Oregon Ducks

[Administrator]

I agree that he did, but I think the OSU offense scoring 3 or 4 TDs early also helps that. Complimentary football.

Sure. That definitely helped, but in Eugene, the Ducks were doing everything they could to keep pace. They simply couldn't do it in the Rose Bowl.

 

[Frank Lee]

As Defensive Coordinator of the Oregon Ducks, here's what I'm planning...
I'm showing a four-man front but will actually play a five or six on first down and on shorter yardage downs. I'd like to get Penn State's QB out of his rhythm, so we look to disguise stunts and blitzes to where he is hurried and confused. We've also found that if he takes more than three seconds in the pocket, he can overthink and force passes into coverage. We'll be overplaying the sideline throws and will bait him into the deep throws. The philosophy and design of the defense will be similar to Notre Dame's in last year's playoff game against Penn State.

Just reposting this Sept 17 confidential internal document from one of the Oregon staff. I failed to forward it to Coach Andy at the time. My bad.
BS aside, it is Kotelnicki's job to "game the game". He should be well aware that the opposing coaches were going take away PSU's tendencies and attack its weaknesses. Kotelnicki did not have clever counters, if any, to what he should have known Oregon was going to do. It could be that Coach Andy is more linear in his thinking and who loves to design cool plays, but is not a 3D chess or game theory guy come game time.