I disagree with this notion.  I'm thinking the money movers on Vegas are all over this six points.  UCLA has a real shot at winning this game.  Even though this is only their second road game.

 

OBD are Mulligan men.  They will need to play flawlessly to win this one.  We are about to see a much better test than WSU.   As we now see, WSU looks like they based their entire season on OBD.  They have thuded back to reality.

 

Can't wait to see what our Oregon men do this week.

On 10/15/2022 at 3:50 PM, Charles Fischer said:

As I wrote in another thread....

    
Let's see how it all shakes out between 1) the new media contract and 2) a separate streaming contract.  That, and 3) the ability to get more the bowl/playoff money from our conference, (if you are the team going) and 4) the increased split for the Pac-12 from the new Playoff Contract.

 

Way too early to predict our demise IMHO, as those are four major elements that affect our future that are yet to be known.

 

The arrogance the Presidents displayed warrants relegating then to the academic prowess they believe they are..

 

I want my pound of flesh.  They ignored the one sport that covers the entire athletic department's finances. Conference wide. 

 

USC is an Academic Power.  They prioritize both their athletic and academic reputation, as they should.

 

The conference should suffer the consequences accordingly.  Let them draw their Rhoades Scholars.  They deserve Academic Trophies. That's exactly where they belong. 

On 10/16/2022 at 9:16 AM, Charles Fischer said:

In terms of the eyeball test...I am forced to conclude it, and it is a bitter pill to swallow.  Their defensive backs play tighter, and their pass rush is MUCH better than Oregon's...despite the star ratings of Oregon players, and all the experience in the front seven of the Ducks.

 

Giving up only 17 to USC, and now only 10 to Washington State?  Geez.  Between the regular season and the bowl game...the Beavers have a real shot at 10 wins this year!

 

And if they had an experienced savvy QB like a Bo Nix, a Cam Rising or a DTR....they would be scary, IMHO.

 

 

TT

Well Utah dropped 42 on little brother.  I'm not sold the damn builders are all that. They yielded 27 to Stanford as well.

 

And suffice it to say, USC, you know the defense we expected WSU to shred, held the  "powerful" Cougars to 14. 

 

Thus, I am not convinced Oregon State is anything but Ordinary on Defense.  

 

I'm not saying OBD can stop anybody lethal. Heck I'm worried about UCLA right now.  I do "know" this: I expect OBD to shred little brother.  I'd be offended if they didn't.

 

Kool Aide Mike has spoken.

On 10/9/2022 at 1:18 PM, Mic said:

It would be real easy (too easy) to pine for what might have been if Mario had been merely the Offensive line coach and someone like Lanning the HC when Justin Herbert was here.  I have to block that from my mind and just say "It wasn't meant to be."  But that's easier said than done.

We had that.  The coach was Willie Taggert.  The offense was the Gulf Coast Offense.  And it was unstoppable.

 

In fact Justin Herbert (on bad days) was the only the person that did stop that offense ( injury and a very bad day of throwing to defenders he was looking directly at). 

 

And if you doubt that, look at the highlights from 2017.  It was the only time Herbert played at Oregon like he does today.  

On 10/9/2022 at 11:29 AM, Just Ducky said:

 The team as a whole seemed to be in focus. Very few penalties. 

 

 Credit here goes to the coaching staff getting the message to the players in practice.

 

 No 1 for me is the play of Bo Nix. He is in total control of the offense and he is like having another coach on the field. He seems to have a calming effect on the whole offense. 

 

 If we can get a guy like Bo to have the same effect on our defense then look out.

I liken this team to Luke Skywalker at the beginning of The Empire Strikes back. They are learning the ways of the force, but are still impetuous enough to leave before they finish their training.

 

It takes major focus to reach the level of "Yoda,Obi Wan, Qui Gon and Mace Windu".  Those were Jedi a nation would fear.  Like Georgia, and the Alabama teams of years past... The 2001 Miami Hurricanes.  

 

I'm greedy.  But patient.  This team is possible top ten material.  But they are not Jedi yet.

 

It's more fun now. But it's obvious this team is going through growing pains.  

On 10/9/2022 at 2:37 PM, Charles Fischer said:

I will allow anyone to post their opinions in all directions, and I personally will continue to make reference to Mario because:

 

1) It is fun,

2) It is entertaining.

