Charles Fischer

It is really hard to have great observations about a game until at least a day has passed and the emotion that can blind you subsides. Normally I cannot get a good view of the game until Monday or Tuesday, but a Friday night game gave me fresh eyes on Sunday morning. It also helps to have spent Saturday watching other teams to give me a better "eyeball" comparison. Blocking is a Beautiful Thing... When the blocking is great, then we have time to throw accurate passes, and the run game keeps a defense off-balance. At first I noted that running outside was better on the left side because both Strother and Conerly are great at sealing defenders to the inside, or kicking them out to create running lanes. Now the left side is developing the same talents, and the tight ends are just killing-it downfield with their blocking. A highly undersold element of this offense is the superb blocking downfield by Traeshon Holden and Evan Stewart. I frankly was shocked at how dedicated Stewart was on a number of plays, and it made a big difference in longer running gains made, IMHO. Great to see Stewart (above) getting a TD, and being thrown to more, as he is poised for a big breakout game. My impression of the offense has changed; they ARE ready for Ohio State, as many aspects have been kept under-wraps and will surface next Saturday. This offense has been a SLOW unveiling by design, and points scored per game have not been as important as saving stuff for later in the season. BTW...have you noticed how the Pistol Formation has been used quite a bit? No howling about it, because our line blocking for it has been excellent. This is not your father's Cristobal Pistol, and this addition makes preparation for opponents that much harder. Oregon could unveil a TON out of that formation, and I would not be surprised to see a lot more. Best Defense EVER at Oregon? The vibe coming from the defense up to now has been, "OK," and playing hard, but now I feel a vibe of them truly jelling and trusting each other. The defensive line has really come alive, as both Jordan Burch and Jamaree Caldwell have not been very notable...until now. You saw the telecast with how they were chatting about Burch, but Caldwell is the one who created the fumble at the goal line, and was the instigator of many sacks. You've seen it before, the first guy turns the QB a direction, and into the second guy who gets the sack. Caldwell turned a TON of sacks and TFLs into his teammates, and was truly a dominant Nose Tackle that Oregon really needs. We put great pressure on at times with just four rushing, which made completing passes on seven in secondary zones that much harder, IMHO. Another sack! While the numbers do not yet support the notion, I do believe this might end up being our best defense ever, and overall our best defensive line ever. Every one of those front four had great moments, and I believe will elevate their game that much more on Saturday. While I don't like giving up 10 points in the final eleven minutes of the game, the reserves needed that playing time to make them better, and I applaud Tosh for getting them in there. While we've had some safety blitzes and a few corner blitzes, our defense has not yet shown a fraction of the "Simulated Pressures" and Blitzes of prior years. It certainly seems that both the offense AND the defense have had slow rollouts, which will help our trek through the B1G schedule. I am excited to see what will get thrown at the Buckeyes, as I know we have a ton more defensive plays to use. That WAS a Special Team Play... To see Andrew Boyle, No. 98, kick the 50 yarder was exciting because he is back, but also how much he cleared 50 yards by. It looks like on a calm day/night he might clear a 56 yarder? What a great new weapon to have for the B1G season! Sorry to be so long, but I never was one for brevity, and I will have an analysis out later this week as I see some things that I believe nobody else has noticed. (Well, I did not until today's "Skull-Session" looking at film and finishing my game charting.) There is a lot to like about this team, as they ooze upside that I sense we are about to see.... I love this community, Charles P.S. Thanks to all for enduring my silly sense of humor in many of my posts.

Oregon State wins an epic double-overtime victory over....Colorado State. 39-31 How Would YOU Describe the Group-of-Six?

In my view...they have no reason to come here and promote a B1G game that does not benefit them. So I hope they get good ratings on this episode for good incentive to return again in future years. Below is the press release sent to accredited media. ----------------------------------------------- ESPN College GameDay Returns to Eugene EUGENE, Ore. — ESPN's "College GameDay" pregame show will return to Eugene on Oct. 12, before the Ducks host Ohio State in Autzen Stadium that afternoon. Oregon and Ohio State will kick off Saturday at 4:30 p.m. The game will be televised by NBC. Tickets for Saturday's game are available here. The No. 6 Ducks improved to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in Big Ten play with a 31-10 win over Michigan State on Friday night, the program's first Big Ten Conference victory in Autzen Stadium. The No. 3 Buckeyes entered Saturday's game against Iowa at 4-0 overall and 1-0 in conference play. "College GameDay" will make its 12th all-time appearance in Eugene, and its first since 2022.The Ducks are 8-3 in the 11 games when the pregame show is on site, including a 45-30 win over No. 9 UCLA on Oct. 22, 2022. The show's first trip to Eugene was on Sept. 23, 2000, when the Ducks took down the Bruins, 29-10. Oregon has made 30 previous appearances in games from which "College GameDay" originated, going 18-12 in those games.

