It’s been a long journey back to a football field for Bralon Addison.
After tearing his ACL prior to the 2014 season, Addison was hopeful that he would be able to make it back if Oregon reached the College Football Playoff last season. He even went so far as taking part in pre-game warmups with his teammates before the Rose Bowl but alas, when the time came, Addison took his spot on the sideline.
But this year, Addison is healthy, and reminding everyone how dynamic he was in 2013.
Through two games thus far, Addison has 10 catches for 162 yards (both team-highs) and one touchdown. He also scored another touchdown on an 81-yard punt return against No. 4 Michigan State last week.
Finally healthy and competing, Addison spoke with reporters on Wednesday after practice.
Doing what you did in the game (last week), do you feel 100-percent back?
I think after the first game I was a hundred percent back – I think after I took my big collision in the first game. Definitely it was a bigger test going up against Michigan State and how good of a team they were but as far my confidence and things, I’m back.
How has this team responded the last couple of days in practice from Michigan State?
Putting it to bed. Of course we didn’t get the outcome we wanted but we can’t let that hinder us going forward – especially because it’s a long season. Other teams are going to lose – teams in the SEC are going to have to battle each other, teams in the Pac-12 like us are going to have to battle each other. We can’t focus on the week two loss and let that hinder us so we get another loss we don’t want. We just have to put that to bed, remember that feeling but as far as that particular game, we got to let it go.
As an offense, where do you feel you improved from game one to game two?
I think more experience. Obviously I think we did a lot of great things in both games – the only difference is that we came out with a win in the first game. I think there are things from us to learn from both games so watching that tape in the second game, there’s a ton of things we could’ve done better. Week-by-week we need to focus on getting better from past week mistakes and I think we’ll be where we want to be.
Being in a similar situation to Devon (Allen), what did you think of his first game back?
I thought it was good, especially in his circumstances. You know, I kind of got my first live action in the spring ball so for him to have live ball action for the first time since his injury against a top-five opponent, hats off to him. I could tell he was a little nervous, which is natural in things like that, so I thought it was good for him to get that out of his system against a good team like that so now look out.
What have you seen from Georgia State defensively?
They got a lot of fast guys. They’re similar to Michigan State as far as coverages and assignments so we’re going to put a couple of things into the game plan to take advantage of that. It’s kind of like seeing the same defense two weeks in a row but they play hard, they play fast. A lot of people may not know about them but they’re definitely a team that you can’t just say “this is a wash away week.” They’re a dangerous team and they play fast.
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