Charles Fischer

And I agree with you my FD Friend....with the talent we have emerging on offense--if we could have a QB perform like Brown on Saturday--we could seriously challenge for the Playoff. But the defense sure gave it up in the second half...we will grow there too I hope.

Well...I think Oregon should be averaging at least 40 points per game, and should not be giving up more than 20 points per game, IMHO.

Not often enough! But luck can come quickly!

OK....even with all the good feelings today--ask yourself honesty....are Oregon's numbers below what you want?

OK...I am in agreement that what Dickert did with the Cougars is amazing, but Herm Edwards?

Here is a bit of reality that I cannot deny...

My friends, I am not complaining, but I would sure like to know why we could not have had THAT Anthony Brown present in other games? I have stated to many that this team with a great quarterback is most certainly a very good team, but we did not see it very often. Throws that in the past were behind receivers were nailed in stride for BIG first downs against Oregon State. I mean, 23-28 is the elite kind of day we've seen from other Oregon QBs in the past, but not him. And it turns out that we needed every bit of it. One Duck-Buddy thought it was home field, but I recall the boos at home...it was such an amazing performance--can he do it two more times? Ever? What was it my friends?

I am surprised it is not higher?

OK...I did not see this coming!

Way up from before, but still pretty bad odds. Although I have to admit that if I was on the outside...

"The Ducks have had no repeat starting lineups on offense or defense all season, 21 different offensive players have started a game this season, and 22 different defensive players have started a game this season. When the Ducks left the football field on Saturday afternoon with a spot in the Pac-12 Championship game, they did it without 16 players who were not available or got hurt in the Oregon State game from the team's Week 1 Depth Chart."

Boy...the beginning of a ton of great pondering and discussion about this game! THANKS for posting this. Everybody post articles!

That subject is just not something I want to approach yet, as I do think it is premature to pondering it. But I appreciate very much that you are a new member, and posting a new thread already! WELCOME!

(Oregon Athletics Press Release) EUGENE, Ore. – The two-time defending Pac-12 champions will try to make it three in a row when the Ducks play Friday in the conference title game, which No. 11 Oregon advanced to by beating Oregon State 38-29 in Autzen Stadium on Saturday. The first sellout crowd at Autzen in two years witnessed the Ducks' 19th straight win at home, in which they put up 506 yards of offense and limited OSU's vaunted rushing attack to 85 yards. UO quarterback Anthony Brown accounted for three touchdowns, helping the Ducks to a 24-3 halftime lead that forced the Beavers out of their comfort zone offensively. Oregon (10-2, 7-2 Pac-12) advanced to play in the Pac-12 Championship Game on Friday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, in a rematch against one of two teams to beat the Ducks this season, Utah. The Ducks beat the Utes in the 2019 conference title game, before beating USC to win the 2020 Pac-12 crown. "All in all, just proud of our guys for taking control of the game in the most critical moments, and earning an opportunity to play a 13th game," said UO coach Mario Cristobal, who left Eugene after the game for an overnight trip to visit his mother, who he said in his postgame comments had fallen ill. A week after falling behind 28-0 at halftime in a loss at Utah that dashed their playoff hopes, the Ducks scored on all four of their first-half possessions against the Beavers. Travis Dye, who surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for the season Saturday, opened the scoring with a rushing touchdown and Devon Williams made it 14-0 with a touchdown that came during his 110-yard receiving day. Brown scored on the ground just before halftime after the teams had traded field goals, making it 24-3. Kris Hutson hauled in Brown's second touchdown pass of the day in the fourth quarter, giving Oregon a 31-9 lead. And though Oregon State quickly rallied for two touchdowns, recovering an onside kick in between, Dye put the nail in OSU's coffin with his second rushing touchdown of the day for a 38-21 lead with 3:14 to play. Emotions boiled over as OSU drove to one last late touchdown. UO safety Verone McKinley III was called for targeting, and though the call was reversed by replay, the two teams scuffled in the end zone moments later. In the end, though, Oregon was able to celebrate clinching the Pac-12 North division, and a rematch with Utah. "We couldn't be more excited to get another shot at Utah next week in Vegas, especially in that beautiful stadium," UO linebacker Nate Heaukulani said, looking ahead to the Pac-12 title game in the new home of the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders. Saturday's win for the Ducks came on senior day. A pregame ceremony included not only guys like Brown and Heaukulani, but NFL-bound sophomore defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux, and also receivers Johnny Johnson III and Jaylon Redd, program mainstays in recent years who participated in the ceremony using scooters to immobilize their respective legs injuries. In the absence of Johnson and Redd, Williams had the first 100-yard outing by a UO receiver this season, and Hutson caught his first career touchdown pass. Brown finished the day with 358 yards of total offense, having completed 23-of-28 passes for 275 yards while rushing for another 83 yards. "This being senior day, it was special going out the way I did, and the way we went out against Oregon State at home," Brown said. "It was just a great experience." Oregon State came into the game as the Pac-12's best rushing team at 229.4 yards per game, and having allowed 24 total points in their previous two games. The Ducks matched that 24 points by halftime Saturday and held OSU's rushing attack under 100 yards for just the second time this season, as Oregon won for the 12th time in the last 14 games against the Beavers. OSU's late flurry of points came with two of the Ducks' top defenders, linebacker Noah Sewell and cornerback Mykael Wright, on the sideline due to injuries. Cristobal said after the game none of the players banged up Saturday looked to be seriously hurt, at least based on preliminary diagnoses. McKinley led the UO defense with six tackles, setting a ferocious tone against the run after the Ducks allowed 208 yards on the ground in losing to the Utes. That effort Saturday earned Oregon a rematch with Utah come Friday. "We'll be in bright and early tomorrow, ready to work," McKinley said. "We know what we want to do. We know what the task is. We know what's at stake. And we're ready to go."

