Once again, the Oregon Ducks had trouble moving the ball on Saturday, this time falling on the road to Illinois, 21-10.Unlike the past two weeks, the defense wasn't at its best either, and the Illini ran the ball before delivering the dagger through the air in the fourth quarter.
Dan Lanning vowed to fix things after Oregon's loss to UCLA, but not much has changed. Dylan Raiola was statistically better, completing 66% of his passes for 246 yards, but he routinely missed easy throws and reads, and also lost a fumble. The ground game came to life for Oregon, rushing for 180 yards and 5.6 yards per carry, but Drew Mehringer's questionable play-calling stalled drives that were moving.
In the second half, the Oregon defense couldn't get off the field,
as the Illini rushed for 225 yards and ripped off chunk runs to keep the ball for 18:36 in the second half and win the game.
The Ducks were also down a significant number of contributors on offense after late scratches during the week. Jalen Lott and Messiah Hampton didn't make the trip, while Evan Stewart remained out with an injury and was dealing with a DUII charge, which clouded the week of preparation for the Ducks.
Oregon's typically strong special teams unit also struggled, as Gage Hurych missed three of his four field goal tries, leaving points on the board.
Here's everything Lanning had to say after Oregon's third loss of the season.
Opening Statement
Dan Lanning: "Credit to Illinois. Thought they were the tougher team today. That definitely showed up in the second half. Kind of a tale of two halves. We weren't efficient enough on either side of the ball, didn't stop the run defensively the way we need to. We weren't able to convert on third down, again, this week on offense and sustain drives, and certainly didn't create the explosive plays we needed to have to be successful. Didn't do a good enough job protecting the ball, and they got some momentum there in the second half. We weren't able to respond to that momentum. Not good enough on our part. Credit to coach Bielema for the job that he did.
Trick Play Fail
Question: On that late third-quarter drive, you guys had momentum. Why go for the trick play in that moment?
DL: "It's a great question. Certainly wasn't successful. There's a pause in operation there. It wasn't successful, so it needs to be evaluated."
In-Game Adjustments
Q: Do you feel in-game that you and your coaches are communicating enough about in-game adjustments? Or is it more sticking to a script in ways that might be hampering you guys?
DL: "I think there's a lot of communication that happens in-game. Doesn't mean it's always executed at the level that it needs to be executed at."
Limited Options
Q: I know you're not one for excuses, but losing so many receivers, was it tough to get everyone in sync today to make the passing game look smooth?
DL: "That certainly would be an excuse. Not an excuse for us."
Drew Mehringer
Q: Will you consider a change in offensive coordinator?
DL: "I think all things are on the table for us to make sure we're the best version of ourselves. We're currently not that. That's very clear."
Without Dante Moore
Q: Would the offense have sputtered like this had Dante Moore not gotten hurt? Is he so good that he papers over a lot of this, or is something substantially changed with him out?
DL: "Not fair for us to live in hypotheticals. This is the reality of what we are, and it's not good enough."
Illinois Offense
Q: You guys did such a good job of stopping them in the first half. What was able to open them up in the second half, especially with the run game?
DL: "I don't think we had the same relentless effort in the second half. We weren't winning at the line of scrimmage. When we turn on the tape, we're going to see some technique that wasn't there that needs to be there. We're going to see some opportunities where guys are counting on other guys to make a play and not running to the ball like their hair's on fire."
Offensive Line
Q: What did you like about the offensive line that you used in this game? Not a lot of rotations, and it seemed stat-wise that it was effective.
DL: "We'll have to evaluate the film. They had a consistent week of prep, but again we'll have to evaluate the film to see if there's a need to continue to modify there."
Missing Players
Q: With Nacho, Messiah and Jalen Lott, are there injuries there or is it a disciplinary situation?
DL: "We're just going to focus on the guys that were here on the trip today. I anticipate having those guys back next week."
Team Focus
Q: You guys have done a good job of staying together. With this loss, playoffs are maybe out or maybe not; do you fear the team may disintegrate a little bit or do you think they'll stay focused?
DL: "That's a great question. We have to evaluate exactly who we are. Each person's got to look in their heart and say exactly what they want to go attack and improve and get better. That's where our focus has to be: one step at a time, one day at a time, looking for that opportunity for improvement. Their response will be their choice. They've got to decide what they're made up of and what that looks like. It's hard in that locker room. Everyone is disappointed. But you can do something about disappointment with the way that you work."
Response
Q: What's the evaluation of the team and how they're handling themselves with the struggles and the losses?
DL: "Too early right now. I thought our team's responded well throughout, but obviously this game is a different one. It's going to take a new response."
Preseason Miscalculation
Q: Do you think you misread the level of team you had coming into the season, given the type of expectations you created for yourself?
DL: "I mean, those expectations were created by previous performance. I don't think I ever said we were going to be something other than what we create. Football is about what you go to do every single day, your body of work. We don't have the body of work as a team right now to be anything other than we are. You are your film, and that's who we are.
75-yard TD Run
Q: That touchdown run at the end of the half was a huge swing in momentum. From your vantage point, how did that happen, and do you think that led to more success for Illinois offensively?
DL: "Certainly gave them a spark going into halftime, especially with them coming back with the ball. It was a missed fit in the back end and also technique up front. It's the same thing we talked about as far as guys running to the ball. You have an opportunity to get that play down. I think they had 90 yards rushing in the first half, and 75 was on that run. Maybe it's the amount of snaps you're on defense, but there are no excuses in moments like that. We've gotta get guys down."
Gage Hurych
Q: Gage had been perfect until today. What do you think went wrong?
DL: "I think he's human. The reality is those are long kicks and some of those are really tough. The wind is a little bit different in this stadium. I think we put him in a position that wasn't the easiest to operate. We've been really fortunate this year. If those three go in, it's a little bit of a different ball game. In this situation, it's not on Gage. It's a lot easier to kick from the 20. He wasn't doing that today. He'll be critical of himself; I know he will, but on the same note, it's never one play that leads to a game. It's a culmination."
Moving Forward
Q: Can you speak to the importance of picking up the program in this moment and creating momentum that can carry into the future?
DL: "I think it starts with today; it starts with tomorrow. We've got to be a team that can stack days, and we haven't stacked days the way that we need to be able to stack days. So it's going to be about how we can attack tomorrow and how we're going to attack the rest of the night, and then what next week looks like. A lot of that is going to be up to our players, up to our coaches, and we'll find ways to make sure that we're continuing to build and improve."
Defensive Confidence
Q: How do you keep your defense's confidence high throughout this while the offense struggles?
DL: "That's what they've got to realize. In moments today, they played really well. Ultimately, they still had 225 yards rushing on them. We can play better than that. So, measuring yourself against your capabilities, a couple of those plays don't happen, and you have moments that are going to lead to success and a chance to fight and win. Last week we were able to win because of the defense. This week I wouldn't say we were. You have to be strong enough in moments like that to play your best regardless of what the situation is."
Teitum Tuioti
Q: Teitum, a couple of sacks today and running him out as a fullback, what have you seen from him today and the last month or two as a leader and a guy who keeps showing up?
DL: "He's a guy that plays with incredible toughness, he's smart, and we were able to utilize him on some offensive packages today. He's always given everything he has to this program, so I'm sure when I turn the film on I'll see the same things from him."
Evan Stewart
Q: Do you anticipate having Evan back next week?
DL: "I anticipate having Evan back next week."
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Everything Dan Lanning said after Oregon's road loss vs. Illinois
