The QB sneak is coming back to Oregon’s offense, per OC Kenny Dillingham
If you’re an experienced Oregon Ducks fan, then you know the frustrations of watching your team be in a 4th-and-1 situation, and decide to run a shotgun or pistol-formation with a run up the middle getting stuffed for a turnover on downs.
In fact, you know that frustration well and have likely wondered why the Ducks wouldn’t simply put their QB under center and run a sneak up the middle. Simple, right?
Yes, but it’s not a formation that the Ducks have run in the past ever since Chip Kelly came to town. Until now.
Related
2022 JUCO Player of the Year Sean East considers transfer to Oregon Ducks
On Saturday afternoon when meeting with the media for the first time this year, offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham clarified that yes, his offense will be occasionally operating from under center, and yes, QB sneaks could be on the menu.
“We will, we’ll see that,” Dillingham said. “In terms of advantage, I don’t want to get too much into that, but everybody can see the advantages of under center. Better play action when you’re under center, you’re closer to the line of scrimmage for QB sneaks. Right? Obviously, those are common sense answers that everybody in the country goes under for.”
If it’s common sense, then why didn’t Oregon do it before under previous regimes?
“That’s just a philosophy thing,” Dillingham said. “You’ve got to remember, some teams only line up in the shotgun. On the most important play of the game, are you gonna change every way you operate? On the 3rd and 1, are you gonna run something you practice 4% of the time for the most important play? So there’s nothing wrong with that philosophy, either. I do believe in getting under center, though.”
That answers that. All spring, we have been interested to see the type of offense that Dillingham is going to run with the Ducks, and how successful it can be in spreading out the field and being aggressive downfield. However, when that first 4th-and-long situation comes up, and the QB lines up under center for a sneak, you might want to get your cameras out.
That will be a historic moment.
Contact/Follow us @Ducks_Wire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinion.
Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.
List
'Decision-making and ball security;' QB Ty Thompson explains how he improved coming into spring ball
