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The football program at Oregon is one of the best in the country. Chip Kelly was the mastermind behind the Ducks’ speedy offensive attack, and after he left to enter the NFL offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich stepped up. Two years later and Helfrich has the Ducks as potent as ever, if not more so. It helps that he has the assistance of Marcus Mariota, this year’s Heisman favorite, leading his team. But his ability to put younger players into the spotlight and allow them to thrive has earned him the reputation among the best in the business.
Where we’ll begin the argument, however, is with the Ducks’ record. They’re 12-1, second in the NCAA only to Florida State University. Where Oregon has points over FSU is that they’ve rarely struggled throughout the season. The Seminoles have seven wins in which they won by less than a touchdown. The Ducks, on the other hand, have one win in which they’ve won within the margin of one touchdown. They do, however, have one loss while FSU has none. Nonetheless, Helfrich’s ability to purely dominate a (higher rated) opposition than FSU’s Jimbo Fisher has him placed higher.
The only real competition for Helfrich is Alabama’s Nick Saban. Granted, Saban is one of the best college football coaches year in, year out, so Helfrich edges him out just slightly. According to Sports Reference, Oregon has a Simple Rating System of No. 1, while Alabama comes in at No. 2. The SRS is a combination of point differential and strength of schedule. FSU is 10th. And even Alabama, whose defense is notorious, doesn’t have as high of a turnover margin as Oregon, which is third in the country.
Where Helfrich really showed his ability to lead is allowing players to blossom and shine on the go. Key players such as wide receiver Bralon Addision, offensive lineman Hroniss Grassu and tight end Pharoah Brown have all suffered season-ending injuries. By reshuffling his lineup and coaching the team properly, the Ducks haven’t missed a beat. The Ducks are third in the nation in scoring, and their defense is 29th.
Only Alabama’s and Oregon’s spots in the College Football Playoffs were definite. Even though FSU went undefeated, the manner in which they reached that conclusion wasn’t even definite enough for the voting committee. And then Ohio State, TCU, and Baylor all vied for the final spot. Ohio State got the bid, but that’s neither here nor there. So both the Crimson Tide and Ducks have very good teams, with very good coaches.
The simplest way to determine who did more with what they had was the level of talent each team had. Entering the 2014 season, Alabama had the no.1-ranked talent level, while Oregon was ranked no. 14. Alabama has actually been ranked first four straight years, and in that time Oregon has never topped No. 12.
Their overall rank, their No. 1 position in the SRS, their talent and their ability to overcome adversity prove that Oregon is one of the best teams in the nation, if not the best. Mark Helfrich got them there, and that’s why he deserves to be Coach of the Year. Fortunately, he will be pitted against Fisher, and then either Saban or Urban Meyer. Only then might we have a better idea of who the best coach is, but until then Helfrich should be considered the front-runner.
Matt Turner is a New York Mets writer for www.RantSports.com. “Like” him on Facebook, follow him on Twitter @MturnerNY, or add him to your network on LinkedIn or Google.
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