind the fact that Oregon went for the TD, mainly because if you watched them at all this year you knew it was four down territory. What I didn't like though was the bland play calls, especially for an innovator like Kelly. Four predictable option runs, four stops. The same for an early possession, that led to a field goal instead of a TD. Oregon had only 75 yards on the ground, but 375 through the air. Yet they continued to pound the ball with no real gain. In the third quarter they had two first and ten conversions in succession on a wide receiver screen pass, and never went back to it. What happened to these plays? On their second two point try of the night, Oregon QB Darren Thomas rolled out and threw the ball for an easy conversion. Where was that when it would have counted for six? I'm still baffled at how Kelly gave the okay on two different kick return trick plays, but couldn't find something else for his team down where the game is lost and won. All the credit to both defenses for making both coaches have to reevaluate their game plans with inspired play. Auburn prevailed in the race to adapt though, evident by their 21 yards in the first quarter, and 250+ in the second quarter. Chip Kelly is an excellent coach that should find himself the opportunity to be a champion again. Hopefully next time he'll be ready.