What We Learned: Oregon at Utah

Saturday, November 08, 2014

Jeffrey Martin, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Photo Credit: rayterrill via Compfight cc

It’s time to begin engraving Marcus Mariota’s name on the Heisman.

What more could a voter need to see?

He has answered every challenge, short of a rematch with Arizona. We won’t waste too many words on his talent here, but aren’t we certain by now that he’s the nation’s most complete football player? He took what he wanted against the Utes, throwing for 239 yards and three touchdowns while running for 114 yards and a touchdown.

For opposing teams and fan bases, Mariota must be so demoralizing.

The Utes closed to within three points late, but Mariota and the Ducks answered - just as they have all season.

Is UO the best team in the country? Who knows?

But Mariota is the best player. We can end that debate now, even though the Heisman won’t be given out until next month.

He was great against Utah, but he wasn’t alone. It’s time more people realized...

Joe Walker is a heck of a player

And that’s not merely recognition of his awareness on the bizarre 100-yard fumble recovery for the Ducks’ first touchdown Saturday.

Sure, that’s a part of this, but ever wonder how these type of things - in addition to timely tackles, tipped passes and more - seem to happen to the same guys, guys like Walker, a top reserve linebacker who always flashes when given the opportunity?

He had a team-high nine tackles in the victory against Michigan State, prompting former UO linebacker Michael Clay to hail Walker as the next Kiko Alonso, the ex-Duck and current Buffalo Bills standout.

That might be a tad extreme, but Walker can play, no doubt.

Moving forward, they’ll need him, but not as much as...

The Ducks are going to need some luck

Primarily on the injury front - as if they haven’t battled enough of those issues already. But now, with the College Football Playoff in sight, health is more important than ever.

The team that has gotten to this point has to maintain the same makeup, right?

Cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu dinged his toe against the Utes, but doesn’t anticipate missing any time, especially with Oregon having a bye this week and not playing again until Nov. 22 against Colorado at Autzen.

The news elsewhere, though, might not be as positive.

Center Hroniss Grasu and tight end Pharoah Brown failed to finish Saturday’s game, both leaving early with apparent knee injuries. There was no immediate status update for either following the game.

Losing Brown would sting, but the Ducks have the depth to compensate. But if Grasu is out for an extended period of time, UO might be in trouble. He’s the best offensive lineman the Ducks have, someone Mariota and the coaching staff clearly trust.

It’s hard to just plug someone else in to that position.