Oregon Football Lessons

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Ohio State Coach Urban Meyer has a few words for Padres fans too… Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

This year was the first year in the College Football Playoffs, with The Ohio State Buckeyes squaring off against the Oregon Ducks next Monday in Texas for the National Championship. As a recent transplant to Eugene, Oregon – home of the Ducks – this town is very excited about the chance for Oregon to win their first College Football Championship. I also declared my Duck fandom before the season began and have not wavered in my support, watching every game and going to one. Marcus Mariota has played spectacularly his entire career as a quarterback and wowed the nation with his moving Heisman Trophy speech to boot. They appear to be the favorites.

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With a wife who is a lifelong Ohio State Buckeyes fan who suffered through the Buckeyes losing not one but two starting quarterbacks this season – and defeating #1 seed Alabama in a thrilling game last week in the playoff – it should be a fun game next week despite our house being divided. They were counted out in the Big 10 championship against Wisconsin and made that easy work, then again against Alabama but pulled that one off too.

What is this article doing on a Padres site you ask? There are always lessons to be gleaned from any situation, and I believe in these two teams in particular the Padres can take some big lessons on what it will take for them to become a championship-caliber team. They are not there yet, but with some focus and leadership they might not be that far off either.

Both teams have had their bumps in recent years but now find themselves just one win away from winning it all. At the beginning of August – they both expected it. In mid-September, one was a long shot and both had lost a game. Now, they both are in the same spot and nothing that came before matters. Read on to see what the Padres need to do to find themselves playing for a championship around the time these two teams will begin their title defense.

Matt is moving away from LA, but hoping to be the star in the Padres movie of 2015. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

1) Consistency Builds a Dynasty

A lot goes into building a successful college football program – as well as a professional major league baseball organization. Over the last several years both Ohio State and Oregon have done their part in building up successful organizations. It was just 2012 that Ohio State went UNDEFEATED despite sanctions levied on them from the NCAA for previous coach Jim Tressel’s transgressions.

In 2013, they went undefeated in the regular season until losing to Michigan State in the Big 10 championship and then Clemson in the Orange Bowl. They entered 2014 with high hopes with Heisman Candidate Braxton Miller in his junior season ready to make his mark. In the fall, he was injured leaving the program to sophomore QB. JT Barrett , who just went on to lose only one game to Virginia Tech en route to an undefeated Big 10 schedule. Then he was lost in the game against Michigan, leaving 3rd string QB Cardale Jones to play Wisconsin in the Big 10 championship. Naturally Ohio State won the game FIFTY NINE to ZERO. Five Nine.

For Oregon? Back in 2011, they lost to Cam Newton and the Auburn Tigers in the National Championship Game, but they have been consistently good for a little while now. Personally, I moved to Eugene in September just as the season was getting started and certainly big things were on the horizon for the program. Of course, Chip Kelly had moved on to the NFL and Mark Helfrich had taken over. They lost to Arizona early on in the season but battled back in large back because of eventual Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Marriota and defeated 2013 National Champions Florida State in the Rose Bowl. More on Marriota later though.

Also, Chip Kelly really brought Oregon to the national football conversation, but after bolting for the NFL Mark Helfrich took right over where Kelly left off – and now is hoping to do what Kelly could not in winning the title.

The point is both of these programs have had ups and downs over the last few years but held true to the belief that they belong in the national spotlight and won the games that they need to win to prove their belonging. The Padres in 2015 have made the moves now but need to prove early on that they do belong in battling the Dodgers and Giants for NL West supremacy. They have not been knocking on the door of success – but are hoping to make a big jump this season by adding personnel. Not unlike that Auburn team a few years back…

Bud Black

hopes to emulate Ducks coach Mark Helfrich in motivating his team to victory. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

2) Leadership and Good Coaching

Ohio State is led by two- time national champion Urban Meyer (with University of Florida) while Mark Helfrich is the relative new kid on the coaching block here. Yet don’t think either coach has been lucky enough to have the right players at the right time. When Meyer took over Ohio State- it was after previous coach Jim Tressel had resigned after a NCAA violation scandal involving a cover-up. Therefore his first at Ohio State despite an undefeated regular season was banned from a bowl game. Oops.

Helfrich took over the massively successful and popular Chip Kelly – and therefore had to be almost perfect just to be AS GOOD as Kelly. Helfrich though had paid his dues as a coach. He started back in 1997 as a graduate assistant at Oregon. Then he was a QB coach for several schools before becoming the Oregon Offensive Coordinator under Kelly from 2009-2012. His first season they lost to Stanford and Arizona before winning their bowl game but people were disappointed. This year, Arizona foiled the Ducks again before they got revenge in the Pac 12 Championship game.

For the Padres? The fan base seems divided on just what role Bud Black does or doesn’t play on this team. I’m on the side that this year he has to get it done on the field. He has the talent, and now we will see what he is made of.

Like with Helfrich at Oregon – I like the consistency of the message from the coach’s corner and will be watching closely to see how Black does now that he has an offense to work with. Black and pitching coach Darren Balsley are seen by many as the Padres secret recipe to helping pitchers turn their careers around(see Tyson Ross, Ian Kennedy, Aaron Harang, Jason Marquis, etc) so we will see if that can be duplicated and the Padres can be lead to new heights.

Marcus Mariota has looked and acted like the best player in college football all season. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

3) A Player Leads by Deed and Example

Did you see the acceptance speech by Marcus Mariota? If not, watch it here, then come back for the rest of this article. In it he thanked his parents and how growing up in Hawaii many thought he would never make it out of the island. How many college programs offered Marcus Mariota a scholarship to play football? Only one. Only Oregon. I’d say it worked out.

