David Marsh

Josh Conerly was one of the "tightends" last year. I think he caught a touchdown off the formation, but we have plenty of linemen who could line up in this formation and we'd be good to go. Don't need 4 tightends really... Just enough big blockers in offensive linemen and we have that. We also have 3 solid blocking tight ends as well. We have the bodies.

The thing is that the formation can be used in so many different ways. Yes, brute force is an option and I think it probably could have worked for a play or two. But also slipping a TE out to be a receiver as the rest of the defense crashes down to defend the run can be an easy score. Or put a guy in motion and hand the ball off there while again the defense crashes towards the middle to stop the run. These other things have scored points as I went over last year. Oregon Football is The Embodiment of Modern Physicality FISHDUCK.COM As Oregon fans, we heard all about physicality from former HC Mario Cristobal over the last four years... It's about being multiple and throwing in additional curves. Sometimes brute force is the way to go... But sometimes the fear of brute force is enough as well. I love this formation for what it can do... I offers options and creativity while also generating high percentage conversion plays. That's what needs to happen on 3rd and 4th down. High percentage plays.

I do feel like we'll probably have Stein for a number of years to come. I think Stein and Lanning are still learning to work together. One needs to be the voice of reason, at the end of the half after a turnover you always take the points. Doubly so when you get the ball to start the half. Oregons offense came out kinda flat in the first quarter and the start of the third. That can't happen. Going three and out after getting the ball doesn't put the team in a good place.

We saw the formation used like twice this year and one time it was used was to slip TFerg into the end zone matched up with a smaller DB and Nix just tossed the ball up for him to go get it.... Which he did and it was a touchdown. The formation can be blunt force of run the ball either with a runningback or Nix as a QB sneak... Or it can have some pass plays. Good luck trying to stop it all. What we saw last year was brilliant. That mix of power and cunning that forces defenses to make a choice and hope they're right .. and hope they can beat it. Sometimes even knowing what's coming doesn't mean they can beat it.

My Tuesday article will go a bit more into it... but I do feel that play-calling could have been better. Giving Nix an opportunity to throw it when he has a super high completion percentage isn't entirely reckless but for some of those short yardage situations it feels like there were potentially some more creative ways to get those yards. The problem with those plays is that Nix was out of the pocket and already on the move and he had some pressure coming at him and he needed to get the ball out. Throwing the ball always comes with risk, risk of outright missing, risk of the receiver not catching it, risk of turning it over (whether by missing or a tip or anything unlucky). I feel there were some ways to run the ball and get the yards.

Couple things... 1. Washington defenders and offensive linemen got away with a TON of holding. Also what's up with Washington defenders lowering their helmets into players? Many of these hits are "legal" because they aren't helmet to helmet but if you go back and watch there are an absolute ton of Washington players making hits and getting their helmets into the players they are tackling. It may be borderline legal at times but it's dirty. 2. We, the common fan, may not have Lanning's ear. Though I would love to think that he reads my weekly article but he has forgotten more football than I know so my takes aren't worth much. But Phil Knight certainly has Lanning's ear and if Knight isn't happy then Lanning is going to hear about it. I like to think Lanning has learned his lesson about taking the points and knowing when he should punt. End of a half after getting a turnover.. yeah take the points they are free points. Punt to get the ball clear of your side of the field... absolutely give your defense a chance to get a stop. I love Lanning and I often love his aggressive mentality, but he needs to temper it. I have overall liked the Will Stein hire... but I go back to thinking that Lanning may have been better off with a more veteran OC. Someone who has called games for a rather long time and can just tell Lanning to take the points.

I have less of an issue with him going for it on fourth and more of an issue with the playcalls which felt like low percentage shots. If you're going for it on fourth you take your best shot... Not something you call on 2nd down.

I will say this loss is easier to take than last year and previous years. Only because my daughter gives.me.something else to focus on. She is 18 months and makes life better... Even when the Ducks lose.

Also... It looks like Washington players really lead with their helmets all the time.

That kinda feels like game... 4th and goal stuffed twice.

They will regret it...

I will probably exile myself into the basement for the game... right now I'm feeling pretty good.

So... Apparently our worst game of the year against Texas Tech which was game 2 and playing on a field that with over 100 degree heat... Is a worse win (a win by 8 where we cover the spread) than the Huskies worst win against Arizona where they win by 7. I think if Shough stayed healthy TT would be ranked by season's end ... But not at this rate. Arizona... They're better than most give them credit for... But they aren't a world beater. Listening to them amp up their Zona wins sounds like they won a top 15 match up this year... They didn't... It will be a miracle if Zona makes a bowl game this year. Neither team has played "anyone" at this point. But it's also in how you dispose of your lesser opponents matters. Both teams have done a decent job of not letting teams stick around. Both have had a scare on the road. But I still think the Ducks have more going for them. I won't claim to know their team better than Husky fans but they really do claim to know our team better than us which is silly.

I would say the offense this year hasn't restricted Nix's legs but has opted not the feature them as much. He still runs when he has open lanes to do so and there are still loads of plays where he reads the defense to determine if he keeps the ball or hands it off. The biggest difference is that there are fewer plays being called designed for him to keep it and run. He also has a solid group of receivers and fantastic pass protection so he can sit back and pick a defense apart with his arm rather than his legs. I do see him running for some positive yardage this game but if the protection is there he'll happily throw the ball all day.

In reference to the tweet on the right ... Wait... Oregon huddles? That's news to me. Have they even watched a Duck game this season? If they had they know they need to wear a diaper because of all the pants crapping they'll be doing when they see the Ducks run up the score on them.

42-6 Ducks 2 3 284 Yes... I'm going for the same score for 3 weeks in a row. Probably won't happen but I have to be ridiculous.

I think we wore these for the 2021 pac-12 championship game where we.were smacked by Utah a second time in 3 weeks because Mario and Co couldn't figure out how to make the offense less predictable.

Our defense is completely different than last year. Also I love how Husky fans seem to think they won by like 21 last year, at least it's the way they talk about it. And they also forget that one of their players lowered his helmet into Nix's leg. Well of course they'd forget that... That would mean they wouldn't have won otherwise. If it was up to them they'd be head hunting the entire Oregon team.

On scoopduck their pictures look like its the Chrome helmet this week. Oregon releases uniforms ahead of showdown with Washington - On3 WWW.ON3.COM No. 8 Oregon has released its uniform combination ahead of Saturday's showdown with No. 7 Washington in Seattle.

I feel Lanning is a bit more subtle. With Kelly and Helfrich is was all about the faceless opponent from week-to-week. This is more explicitly Oregon is going against Oregon. It's about growth and improvement and it doesn't matter who they actually play because as long as they beat their standard they'll win. It has that competive drive focused on a face.... But that face is just themselves in the mirror.

Fine... I think this uniform looks relatively good up close but on the field it looks dirty. Players and recruits like them so who am I to argue?

For starters... there isn't any red on Oregon's side of the sheet so I think that's a good thing!

Stats wise Bo isn't that far off shockingly from the other two. I think the bigger problem is the highlight reel right now. And yes, I agree that Nix needs to keep working on that deep ball because he's had a few misses that were otherwise touchdowns. But that's the hard part of the deep ball ... it's probably more often it's a miss because of the throw and not anything the opposing defense did.

Apple? Or was there a deal with Amazon in hadn't heard about. I know Oregon was probably more flexible with the media deal as long as it assured access to the playoff.

Not going to lie.... I'm happy it's Washington that is the face of this. They get to be the villain in this case for the narrative's sake.