Bo Nix reveals Oregon's biggest offensive changes
Oregon quarterback Bo Nix spent three seasons at the helm for Auburn before heading west to captain the Ducks this season. With that move from the SEC to the Pac-12 came a world of differences offensively for Nix, even though his new head coach, Dan Lanning, just came from the SEC himself.
When asked about such differences, Nix pointed to third downs as the area where he believes is most important to adapt. Noting that third downs are also indicative of the offense’s success on first and second down as well. But the money plays are made converting thirds into firsts.
“Well I think the most important thing is doing what you’re good at on third down. And I mean, you obviously get in third down situations, it’s all about first and second down, getting into third and short and third and mediums. Third in shorts to where you sat at the third and long range, because anybody in the third-and-long is not going to be very good statistically. And so, when you can stay out of those and then run your base plays on third-and-medium to third-and-short, run the stuff that you’re good at. That’s what I feel like is most important for a quarterback: doing stuff they’re comfortable with.”
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Over his triad of years at Auburn, Nix found himself in the unenviable position of slinging deep bombs on third downs more often than any quarterback would like. Luckily, Nix was able to keep a number of those drives alive with his legs and that bazooka for a right arm. However, he was always under siege from pass rushers, was sacked constantly and often threw passes with little to no chance of being caught.
At Oregon, though, he’s finding much better balance in his game. More importantly, his offensive line is protecting him and doing so better than any line in the entire country. A development that Bo Nix is incredibly grateful for.
“I mean, it’s huge,” he said of the O-line’s near-flawless protection. “I mean, the stat’s crazy that we’re the only team that hadn’t allowed a sack. That’s incredible through four games. But it all goes to them. And it’s just, it’s the leadership and the experience we have up front, you know. We have a bunch of protection meetings and we’re all on the same page. And that, I think, has a lot to do with it. But it’s kind of a pride thing up front. They they believe in themselves. They take pride in it.”
For Bo Nix, getting to third-and-short and converting is the key on offense, as well as having an iron gate of an offensive line. After a disastrous outing vs. Georgia to open the season, looks like the Ducks are back on track on that side of the football.