Clear improvement in important category helps push Oregon Ducks to narrow Week 2 win

In the first game of the season, the Oregon Ducks struggled to generate any explosive plays. That certainly wasn't a problem in Week 2, which is a promising sign for the offense as a whole.

While it didn't always look perfect, the big plays were there in Oregon's 37-34 victory over Boise State. Dillon Gabriel only attempted 21 passes after throwing it 49 times in Week 1, but he completed 18 of those 21 attempts for 243 yards and two touchdowns. Gabriel also added a rushing touchdown down around the goal line.

Gabriel wasn't able to get wide receiver Tez Johnson going in the passing game, but he finally connected on big plays with Evan Stewart and Traeshon Holden. Stewart caught a 67-yard touchdown pass, and Holden caught a 59-yard touchdown pass.

After head coach Dan Lanning and Gabriel both left their Week 1 game wanting to emphasize creating more explosive plays , that part of the offense was on display. There were a couple other late opportunities in the game that Gabriel wasn't able to connect on, leaving a handful of other explosive play opportunities out there for the taking.

Of Gabriel's 21 targets, he targeted Stewart and and Holden over 20 yards down the field five times. That's a welcome change in approach from the game plan from the first game.

Even with mixing in those deep attempts, the game plan from offensive coordinator Will Stein seems to be intent on screens and getting the ball to play makers in space.

With the problems along the offensive line, I think it's fair to wonder if the plan of getting the ball out to play makers in space around the line of scrimmage might partially be to mitigate the pass protection. There was a dizzying amount of personnel changes on the offensive line throughout the game after allowing four sacks in the first half, but the line largely stepped up and kept Gabriel clean throughout the second half.

If the line can improve its play, then I hope we begin to see a more varied pass attack. For now, it's a fair assessment to say that the offense looked better in Week 2 than it did in Week 1. Here's hoping for a continued upward trajectory with a game just up I-5 with in-state rivals Oregon State on the docket for next weekend.

Related: Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning says they will 'evaluate' concerning trend after narrow Week 2 victory

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