Oregon Ducks 3 Keys to Victory against the Idaho Vandals

The wait is finally over. At 4:30 on Saturday afternoon, the Oregon Ducks will kick off their 2024 season at home against the Idaho Vandals, marking the start of what we all expect to be a great season.

For months, the speculation has been that the Oregon Ducks will be one of the top teams in the country, equipped with the best roster in the history of their program. The Ducks have a long way to go and a lot to do in order to realize that potential, but they are in great shape ahead of their week one opener.

Oregon’s matchup with Idaho is a bit of a layup to begin their season. The Vandals finished in second place in the Big Sky Conference last year, but they’re still nowhere near Oregon’s level.

For that reason, this week’s “Keys to Victory” will be adapted to “Keys to Success.” Below are the three things Oregon needs to do against the Vandals to ensure they’re on the right path for the rest of their season.

An Unwavering Front-Seven

Photo Courtesy of Ethan Landa

The Ducks made several improvements to their defensive line this offseason, and they have one of the strongest linebacking groups in college football. So against an offense like Idaho’s, the Ducks’ front seven should be dominant on every snap, allowing nothing in the run game, and wrapping up Jack Layne — the Vandals QB — when he drops back to pass.

A Smooth Run Game

(Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)

On the flip side, I want to see the Oregon rushing attack chugging for all four quarters on Saturday afternoon. The Ducks have elite RBs and a fantastic offensive line, so they should have no trouble trampling the Vandals. There will be some wrinkles to iron out since it’s the beginning of the year, but I want to see those issues adjusted too quickly.

Some Flash from Dillon Gabriel and the Offense

I can’t have three boring keys to victory, these are the Oregon Ducks after all. Speed and flair will always be the identity of the Oregon offense, and with Dillon Gabriel leading the way this season, the Ducks should have plenty of flashy plays ahead of them. To get the ball rolling early, I want to see some deep completions and some shifty runs from Gabriel in Saturday’s game.

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