Best of the Week: Oregon’s CJ Verdell, UCLA’s Chip Kelly top the Hotline’s honor roll

The Week Nine honor roll …

Offensive player of the week: Oregon TB CJ Verdell

This was an easy call: Verdell rushed for 257 yards on just 23 carries and scored three touchdowns, including an 89-yarder, as the Ducks escaped a thriller with their playoff hopes intact.

Add his work catching passes out of the backfield, and Verdell was responsible for 59 percent of Oregon’s yards from scrimmage.

Also considered: Colorado’s Laviska Shenault, USC’s Kedon Slovis and Michael Pittman, Washington State’s Anthony Gordon and Brandon Arconado Utah’s Zack Moss and UCLA’s Joshua Kelley

Defensive player of the week: Stanford CB Paulson Adebo.

Two interceptions helped the Cardinal fend off Arizona in the second half.

We considered a handful of players from Utah’s defense but opted against because of the level of competition.

(For a reason noted below, the options were slim this week for standout defensive players.)

Special Teams player of the week: Oregon K Camden Lewis

The true freshman would have been worthy of consideration for the game-winner alone, but he also connected on 30- and 40-yard field goals — all of which offset the missed PAT.

Game of the Week: Oregon 37, Washington State 35

The conference’s best hope for the playoff needed a last-minute drive and last-second field goal to survive a back-and-forth duel that had with plenty of offense and just enough defense.

Too much of one — for instance: 67-63 — isn’t good football.

Fortunate outcome of the Week: Pac-12 HQ

Had the Cougars held on, imagine the reaction in Eugene (and elsewhere) to the controversial pass interference penalty on Oregon cornerback Thomas Graham, which extended what became WSU’s go-ahead touchdown drive.

Coach of the Week I: UCLA’s Chip Kelly

The Bruins had a plan, executed their plan and dominated Arizona State for three quarters. In the process, they took sole possession of third place in the South.

And that plan — run the ball, and keep running the ball — was reminiscent of the plan Kelly used week after week, season after season, at Oregon.

The Bruins are averaging 220.6 yards per game on the ground in conference play.

Coach of the Week II: Washington State’s Mike Leach

If you watched the events in Eugene, this requires no explanation.

And if you didn’t watch, trust me: Leach’s plan and adjustments were masterful.

Team of the Week: USC

Down 10 in the fourth quarter, on the road, on a short week, missing a slew of starters, the Trojans rallied to beat Colorado with two touchdown passes from Kedon Slovis to Michael Pittman.

Last year, that would have been a loss for USC.

The resolve, the play-calling and the execution have improved substantially.

Team of the month: Oregon

The Ducks went 4-0 and took complete command of the North.

I considered Utah, but Oregon’s come-from-behind victory at Washington was the tiebreaker.

The Utes, dominant as they were, didn’t have an equivalent.

Theme of the Week: Offense

Of the 10 teams in action, nine scored at least 30 points.

The final scores:

35-0
35-31
37-35
41-31
42-32

Now that’s the Pac-12 we’re used to seeing.

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