Geez you guys are good, and this is so close! The winner by a Duck feather is Duck1984! Member Winner Score Spread Turnovers Sacks Passing Yards Actual Stats Oregon 38-29 9 points 1 0 275 Duck1984 Oregon 38-30 8 points 3 3 333 (58 yards from actual) 30Duck Oregon 37-29 8 points 3 3 212 (63 yards from actual)

(From Oregon Athletics Press Release) Question: What does the rivalry win mean to you, especially after last year’s game? CRISTOBAL: "Well, it was big. I mean, last year, that was a rough one. You know, coming off that field and in the fashion that it was won, again, a back-and-forth battle, but they found a way to win. We found a way not to win. You know, we had to change that by the way we played, by the way we executed. Things got a little bit heated there at the end. You wish it doesn’t because that’s not part of the game, man. You know, it’s just frustrations leaking out. We’re all responsible, both sides. You know, can’t let that stuff happen, but this game is really important and we— you know, you saw a lot of talk today and throughout the week on rivalry week, and how teams, when they play in rivalry week, they carry the support of all those that wore the “O” or whatever respective logo they play for. They carry that with them, and when you do, you’re playing for a lot more than just the guys in the locker room. You know, and I think the ones that understand that, the important of rivalries, well, I think that’s why it carries that extra energy, and you can focus on getting your guys ready for the game by executing and digging deep in a game plan and fundamentals and technique. But the other stuff carries you over, pushes you over the top, and I think we felt that today. We want to make our guys proud." Question: What’s the moment like when you’re able to enjoy the win and do it with your family? CRISTOBAL: "You want to enjoy it with everybody. You know, the boys, you know, the family, Jessica hadn’t had a chance to be out on the field all year, you know. I want to celebrate with the players. I like congratulating each and every person in the organization right after a game, right after a victory. And I want to chuck the ball around with them a little bit. You know, they’re the best. They’re actually sitting here watching me, probably critiquing everything I’m saying, you know. You don’t get to see them much, so really appreciate the opportunity to just throw a couple deep passes out there in Autzen. Maybe they’re recruitable in a couple years!"

