Charles Fischer

He is a 4-Star on Rivals, but it does not matter. He is a crucial new piece to add to the Oregon Defense. This makes the 17th 4/5-Star player to verbal to Oregon for the 2024 class, and that officially makes this class the second best recruiting class in the history of Oregon football. With a few months to go, it’s possible to tie or break the record of 19!

GameDay threads are where people lose their minds, and all semblance of rationality. I cannot tell you how many blow-ups we have had, people--good people who are no longer on this site because they could not control themselves. Discussing negative is fine. Being angry at the negative plays is fine, and normal. Going over-the-top and venting repeatedly on fellow Duck fans is not. We lost a couple of good people and a great FishDuck writer last year from the Washington game fallout. I always have trouble explaining where the line of rationality is, because you all know what a crazy fan I am, and I physically get sick when we lose. Yet, even I can see a line... I need a safe environment for people to post, and most important to read. Nobody wants to read banal utterances umpteen times... So, the Dr. Pepper commercial was perfect in conveying what I deal with. I guarantee you--someone in this forum will write the following in the future...

The entire ESPN GameDay Crew picked Washington to win, and I was pretty surprised to see Corso do the same. Bastards. Joel McHale and Lee Corso...

Yep. I was not going to name them....but you have. Stephens is actually quite a bit better this year, but he will not be on the field for major plays. The defensive backfield that will be playing the majority of the time came from the portal and are huge upgrades to last year. Washington is better this year, but so are we.

Whoa. Their experts give us their thoughts below, and they give hope to those who have worries... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Oregon at Washington (-3) Ubben: I was looking into some of the numbers this week and they confirm a lot of what I have seen in just watching these two teams. And that’s Oregon is a much more complete team. And I know Washington is a lot of fun to watch. I have a lot of respect for Washington, but this is a team that doesn’t really try to run the ball, doesn’t particularly care to run the ball. When you don’t run the ball or have any desire to run the ball, these are the kind of games where it kind of catches up to you. And this Oregon team right now is third nationally in defensive yards per play. You can talk about the schedule all you want, but at the end of the day, that’s really impressive. And they’re No. 1 nationally in yards per carry. Oh, and they have a Heisman candidate at quarterback in Bo Nix. I think Oregon wins this game outright. But, Ari, we’ll get right into it off the top, my lock of the week is the under in this ballgame. Under 67.5. Wasserman: What?! That’s my lock of the week. Are you serious? Ubben: Yes. Games like these are rarely track meets and both these teams have better defenses than people realize. And I checked it, I believe over 90 percent of the money is on the over and that line hasn’t moved. Wasserman: I didn’t even see that you did that. We’re not usually like that. There’s so many things that you could pick. The fact that we’re both on it is kind of scary. I don’t want people to be on that. Dochterman: I think Oregon’s defense is built to stop a lot of the drives from Washington, and they’re really going to turn them one dimensional. This is where Michael Penix is going to have to show that he’s better than where he’s been in the past in these types of situations against these types of opponents. I think the Ducks are a better team. Now, the game is in Washington. The Huskies will be fired up for it, but I think they can be taken out pretty quickly by what will be a very efficient Oregon offense. Wasserman: I look at this pretty simply. Part of the reason why I’m on the under is Oregon’s defense is very underrated nationally. They are fifth in the country in total defense in yards per game. And if you go look at Washington’s defense, they’re somewhere in the 60s. I see two very good teams who are probably going to play a very close game and what does that usually come down to? Which team gets more stops? I just think that Oregon, like you said Dave, and I hate to agree with you, it’s weird to agree with you so early on in the show, but I think Oregon’s going to win this game outright and and maybe comfortably.

Red Eddy....what a great post! Fun to see what everyone else does... My Man-Cave is far away from the rest of the house so they don't hear me cheer, or shout in frustration at the TV.

