David Marsh

Nothing has changed the equation is still the same for the Ducks... JUST WIN!!!! Let's go Ducks!

That is a big ask... In large part because he will probably have to inspect how his offense functions. You look at Oregon and how both sides are in sync with each other and work to help the other one out. The defense is disruptive and works to get the ball back relatively quickly. And just as importantly the offense is efficient but also eats up some clock to let the defense rest. The Oregon teams of the blue era with Kelly and Helfrich both required better conditioned athletes and actually more players on the defensive side of the roster to compensate for the defense being on the field longer. Bend but don't break was the solution at the time to deal with an offense that got off the field quickly... Usually with points but not always. But those defenses were also designed to be highly opportunistic and get turnovers knowing the opposing offense would be taking some risks by playing from behind. It's easy to build one side of the ball ... A lot more difficult to build both sides up to be elite. Riley is focused on the offensive side and unless he starts thinking of a defense that compliments his offense he is going to be right back where he started.

Other thing that just came to mind... It's less on the offensive side of things and more defensive. But Oregon has a coach on staff who beat Riley's USC team last year in Chris Hampton. He was the DC at Tulane last year. I'm sure he has a few ideas for this USC offense.

Starters are pretty even I'd say... But the depth is completely different. Washington has been very lucky that their lack of depth hasn't hurt them just yet. Something I came across recently was also looking at how Oregon is starting to plan around match ups and personal more than just the scheme. I feel this Oregon staff is growing at the fastest rate in the country. They're young, smart and hungry and it's showing. Washington has a good staff but I think Oregon has a far higher ceiling. The question is can they surpass Washington's coaches and scheme fast enough this year? Based on what I've seen following that Washington loss... I think that's more than possible. Again in every stat but the scoreboard, yes the only stat that actually matters, Oregon beat Washington. So what really happened was Washington played out of their minds against Oregon and Oregon beat themselves a bit as well. Two of those fourth down plays come to mind. The first being the series at the end of the half where the Ducks decided to not go jumbo for a down or two and power the ball in ... And then the four down play that had Nix roll out and in that roll out eliminated half the field as a threat. The other fourth down play was the one that if converted would have iced the game.... Probably could have considered the jumbo run package for at least 3rd down on this one too, only 3 yards to gain. But on 4th Nix rolls out to his left this time and if you look at the play developing on the far side he really had a few open targets. But due to the roll out design hitting those passes is difficult and a bit risky. Change those play calls and Oregon could have, should have, won that game. Also... After the Washington game we have seen a significant uptick in Nix running the ball. Before the Washington game Nix had 1 rushing touchdown.... Nix had 2 against Cal alone... Sure both were QB sneaks but still. Changes in the game plan.

I was about to make this article broader and talk about the defense as well... But that would have at least doubled the length and for topic focus just looking at the offense was ideal. But the defensive side has done a fantastic job limiting opponents as well. I really felt Oregon didn't do a terribly good job planning against Washington. On the offensive side they got too cute with some critical play calls. Defensively didn't feel well planed against Washington either. The pressures didn't get there consistently and the backend couldn't seem to lock down any options. It might have been a bigger problem of execution against Washington but I feel they just didn't game plan that one as well as the games we've seen after that loss.

Washington has looked a lot like last year's TCU. Good and with a solid offense but a whole lot of luck at times to get them a win.

The big thing for Nix at Oregon is that the offense is built around giving him the tools he needs to succeed. He's got a monster on-line and a fantastic run game. Then receivers for days. He gets to play and excel within the system and not need to play hero ball. He has two interceptions on the year.... But that second one is technically an interception but it wasn't on him. I feel there needs to be another statistic for what happens if the ball is touched by another player while in the air before it's intercepted. His pass to Johnson was right on him and beautifully placed but Johnson couldn't bring it in and it bounced into the arms of Cal. Nix will get his chance to get revenge on Washington... Unless the Huskies melt down down the stretch which means we play someone else.

And with Bucky Irving... Will he even go down? Sometimes it takes like 6 guys touching Irving before he actually goes down.