(From Oregon Athletics Press Release) Question: What was the game-plan to limit Oregon State on the ground and how were you able to execute? CRISTOBAL: "Well, you had to stop the run, I mean they had been running through people relentlessly. They coach and execute the wide zone better than anybody in the country, in my opinion, they really do. And when they get it rolling, they’re hard to stop, their play action passes, boots and wags, your shots off of that, you know, they do the old Peyton Manning roll pass and whatnot, and throw scissors, and throw thumb, and all those things are difficult to stop because you overplay the run and you’re off by half the step. You know, their two tight ends, both Teagan (Quitoriano) and Luke (Musgrave), those guys can roll. And they get behind you, you compliment them with some really fast and explosive wide receivers, they can— if you’re on your heels, it’s a problem. So we had to do a really good job on offense, control the ball, putting together sustained drives. And then, playing well at the line of scrimmage. You know, third down was a problem last week. Primarily because first and second down were a problem, and that’s always the case, right? Third and manageable, third and short, numbers are always higher for the opponent, as we look at it from a defensive standpoint. Those are some things to take into account. But, you guys saw, you guys know your stuff, so that was a big part of it." Question: How were you able to create explosive plays on the ground against a strong defense? CRISTOBAL: "We finished better, we called a really good game. We created angles, created leverage, and created seams about running our feet through contact. Because sometimes when it’s muddy like that and there’s big piles, just keep moving your feet sometimes those guys open up a little bit wider and it's harder to fit for a linebacker that is scraping. You have a box and fits rules on defense depending on what type of coverage you're playing behind it and when you move your feet as an offensive line to fit it, you move guys, it makes a harder fit. And that's where those creases opened up and gave us a chance." Question: On being efficient and productive offensively... CRISTOBAL: "I think they're a really good operation and they've, especially the last two weeks, played really, really well and we needed to play well on offense. We had put together prior to last week, in the previous four weeks, we put together some good football. So we need to bounce back and put that together and I think we did. And I think our guys in there - talking to them - they realize we need to get back to work right away. And we’re on in. The coaches, they're finished grading in about half an hour or so."

It is what I received and I can tell you that what Oregon provided me about AB's stats are WRONG. I will have more in another thread as I'm sharing Cristobal's comments from his press conference.

(From the Oregon Press Release I just received as credentialed media) Mario Cristobal: "I have to very quickly hop on a plane and see my mom. Keep her in your prayers - she got pretty sick pretty quickly, and I gotta go see her. But I should touch back here by 4 p.m. tomorrow. I just wanted to make sure I got out there. So, that’ll be a touch and go for me, while I work, of course, the entire time. And the staff is already finishing up grading this one so we can hop on the next one."

(Oregon Athletics Press Release) Question: What did you think of Anthony’s performance today and this week? CRISTOBAL: "Well, I mean, I think it speaks for itself. He ran the ball 14 times for 83 yards and a touchdown, 23-for-28 throwing with 275 yards, 2 touchdowns. Showed tremendous command, tremendous leadership, resolve, resiliency. He had a strong week of practice. The game-plan was pretty extensive because [Oregon State] is pretty complicated on defense with what they do with their stunts, their blitzes, their stems - which we were told when they stem like that they were going to call a penalty, they didn’t - but anyway with all the stuff they do we made sure we gave Anthony our very best. We were 10-for-13 on third downs if I’m not mistaken. Just a great performance by a great team leader." Question: How would you assess the play of Devon Williams and Kris Hutson, especially with the loss of other receivers this season? CRISTOBAL: "Yeah, they stepped up big time. They were targeted 16 times today, and I think 13 times they came up with it. Devon with a monster play early in the game. On a play that was a little improvised there with Anthony [Brown] getting out of the pocket, finding him, then launching it down the field. Some big plays by Kris, on critical third downs, particularly that last one that put us up by three scores. I think it was a third and eight or something of that nature, and still getting better and still having room for improvement, but they are just hungry. Coach [Bryan McClendon] has done a great job with those guys, they get after it. They are diligent, they are hungry, they are driven and they see so much room for improvement. The fact that this offense can keep getting better and better it was a really good performance today by those guys, and a lot to build off of." Q. What allowed you to get in rhythm on the offensive line this week? CRISTOBAL: "Well, it starts with getting your feet in the ground and fitting and moving your feet, and playing with a flat back. We did a much better job this week than we did last week. I have got to give credit to the outfit that we played last week. They were really good, really good up front. The guys this week, too. I believe that the last two games Oregon State had held their opponents to 10 points and 14 points. Arizona State has had a great rushing attack, and they really shut theirs down. So, it really was a challenge. When you face a team that moves from four down to the off-front, that brings all of that stuff - it is like Star Wars, man it comes from everywhere - and you have got to make sure that your identifications are good, your tracks are good and then you have got to react. You have got to react, you have got to move your feet and fit it the right way so. Credit to the guys up front on the offense. Credit to the front seven on defense as well. They did a nice job at forcing some very short drives by them and allowing us to get up 24-3, because that changed what they had to do. They had to play out of character to a certain extent - and they were good at it. They threw the ball all over the yard today. So, certainly, that combination led to us getting in a position where we could control the game."

