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Oregon is fifth in blue chip ratio at 78%. Michigan is currently the record holder for the lowest blue chip ratio to win a title at 54%. More importantly I think Oregon is tougher after spending a year in the B1G. Some may scoff at that, but there is a gap between the big two and the other two or formerly three. Even high performing members of the PAC like Washington and USC struggled with the week in and week out physicality. Oregon won the darn thing, but you could see the defense starting to wilt at the end vs Penn State and Ohio State at the lines. I think moving to the B1G is going to be the thing that finally gets Oregon over the hump. You can't simulate weekly physical football. https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/blue-chip-ratio-2025-these-18-college-football-teams-can-actually-win-the-national-championship/

Well my entertaining friend, you bring up so many astute observations yourself. You're a key part of an ensemble of guys that really help me look at OBD from better perspectives. I do hope 1/1/25 is on everyone's minds every hour on the hour. The time off (three weeks) really hurt, but that sting is ample motivation to make sure that never happens again. And I want some Buckeye blood. I already have a problem with Buckeye fans (I happen to really like Ryan Day, and that fan base is ridiculous about the guy-he's been nothing but stellar. And he is starting to look a lot like Kirby Smart in his own fashion-so their arrogance and distaste for Day miffs me quite a lot). I think Lupoi has improved. I don't like the Mint defense, so that may be more my problem with the issues I see. But I do like that he is moving players more towards their strengths. He absolutely must get his linebackers to take away patterns in the middle of the field. They keep drifting out of coverage responsibilities. Coverage rules in my mind dictate the corners take the short routes outside. That leaves the LBs in seam, slant, digs and post pattern support. But that's just me. Let's see if Lupoi irons those things out. Keep them coming Jon. You add so much to this forum!

Thanks for the article David. Another deep set of observations as usual. Not much to add to this one, as you really hit the nail on the quality performances coming out of so many players.

I completely agree with this post; as quickness in a defender can be recruited and trained, but it can be slowed down by hesitation created from so MUCH preparation needed when facing Oregon. I am in the camp of running all the offense, but continue to add unseen elements out of the back of the playbook, as Helfrich did often as OC. Throw lots of stuff out there that requires defensive preparation, but pop new wrinkles on big 3rd downs.... Will our OC do that? This is a new element of entertainment to watch for in upcoming games. How much will be the same? How much will be new? You can score easily from tactical components, not just with raw talent, and we saw a ton of that last Saturday.

Last year, I believe Chip kept his best plays close to the vest and waited to unleash his full set of plays in the playoffs. It explains the close games after losing in Eugene in my mind. Penn State, Nebraska, and Michigan had no business staying close in the regular season last year, and I believe Chip just let the defense do its thing, and baited the physical teams into believing they had a shot in the playoffs (Georgia and OBD come to mind). I believe Stein is serving notice he not only has the talent, but he also has multiple offenses that DCs will have to prepare for. It still hinges on a powerful running game, but one thing that stands out in my mind is Stein is getting Moore out of the pocket. That is going to wreck havoc on pressure oriented schemes. Not only does it mean Stein is looking to buy time, but it messes with coverage rules (because now Moore is also a running threat). Getting Moore out of the pocket also disrupts blitz strategy as Stein has already shown multiple ways he will get Moore rolling out (left, right, bootleg looks, and he hasn't had Moore simply roll left or right yet). Stein is also designing plays for his talent. He now has three reliable WRs he can get the ball to in the 8-12 yard range. He is using the TEs more creatively, and he hasn't really shown what he is going to do with Sadiq yet. Moore is a slot receiver, but he can stack Moore behind a blocking WR, or like he has already shown, the WR screens are no longer a feature, they are a foundation for getting the ball downfield. I believe Stein is providing information overload, as now, he is showing looks that don't tip off what they are actually going to do (like they did last year). The best aspect of it is I am not as concerned about WRs having cruise missile speed anymore. WR Moore is enough, because Sadiq is also lightening fast, so Stein can occupy Safeties using either Sadiq or Moore. And he is throwing formation looks that make it difficult to determine what he is up to. That he has simplified the packages to the degree he has with more formations is awesome. Not only am I impressed, I am not even sure what he has pocketed for future use.