3) It makes me grateful-as-hell that he is gone.

 

 

 

The very best move Mario made was going back to Miami.  He got exposed a season earlier than I expected, but we all know we dodged a massive bullet when he refused our contract offer.

 

It is ironic when you think about it.  Both Mario and the Snake had the talent to land  OBD in the title game again. Both walked right in to own demise instead.

 

It won't happen this year. Probably not next. But if Dan Lanning is as good as he seems to be, OBD may end up right back to 2007.  With enough talent to actually win the Natty. 

 

Thank you Mario Cristobal.  For being who you are as a coach.  And relinquishing control of OBD to someone who might actually have the ability to finish what Brooks, Bellotti, and PK started. 

On 10/5/2022 at 1:57 PM, DUCati855 said:

I do not believe it would be another 49-3 blow out. But, (I feel) the Ducks would get beat by at least two scores by Alabama, Georgia, or Ohio State. I'd rather see that happen to Clemson.

 

Then the Ducks would likely play (and beat) Michigan in the Rose Bowl. 

 

Season end ranking would be #4. This allows us to recruit against anyone in the nation.

 

I have said it before. The next two years will be when DL's Ducks will shine.

 

Again... my thoughts. I respect yours.

Right now I'm not sure this team can overcome the mulligans they're giving ordinary teams.  Michigan ( and just about every other tier two Big Ten team like Penn State) would gladly take those gifts and rout us like Oklahoma did last year. 

 

I too would rather get smoked in the playoffs than in the Rose Bowl.  The optics of a beatdown in Pasadena wouldn't look good to highly talented sophomores in high school (they're far too shallow to have the kind of vision to recognize an emerging Oregon as a potential powerhouse with DL in 3-4 years). 

 

Potential gets people fired.  Performance gets people driving bonuses.  Let's see OBD perform instead of hope they'll reach their potential.

On 10/2/2022 at 1:53 PM, Charles Fischer said:

It also gets back to our current goals and expectations.  For Oregon to be No. 12 right now with the butt-kicking we took from Georgia...I am counting my blessings!

 

When I look at the usual cabal of Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State and Clemson...I don't see Oregon busting through those for a Playoff spot.

 

But I do think it is possible to end in the top-ten, and if Oregon did that in Lanning's first year?

 

We should feel lucky.  I can think of several teams behind them that might embarrass them. OBD are good, but not top 15 good.  

 

Clemson will have to lose twice now to get eliminated.  They are living on last decade's accomplishments right now ( a complete shadow of those awesome teams).  

 

Utah would give Clemson a run for the money had they finished off Florida.  USC can lose one, and the media would hype them.  Man I hope we face them undefeated and just obliterate them.  

 

But, I fear another loss or two is coming. And to think, I just bragged OBD would decide the fate of the conference.  Talk about embarrassing myself!!!

 

Sometimes Green and Yellow Kool Aide is simply irresistible.

On 10/2/2022 at 1:29 PM, PittDuck said:

Never have cared for it.  Especially when it is a defensive back  jumping around like a sap when he didn't do anything to make the play, the receiver dropped it or the QB missed the throw.

 

I long for the days of “give the ball to the ref and move on to the next play.”

Gonzalez is horribly consistent at it.  Especially when he makes plays 

 

For as disappointing this team has been ( sloppy, chaotic, undisciplined, and leaving months of food on the table) I just want them to play and shut up.  

 

In high school, we had to eat a week old hot dog for showboating.  Our film guy zoomed in on it and we laughed boisterously every week.  We even looked for tiny things.  

 

This team could use many a crusty dog right now. 

On 9/27/2022 at 9:46 AM, Wrathis said:

Then let me be clear: if the fate of the conference goes through OBD and Wazzu won't spoil it for anyone, then our defense better get their $hi* together b/c giving up 41 points to conference rivals isn't going to get it done.

Absolutely.  Talk about growth.  The unit we thought would excel isn't.

On 9/26/2022 at 10:00 AM, Wrathis said:

 

I'm not afraid to admit that Wazzu's defense is what ours should look like. If Havoc rate is the goal, then they're the current standard-bearer

I don't ever want to give up 600 yards on defense.  You are supposed to lose when you give up six hundred yards.  

 

More aggressive play calling ends this game in the first quarter. That wasn't a fluke we gained six hundred yards. 

