In their final day of practice before Saturday’s game against Tennessee, Mark Helfrich and Oregon focused on mental aspects of the upcoming matchup.
“Really good day,” Helfrich said. “I think offensively and defensively we had our best mental day of the year… lowest number of mental errors, assignment checks… in that regard, very positive.” Helfrich also noted that he and the rest of the Oregon coaching staff can’t get caught up in “what ifs” when watching game film of a non-conference opponent with a new coaching staff.
“I mean you try to not sway too much from your normal rhythm. You start to look at the ‘what if’ game. What if they do this, that and the other thing, and that’s when you’re just chasing ghosts. We try as much as possible to never be in that mode. I think there’s a little natural tendency to do that, but again, that’s where you go back to your strengths and rely on your guys to make plays and decisions on the field.”
Tennessee’s size, speed and overall athleticism have been stressed this week, and rightfully so. The SEC is known for having some of the best size and talent in the college football world, evidenced by teams from the conference winning each of the last seven BCS national championships. However, Oregon wide-outs Josh Huff and Keanon Lowe are confident that Oregon’s fast-paced offense will wear down Tennessee’s big defense, adding that the Vols’ speed is equally adequate.
“Of course any SEC team’s gonna have size,” Huff said. “With size, it’s easier to wear them down with our tempo and that’s what we’re gonna have to do.”
“I think just overall even in the special teams game, Tennessee has a lot of team speed,” Lowe said. “Of course we’re a fast team, but it’s always a challenge when a team comes in here that can match some of that speed that you have. They can really run. Their DBs fly around, their safeties fly around and their linebackers are physical.”
The SEC is widely touted as the best conference in college football and is thus favored to win many non-conference games. The Pac-12 is on the rise, though, represented by some of the loudest stadiums in the country.
“Personally I feel like the Pac-12 is one of the best [conferences] in the country,” Lowe said. “It’s just another team that’s trying to get a win against us that’s coming into Autzen, and Autzen’s a tough place to play.”