I sense that too, a much different approach than last year, where we, "did a slow-roll" of the offense as the season progressed. I believe he has made a tactical turn toward creating an expectation of scoring boatloads, using strategic formational and play variations to overwhelm an opposing DC in preparation. Then he pulls something else out not seen before... Perhaps they have embraced that this is the era of offense as you suggested, and thus need a high-powered offense to counter. Glad to see it, and glad to see all the entertaining permutations of plays off formations. Ha! You noted the Fly-Sweep from under center to Dak Moore zipping by....which resembles elements of the "Jet-Sweep" from the Shotgun under Taggart. I've seen more snaps under center in the first two games this year than entire seasons in the past, and I love it. (This might be part of following up on recruiting promises to prepare Oregon QBs for the NFL?) It seems that Stein has really upped his game, as has the rest of the team.

FPI is based on raw talent and past results. The SP+ rankings are more accurate. They include current year performance, and expectations based on the current composite of the team. FPI is what the Sports Books use to calculate point spreads, and they are probably more reliable as the season wears on. Texas is high because they were more potent last year against the second tier level of schools (now that we have the Ohio State sample, we now know Texas struggles against elite defenses. Clemson is in the same category as the sample is out there as well -though I am not so sure about LSU yet). I haven't watched the Florida-South Florida game yet-or a number of others, so I don't have a complete feel on the group of teams outside of Ohio State that I feel are OBD's biggest challenges. I will say this about OBD: effort and depth are outstanding. I still have some concerns about the secondary, but the talent and skill level is much better than any time in the Lanning era. I still see the LBs watch the QB too much, and I do believe coverage rules are a problem more than the talent-but the LBs not taking away options (instead of trying to determine where the QB will throw the ball) is a major weakness. Lupoi absolutely needs to keep his edge defenders on the edge, somebody is going to crush it with counter runs if he keeps dragging the DEs to the middle of the box. I believe Stein recognizes he will need to drop forty on everybody, as he is employing a much more aggressive approach to the game. Stein is using some elements of Taggart's Gulf Coast offense. And he is going under center. I love that. He is actually employing elements of other offenses into his scheme. Lanning even referred to it in an interview-they are scouting other CFB teams, and maybe even looking at the NFL. Whatever it is, Stein just signaled he is going to unleash more styles than he has been employing. Somebody mentioned it, not sure who, but the WRs blocking downfield is much better. And the WR screens are now a set up for Sequential/Constraint plays downfield-the screens are a set up for fakes so Moore can throw downfield. So I believe the staff learned its lessons in January. You can't put up enough points against elite teams. You need to think its an NBA scoring fest. Like the Alabama/Clemson title games last decade. Until I see the secondary shut down elite WRs, I will not crown this defense as elite. Georgia and Ohio State have the best pass defenses in the country until proven otherwise. That is the kind of defense OBD need. If we get those kinds of defenses, then we are looking at the rest of the decade as true top shelf, tough to defeat elite teams. Like Nick Saban/Kirby Smart kind of teams. Lanning has the team on the path. I just need to see the defense tighten up some loose ends

Take this with a grain of salt since I heard it from a guy who knows a guy, who knows....well, you get the point....Novosad has a thumb injury he is dealing with on his throwing hand.

This team seems to have a incredibly high "motor" right now. From beginning to end of each play and each game. It's all out, finish the play, and we're going to come at you in waves, because we have the talent, and we're going to use it all to wear you down. Even the best teams in the playoffs last year wore down quite a bit as the tournament played on. Depth will be huge! I'm still a little concerned about our run defense when we face more talented teams. We gave up 144 quiet yards on the ground to a team sporting a 18.7 QBR this week. Three backs averaged 4.3, 4.5, and 5.2 yards per carry and I was surprised and delighted at the awful play calling from OSU when they'd abandon the run. Hopefully, there's enough tape there to patch those seams. Go Ducks!

