Breaking Down UCLA Matchup: The Offense

In this continuing series from Duck Sports Authority we bring you the head-to-head match-ups of the Oregon Ducks and UCLA Bruins. Today the focus is on offense. QUARTERBACKS UCLA: Kevin Prince (6-2, 223) will get the start at QB for the Bruins. The junior has played up and down all season long with good games followed by bad games. Prince has completed just over 58% of his passes going 99-169 with 1463 passing yards on the season in his nine games played this season. He has 8 touchdown passes and 7 interceptions on the season. Prince has been sacked 16 times in his 9 games for a loss of 99 yards. Prince is a mobile QB, though. Not including sacks, Prince has 79 carries for 523 yards this season for a nice 6.6 yards per carry. The other quarterback with playing experience this season, Richard Brehaut, fractured his ankle in October and will not be available. There are no other quarterbacks on the UCLA roster that have playing experience. Tom Corno Darron Thomas leads the Ducks into the inaugural Pac-12 Championship Game at Autzen Stadium Oregon: Darron Thomas has not been called on to pass as much this season as lost. Nonetheless, Thomas has a very solid passer efficiency rating largely due to his lack of interceptions and very good yards per attempt average. After twelve games Thomas is completing over 62% of his passes completing 174-280 for2274 yards, 27 touchdowns against just 5 interceptions. Thomas has not thrown an interception since the Washington State game, a span of 130 pass attempts. Thomas has also been adept at avoiding sacks having suffered just 9 sacks this season. Thomas has also not carried the ball quite as often as last season. Not including sacks, Thomas has 36 carries on the season for 225 yards, a very good 6.3 yards per carry. Behind Thomas, the Ducks have some experience with freshman Bryan Bennett having started against Colorado while Thomas recovered from a knee injury. Bennett has completed 24-45 for 361 yards and 6 touchdowns. Bennett has shown flashes with his speed having 23 carries for 200 yards this season. EDGE: Oregon UCLA gets a good running attack from their QB, but he is susceptible to turnovers, has been sacked frequently and has not been consistent this season. Darron Thomas, though his statistics are down, has managed his team well and is a very capable passer when needed. CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING...