The coaches and fans are buzzing about Oregon’s new play unveiled against Oregon State last Saturday night. I was on the phone with one coach that evening and with three coaches the next morning from across the nation as we were all fascinated with Oregon’s new Wildcat Power Zone Read. Now that is a mouthful, but the good news is that this will be one of the most puzzling analysis articles ever on the site — but a lot of fun from the pondering of the intent behind the play.

I was fortunate to have Coach Tony Hoolulu in Hawaii advise me on the inner workings of this play while the Grizzled Ol’ Coach (Mike Morris) offered some thoughts about the “why” of this play. As always I am learning from them and passing along to you … and this one is a dandy!

From Video

Above we see the beginning of a typical Oregon play until we notice who is at the quarterback position; it is Charles Nelson, the freshman receiver/running back/kick returner/kickoff legend and wonderkind who had two touchdown catches in this game. Next to him in the running back position is QB Marcus Mariota. Holy crap–it is a Wildcat formation!

From Video

Another surprise was in store for us as the left guard pulls to lead the blocking to the right side as Oregon does in its Power Play and it is none other than No. 72 Andre Yruretagoyena! It is great to see him on the field along with right tackle Matt Pierson at the same time.

From Video

More surprises are in store and this is why the coaches and I were buzzing; it is evident that Charles Nelson is Zone Reading the Oregon State defensive end (light blue circle). As before with the other Zone Read plays — if the defender is sitting as the Beaver is, then you hand off. Nelson did and how weird it as, it is Mariota getting the ball after the mesh!

From Video

Note how Andre Y. (yellow arrow above) passed right on by the defender being zone read (light blue arrow), and is headed to block a Beaver linebacker. It truly is a Wildcat play, a Power Play, and a Zone Read play all into one. Wait! Add one more element to this play as Mariota pulls back to pass! (My head is going to explode.)

From Video

On top of everything else this play contains — it is a Pass-Run option for Mariota. Above we see Byron Marshall make the catch and he is about to make some YAC (yards after catch).

From Video

It is pretty amazing to have all the components going on in this play that can put pressure on the defense.

From Video

It becomes clear from this angle that if the Beaver defender being zone read (orange arrow above) moves out to chase the QB, then Oregon’s pulling guard (Andre Y. No. 72) can block the OSU linebacker above No. 44 and Charles Nelson has a nice running lane straight ahead of him (yellow Arrow above).

From Video

It strikes me how this has so many components to defend and if presented in a no-huddle sequence, defensive alignment and assignment errors could certainly occur from this play.

From Video

Above is a screenshot from earlier in the game when the play was stopped due to an illegal procedure penalty. You see No. 76 Jake Pisarcik pulling to the right and headed to block a linebacker (short yellow arrow). You can’t see Tyrell Crosby as he is behind Cam Hunt, but he is going to help for a second and then go block the linebacker (long yellow line and arrow).

Photo by Tony's family

Note the dotted red line and arrow above showing the running lane that Charles Nelson has if he pulls the ball according to the Zone Read! What an innovative twist on the Zone Read concept to make the defense lose again to either option it chooses, and thanks to Coach Tony Hoolulu for explaining all this to me. (If you are a coach reading this, do read the announcement way below.)

Why the heck are they introducing a play like this? Coach Mike Morris suggested that it could be a nuisance play to make the opposing teams prepare for the different options to it. Yet he also explained that the mistakes by a defense that is confused can create an explosion play and perhaps help overcome a third and long situation for the Ducks.

He asked me, “When you see a Wildcat formation–what kind of play will you expect is coming?” My answer was a running play of course, and he explained, “That is why when defenses see a Wildcat formation, they don’t play pass defense.” Aha! Could Nelson loop around and have Mariota do a throw-back to him? “Of course,” the Grizzled Ol’ Coach answered, “since they have Nelson doing everything else and now the mesh? No surprise there.”

Kevin Cline

This just opens up a ton of questions; is Oregon going to pursue the passing component to it further? Is this just a “mess the opponent up” type of play? Will we even see it again? Or will it surface in two games from now at a bowl game or playoff game? Or two years from now? Interesting things to ponder (as we like to do on this site) and I would enjoy getting your feedback on what the intent of this new, yet remarkable play could be.

A hint? In an interview by Ryan Thorburn for the Register-Guard, Offensive Coordinator Scott Frost implied that Nelson’s number could be called out of the backfield more going forward. Hmmm.

“Oh how we love to learn about our beloved Ducks!”

Charles Fischer (FishDuck)

Oregon Football Analyst for CFF Network/FishDuck.com

Eugene, Oregon

Top Photo from Video