I just got the media email! ESPN GameDay is coming to Eugene!

It was a tipped ball at the LOS, thus they can mug the receiver. Ohio State looks scary...

You know, Jon Joseph just told me on the phone that Ohio State has had like the 130th toughest schedule thus far....in other words they have not been pushed or tested as Oregon was versus Boise State. I think those interceptions by the Spartan corners were just exceptional, and this was good for Gabriel to see what good B1G DBs can do with the Buckeyes coming. BTW...Jon was hit by the Hurricane in South Carolina, and has been mostly out of internet for a while. But he promised he'll be back soon!

What? Who would want to miss Beavis vs.Colorado State?

Agreed. A Jonathan Smith team that is weak on offense? Only in the first year or so...then he will have a great running game, balanced by good passing. If he had that now--their defense is good enough to win games with at least enough to get to a bowl game. Smith might be scary to the B1G before long... How weird to see him in green!

My observation is that Tez is NOT a bomb threat, that he does not have the break-away speed, but the fast-twitch moves that get him open for medium drag routes of which he has scored on. The result is that he is the go-to guy on third down because even when they know it is coming to him--they can't stay with his moves. We have not yet unleashed Evan Stewart on the Bird-Bombs, and I'll bet they're coming!

After three quarters, it is 34-7 for the Aggies? Whew!

Jon Joseph is now vindicated, as the Tigers are exposed.

Fantastic point, as I am sure that a ton of tOSU fans were impressed with our first team defense, and our offensive line blocking. We'll be OK in the...

I would love Our Beloved Ducks to win an epic game where both teams looked elite. We are not ready on offense yet, but better than before in many respects. This being a big game may bring out the best on offense next Saturday? I loved these uniforms and especially the helmets!

The winner was Grandpa Duck! Actual was: Oregon 31-10, One Turnover, Five sacks, and 257 yards passing. Mr. FishDuck was four points off with 30-13, predicted three turnovers, three sacks and 281 yards passing. Grandpa Duck was also four points off with a 31-14 score, was closer to the turnovers with two, closer with sacks at four, and not as close as yours-truly with the passing yardage at 297. Thus Mr. FishDuck won one tiebreaker, but Grandpa Duck won two. Grandpa Duck wins! That was a dandy contest, and THANKS to all for playing and CONGRATS to Grandpa Duck!

OK, with the game over, let's start new threads to discuss!

I am loving how the defense is coming alive...all those TFLs and sacks? Whew!

Let’s get this started, and watch those Ducks roll!

In my opinion...neither. What it has done is concentrate more of the top talent at the top football programs, as Oregon has benefited enormously from the transfer portal and NIL. We have a MUCH better team due to the portal and NIL, versus what this year would have been, thus creating the talent gap between the top teams and everyone else to be much wider than before. Ask Beavis for confirmation...

Amen Duck-Brother!

While I am not wild about all the different player rotations, it does help build depth on the team. It does so at the current expense of bigger, better final scores, but might end up helping the team enormously at the end of the season? I get that gradual improvement is gradual....but as a fan--it is hard to wait for!

I don't see him as a star in the NFL, but he could be an important "glue" guy to any offense, and like Johnny Mundt at Minnesota...be hanging around the league quite a while. Mundt is in his seventh year in the NFL, and has a Super Bowl ring from the Rams. Pretty good for an undrafted TE from Oregon, and Modesto, California!

I understand and do not think anyone likes it...but if any teams will survive it all and prosper, your Dawgs, and our Ducks will be among them. And because I am a sick fan...I will watch!

Most people have an "X" (formerly Twitter) account where they can read when we post a tweet/post from them. I have an account, and don't post on it, but it enables me to read all the interesting ones posted. Below is what was in the post... Dana Altman was asked to give a modified opening statement about his basketball team at Big Ten Media Day. "Well, we have a full roster and everyone is healthy. SO that's a first for us over the last four years or so."

Gosh let's hope this holds! Of course then we'll have issues with players unhappy with playing time....right?

It is interesting how--already we are tempering our offensive output in our predictions. Now watch them go and score 50!