The problem as USC is probably a bit schematic... But the bigger problem is not lining up properly, maintaining gap integrity and tackling. Last year opponents just seemed to give them the ball with a super high turnover margin. That hasn't happened this year and it's falling apart. You can't fix most of what is wrong with USCs defense in a week or a month. It's an off season. Best thing they can do heading into a game with the Ducks is simplify their defense and really sell out to stop something whether that is the run or the pass. They are no where complete enough to stop both. They'll sell out to stop something. Granted they basically sold out to stop the pass against Washington and that kind of worked in that Penix had a down night... But washywas happy to run all over them. I don't think USC has the players needed to stop the Ducks and this has been years in the making. USC has ignored the lines both offensive and defense... And the Ducks have focused on them. Cristobal recruited some good linemen for us of which I am thankful. But under Lanning those linemen have been elevated to another level. USC Football Is NOT Oregon's Equal FISHDUCK.COM Oregon and USC seem primed to be the top two schools in the Pac-12. Both have top ten recruiting classes...

Appeases the fans... But unlikely to solve anything by next week.

I said it in a other thread but I'll say it here as well. It all comes down to what the coaches do with the portal concerning QB. If no QBs are added and none leave for the portal these coaches feel really confident in what they have. If they add a QB that will be telling in itself. If a QB leaves for the portal and then they add one... That might be for depth or that the coaches don't like what they have. We'll have a better snea eof this in December.

It will be interesting to see if he keeps his job after the season that's for sure.

I have a feeling we'll find out soon just how good the coaches feel about their QB room. If they go after a transfer portal player it means they don't think they have "it". But if they don't grab a QB from the portal.... Then I'd say we are all in for a treat next year because they feel real good about what they have. In the one series where Thompson had the full playbook at his disposal he looked confident and made some nice passes. Not saying he has suddenly found it... But there is a lot of development going on behind the scenes that's for sure. It was the biggest jump in Thompson's play I've seen yet.

The biggest frustration of it all is that MC does hire top level coaches with often amazing track records (not all but many). Once the off-season comes around MC is going to absolutely kill it. He is going to make some nice new hires and wrangle in some amazing recruits and transfers. Everyone will be filled with hope that maybe now and this time the pieces are in place. And then you get basically the same season all over again. Cristobal Has Spoiled Fans By Winning the Off-Season FISHDUCK.COM Mario Cristobal will be Oregon's head coach in 2022. The only way this doesn't happen is if he opts to leave...

ASU was also forced to play a backup QB and some other backups. They didn't have greater starters and they had zero depth and had to dive into their bench and found... Nothing. As for Cal... The offense is actually pretty good. Their QB is going to be special. I think Cal has a better QB than Utah right now but Utah has the linemen and a bulkier defense. Cal's offensive line play was decent as well and Ott is certainly a good runningback. The ACC may be an easier conference for them to play and find success oddly enough. The travel is going to be awful but I think Cal is going to probably win a good few games in the ACC next year. I see Wilcox growing as a head coach but he isn't there.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Ducks wanted a night game for a blackout. We haven't wore black this year yet.

True... But usually Oregon can bring enough eyeballs to make it worthwhile.

Cal has Franklin pretty blanketed right now... So we get the Tez Johnson show. Which is pretty good... Even though he was part of the problem on two turnovers.

Oregon is currently serving up a 2013 Jared Goff special... Wet conditions... Check Oregon forcing turn overs... Check

Cal is using tempo... But as Duck fans we all know how dangerous tempo can be for your own team when you play a defense that deals constant 3 and outs. The cal defense may get too tired at the end of this one.

Tez Johnson scores... Me... Waiting for the flag. I wouldn't be surprised if we see a flag at kick off that rolls that TD back.

For me it comes down to play selection.... I felt the goal series by KSU were generally underwhelming. They were basically trying to do the same things they did in the open field but with a short field and they just didn't have the space to operate. Running the QB against a team that had shut down the run game in a short field also felt silly... Or at least running the QB without doing anything to create space with scheme. They went power against a team that was beating them with power.

Their 3rd down play was also just awful.

I wasn't aware of the live sports fee potentially. But if you use your Xfinity log in it might work. I ditched Comcast last year so I'm not 100% sure at the moment.

Do you have Comcast for cable? If you do you automatically have peacock. Also peacock has had a sub deal out there for 99 cents a month. Not a huge fan paying it but $12 a year is a lot cheaper than anything else out there.