Mike West

I also believe Raiola would be a mistake. Unless ... We start raining bombs all game on defenses ( which is what I've been calling for for quite some time now). Why did we beat Ohio State? Both times it was because we could pass on them at will. The QB is the most important and most dangerous position in sports when you can't stop his ability to throw any and everything down your throat. Unless we get an NFL caliber ( and I truly mean 28 year old dominant studs caliber) OL that can average TEN YARDS A CARRY, I don't believe we will win a Natty running the ball. Now I happen to believe Lanning is of the Chip Kelly persuasion. He wants to run it down your throat. I believe he is will have to learn like Chip did. I don't agree with either. But I'm not running the show. So I'll back my man and keep my fingers crossed.

He threw the pass late and behind the ER. It was an inaccurate pass. It wasn't a poor call, it wasn't a poor decision. It was simply poor execution. My opinion of course.

Oops. I just posted about 9 front four players capable of starting. I figured someone was going to leave with TT and Matayo coming back.

Lanning has his work cut out for him getting his talented front four playing time He's about 9 deep of starter caliber players for four positions.

Well that stage won't disappear. My motto is "get your a$$ back up. You're a gladiator. Gladiators never quit." . NEVER, EVER GIVE UP.

And this forum

And yes. I'm over the analysis of this game, but also the season. There is so much food on the plate about that. Love my team

Nope. Still proud of this team. DeBoer said it. There is a fine line between mistakes and excellence. This team ( the players ) was better than their experience. The coaches had lots to do with that Now the coaches need to punch above their experience. They're good. I expect they'll be excellent. If you can't hire them, develop them. That's the theme this off-season. Develop greatness Lanning got one step further. With less experience. He's on the path.

Agreed. If I'm playing I'd be pissed off. Not in a destructive manner, but with fire my team could see That, believe it or not is coachable too ( delicately, but it's possible). Look guys, there are who we thought they were. And we are too. Long enough corrections were necessary in November. We let them off the hook because the analysts either aren't loudly calling for corrections, or the don't see the trends properly. Im not a QB whisperer. But I played QB. It's constant repetition even when you're already money. Saban used to coach explosive passes by their ability to score TDs. That's the kind of diagnosis I'm talking about. I used to think that all the time. Didn't know coaches also feel that way, much less coach it ( that's why Saban is the the GOAT...not me!!!) I wouldn't use that strategy. Moore has enough talent to "whip butt". These are tendencies picked up before this year. I would drill the hell out of pocket maneuvering with a guy with this kind of arm talent. There are probably 150 QBs in the history of football as google as Justin Herbert. When you have a guy with those natural abilities, they still need to be developed. Josh Allen was a average in college with his coach. Think about that. He has a string arm, has sub par WRs, a so so OL. Look at him now. That's coaching. And the Bills were not works beaters until he showed up. QBs need to constantly be developed. Even Mendoza ( and let me tell you, he was coaches I to making the okays he makes, so was that damn Fuskies Michael Penix ). QB Smith Jr should be great. He has that kind of upside. So I expect him to be Great. That should happen. Agreed. Develop it then.

Take a TE or a RB and block the edge, then release after a second of contact. Usually, the LBs are too deep to prevent at least a 5 yard gain. It's best on first and second down.

I would agree usually. This is skill building time. Moore needs pocket navigation skills. Stein needs to chip and release ( trust me, it's there). Not saying I'm correct, because Moore is probably shell shocked again. He needs to take his lumps. And massive, massive, and I mean ten hours a day film study and discussion is warranted here. Im not a pro, but if I put in the time, I can show you. And I just might since I'm off work the next 30 days ( to be released beforevspring practice). We didn't have to embarrass ourselves tonight. The doctor needs to be fired. Not my boy Lanning. The way they self scout and diagnose themselves. Again Moore should be a #1 pick with the correct skill set drilling. Same with some of the secondary coverage rules.

Unforced errors folks until that deep route TD. Moore needs to navigate the pocket better. Much better Time to throw deep with good check downs. OL needs to stay put. The stunts won't work if they don't run with the guy in front of them. Need to chip the ends. That kills the rush. Not having Whit and Davison is killing us. Hill completely showed why he doesn't get reos. Harris looks fine. I'm not pleased Stein didn't start chipping the DEs after the second series. We knew that would be necessary. Also, moore did throw the TE open, then missed the timing on the second opportunity. QB coach and OC not drilling Moore properly in practice. They've seen a season of havoc and haven't adjusted to it. It's not only necessary, it builds more skills for the NFL. Some players need to be forced to improve their weaknesses, and Moore is too talented to waste his skills I'd never get a media pass for saying this, but Moore will be a waste if he isn't drilled massively on these deficiencies. They can be solved. I mean it when I say this: these skills can be acquired. Same with our farm boys and the secondary ( should be switching on the cross route conflict pattern instead of staying in man coverage. We will not see these kinds of questions from the media. Id probably dillo so privately instead as a journalist because, well I can't say. But I know these things.

I'm very proud of this team. It hurts when we lose so close to the ultimate goal. I just want to them to play hard. That's it.

