Bruce Ely, The OregonianChip Kelly has become the king of Pac-10 football sidelines. 41Share
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UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel said this week that he believes someone will, "eventually solve" Oregon's offense. Given enough time, and some opportunity, Neuheisel said he believes that the Chip Kelly offense that has elevated the Ducks to a No. 1 ranking in the AP poll can be neutralized, and that he hopes it happens Thursday night at Autzen. (Oregon-UCLA preview.)
And for saying so, I think Neuheisel ends up as either a raving genius, or the biggest lunatic fool in the stadium tonight.
View full sizeThe Associated PressUCLA coach Rick Neuheisel says someone will solve the riddle that is Oregon's offense, but so far it's been a head-scratcher for opposing coaches.Know that Kelly was mildly irked at the Neuheisel assertion. Kelly said of the offense he's honed since 1998, "It's not a gimmick." Kelly also pointed out that his offense has led the conference in points and yardage in each of the seasons it's been employed. Also, Kelly said, "They must be pretty slow in solving it because I've been running it for four years here."
So what we have here is some brilliant old-fashioned gamesmanship. Or a case of a woefully ignorant Neuheisel batting a hornets nest with a Wiffle ball bat. And I suspect we'll know which by sometime late in the first half.
Neuheisel is a smart guy. He has a law degree, he's known for creative motivational ploys and he's coached in big games before. Earlier this season, UCLA upset Texas in a game that is being used today as evidence that the Bruins won't wilt on the big stage.
I bring all this up because he feels a lot this week like a coach who understands that he's outmatched. He knows the Bruins are playing on the road, and realizes that Oregon is riding a wave of absurd momentum, and he's grasping for any bit of traction he can get.
Neuheisel doesn't have the advantage in any conceivable angle of this game. Maybe he feels as though he has nothing to lose. Maybe he was just being honest in the way coaches sometimes are when they realize there's a fair shot they're about to be dragged naked through a field of broken glass.
Regardless, it got Kelly's attention. And that gets me thinking.
Is it possible that UCLA's best chance is to attempt to incite Oregon's coaches into deviating from their game plan? Is it possible that Kelly would attempt to hang 60 on Neuheisel to remind him who's on top of college football today? Is it possible that the coaches, and not the teams, are the story buried within this game?
In response to Neuheisel, the Ducks coach rattled off statistics about his offense. He pointed out that the offense has evolved, even this season. And he said, "If (my offense) was just a scheme, everyone would be running it."
All true.
All excellent points.
All about to come under fire for the first time with the Ducks as the No. 1 team in the country.
Coaches solved the wishbone. The West Coast offense had its time. The run and shoot did, too. And the wing-T. And single wing. And countless other offenses did, too. If you think about it, those offenses weren't solved overnight. Rather, the offenses gradually became stale and were overtaken by rules, better athletes and defensive concepts.
Those paying attention to Kelly's offense understand that it's evolved, even from last season. The Ducks second-year head coach originally dreamed up the offense as offensive coordinator at New Hampshire, when he was forced to play without a fullback. He's been less rigid than the typical coach, and adjusted his offense to suit the talent he has in uniform.
When he has good running backs, Kelly runs the ball. When he has a dynamic quarterback, he throws it. And so we're watching a chess game that involves personnel, and situational strategy that has been a wild, and engaging, ride.
Can Kelly get through six more games without a loss?
Holding the No. 1 ranking that long is a tall task, one few teams are able to handle. And Kelly's going to attempt to take the first step tonight, against Neuheisel, with the country watching.
Neuheisel has always felt to me as though he knows exactly what he's doing. But right now, it's Kelly who has become the sweetheart coach in the conference. For good reason, Kelly has at least temporarily replaced Pete Carroll as the coach sitting on top. And there's something about this that has to burn Neuheisel.
Remember, when Neuheisel was hired at UCLA in 2008, the marketing department on campus immediately placed a large advertisement in the Los Angeles Times. A large photo of Neuheisel ran beneath a banner headline. It read: "The Football Monopoly in Los Angeles is Officially Over."
Turns out it could have easily been Kelly's photograph that ran with it.
-- John Canzano