One of the big keys to the Oregon-LSU game for the Ducks is how well they can force the Tigers to defend the passing game and special teams as well. The health of Oregon wideout Josh Huff becomes all the more critical with only Lavasier Tuinei and Justin Hoffman being the two other guys that have any significant experience at wide receiver (and experience is a stretch when it comes to Hoffman, who caught only three passes last season). The Ducks really need someone like Huff to stretch the field against the Tigers defense with his speed burning ability.
It looks like Oregon head coach Chip Kelly believes that Huff will be playing this Saturday. Rob Moseley of the Eugene Register-Guard with more.
Oregon coach Chip Kelly said Monday he hope to have "all hands on deck" from an injury perspective when Oregon faces LSU on Saturday in Arlington, Texas.
... it’s a positive statement about the condition of receiver Josh Huff, who missed most of preseason camp with a leg issue.
"I don’t know my status yet, but I’m working hard to get back," said Huff, who was in full pads along with his teammates for Monday’s practice.
Huff still isn't certain he can play, which seems to contradict the original assessment by Doctor Kelly. But you have to figure that if Oregon is going to win at Cowboys Stadium, the Ducks need a passing game from Darron Thomas, and they'll need receivers outside to make it happen. You can only line out Kenjon Barner and LaMichael James out wide so often before defenses key into the type of plays you're running. Oregon needs every player they can spare, and Huff is a crucial component.
This could also be smoke and mirrors by Kelly to force LSU to gameplan extra minutes for Huff when he's planning some totally different but still bombastic scene. That's the whole thing. You don't know what this news could mean. Everything's a smokescreen in college football.
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