Thanks, Surgery went well. Non invasive so I'm just really sore ( which is dangerous because one tends to think they're superman instead of a mere mortal). Thank Charles. Because he has a gold mine and were really lucky to be able to speak our minds without wanting to nuke the entire comment section. That's why I write things that we like, this forum compels me to be as good as I can be

I like the strategy. On offense, that Sim pressure can be cracked. I just don't have the time to at present to show what I have discovered. If I can muster enough energy, I will break it down for you (sorry friends, I am going to be dealing with post surgery collateral damage-and its all for the better). I see it, but Moore executing it is the key-which is why I hope the staff has been giving him mass simulated havoc in practice, and plenty of scenarios shown on film over and over again. Its muscle memory over the short week, but it is absolutely the key to victory this week. On Defense, I really believe Lupoi must force everything to the box. No outside running allowed-especially Mendoza. I expect lots of natural pressure on the QB. I really think the defense is coming to play. I just have the feeling the defense wants to shut everyone up. Same with the offense. Again, this is all hunch, but if I see it, what does the staff see? What are they cooking up being far more up close and personal with the players. It boils down to preparation and execution. I like your thoughts about it and I believe that can work.

Scoring in every quarter since October. That is phenomenal. Imagine if they executed like they did in September...This team has far more upside than any team in the playoff field. Moore can blow everyone away if he steps up to his potential.

Thanks for the update. I really hope Lanning lit up his analysts and his new coordinators. As far as I'm concerned, they should be handling a huge load of prep for this week. Obviously, you'd like Stein and Lupoi dialed in, but that is unrealistic given they have massive responsibilities with their new jobs. I have only had maybe six hours this week to study. I'm tired. I'm going into surgery tomorrow morning (non invasive thank God, but it's still surgery). I have a lot on my mind. Even if I was going into surgery and had to coach, I'd be sleeping 3 hours a night max. I can rest when I'm dead as far as I'm concerned. We may never have another Semi final appearance (doubt it). That's my take. This staff has got to drill the players with the best information, providing the best simulations possible. And of course, its the same for the players. The players need the rest, but they certainly can put in overtime hours to prep for this game. I'm making sure Dante Moore throws as many uncomfortable passes possible until he is comfortable (with being uncomfortable and executing precisely). The coaches are allowed a limited time every week with the players, so how they prep the team (and get the players to do the extra homework) really matters. Indiana is foolproof, not unbeatable. We have more talent across the board, and if applied, we should be able to cake walk this game-even against a machine like Indiana. I am telling anybody that visits this forum for decorum, we only need to execute to win. If and only if we max out tomorrow? Nobody can beat this team. Not Ohio State at its best, and especially Indiana. Two games. This one first. I expect some injuries this week because I expect the hardest hitting I've ever seen out of OBD. It matters that much (take that SEC). If I ever thought I could really coach when I was in my twenties, I would be savoring every second of this era. We are witnessing excellence on a different level. After Alabama got smoked, Kalen Deboer said there is a fine line between excellence and failure. I watched that game in full finally. Even with Bama's outright flaws, they should have been in that game. They are good enough to beat Indiana. That's how good Indiana has been. But they haven't met their match in execution. I want to see that tomorrow.

Oregon 24-14 1 2 255

Solar, You have some very good takes, and they're always in the back of my mind. You painted out that Moore has trouble reading zone coverage, and I believe that has played out to form in key situations. Indiana uses zone blitzes (weren't you the one that pointed that out?), and Moore needs to "catch em in the act". I found a great YouTube vid that opened my eyes. If Moore see it, he can literally rip the Hoosiers apart. I think Stein saw that the first time, but Dante just missed it. I'm wondering what Indiana changes, and what kind of prep Moore got this week... As usual, in looking forward to your comments about this game.

You are not pouring rain in the parade at all. Breaking that trend is paramount. It totally has to happen. And it will occur while losing two coordinators. It's like climbing Spencer's Butte having to carry both of them. I'm imagining that round table from the Ohio State "Ducks versus Then" take when Lanning was specifically pointing out what to do and when to do it and who to use. That's what I'm seeing myself, and if there's one thing I know about Lanning, it's that he knows the game. I believe Lanning is going to be more directly involved in this game, because he needs to be. That is going to be a factor tomorrow.

We still have to cross our fingers Jon. We have yet to see the kind of complete game from OBD that Indiana has against the best this year!

Drake, You're into a theme that I also will play out in this game. Not only will motivation be key, but I believe we will dominate the line of scrimmage. And I think people will be surprised. Could it be the new coordinators are already impacting the perform if this team? As mentioned above, did that 9 AM start effect the offensive line? If reports are accurate, we will see a very intense output form OBD. I sure hope so, because if they come with a killer instinct, this is going to be a brutally physical game

Good points. I keep hearing Indiana is the better team. I believe they are the more complete team. They use veteran players, their staff has been together for ten plus years, and they eliminated the flaws they had last year Ohio State and oregon have more raw talent, and Indiana took away that advantage. But it required mistakes. Penn State even exposed the talent gap, so it boils down to execution. I keep coming back to the ifs. If Oregon executes, they will shock everyone. I'm Julie Andrews walking along the Swiss mountainside singing the hills are alive with the sound of music. Because I'm just getting the feeling Lanning has out more responsibility in his analysts and new coordinators. I've finally been able to direct a little more details, and if I see it, they do. Moore has a chance to light up Indiana in a way that will surprise people, and it may be necessary because I also believe Indiana is going for the jugular early.

Steven, Logic completely says Indiana takes this game hands down. They look unstoppable. The eye test shows it, their experience (players and coaches) seem insurmountable, and they just don't give you many chances to beat them. Talent is overrated, and Indiana has proven it. I do think talent will matter in this game, and I think the Ducks, despite the evidence, pulls this one out.

Triphibius, You've added much to the discussion of what we've been looking at. I hadn't put much stock into the 9 am playing time (but I did find out the Orange Bowl usually the last bowl on New Year's Day). I hope Harris plays. We need hum. I believe that Oregon route Indiana IF Moore processes what he sees accurately because Indiana gave him 3 TDs he didn't see. Ifs and butts...candy and nuts. This game has a chance to be really fun.