Oregon’s offensive line may have tipped run-pass plays to Oklahoma State, raising questions about Dante Moore and the Ducks’ shocking upset loss.
Oregon’s shocking loss to Oklahoma State may have exposed a problem that went beyond missed tackles and poor execution.
The Ducks’ offensive line may have been giving the Cowboys clues about whether a play was going to be a run or a pass, according to Oklahoma State linebacker Tate Romney.
The revelation adds another intriguing layer to Oklahoma State’s stunning 39-31 upset of No. 6 Oregon on Sept. 12. The Cowboys dominated much of the game at the line of scrimmage, and Oregon’s offense struggled to generate consistent production.
Oklahoma State says Oregon had tells
Romney said Oklahoma State’s defensive staff noticed tendencies on film that helped the Cowboys anticipate what Oregon was trying to do.
The linebacker said the Ducks’ offensive linemen had “stance indicators” that could signal whether the upcoming play was a run or a pass.
That kind of information can be extremely valuable for a defense.
If defenders have an idea of what is coming before the snap, they can attack more aggressively, adjust their positioning and potentially create pressure before the offense has an opportunity to execute its play.
Dante Moore’s stance also raises questions
The potential issue may not have been limited to Oregon’s offensive line.
Film analysis following the game raised questions about quarterback Dante Moore’s pre-snap positioning as well. Moore appeared to use different stances in certain situations, potentially creating another visual clue for defenders.
It remains unclear whether Oklahoma State specifically identified Moore’s stance as part of its preparation or whether the Cowboys primarily benefited from the offensive line tendencies described by Romney.
Either way, the possibility is significant because Oklahoma State’s defense consistently appeared to know how to attack Oregon’s offense.
Oregon’s offense was overwhelmed
The numbers show just how badly the Ducks struggled.
Oregon finished with only 281 total yards, including 90 rushing yards and 191 passing yards. The Ducks ran 59 plays compared with 83 for Oklahoma State and managed just 12 first downs.
The Cowboys, meanwhile, piled up 554 total yards, including 237 on the ground and 317 through the air.
Oklahoma State also held Oregon to only 50 total yards in the first half, a remarkable defensive performance against a team that entered the season with major College Football Playoff expectations.
Dante Moore takes the spotlight
Moore entered the season as one of the most highly regarded quarterbacks in college football and a major reason for Oregon’s championship aspirations.
Against Oklahoma State, however, he completed only 14 of 29 passes for 191 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
While those numbers do not tell the entire story, the bigger concern was the lack of consistency surrounding him.
NBC Sports analysts pointed to Oregon’s offensive line as one of the biggest problems in the loss, noting that the Ducks allowed four sacks and struggled badly in battles at the line of scrimmage.
Was play tipping the real problem?
It would be premature to conclude that Oregon lost because its offense was tipping plays.
Knowing whether a run or pass is coming does not automatically stop the play. Defensive players still have to beat their assignments, make tackles and win individual matchups.
Oklahoma State also deserves credit for an aggressive and physical performance that extended well beyond any potential pre-snap clues.
The Cowboys ran for 237 yards and averaged 6.7 yards per play while controlling possession for nearly 37 minutes.
Still, the possibility that Oregon was inadvertently revealing its intentions gives the Ducks another issue to investigate.
Oregon has little time to fix it
The upset dropped Oregon to 1-1 and dramatically changed the early-season conversation surrounding Dan Lanning’s team.
Lanning has already pointed to a lack of leadership following the disappointing start, while the Ducks now face questions about their offensive line, defensive performance and overall execution.
Oregon will have an opportunity to correct some of those problems against Portland State before facing a much more significant test against USC on Sept. 26.
If the Ducks are indeed tipping plays, that is one mistake the coaching staff will need to eliminate quickly.
For a team with national championship ambitions, giving an opponent clues about the play before the ball is snapped could prove to be a costly problem.
And after Oklahoma State exposed the issue, every future Oregon opponent will be watching the Ducks’ pre-snap tendencies closely.
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