 

That was expected. At least I expected it.  My only concern was playing on the road the first conference game under new leadership.

 

I'll repeat it a hundred times if necessary. We don't have to prove to anyone we can run the ball. Teams have to prove they can stop our WRs.  All that havoc didn't stop us. We did.

 

Conference contending teams don't give up six hundred yards on defense.  Conference decision makers certainly determine titles when they gain six hundred yards.

 

I'll give WSU credit for being scrappy against a far superior team. That's it. They were supposed to lose.  If we played them three times, we'd beat to them all three.  We're simply better.  We gave them mulligan after Mulligan, and they lost.

 

If we get that many mistakes (take BYU for instance), we dominate.  That is what makes a team a difference maker.  They were lucky to be in the game as far as I'm concerned, and I'm ticked we didn't wipe them off the face of the earth like we should have. 

 

Time will tell.  But I'm not impressed. I'm disappointed we played poorly after learning what it takes to dominate a team we're better than. 

 

I could go on forever. But let me be clear: the growth of OBD determines the fate of the conference.  WSU has nothing to say about it as far as I'm concerned.

I don't think WSU is that good.

 

Countless mental errors gave them opportunities they didn't earn.  The first time OBD drove inside the WSU's ten yard line , OBD committed a false start.  That first and goal play call  was a TD without that penalty.

 

Play calling the next two series on offense kept WSU in a game they should have lost by at least 14.  In fact, that 17-9 halftime score was a botched 28-10  Oregon lead. My opinion of course. 

 

 Even DL said they didn't stop OBD offense.  That's an understatement.  Dilly spent  half the game establishing control, when it was clear we could scorch them after Franklin was so wide open, an infant could catch Nix's pass       ( that was on ODB's 2nd series on offense).

 

Thorton had one catch.  Why? Nobody can cover him ( and WSU certainly couldn't cover Franklin).  We left food on the table. And gave them life they didn't deserve.  

 

We know we can run the ball.  We handled Georgia's defense for crying out loud. We don't have to prove we can run the ball.  Teams have to prove they can cover our WRs. WSU got lucky as far as I'm concerned, because I would have exposed to the conference they can't cover fast WRs ( they can't, and any decent OC is going to attack that secondary). 

 

Finally, Utah is better than everyone.  We are more talented. And WSU isn't going to ruin teams Utah is simply going to smack, and we SHOULD dominate.  

 

This conference boils down to if Oregon can shed the Mario curse.  Mario saps testosterone from a team.  Lanning is putting it back. How fast determines the fate of the conference.

 

WSU has nothing to do with deciding the fate of the conference. OBD do. 

On 9/25/2022 at 5:00 PM, 1Ducker1 said:

Based on what I have seen so far --minus my bias for the Ducks 😍--Oregon is the most complete team now in the PAC. Pass defense HAS to improve and I feel confident that it will. The EYE test tells me that Bo is a better QB than Williams at this point in time. Oregon's O line is by far the best in the PAC and what a complete stable of RBs we have. We are not hurting for receivers either. And the WE DID NOT GIVE UP attitude in Pullman gives me great confidence that we haven't begun to see our Ducks at their best.

Right now, Utah is the most complete.  Oregon is the most talented.

 

If Oregon acquires killer instinct? Oooooooh.

On 9/25/2022 at 4:58 PM, woundedknees said:

Amazing what you can get away with when you have the right receivers, eh?

Quote of the year.

 

Nix finally has an OL and a potent set of WRs.  Not to mention an OC that gets him.  

 

I really hope they start attacking the deep field more.  In my eyes, it's strike deep for six at least twice if not three times a game.

 

And yes, lock the game down running the ball with an OL that proved it could handle the best defense Oregon has ever seen in it's 100 plus year history.

 

This offense could average fifty in conference play if it's that aggressive.

When the defense stopped WSU when they absolutely had to, I knew we'd win this game.  

 

The WRs we're leaving WSU's DBs behind like Hansel and Gretel left behind bread crumbs.  

 

I EXPECTED an explosive TD pass at that point.  ODB WRs were slaughtering their DBs.  Had been all game.  

 

If Dilly didn't attack those DBs he would have been charged with the crime of the Century: failure to torch weak defensive backs.

 

Props to Funa for sealing the game, but the drama was unnecessary.  Always execute an opponent before they believe they have a chance.  