(From Oregon Athletics Press Release) Question: Your thoughts about the Game? CRISTOBAL: "Really proud and excited for our guys. It’s an excited locker room because coming into this game we had to earn every single play. We had to earn the victory against a good football team with a lot of good football players after a rough week. We had to regroup quickly and get right to work and start fast and do a good job up front and control the line of scrimmage. We jumped out strong. Credit to them, obviously, they fought and played really well. They made some plays and made it a little tighter in the second half but all in all I’m just proud of our guys for taking control of the game in the most critical moments and earning the opportunity to play a 13th game." Question: What were your thoughts on the team’s resolve this week? CRISTOBAL: "Well it was a rough plane ride back last week. We talked about it earlier in the week. When you go through something like that, you have to look in the mirror and you have to dig deep and regroup quickly. Our team leadership did a good job with that. I thought the coaching staff did a great job with that as well. The scheme was good. The adjustments were good. Guys played at a high level. They made the decision to have 11 guys play as one, played with great effort, executed at a high level and finished knowing that you’re going to have to earn it knowing that these rivalry games are - you’re never out of it. Whether you’re leading or behind you’re never out of it and you see it. You see it all over the country and you saw it on our field today. Really good job by the football team and a lot to build off of, the momentum to build off of that. We have a couple injuries. I don’t think there is anything too bad, nothing too serious. I think all the guys checked out fairly well in the initial check that I did. But certainly I’ll get any extra information on that to you ASAP." Question: What did you learn about your team today? CRISTOBAL: "Well, we always knew that this means a lot to them, and it always has to mean more to you. It always does. It has to show in the way you play, because just being upset or being angry at a performance - a poor performance - what does that do? Nothing. You have got to take that energy and pour it into betterment, into your teammates, into challenging and confronting and demanding and holding each other accountable. I mean, that is what football and life is all about. We did that. It was hard, it was a hard deal. And just like we earned this one, we earned our situation last week as an organization. But, we put that behind us, got to work right away, and it paid off - it paid off in a big-time way. I am really proud of these guys and I am looking forward to getting back to work right away. It is a short week with an opportunity next Friday."

(From Oregon Athletics Press Release) Question: Your thoughts about the Game? COACH SMITH: "It was tough. They played well offensively in the first half, we were trying to get them off the field, couldn’t do it, so we got behind. I was pleased we started the second half with a score, and we were going to have to chase from there. Guys continued to battle but didn’t play well enough to beat a good football team at their place. Disappointing, obviously, but we’ve got another game to play." Question: What about the players end of the game emotions? COACH SMITH: "I think it’s the emotions and things got a little chippy, they got a little too far chippy. Some of that I saw out of our team and I was not very pleased. That’s not a part of the game that we want to be apart of. " Question: Thoughts on the slow start? COACH SMITH: "There’s probably multiple factors, we’ll watch this tape. I know we were out of position a couple of times for large creases. That’s a good offense and that quarterback played well. He threw the ball today well and we’ve got to affect him more, but weren’t able to do it."

Very cool. Thanks for posting it! Glad to see those roommates getting along better than these two..

My friends, I will be bringing you the quotes from Cristobal later that are relevant, (Blah-blah coach-speak I do not pass along) and here are a few items of interest from the game...(From Oregon Athletics Press Release) --Anthony Brown was lights-out in the first half and ended up only 17-35 passing for 231 yards and a touchdown. (But no picks!) He sure regresses to his mean... --Travis Dye only has 63 more yards to go before hitting 1,000 yards for the season. --With Freshmen Moliki Matavao (TE) and Dont'e Thornton starting...it makes seven true freshmen starting for Oregon over the season! --Noah Sewell had the most tackles again, (10) got his fourth sack of the season and fifth game this season with double-digit tackles. --Devon Williams caught five passes for 81 yards and a touchdown. --Kris Hutson had a career-high four catches for 96 yards including the 50 yarder. --Jeffrey Bassa had a career high seven tackles. --Popo Aumavae had a career high eight tackles with three solo at Nose Tackle!