Mike West

I guess the guys want to take care of business tonight

If the Ducks control the game early they'll cover. Florida State is slowing down on offense, and I doubt they'll be able to keep up with a surging Hurricane offense. I see QB Clifford giving UM headaches (and he's healthy). That is going to be a really good game.

Penn State Washington State The U (Miami)

Duly noted. That interception was ugly though. Not what you'd expect from a decent QB. That was followed by some weird play calling, that made him even more uncomfortable. At this point, I want these coaches to earn their pay. This team is too talented to perform at their present mediocre level. I said it before: 42-14 victories. That's my standard and I'm sticking with it. Kirby Smart had a battle ready Natty level team in his fourth year. I think MC has that in him, and I expect him to accelerate his progress. We had a Natty caliber team - without the talent level- in 2019! He played it safe. My friend, tomorrow is tomorrow for a reason. The only time that matters is right now. We are never guaranteed a tomorrow. Seize the moment. Win the Day. FAST HARD FINISH. Make no excuses. Just do It!

Yeah, That punter made it though a couple of drives. I expected Moorhead to favor crossing patterns more ( with a rollout to boot to keep the LBs on Brown), a strength for Brown. He used the deep out route once- another strength of Brown's. Fortunately, they looked at the halftime stats and quickly buried the Husky defense, but they STILL couldn't ice àaaààthis game by the early fourth quarter. Too many things to straighten out. Not much time left. I'd like t to see adjustments sooner. The coaches know their units at this point in the season.

I'll take that. I want to see a rematch because we would see if the team can handle a slightly more talented Buckeye team that will be motivated to prove themselves ( and that the loss was a fluke). And since this Duck team doesn't take bums seriously enough to absolutely destroy them, I'm interested in how much they want to prove it wasn't a fluke victory. It took them too long to get down to business against a clearly underwhelming Fusky team. Every remaining game is really "win or go home". I'm looking for Cristobal to teach these kids that those three conference games are about focus. No reason for any of them to be " in the game" after the first quarter ( as in a two TD advantage against all three of them). Do you realize how much talent the defense has? They can keep all three remaining conference foes to 14 or less. I'd be shooting for shutouts if I were HC. That would be a direct challenge ( using those popular black uniforms as incentive...and old school uniforms as the alternative <the Rich Brooks era uniforms>). Ohio State is really a reset of the home and home we missed out on... And a good test of what this team really is against their fellow recruiting peers.

Are you still against a rematch with Ohio State now (given these rankings hold and tOSU and we are both #2 and #3)?

I agree MSU should be ahead of Michigan. I do however believe Michigan is better than State. They simply choked ( sound familiar- we're way better than Stanford, but...). I think Penn State takes out UM, so it will be moot soon enough. The polls were designed to stroke controversy. Why do you think college ball is more popular than the NFL ( despite the boring play )?

Not saying Bryant wasn't great. He was. Just saying he took longer to win his titles, and with a much smaller group of "great players" to coach against. Saban btw did win a Natty at LSU. In arguably the most competitive division in college football.

I believe this is good news as his QB ( the only one he's had) is responsible for the majority of their losses in the Frost era. The Defense has actually kept them in games, while the Jeckle and Hyde QB Martinez is a demolition man all his own. Will " Scottie" keep his job another year ?

Oh I disagree. Bryant didn't play USC types often enough to give him that type of credit. Not to mention Eddie Robinson did have enough talent to beat the Tide if he had the opportunity. My reference: AFL teams quickly forcing a merger with the NFL using historically black college talent. Robinson had the best talent and consistently defeated his peers with said talent. Bear Bryant never faced the "other" very good talent. When he first encountered it, he got smoked. He left before providing a sample to match what Saban had done in a much shorter time (at that). Different era for sure, but like MLB ( and Ruth never facing the likes of Black and Latino pitchers), that era's numbers are heavily skewed. Head to head, I'd take Saban in a mili second.

Love MC. His intensity, integrity, and love of the game ( and his players). When I think of physicality though, Kirby Smart comes to mind first and foremost. They only reason UGA doesn't reach the playoffs because ESPN knows better than HSN out two SEC teams in. They ARE usually one of the four best CFB every year. We are canyons apart from the product KS puts on the field. With slightly less talent. I'm completely frustrated at present. But I want Cristobal to stay. It's going to take him as long as it took Brooks (even with the talent). Cristobal seems to be in love with close games because his teams just can't close the deal by the third quarter, even when they are I'm the driver's seat.

Washington DOES NOT have a very good football team That is about the biggest insult to football intelligence I've seen from a coach. Montana beat those guys. Really good football teams don't lose to Division II teams. Ever.

Turned off the TV. I'm done. If I were in charge at this point, some feelings would be very, very hurt. There is no excuse for this consistent performance given all the talent we have. Unacceptable. Point blank.

And to my point, they do their job (catch on non forced errant throw), and celebrate like they just scored the TD that won the Natty). I'm sick of it.

So much for starting fast. What part of putting a knife in early and often do these guys not get? These guys need to be taught the principal of dominance. I'm not seeing much "physically" here. All flash. I think it's time to go back to the Rich Brooks uniforms. These stupid uniform reveals may be the reason these guys don't just punch opponents in the mouth. Washington actually thinks they're as good as the Ducks right now. What a joke( they absolutely aren't-not even close). Have I vented enough? All this talk about begging tough, and I mostly see players pooping off instead of just putting a foot on everybody's neck.

Clearly Brown has the entire season in his hands. Can the guy minimize his weaknesses?