Thank you for clarifying that fact in writing for all to see. The Cotton Bowl season was sooooo good. The catch in Seattle? Now THAT was a play.

Alex, great article as usual. Managing expectations this early in the season with a team that still has so many questions surrounding it isn’t something we’ve had to worry about for awhile. I just have to remember to breathe, and that we are just watching, while these young men are actually living this in real time. What a time to be a duck.

The depth at defensive back has been astonishing. They are all so fast, and hit hard whether they are veteran or a freshman. I actually think we have a touch faster reaction in the secondary this year, with more sure tackles in the first two games. If there is an injury--I feel much better about the backup coming in....since he is playing as much as the starter! Aaron Flowers, RS Freshman Safety

According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, Northwestern running back Cam Porter is being ruled out for the season after suffering an injury in last week's game against Western Illinois. Porter was the team's leading rusher through two games, carrying the ball 18 times for 137 yards and a touchdown. Northwestern Wildcats suffer major injury ahead of Oregon Ducks gam

Know the Foe: Five Northwestern Wildcat players to know The fourth-ranked Ducks will travel to the midwest to play Northwestern on Saturday at 9 AM. Here are five Wildcat players to know entering the game.

Don't bother. Remember the ad campaign for Oldsmobile "This isn't your father's Oldsmobile". Well, we are the "fathers" of these Ducks and these aren't our last century Ducks, so we earned the right to wallow in Hubris.

I lost all sympathy for them once they decided to steal 300 million from the departing 10 members... Phil did not join us until we went to the Rose Bowl and then the Cotton Bowl. We had to EARN his trust, as winners want to work with winners. Beavis has not earned it, has declined, and is worth much less now.

I'd have to imagine that every DC this year will ask the analyst about the scouting report for Oregon, then the analyst will take a really, really deep breath...."So...

Oregon Sideline Reporter Dusty Harrah On The Ducks Win Over Oklahoma St

Thomas likely he as a better command of the offense at this point that puts him higher in the pecking order than Smith, and they didn't get that far down the depth chart for Smith to play. Dan Lanning has made comments to the effect that we can play winning football with Thomas. He's more than serviceable.

Yes, I have noticed that we are gang tackling a lot more, which is a sign of great defense. Keep it up, OBD!

The bigger surprise to me is how Akili Smith Jr hasn't played yet. What's up with that?

How Lanning, Stein and Lupoi built a juggernaut in EugeneMonday morning at CBS, college football writer Matt Zenitz named the coordinators of the week in each conference. In the Big Ten, he chose Will Stein of the Oregon Ducks, and Tosh Lupoi of the Oregon Ducks. So far Stein and Lupoi have gotten maximum value out of having their highly-paid units train against each other. Josh Yourish of Saturday Blitz noted that against Oklahoma State, "The Ducks jumped out to a 41-3 halftime lead, with 472 total yards, averaging 13.37 yards per play and 14.38 yards per dropback." That's insane domination. Autzen ZooHow Lanning, Stein and Lupoi built a juggernaut in EugeneMonday morning at CBS, college football writer Matt Zenitz named the coordinators of the week in each conference.

Thanks for the link... Yeah this would have been helpful for writing the article. Jayden Limar had the MOST snaps of all runningbacks at 23! Makhi Hughes second at 15. Limar didn't have has many carries as Hughes (9) but he was in on more plays. It shows how much this staff thinks of Limar and his development that he is in the game as much as he is. He made some fantastic blocks. On the plays where there were 2 backs lined up along side Moore, Limar was always one of them and he never got the ball on those plays but he was a blocker for the runner. Incredible development and I am thrilled for Limar. Biggest surprise of the year so far I think. And anyone who says they saw this for Limar (that isn't on the team or a coach) is outright lying!

Mike Gundy learned what happens when you disrespect the Ducks

Mailbag: Could the early schedule hold Oregon back?