Cacker Guy

A huge get for OBD!!

I think he is our best position coach. He is a jewel on and off the field. He is the one coach I really want to keep. Don't let him go to another school as a RB coach!!!

Also having great seasons are former Ducks Kylee Watson (Notre Dame), Sydney Parrish (Indiana), Sedona Prince (TCU) and Maddie Scherr (Kentucky). And Taylor Bigby is first off the bench for #5 USC.

I don't listen to the games, but I read the play-by-play. I'm no softball expert, but it seems to me that: 1. Our hitting has not been clutch. Three players are hitting VERY well: Kai Luchar (lf), Alyssa Daniel (1b) and Ariel Carlson (rf). Hannah Delgado (cf) is starting to warm up, and Val Wong (dh) is hitting very well lately. The other infielders and catcher are not hitting well at all. The bottom of the order has produced very little. 2. The numbers for our pitchers are okay, but we are getting outpitched. Stevie Hansen is getting hit pretty good -- she certainly has not performed like an ace. Morgan Scott has has some trouble. The freshman Taylour Spencer has been a pleasant surprise -- she has been lights out. And it's a good thing! 3. Our defense has made some key errors. I saw these guys play last year and their defense should be very good. Judging defense without watching is kind of lame. It's possible they are making great plays and it just shows up as an out in the play-by-play. Results have been disappointing so far, but I think it could all turn around in a hurry if the infielders start to hit, and our new catcher does what she did the past three years at Georgia Tech. And the veteran pitchers must throw better. I think it is a solid team, and should do fairly well. But I base this only on what I read, not what I see. I believe that the situation with softball is world's different that WBB. WBB is a dumpster fire. They have no chance against any PAC-12 opponent, except maybe Cal tonight. They really don't have the players except Gray and Vandersloot. It seems to me that Division I WBB has rushed by Coach Graves and left him in the dust. I hate to say it, but WBB looks to be in a terrible state. Anyhow, that's my analysis, for what it's worth (not much).

Players who transferred after Mark Campbell left include Jaz Shelley, Taylor Chavez, Taylor Mikesell, Angela Dugalic, Maddie Scherr, Kylie Watson, Sydney Parrish ... and last year Tehina PaoPao, Indiya Rogers and Sedona Prince. All went to top programs and have done very well (with the exception of Chavez who had a few good games at Arizona but didn't start). The few players who transferred in have not been anywhere near the talent level of those who left. There is mounting evidence that Campbell was largely responsible for the Ducks' success. I don't know what's going on ... but I'm not sure Graves does either.

I usually watch games with the sound off as well. I love my mute button!

Great article, Mike! I love your idea. Unfortunately, it makes too much sense, so it will probably never happen.

Coach Martin played at Michigan State...

He is a jedi master at holding. He is really really good at doing it without getting caught. I hated him last year!

Ducks are right behind Georgia and Texas and ahead of Alabama in ESPN's "2024 Way-Too-Early college football Top 25." Only non-SEC team in the top 4. 2024 Way-Too-Early college football Top 25 - ESPN WWW.ESPN.COM The 2023 college football season may have just ended, but Mark Schlabach already has a top 25 for next year.

Plus Jaz Shelley at Nebraska. All starting and playing well for good teams. It sure looks to me from 400 miles away that Mark Campbell was responsible for UO's previous success. I just watched the "highlights" of tonight's game and UO looked poorly coached to me. Poor fundamentals and poor team defense. I couldn't see much offense -- but I guess there wasn't much to see. I know it is dangerous to conclude anything from a few minutes of highlights, but nevertheless... Yikes!

Yeah, I agree that it is painful to watch. But I don't think there is any doubt about what this is -- it is offensive ineptitude all the way. Man, how is Missouri a top 10 team? Brutal QB play on both sides.

3 for 3 would do it also... just sayin'

Sure, why not? As long as he is a high character guy who will fit into the culture. Like with Moore, I trust that the coaches will make a good decision about whether or not to pursue him.

Ah, the Chargers. If there is a way to massively mess up the hire, they will find it. They held on to Staley much too long, passing on Daboll first, then possibly even worse, passing on Sean Payton. I am a Chargers fan, but I hate being a Chargers fan... I am glad they finally fired Staley, but who knows who they will find to coach -- for a bargain price of course?

