David Marsh

Does anyone else suddenly feel better about our loss last week now? Just knowing that Miami is no longer undefeated and lost to an unranked team makes that feel so much better. Still not happy about losing but I feel better.

It's also kinda funny that Adidas US headquarters are also based in Oregon. So there is still a little bit of Oregon in their clothing.

Beat Oregon Today

Veteran teams tend to be the exception not the rule. Michigan two seasons ago and Georgia before them and the many other Alabama and Clemson national championship teams had one big thing going for them... Teams composed of veterans who knew how to stay focused. I'd say that was also in large part why last year's Oregon team was able to stay focused was some supreme leadership by veterans. There are some veterans on this team but Oregon returned very very few starters from last year. That isn't a knock on this year's talent but staying focused for a bye week is tough. Michigan of two years ago had a team full of 5th and 6th year players. That has become an increasing rarity in college football, especially since it was rare then. Losses don't eliminate from the playoff. They suck but to re-establish the standard sometimes it helps in ways a close win doesn't. I would personally rather not suffer any losses. I personally hate it... But to enact change sometimes failure is the only incentive.

It certainly feels better that way. But the lesson often sets in better from a loss than a win. The reality is that at some point the Ducks were going to need a loss for the culture to be reaffirmed. Everyone let's stuff slide when winning. Coaches might not approve of it and the best coaches actively fight against it. But few people can ever keep themselves perfectly disciplined while winning. Losing is a call for back to basics.

This game kinda reminds me of the DeBoer Washington teams Lanning struggled with. The game was close..much closer than the 10 point loss. It's in the details and the minor things and the preparation that would make all the difference.

And absolutely this. Moore was shaken and got antsy pretty quickly as the game progressed because he took so many sacks. Some were the offensive lines fault and some were half or holding onto the ball for too long. Remember Gabriel and Nix both could get the ball out in about 2 seconds. Yes, they were experienced but that kept them from taking a ton of sacks.

The runs up the gut were working. I say this every year, early on at least, we need patience and let the hot hand running back develop over the course of multiple series. Davison was that guy. He was getting chunk yardage on a regular basis. Our tackles were getting destroyed in pass rush and even on the outside runs but the interior was making lanes and a big back like Davison was taking yards.

Even with all that said Jon the path to the playoff is still simple. Just Win! Even if USC and Washington are ranked and potentially in play for a playoff seat by the time they meet the Ducks the Ducks can knock them out of their way. The B1G Championship game is more difficult but I am frankly not as concerned about that at this point as I think conference championship games are more detrimental at this point. Outside of a strange scenario like Clemson last year, it's probably better just to get into the playoff and have a first round game to get your feet wet rather than an extra bye week.

For the record I don't think this offensive line is bad... I think they played badly. Their inside run blocking was quite good but they were getting beat on the edges. It felt like the line was struggling and it didn't help Moore's struggles because he did have open receivers but he didn't have the time and comfort to find them. The reality is that this game was pretty close. The missed field goal was a six point swing for Indiana but if Oregon made that field goal at the end of the half they would have gone into the half up 13-10. There were a few holding calls that killed drives, if those calls don't happen I am sure the Ducks put up some points. Cut back on the interceptions down to one and the Ducks probably win this game by a score or two. Credit to Indiana, they needed the Ducks to play poorly and force them into bad play and they did just that. But if a rematch comes in the playoff... don't expect the same result. I am expecting this offensive line to have a chip on their shoulder for the rest of the season.

Whittington missed several blocks and tried to get a big play instead of taking the first down yards on that first series. The blocking was quite poor and it wasn't just the offensive line for sure.

I think we might have been fine if we didn't have a bye. Teams that have lots of experienced players and leadership tend to do better because they can be more disciplined through the bye than teams that are younger. Bye weeks are physical rest weeks but should be double mental weeks.

I mean I could feel a bad game coming. I just wasn't looking forward to a game like I usually do... Nothing scientific about it... Just felt it in my gut. Also... Last week I couldn't really walk as I had a foot wound and then I got COVID... And now I'm sick again. Wound is healing well so at least I can walk. But something about it all just didn't have me feeling it was going to be a good Saturday. Also my 3 and 1 year old daughters were just melting down all day before, during and after the game..

It's fine... Incentive to play better and improve. I'd like to be slightly higher by the time the playoff comes around..I'd like to be on the opposite side of the bracket from Ohio State but plenty of time for that.

That ia funny. If Franklin is flamatt he takes a year off before diving into the coaching carrosel as he can afford to wait for the right job. We all know Oregon State isn't the right job for almost everyone.

Oh the defensive side it is Lupoi and Hampton (in the box). I'm not sure who is in the box on the offensive side of the ball right now. But in not convinced making this change right now is worth it as it would throw their system off. It was a poorly called game for sure but the players also didn't execute terribly well. Everything from holding calls to Whittington not taking the first down yards in front of him was on the players. Moore missed throws he normally makes and there were receivers open but Moore never found. My biggest criticism is one I make every single year... When there is a hit hand running the ball feed them the ball! Davison was gaining chunk yardage right up the gut. Let him be the featured back and run it. In the end I think the run pass ratio was slightly pass heavy but I think we may have won that game if it became more run centric with Davison who really wasn't getting stopped.

Another name added to the list. Oregon State is fascinating to watch... Just like a train wreck.

Lanning's buyout is super high. I saw it around 50mil. In the case of Penn State they just paid Franklin 50 mil to go away... They probably don't have another 50 mil to buy out Lanning and then turnaround and pay him bigger than Oregon. Also I think Lanning has something built into his contract that if another program just wants Lanning to pick up the phone that is going to cost them. Beyond that Lanning isn't picking up the phone.

He outright lost the lockeroom after the Oregon game. The team has absolutely given up on him and he on his team. They were basically at the point of giving up on the season and looking to next year. And they are doing that now but with an added coaching search. But who are they going to get that's better than Franklin? Seriously, he had a top 10 problem but until Oregon broke him he did beat all the non ranked teams and even the ranked ones he was supposed to.

I will turn off some of the pundits after a loss... I don't need to hear the same things on repeat when they are mostly things I've already said. But just remember everything is still to play for and most teams need a loss to smack them in the face to improve. Right now I'm not so sure I'd want to be Rutgers as they're next up and set solidly in the get right game. Lanning should have this team fired up and realigned.

Remember... Ohio State won a national championship last year and lost to Oregon and Michigan. We still have everything to play for though the B1G title will require a little help along the way. So we may miss out on a conference title but the playoff is still very possible. Moore will grow and the team should grow too.

Felt like Oregon came off the bye week with their B game. This team has young leadership compared to last year. That young leadership needs a wake up call now and have them commit to improvement. Certainly doesn't help things that Penn State just lost of Northwestern. Though I still think that they may have given up on their season at this point.

Oregon has definitely brought their B game so far.

In Limar's favor he has graded out to be a pretty darn good blocker. He's playing with a bit of fire this series so far.

Whittington for sure. He wiffed that block hard.