When Mariota came to Oregon he was criticized for being quiet on the field, as he is not the fiery personality many want out of a quarterback or perhaps expect at the college level. Instead he went out and did his work and won his teammates over by his actions. Each season he has gotten more vocal and now there is no question who the leader of the team is.

In a college football landscape where his contemporaries are Jameis Winston and Johnny Manziel, who have brushes with the law and seen yelling at their coaches during the games, Mariota seems years ahead in maturity.

One thing the Padres have lacked is a player who really leads the team. Chase Headley never seemed to do it. I think back to even David Eckstein in his short time on the Padres, how his hustle was contagious especially among the younger players.

I’m looking at you Matt Kemp here. I’m hoping that Kemp can take ownership of this baseball team, bring together the egos between himself and Justin Upton, mentor Wil Myers who was rumored to have a work ethic problem last season, and lead by example to take this team to the next level. Kemp knows what winning teams need, and it goes beyond the confines of Petco Park.

The Padres need Kemp to hit how he is expected to hit and bring a veteran leadership presence to the clubhouse that has been lacking. He gained a bit of reputation in LA as arguing over time last season in a crowded outfield, and didn’t exactly endure himself to Padres fans by waiting outside the clubhouse after the ’13 Carlos Quentin fracas ready to fight Q.

We need a mature Kemp who understands his unspoken rule to be the big brother to the Padres players and be a professional. I expect him to pull it off, and believe his emotions will bring an energy lacking from previous seasons since the days of Phil Nevin.

3rd String QB? No problem. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

4) Have a Depth Plan and Live By It

So if the last page was all about Oregon, this one is for you Ohio State fans.

As mentioned earlier, the Buckeyes starting quarterback before the season started was Heisman hopeful Braxton Miller. Then in an August preseason practice, he was lost for the season. Gulp. In came freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett. Many figured the Buckeyes were already done, especially after losing their second game of the season to Virginia Tech 35-21. Yet Barrett matured before our very eyes and the Buckeyes kept winning games.

In fact, Barrett ended up breaking Braxton Miller’s Buckeye Record for total touchdowns in a season between passing and rushing. Then, as Ohio State climbed up the rankings attempting to get in the Top four of the new College Football Playoff system, disaster struck against Michigan. Barrett went for a rush, dove ahead to the ground and did not get up. Third string quarterback, sophomore Cardale Jones was put in and the Buckeyes held on for the victory. Now, the Buckeyes sat in the 5th spot with the last game of the regular season in the BIG 10 Championship against Wisconsin. There were questions as many thought it even if they won but Jones didn’t impress they might not advance in the rankings and TCU would claim the 4th spot. They won 59-0.

Then they were to face Alabama, who won the championship in 2009, 2011, and 2012. If not for one of the best endings to a football game in recent memory they probably would’ve played for the championship last year too. They won that one too and it was indisputable that Jones pushed and willed his team to a victory. For reference, this past Saturday the NFL Arizona Cardinals had to play their third string quarterback and ended up posting the fewest total yards for any team in an NFL playoff game ever!

For the Padres, though pitching is widely considered a strength already, I love the fact that Preller hasn’t stopped getting more depth for the rotation and bullpen. The recent Seth Smith for Brandon Maurer is a terrific example. Giving Josh Johnson another chance to reform himself.

The problem with the Padres “Big Three” is that we know that Cashner is likely to miss a few starts, Tyson Ross threw a lot of innings last year and don’t forget actually ended the year on the disabled list, and Ian Kennedy isn’t getting any younger. Trading away Jesse Hahn also means you lose another starter with MLB experience.

Build up the depth, you never know when you might need it throughout a long season and need to have the “next man up” mentality. We saw it last year with the Padres as Hahn and Odrisamer Despaigne stepped up with injuries to Robbie Erlin and Cashner.

Bud Black Looking for the Right Formula to Lead the Friars in 2015. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

5) Execute the Game Plan

Well, the Padres don’t have a final roster yet, but at the end of the day you can have the right players, great coaching, depth for days, but you just need to get it done.

For the Buckeyes and Ducks they have executed when needed to get to this point. Next Monday the Buckeyes will have a game plan to stop “Super” Mario just as the Ducks will have a plan to stop Jones and star running back Ezekiel Elliot. Who will get it done? Who will step into the pressure and national spotlight and not get distracted. For some players they will look back and measure this game as their life highlight.

The fun of the baseball off season is trying to not only put a team together but arguing about what that team’s strengths and weaknesses will be. There has been talk about the Padres losing defensive prowess because of the outfielder changes. Pitch framing will cost us x amount of strikes this season. Left-handed bats, bullpen depth, etc.. You know what though? Games are not won or lost on paper.

If Wil Myers smacks a three run home run and allows a two out single that is erased on the next play, did we really lose anything? If Tyson Ross gets squeezed on a strike call by Angel Hernandez but then gets the strikeout on a swing and a miss, did we really lose that much? No!

Of course those things do matter, but with baseball some things can be forgiven because of the longer season and all the games that do get played. The Padres must have someone that steps forward as a leader.

Oregon has Marcus Mariota, Ohio State has Urban Meyer and a 2nd string quarterback, then a 3rd string quarterback, and a running back who turned out to be the Sugar Bowl MVP. Who will step up for the Padres? Who is the hero waiting in the wings that all teams need to get over that hump? My guess is – like Cardale Jones – we may not even know his name yet.

As for the game itself, who am I going for? My wife is going for the Buckeyes despite her employment at Oregon. As for myself, let’s go Ducks and WIN THE DAY!

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