Oregon has fired a football coach for the first time in 40 years. Perhaps more stunning: The school canned Mark Helfrich just two years after he guided the Ducks to the national championship game against Ohio State.Helfrich, who went 37-16 in four seasons, left little choice for his normally patient employer; the Ducks declined rapidly this season, especially on defense. The inability to prepare for Life After Marcus (Mariota) ultimately cost Helfrich, a sensible successor to Chip Kelly, who many expected to keep the Ducks rolling.What does Oregon do now? As the Ducks enter somewhat unchartered waters, ESPNs Search Firm is back together to plan the next steps. National college football reporters Mark Schlabach and Chris Low join me as Search Firm regulars. Oregon-based Pac-12 reporter Chantel Jennings will lend her expertise, and Erik McKinney, who covers Pac-12 recruiting for ESPN.com, also joins the Firm. Pat Swilling Jersey . 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The game started the same way the Vancouver game started the night before, with the Jets taking the first two penalties of the game and killing off the first, but the Oilers getting on the board first, scoring on the second man-advantage. TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Danny Etling has figured it out in his relatively short time in the Southeastern Conference.In order to beat Alabama, the LSU quarterback said, you cant be one-dimensional.Same goes for beating LSU. The top-ranked Crimson Tide brings the nations best run defense into Saturday nights showdown with the 15th-ranked Tigers, who arent much kinder to opposing runners.In a game featuring an impressive collection of running backs led by LSUs Leonard Fournette, the quarterbacks and wide receivers are going to have to produce, too.Brandon Harris and LSU couldnt do it consistently last season against `Bama, and Fournette found scant running room against a defense that was able to load up for the run. This famously physical game wont all be about muscle.Neither team has a receiver ranked among the Top 10 in the SEC, but NFL prospects abound like LSUs Travin Dural and Malachi Dupre and Alabamas Calvin Ridley, ArDarius Stewart and tight end O.J. Howard.The quarterbacks are both making their debuts in the SEC West rivalry.Etling has had more passing success since interim coach Ed Orgeron took over in late September and brought in offensive coordinator Steve Ensminger. The Purdue transfer has had three straight 200-yard games and helped LSU set a school record for an SEC game with 634 total yards against Missouri.Its no coincidence that Tide coach Nick Saban believes the Tigers play action and vertical passing game have been more effective lately.And theyve made a lot more explosive plays, Saban said.Alabama freshman Jalen Hurts has made his share, too, both running and passing. While hes shown remarkable poise for an 18-year-old, Hurts has had some downfield misfires.Saban said worrking on the timing for the passing game was a priority during the open date before this game.dddddddddddd He figures LSUs secondary is as athletic as any Alabama has faced.Ridley said Hurts throws at least five deep balls to receivers after practice, whatever routes he wants to work on. Ridleys numbers are down from a huge freshman season, but he still has 39 catches for 477 yards and four touchdowns.I catch a lot of balls after every practice, Ridley said. I guess thats going to help us.The game certainly will feature an abundance of handoffs. Fournette and Derrius Guice are two of the SECs top runners. Alabama counters with a deep stable of tailbacks led by Damien Harris and Hurts, the teams No. 2 rusher.Neither team topped 200 passing yards in Alabamas victory last season , but the Tides Jake Coker was far more efficient than Harris. Derrick Henry ran for 210 yards on his way to the Heisman Trophy many had expected Fournette to run away with before his 31-yard performance.Etlings emergence since replacing Harris as starter and the Tigers offensive changes have generated more of a passing threat. The quarterbacks will also have to contend with several of the SECs best pass rushers in LSUs Arden Key and Alabamas Jonathan Allen and Tim Williams.We think we can get some receivers down the field, Orgeron said. But weve got to be able to protect him long enough to be able to ... get those plays down the field. Thats going to be the key to the game.---AP Sports Writer Brett Martel contributed to this report---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '