Mike West

Reading the tea leaves after yesterday's scrimmage leads me to believe the following: Given the nature of injuries on the DL, depth is an issue there The good news is the OL dominated the LOS and yes, any average DL is going to get worked over. The WKU RB is going to play lots. Sean Dollars had his work cut out for him. I suspect Jet Motion plays are in his future. The coaches did a good job of concealing how good the team is. Sounds like they want this team to put far more effort into their play. That said, this team is not elite (yet). So back to the the teams that threaten us this year: UGA, BYU, and Utah. The boys from Utah will have to show me more. Particularly the LBs on defense as they lost arguably the best LB duo in the conference to the NFL. Can't wait to see their spring game because those replacement LBs must compensate for a secondary prone to giving up big plays to the kind of WRs we have ( and BYU will definitely struggle with that unit as well). Can't wait to see our spring game because it appears the offense will be fine, so it's how dominant the defense will be that matters. If they can meet or exceed our 2019 version, then this team is going to be a headache to all opponents they face. A big if. I'm looking to see minimal mistakes. The talent is there to make every team but Georgia play their very best game in order to win ( yes, that means Utah will have to make lots of plays in order to win the game if OBD learn to play mistake free ball. I suspect a solid plan to keep QB Rising in the pocket will slow their offense down tremendously). This is on the players. How much work they do this summer to become a crisp team is going to make all the difference in the world from my perspective. From what I've dug up so far, effort is an issue. Which might simply be the lack of urgency to recognize there is no tomorrow. If that makes sense, from a standpoint of what excellence requires, then this team just needs to learn how to play like Sewell and Flowe. Match their intensity, and this team will grow into a very dominant team.

I have to disagree. Brown had plenty of receivers open in both Utah games and he missed them. And I'm talking WIDE OPEN. In addition, Brown would not go through his full set of progressions, would throw early to offset INTERNAL ( inside his own head) pressure, and didn't insist on getting the speedy guys playing time . Nix is very effective throwing the ball when he is moving ( much like MM- who is lethal on the move). I suspect Dillingham will throw multiple versions of passing plays that will exploit that specific skill set I'm also looking for Dillingham to feature TT's strengths of getting the ball downfield. I believe TT needs to develop more. Once he gets it though- look out. I've seen enough of TT when he is confident. Not sure he gets there before Nix demonstrates his capabilities as a leader. TT must be ready though. I'm not sure Nix discussed a full season. And we haven't even discussed the most accurate QB- Butterfield. Lanning's talk is to convince the " rookies" to stay. A tough task in this NIL world. Butterfield and TT can do damage just about anywhere.

I totally keep forgetting the Mormon missionaries. Very keen observation my friend. As usual. I recognize the Cougars are returning almost all of last year's starters. They will be more formidable than last year. I also believe we will be as well. I believe we're going to have a better defense than last year's Baylor bunch. The talent, even green, is better than we've ever had. EVER. If I'm reading Lanning correctly, we're going to make a statement against BYU. I suspect that will actually start with UGA ( I believe we've seen how to attack their offense- and we have enough talent to work with to make that happen- Ohio State showed us that). We shall see soon. I totally love your insight. You're rarely wrong, and I believe BYU will be very good. I just believe we're better.

I really don't get the fear of BYU my friend ( you're not alone either ). I just believe our defense is going to smother that B- level offense. Just on talent alone, we should win this game. This game is ours to lose. BYU is good, but not excellent. They have to play a flawless game to win. And if we have any semblance of a good QB, this game is a blowout ( just like Utah last year- if Brown delivers, we deliver the Utes a TKO).

Yeah, While Cincinnati got to the playoffs, they were completely undeserving. They were lucky they faced a "degraded" #1 seed in Alabama, as Georgia would've nuked the Bearcats so bad they would have left crater all over Ohio. Cronin will do well with name brand USC. But Cinci was a sell job with a foul smell to it for me. You don't deserve to go just because people want Cinderella at the ball to give them false hope. That being said, we have our work cut out for us as we have been party crashers ourselves ( though TPTB installed Nebraska to get the beatdown against Miami, and of course the refs robbed us of our most legit shot at wearing the crown). I just hope we get to face the Trojans this year and deliver some humble pie to wreck their momentum. Early line on opening day: UGA -13 1/2. I hope our defense is as good as I believe they are come September.

I bet if you dyed your hair, you'd look that good too!

I call the transfer portal Antonio Brown Syndrome... At least the kids aren't stupid enough to trash their former coaches and players.

Amen. What happens when (and I emphasize when-because TPTB are not budging) the PAC12 will no longer carry the sports that made it the Conference of Champions? Schools like Oregon, UCLA, USC and the Fuskies will survive because their brands can endure the fallout ( though UCLA is trying real hard to flameout). Maybe, but maybe these guys have seen the future they don't want to participate in and are opting out indirectly. Whatever the case may be, they sure perform like the football teams in the conference- nowhere near the caliber required to compete as champions.

And Scam Newton getting hit so hard you could hear it in Mars. But that's ok- he didn't fumble, his arm collapsed. That's an incomplete pass ( not to mention the other incomplete pass Cliff Harris had full control of). Sorry, no sack-fumble-TD ( No INT, and for your trouble they throw a TD after the INT). Too late, eSECspn beat us to the punch

Agreed. MM will succeed if he is out in position to use his skill set properly .. including avoiding injuries.

What I find very interesting is what NFL teams do with their players. That 2014 Natty game (in January 2015) revealed how MM would perform in the NFL. He is lethal when on the move, and with the right mix of pass plays from the pocket ( with the right set of TEs/WRs). He was more suited to take the Titans to the Super Bowl than the ceiling they have with Tannehill. The Raiders were the first team I've seen properly use MM. My only concern for him is injuries. MM hasn't had an OC for more than a year his entire career. That's pretty crazy.

Auburn scored in the very next play And that doesn't include the sack, fumble TD the refs didn't allow. That's 14 points right there. We were better than Auburn. The refs tremendously effected that game. They don't win without those calls. Point blank.

I see UGA by eight or nine at this point. Really depends on how loaded last year's bench was is in Athens. Ducks at least a seven point fav against BYU , 14-17 on EWU.

I'm sure you meant a 2 - 1 Oregon team. THEY WILL DOMINATE BOTH BYU AND EWU. There's no question both teams will struggle to score 20 plus. Is be impressed if they do quite frankly. Question marks and all, I expect a beat down, and I'd be seriously disappointed otherwise ( I told you guys, ride with Lemon-Lime Kool Aide Mike, we're awesome until proven differently ). Shock and awe baby!

Looks like Snoop Dog with a football...lol Hope he's just as talented for his sake. Nothing worse than being a dud after garnishing so much hype.

When Bama "graduates their stars", they simply reload. Same with Georgia, Clemson and UGA ( though last year was a bit different). What seems to be on our minds is the question of reload or reboot. Do we have enough talent to simply reload? Not an an elite level. Injuries left OBD down to walk ons in some cases, and third string players in others. And the eye test appears deceiving when it comes to the theft in Columbus. It also seems apparent motivation was a factor the last month of the season. So, "what kind of talent do we really have" is front and center on our minds. Uncertainty definitely breeds fear. That's why faith matters. We have a new coach. Untested, from the other side if the world, with a mix of players deemed unproven. This clearly stokes fear from afar. I get the tempered expectations in the face of these "facts". Everything is brand new. That can be a curse, or a cure. We just don't know. That's why I encourage you to follow Kool Aide Mike. After all, we can't lose till we lose, right?? Hopium and homerism. It works until it doesn't. That's my story and I'm sticking with it. Go Ducks.

I understand your sentiment when it comes to the Snake. But did MC really end things much better? In addition, no Snake, no MC. No narrative about recruiting top talent to Eugene. You don't have to give WT props, but it is pretty difficult to deny he catapulted OBD into a recruiting powerhouse. My opinion of course

Hmmm, I respectfully disagree that Mario proved Oregon was a recruiting destination. The SNAKE said it and proved it-twice ( until he, like MC took some of those recruits with him). Furthermore, there should be no doubt in anyone's mind that Taggert made a fool out of himself because he certainly would have reached the playoffs with a healthy Justin Herbert the year he coached and had he been astute enough to stay. Thus, in my mind, that FIFTY POINTS A GAME (which might as well been fifty thousand pounds a game compared to MC), with a pretty good defense to boot cost the Snake ANY opportunity to return to the P5 as a HC. It was obvious to anyone as ambitious as the Snake was, that he should have stayed in Eugene. Might I also remind you Helfrich had a playoff victory Chip does not have, as well a Natty appearance. Helfrich didn't sustain what Chip started, but he actually led the team to the Natty directly ( he personally motivated the defense to ramp up and play to their level of talent after that fiasco loss to Arizona). Helfrich stepped up, and he deserves credit for it. MC blew an opportunity the Snake would not have duplicated, and Helfrich did not commit: inheriting so much talent it was a crime he didn't lead OBD to the playoffs ( three times at that). We seem to judge MH and WT on personality more than their actual contributions to the program. Chip was (and still is to some degree) pretty damn arrogant ( I still like the guy, I think he's a football genius). So, while MC left the school stocked with talent, he had little choice but to leave because he certainly would have soiled his reputation had he stayed this year. I actually hope MC succeeds. I fear MC will crash and burn just like Taggart, because his ego was rewarded despite his B minus performance here in Eugene. (Rich Brooks left the program in great shape, Mike Belotti built on it, and Chip started a standard that designated that grade an automatic fail. Taggart is where he belongs, and we will have to wait in order to determine if MC can handle a power P5 program. I personally believe we have been very fortunate to be in the hunt for a title for so long, and I am very grateful for that- frustrations and all. It is difficult to win a National Championship. That is why the journey is just as important as the destination.

I wish Montana, Aikman, Marino, and Jim Kelly could still play. I wish Staubach, Bradshaw, Griese, and Unitas could still play. I would have loved to see Otto Graham play. Legends are never unwelcome in my book. And frankly, Tom Brady is better than all but a handful of players this very second. The newbies are good...very good. But they're not Jedi Warriors yet Skywalker. Long live Tom Brady. He definitely still has it. As usual, he needs blazing speed at WR, because he still gets them the ball. For once, I like watching Darth Vader anihilating Padawans. That's my kind of villain ( if you haven't figured it out yet, I'm not fond of many young bucks coming up these days...they're arrogant, disrespectful, and don't show love for the game). Long live the era that instilled fan worship of football. Tom Brady is a throwback to those dudes.

A fun quote of mine when I see an upset like that:. CAN YOU SAY MONEY LINE!!!!!!!!! If you would have bet OBD to win that day, you would have won 12 times the amount you bet.

Nothing ticks me off more than entitled athletes. Especially an unproven commodity. The NBA and NFL players are bad enough. They talk about the game being a business, but more than enough of them are broke when they retire. What a joke. The guys that really earn their paychecks are the men and women that entertain us while we watch the games ( like Joe Buck and Troy Aikman for example). At some point, college football fans are going to say "enough". Attendance has been falling the past three years, and inflation is going to treat it's ugly head in earnest this fall. Interesting times. Where's Jon Joseph and his point spread picks when you need them?

I love your takes my resident national expert. It's going to be an interesting year. I like my Kool Aide apple, lemon or lime though lol. Let's hope we don't have to spike it much.

I can barely remain a gentleman after reading that.

This year's schedule is manageable. We are more talented than everyone but Georgia. Every other game is ours to lose. And I'd say that even if we faced both Utah and BYU at their place. Call me Kool Aide Mike. I'm not afraid of this schedule. Or the coaching ( really, really take a look at how Lanning put so much pressure on QB Young that he looked like QB Bennet in the first Bama- UGA matchup). We have hypersonic speed at WR. The best front seven in the PAC12, the best TEs in the conference, the most talented secondary ( just very green). We have a QB that's faced far better defenses than even Utah put us through last year. We have the best OL in the conference. There is so much talent on this team that it would take Mario Cristobal to ruin our shot at a conference title ( though he did ruin three playoff berths). I just don't have time to show what I see in an analysis article. But I see it. I get all the angrier because I truly grasp the degree Mario Cristobal blew three playoff berths. People think of the flaws on offense. I see just as much on defense. Lanning is playing Rope a Dope. His defense should be stellar this year.

Without looking at other posts initially, I am emphatically opposed to starting Jamal Hill and Steve Stephens. To be as diplomatic as I can, they are extremely incapable of covering elite talent, and thus a serious liability to the team. If you like burnt toast, those two should be on your menu. Again, in trying to be kind, but I've seen both five to ten yards behind WRs on their way to scoring TDs on a very routine basis. If you want to win the conference, those two must ride pine. I've seen a tiny sample of Dillingham at Memphis, FSU, and with Bo Nix. I'm pleased so far. Yes, he does set his game plan to the strengths of his starters. What he gives Thompson in the Spring Game will tell me if TT is truly elite, or bought(cough , cough- to get access to those elite camps) his stature. I happen to believe TT is talented, but was reduced to mincemeat in MC's "I don't know how to use a QB" offense. Nix concerns me in one area- consistently tearing defenses up. If Nix starts consistently living up to his five star billing, then he can even beat UGA (a tall task, but when he is on his game he is a serious playmaker). Hill and Stephens will ruin any title chances-they really are that bad. I believe the talent on offense is good enough to do some damage. Will they execute? I don't know. I subscribe to the Bill Walsh (49er offense) philosophy. Script the first ten to fifteen plays to see what the defense wants to do, then anihilate their plan. In other words, football is a game of setting opponents up to fail. Let them pick their poison, then give them an overdose that is considered criminal. Finally, I think coach Lanning got a look at how you can develop an inferior QB into a better winner than even his thoroughbred (hopefully he looks at things as developing the best of all three QBs so they carve up any defense they face).