REVIEW: 2012 Rose Bowl 98th
edition
Final Score: Oregon 45,
Wisconsin 38 Prediction: Oregon 35
Wisconsin 31
Scoring by Quarter:
Oregon 14 14 7 10 45
Wisconsin 14 14 10
0 38
During my review I’ll take
your time by giving you my view on the game based on what I saw and look back
at the keys in my preview. Here we go…
1)
Russell
Wilson vs. Oregon’s Secondary
Like I
thought, Russell Wilson was able to find “wide open” receivers all game.
Starting with the first drive, which felt to me, like a lot like the 2010 Rose
Bowl (Ohio State vs. Oregon). Wilson connected with his favorite receiver Jared
Abbrederis on a beautiful
Play Action strike. Wilson
finished the game 19/25 296 passing yards 2 passing TD’s along with a rushing TD.
Wilson, did however, throw an interception (to an Oregon LB) that the Ducks
would cash in for a score on their next offensive drive. Although, Oregon’s
secondary had trouble covering the Badger’s receives, it’s ironic that the unit
was able to come up with the play of the game. On a 2nd and 6 from
their own 44 yard line, Wilson found Abbrederis wide open for a huge play that
would of set the Badgers up for a potential game-tying score, but as Abbrederis
turned up the field for more yards, Oregon DB Terrance Mitchell punched the
ball out of his hands and the Ducks recovered the ball. I was right in thinking
Wilson would have a good day against the secondary, but the interception and
fumble would prove to be costly for the Badgers in this game.
2)
Oregon’s
Spread Attack vs. Wisconsin’s Defense
As
expected, the Duck’s spread attack dominated the Badgers defense. Where do I
begin, lets talk about the “big play”, three scores of 54 yards or more, the
Ducks proved to have too much speed for the Badgers defenders. Ducks racked up 621
yards of offense (345 rushing yards, 276 passing yards) having two running
backs go over the 100-yard mark (LaMichael James 159 yards TD, De’Anthony
Thomas 155 yards 2 TD’s). One guy I forgot to talk about in my preview was
Darron Thomas, Oregon’s QB who threw for 268 yards (17 of 23) and 3 passing
TD’s. Thomas did a great job running Coach Kelly’s spread attack all season and
the Rose Bowl was no different. As a fan, which teams offense, is hard to watch
(Ohio State), I love watching the Ducks (even the broadcast had a hard time
keeping up at times). It was said to be, if you had more then a week to prepare
for the Ducks, that they don’t do as well (see 2010 Rose Bowl and 2011 BCS
National Championship) well that wasn’t the case in Pasadena today.
3)
Monte
Ball vs. Oregon’s Front Seven
Hats off
to Monte Ball for tying Barry Sanders’ FBS record of total TD’s in a single
season (39). It would have been neat to see him break it on the grandest stage
of them all. Monte started strong and ran well all game finishing with 215
total yards of offense and scoring once. The Ducks were gashed by Ball at
times, but when it counted the most they came up with some big hits/shoe string
tackles not allowing Ball to have anymore yards then he already did, and during
just enough to help out the Ducks offense.
4)
Bret
Bielema vs. Chip Kelly
Well,
third time proves to be the charm. Chip Kelly after having seasons of 10, 12, and
11 wins in his first three seasons, finally captured his first bowl victory.
Bielema tried keeping the ball away from the Ducks offense while still scoring,
it was a telling sign that the Ducks had 28 points in the 1st half
on only 29 plays. Coach Bielema falls to 2-4 in bowl games, losing back-to-back
Rose Bowls (Big Ten has lost the past 5 out of 6 Rose Bowls, 8 L’s since 2000).
Aftermath:
Oregon Ducks- it’s a great
win for the Ducks, as they finally get the monkey off their back by winning a
BCS bowl game. Coach Kelly will have another talented team next fall, even with
the potential early departure of RB LaMichael James. Darron Thomas will be back
for his Senior season and he will have two burners (De’Anthony Thomas and Kenjon
Barner) on each side of him with some solid guys on the outside. The defense
will be a year older, and I believe the Ducks again will compete for another
Pac-12 Championship.
Wisconsin- With the departure
of Senior QB Russell Wilson and probably Junior RB Monte Ball, the Badgers will
have some questions on the offensive side of the ball. Knowing Wisconsin they
will be solid on defense and with Ohio State being ineligible to win the
conference and Penn State starting over, Wisconsin should be able to at least
win the Leaders Division of the Big Ten Conference.
