He has taken his game up a level this year. He's going from solid/good to being an impact player.
He threw the key block that sprung LJ Scott on the 38-yard TD run (although 34 of those yards were LJ's).
Clark played right tackle during that series, with McGowan at right guard. I suspect that might be the combination MSU starts the game with on Saturday vs Air Force, with Machado coming off the bench.
On the 38-yarder, Clark crossed the face of the Oregon DE, hooked him, sealed him out of the gap, and LJ cut to the daylight.
That DE is supposed to get into Clark, straight into Clark, push him back while two-gapping, looking to disengage and get off to the proper side.
But Clark crossed his face, got to his shoulder, and owned it from there. By crossing his face, he allowed the offense to "gain a gap."
It's one thing to have an advantageous blocking angle and deliver a punishing blow within the design of a play.
But on this play, Clark was kind of at a disadvantage. He needed to cross the guy's face and then win from that side of the defensive player. Hard to do. He did it. Hobbit stick.
**
As for Scott, the play was blocked for 3 or 4 yards, even with Clark's great block. From there, it was all recruiting. Scott broke a LB's tackle, as you all saw. Then the part that impressed me was Scott's ONE-STEP ACCELERATION after breaking that tackle. He showed the same burst on his earlier TD run. I'm noticing that when Scott is already moving, and then hits the gas pedal after a cut or after breaking a tackle, he has a very, very good, fast first step in those situations.That fast first step helped him win the edge and score a TD on the 6-yarder, and it helped him get a step on the cornerback for the rest of the way on the 38-yarder.
If you're Oregon and you're watching Don Clark and LJ Scott turn in these plays, you're thinking to yourself, "This is a loaded roster." Those guys aren't even in the Top 10 or 12 in terms of pub on this team.
He threw the key block that sprung LJ Scott on the 38-yard TD run (although 34 of those yards were LJ's).
Clark played right tackle during that series, with McGowan at right guard. I suspect that might be the combination MSU starts the game with on Saturday vs Air Force, with Machado coming off the bench.
On the 38-yarder, Clark crossed the face of the Oregon DE, hooked him, sealed him out of the gap, and LJ cut to the daylight.
That DE is supposed to get into Clark, straight into Clark, push him back while two-gapping, looking to disengage and get off to the proper side.
But Clark crossed his face, got to his shoulder, and owned it from there. By crossing his face, he allowed the offense to "gain a gap."
It's one thing to have an advantageous blocking angle and deliver a punishing blow within the design of a play.
But on this play, Clark was kind of at a disadvantage. He needed to cross the guy's face and then win from that side of the defensive player. Hard to do. He did it. Hobbit stick.
**
As for Scott, the play was blocked for 3 or 4 yards, even with Clark's great block. From there, it was all recruiting. Scott broke a LB's tackle, as you all saw. Then the part that impressed me was Scott's ONE-STEP ACCELERATION after breaking that tackle. He showed the same burst on his earlier TD run. I'm noticing that when Scott is already moving, and then hits the gas pedal after a cut or after breaking a tackle, he has a very, very good, fast first step in those situations.That fast first step helped him win the edge and score a TD on the 6-yarder, and it helped him get a step on the cornerback for the rest of the way on the 38-yarder.
If you're Oregon and you're watching Don Clark and LJ Scott turn in these plays, you're thinking to yourself, "This is a loaded roster." Those guys aren't even in the Top 10 or 12 in terms of pub on this team.