 

On 9/25/2022 at 8:11 AM, Charles Fischer said:

This is that time of year when I often come to the realization that Our Beloved Ducks are not quite as good as I hoped. Right now I am pleased with the growth of the offense, and frankly, pretty surprised at the weakness on defense. At this point to me...we look like a good team, but we are not a great team.

 

Could we be a great team? Absolutely, but not without more growth on defense across the board. The other element is the development of other teams in the conference, and I will admit to being impressed with the coaching taking place at a number of locations.  We have some tough games coming up in-conference.

 

We are not a NC contender, IMHO, although with vast defensive improvement....could we make the Playoffs?  Right now my goal is to improve to be a legit top-10 team, and that would be a pretty good accomplishment for Lanning's first year.

 

If we don't get better on defense...we could lose three more games.  Will we improve?  What are your thoughts about where this team is at right now?

 

My thoughts are the uniforms look good lol

On 9/24/2022 at 8:54 PM, Desert Duck said:

Agreed. I think it's likely that the pass on that play would have been intercepted anyway, even without the tip.

No.

 

The LB could only make a tackle to prevent a TD.  That pass was thrown too hard for him to pick it off.

 

First thing I thought when he threw it was it was too high and behind the RB.  That was a completion otherwise ( still didn't like the play call though).

 

Just my thought.

 

In addition , this game would have been over in the first quarter if we didn't waste time and instead made WSU's corners charcoal black from getting burnt so often.  We wasted way too much time trying to dominate them  instead then instead of making mincemeat out their secondary.

This game is being lost due to multiple mental errors. 

 

WSU is not 27 points good against this talented Duck team. Not whatsoever.  

 

This WSU defense does not match up in defense either.  That was a coaching decision.  

 

I am not pleased with the lack of confidence in pushing the ball downfield. 

 

Mental error after mental error.  This team is not ready to play on the road.  Mario hangover effect.

 

They need to shake the aftermath of no substance Mari.  

 

It still shows.  And I find absolutely no justification for yielding 27 points to this team.  They are average. We gave them at least five mulligans.  And a poor play call poor execution hand out pick six.  

 

When we stop giving teams chances they don't earn, we will start winning.

 

When we start finding killer instinct that is viscous and brutal, the real talent in this team will emerge.

 

The players, and I mean every single one of them need to dig down and find their willingness to beat people up, and stop thinking about beating people up.  They are a mental basket case.

 

There is way too much talent to waste on giving teams like WSU the thought they can outplay this team.  We gave them this game.  They did t take it, we gave it to them. 

 

On 9/24/2022 at 4:00 PM, Mike West said:

For some reason, Silly just likes that RB route.  Does not make sense to me.

Throw the ball downfield.  It's there for the taking.

For some reason, Silly just likes that RB route.  Does not make sense to me.

Another mental mistake.  Ball should be in the 25.  I'll advised return cost us ten yards.

 

AND I'm beginning to think Dilly doesn't have confidence he can asmoke their DBs 

If Sewell finds that WR, he cuts his head off.  But he looked at the QB.

 

If there ever is a pet peeves that makes me want to bench even stars like Sewell, that is it.

 

That should never be a complete pass.  Ever. 

On 9/24/2022 at 3:31 PM, Mike West said:

I actually think outside the play calls inside the ten, it's been more the players.  Interference on a punt, that's a mental mistake.  One of many.  

 

WSU is in this game because we still have Mario fog going on. Missed blocks, penalties and inconsistent play is killing the chance to snuff this opponent.

 

They getting freebies they don't deserve 

Plus Dilly isn't going for the throat.  I don't think they can cover our WRs.  No need to play around, take advantage of the mismatches.

On 9/24/2022 at 3:24 PM, Log Haulin said:

This is what I was looking for in the coaching staff. How the team looked in hostile environment. Red zone looks bad. Super unfocused. C'mon coach

I actually think outside the play calls inside the ten, it's been more the players.  Interference on a punt, that's a mental mistake.  One of many.  

 

WSU is in this game because we still have Mario fog going on. Missed blocks, penalties and inconsistent play is killing the chance to snuff this opponent.

 

They getting freebies they don't deserve 

I don't think WSU can cover our WRs.  I believe we should scorch earth(throw deep until they stop us), then use the running game to close out this game.  

 

I hope I'm correct, and  I hope Dilly sees it too.  Let's see what happens.