It is no surprise that most Husky fans are predicting a Washington victory, and most by close scores. However I am surprised at the percentage of purple fans who believe some really over-the-top stuff, and I thought I'd share their opinions about the game below. They don't call this "Husky Hate Week" for nothing... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Omg if their defense is better, its very very very minuscule amount. I would take our QB and offense over theirs any day. Their secondary is awful." "While I'm feeling trepidation, my gut is telling me this is a BREAKOUT game for the DAWGS! I think UO's defensive stats are overinflated by playing Portland St. and some other HORRIBLE teams. I am feeling a blowout of the ducks to solidify UW as an elite contender for the NC this year. I'm reticent to predict, but that is a growing gut feeling. I'm very at ease going into this game and we'll win by double digits. Of course, Lanning has his fingerprints on all things defense but I'm sorry...Tosh Lupoi (Oregon's DC) vs. our OC, Ryan Grubb, is a total and complete mismatch." "Omg I'm so done. The ducks defense is not good. They should have lost to a hapless Texas Tech team. Their crap secondary will get dominated." "Those who believe in Oregon's D seem to think that they can routinely win individual match-ups against our offense; I think that's folly. They can scheme to take away the deep ball, but they don't have the guys to handle Odunze/Polk/McMillen in single coverage without a LOT of holding and PIs. Ditto for their LBs on our TEs." "Our offense is much better. Our defense is much better. We've played AZ and Cal. Phil Knight's wet dream have played no one. We win by 12." "UW 42-Ducks 24" Rome Odunze "Assuming Rome and J-Mac are both healthy, I think it’s UW 42 Ducks 28." "On the second series of the game, Lanning decides to go for it on 4th and 3 from their own 30 and Nix throws a pick-6 to ZTF. Dawgs hang 40 on the Ducks - in the first half - on their way to an easy 56-12 win." "45 - 31 Dawgs. Mark it!!" "45-24 Huskies win." "To Husky fans worried about this game, and Oregon's defense in particular, let me help alleviate your anxiety. How? Go watch the Texas Tech game. It's the one team with an offensive pulse that Oregon has played this year. How did the vaunted Ducks D perform? Well...they gave up 456 total yards (282 passing and 174 rushing) and 30 points to Texas Tech. Tyler Shough threw 3 TDs and his offense had no trouble moving the football. HINT: Washington's offense is an order of magnitude better than Texas Tech's. But what about Colorado, the naysayers cry! Well, CU has no running game and can't protect its QB. So sure, Oregon figured that out and could handle Colorado (minus its most electric receiver). Color me not impressed. I believe the Huskies are going to score early and often in this game. And with the help of Husky Stadium, a few Oregon miscues will tilt the balance in our favor. Call it Huskies 45, Ducks 31." Michael Penix "This is the game where KDB removes the safety straps. Time to release the Dawgs. I think we win, and win big. Dawgs roll 51-31." "You can’t honestly tell me you are scared of their defense. Who have they played? Do not give me Colorado at Autzen. Their secondary is garbage and I guess the huskies will have to remind you this Saturday." "UW 42-28, first of multiple losses for the ducks. They end 9-3 and start to ask if Dan Lanning can coach to the level needed against good teams."

I have had SO MANY Duck-Buddies tell me how anxious they are getting for the game, and how stressed out they will be during the game. I recall a fan telling me how he had to take a tranquilizer during big Oregon games, or even not watch them and go for a bike ride during the game. He would check the score later and if Oregon won....then he would watch the recording. I am charting the game, so I can't turn to my Oregon Craft Beer IPAs and although being stressed from wanting to win--will be fully engaged watching the plays over on slow-motion. What do YOU do to calm you down? Sedatives anyone? Explosion Plays Would Help...

Perhaps this is why they are getting Jeffers on the field-finally? They need speed to cover the hook zones...

Great observation, and a very plausible scenario.

Fantastic stuff, as this is something I did not want to write extensively about and you summarized it perfectly. This could be "the" defining component, as it is hard for a passing offense to score every time in the Red Zone. We can force them into field goals, and outscore them. Another element is how with our rushing attack behind JPJ...the game could be shortened, and the margin tighter and scoring is lowered. A 23-16 type of game is also possible, and your element of the Red Zone combined with successful running by Oregon could bring that about. Please continue to share your thoughts with us, as I love your contributions as a new member already!

Please understand....I am not diminishing what you state, as it is all true. But what you wrote is what all the other pundits wrote as well, and I was trying to point out matchups or thoughts that the other media sources are not reporting, IMHO.

Amen Duck-Brother, as that is how I believe it plays out. Washington will get theirs, but Oregon's defense will prevail often enough for my 14 point victory.

Because my article went longer than anticipated....I could not get into another blitz I wish to see. I was astonished to see how fast and effective Evan Williams was in blitzing versus Colorado. The fastest way to Penix is a straight line, and Williams runs it faster than a defensive lineman or linebacker. Oregon has blitzes designed to pull the offensive linemen opposite directions in the A-Gaps, and thus create a slot for Williams to run through. With our advantage at Nose Tackle...this might be a great way to disrupt Penix on key plays. Man-coverage and have the free safety flying like a missile at Penix! It can work because 1) our defensive linemen have already shown how to manipulate offensive linemen to set it up, and 2) we have a massive advantage of our Nose Tackles versus their center, and 3) Williams is quite fast and shown a flair for blitzing already. The QB was a Dead Duck...

The risk of trashing the season is not worth the reward. There are plenty of offensive options, so many weapons where Bo running is only needed on a wide open scramble when passing, or on wide open Zone-Read, IMHO.

Incredible interview--learned so much!

Of all people to be spouting this crap...

From a Georgia site...

Taki Taimani and Jackson Powers-Johnson. (See my article tomorrow)