I just looked up the 2020-2021 WBB roster. Players on that team that have since transferred include Taylor Chavez, Jaz Shelley, Taylor Mikesell, Angela Dugalic, Kylee Watson, Maddie Scherr, Sydney Parrish, Sedona Prince and TeHina Paopao. Every single player who was not a senior left. Endiya Rogers transferred in the next year but has also since transferred out. All of these players went to very good programs and have played very well, with the exception of Chavez -- and Dugalic who has been injured but has started all 7 games for #2 UCLA this year and is playing well. That is two full starting fives which would both certainly destroy this year's team. Only Mikesell has used up her eligibility. I believe the grand exodus started immediately after Mark Campbell took the job at Sacramento State. I don't know why they all left, but it sure doesn't look to me like Graves is doing a good job. I don't know what's going on, but from my vantage point a few hundred miles away, I'm very concerned. I'd sure like to see Graves be retired and Campbell hired. Right now it looks like we will get boat raced by almost all the PAC-12 teams this year...

I agree, JD. Heck, we started every game I can remember with those WR screens and short RPO's. Which was okay, but UW had to expect it. I would've run a fake WR screen deep shot on the first play. Loosen up the secondary and make them play more honest. Defensively I expected UW to try to run the ball early. They did, and executed very well, but I think we could have defended much better. We were outcoached. UW's players were physically, emotionally and mentally better prepared. I don't say that as a criticism of our staff. Well, I suppose it is somewhat. But I am just very very impressed with UW's staff. DeBoer and his staff are elite. I mean Alabama and Georgia elite. Maybe he can't recruit as well -- according to the star ratings. But I suspect he will get his guys somehow and coach them up to play like this year's team. I was super impressed with how his Fresno St. team played us a couple years ago. They were very well coached. I'm sure we'll improve. It would be nice to have some continuity in the staff...

I completely agree, Solar. No question in my mind that DeBoer is a better coach. But I think he may be top 3 in the country.

Well, I think we can count on shenanigans from the southern voters.

It's almost as if the Huskies are coached to hold -- or push off -- in crucial situations. Counting on the refs not throwing a flag then? I don't know. All I know is that PI is frequently hard to get right in real time and the calls -- and non-calls -- are almost always critical. The whole PI thing drives me nuts.

Well.... I don't know about Texas Tech. I was thinking Cristobal and company. I didn't follow him at TT -- I assumed since he was undefeated as a starter there until our game this year that he was doing much better. You raise a very good point.

I hate the way PI is called these days -- and not called. Maybe it's because I'm an ex DB. Too many phantom calls. Plus receivers get away with pushing off. If I'm an OC facing third and long, I'd just throw it long -- and a bit underthrown -- and you have better than a 50% chance of getting a PI call. I just hate it! The Huskies use this. I consider it cheating, but in some ways it's very clever. Their CBs hold like crazy, especially just prior to the catch and in a way that refs don't often see. Muhammed (#1) is a master holder. In addition, he took away our receiver's arm on that 4th and 3 pylon throw in the 3rd quarter. Really hard to see, but if you look at it in slow motion he totally grabbed our receiver's arm. That was PI. And of course, Odunze is a master at pushing DBs at the last minute. Infuriating to me. So, I think our team is different. I feel it too. But I still don't trust the refs. I have officiating PTSD.

I'd consider him. I like Shough, and he certainly didn't get a fair shake here. Yes, he made bad decisions under pressure. Yes you could see his confidence decline each week. But IMO that was largely on the coaches. With good coaching and positive opportunities, Shough could blossom into an excellent QB. Not unlike a certain ex-Auburn QB. He has the tools. Unfortunately, I have to agree with many about TT. Love his loyalty. Seems like a great kid. But he is not going to grow into a decent QB for a Top 10 team I don't think. Which is really too bad.

Jayden Daniels is now the Heisman favorite. He apparently has tremendous support from SEC fans who think he's played against superior defenses and has better stats. Like Georgia State's this week -- against who he was throwing TD passes in the 4th quarter in a 56-14 win. Talk about padding your stats. Bo is up against a lot of southern bias -- lots of tweets claiming he wasn't good enough in the SEC so left for the PAC, etc. I bet most of those folks haven't seen him play since he was at Auburn. Canzano is getting roasted for a comment he made on X saying Daniels would be holding a clipboard at UW or UO.

I think it's going to be a very very tough season. Losing Peyton Scott is a real blow -- the backup PG is not close to her ability. It was looking tough before Scott got hurt, and now.... PAC-12 is loaded this year and we aren't. I think Graves' seat should already be hot because he hasn't been able to keep elite players on the roster. Now...