Nice eyeballs

He pushes the ball too much (think shooting a free throw). He's aiming his deep balls instead of throwing them (think fast ball pitch). Brown has an inconsistent throwing motion. One thing I'll say is he is deadly between the hashes and throws a very good deep out pass. I expect deep crossing routes Saturday. I'm hoping Morehead rolls him out more often the rest of the year. Give DCs more to think about ( since he runs so well, maybe that will be an RPO he can execute).

Georgia IS the real deal. Bama is out( and Auburn just may take out the Tide this year anyway). Cinci won't be able to shake an unfortunate struggle against Indiana ( took too long to take over that game- Indiana is horrible this year). Besides, Cinci is third in either of the Big Ten divisions at best. Oklahoma should get in. They'll go undefeated. Ohio State should get in... They'll run the table. Wake. Not enough defense to impress. They still play NC State( better than Wake in my opinion). Notre Dame? No. See Cincinnati. Everyone probably worries about Bama. I don't. Georgia is going to win the Natty, and Bama is going to experience a rare double digit defeat in Atlanta. My question is will Cristobal finally ignite the afterburners? There isn't a team in the conference that can slow them down. I think Moorhead (correctly) recognizes Brown is lethal throwing cross patterns and post patterns ( toss in a few fade routes to keep the CBs honest and teams will back off our top notch WR unit). I still want to see the LBs cover people instead of eye balling the QB B all day. And can DeRuyter seal the edge please? Some fantasy inn there of course. I see Georgia, tOSU, Oklahoma, and ( depending on Cristobal) our Beloved Ducks. It's his to lose... And he knows it. Boy...I write to much (lol).

Upside... I believe the committee sees Oregon's upside. Potential will get you "fired". So the ultimate question is " will the Ducks start dropping 85 giga ton bombs on the conference and leave a cloud of dust for miles?" 52-29 games from this point gets them in. 45-17 guarantees them a #3. I'm stunned. Truly stunned. "Will Batman revert to his old habits and play to the level of his competition? Or are we witnessing the dawn of a new era?" Join us this weekend my friends. Same Bat Time(not), same Bat Channel.

Depends on if it get LBs start covering guys in the area of responsibility. Depends on if DeRuyter contains the running games inside the box. Depends on if Moorhead can get a feel for the new Buckeye defense. We have the talent right now to win a rematch. I'm not concerned with Ohio State's talent. I'm concerned with an our strategies. We don't seal the edge against the run. We leave the middle of the field WIDE OPEN for easy completions( we forced the Buckeyes to drive the whole field even despite that- take away that and the Buckeyes have to play perfect offense). I could go on, but I'll bite everyone. The UCLA and Colorado first halves are supposed to be normal. That they aren't is huge. They are talented enough Right Now. With upside at that.

BTW. I'm mixed about Cincinnati. On the one hand they're undefeated with ONE decent win. Don't think they'll stay in the game against number one or two( would give number four headaches). They have played well this year On the other hand, I don't play the participation game for the sake of fairness. Life isn't fair. And Cincinnati would struggle in the PAC12 because they lack depth. They would have to play flawless ball eight conference games and that is tough. They might be good enough to go 8-1 this year, but I have my doubts. I'm for expansion. Finally. It would give G5 teams the ability to recruit more effectively. Somewhat even the playing field. As is though, I'm not ok with giving Cincinnati a brownie for competing, but not really being able to win a playoff game. It's boring enough that Clemson Bama Ohio State and LSU obliterated the three and four teams (and Cincinnati will do no better). Bama is better, heck A&M is better. Oregon is better(yeah, I wrote it), Michigan Penn St and Michigan State are better. Arguably Wisconsin and Iowa are better. That's EIGHT teams I'm confident would definitely beat the Bearcats. Why should they get in given that prospect? It's supposed to be the best four teams. Cincinnati is realistically eight, nine or ten at best. For those of you that disagree, ask yourself how they would perform in the Big Ten this year. Either division. Can they really defeat either of the most talented ( and expected) conference winners this year? I don't believe so. Best four until they expand the field.

Play them again. Prove it wasn't a fluke. Of all the teams we should play if we don't make the playoffs, our non conference Nemesis should be there one. Ohio State is the only consistent team that has demonstrated excellence for decades. Defeating them a second time would indicated Oregon is indeed a powerhouse. Most especially if the Buckeyes continue their recent dominant play coming into the bowl game. Beating Ohio State twice would announce the Ducks as a serious title contender. The only other team that can do that is Alabama. Nobody else would raise our reputation. Are we in this for titles, or kicks and giggles?

I want what ever been seeing from the elite college and pro teams the last six years. Clearly that is a dominant offense and a defense good enough to shut down very very good offenses. In other words, I want a title contender, not a pretender ( what we've been the last four years). Ironically, outside of Braxton Burmeister, we had that in 2017. Does anybody note the irony the Snake choose his dream location over a title contending team? And Cristobal systematically destroyed that system. I see so much talent right now that it is inexcusable we "play around and let teams beat us". I haven't seen a conference team that has the ability to stop us or score on us. I'm talking 35-7 halftime scores all year. We punished DTR, but let UCLA off the hook. It's as if Cristobal loves close scores. Colorado scoring 29 is disgusting to me. Bama rarely let's Vandy breach 14. LSU and Auburn struggle to score 20, Georgia knew scoring 28 wasn't going to be easy, or enough to defeat the Crimson Tide. THAT IS WHAT I WANT. Ohio State struggles to beat Clemson and Bama because they're just below that threshold. And the Buckeyes are really, really good. There is a standard our there. Recruits see it, avoid fans see it. It doesn't matter what you believe, what is required is the only thing that matters. You need both. It takes talent solid enough to draw the attention of the NFL every week. And coaching that forces NFL GM managers to attend crappy matchups like the game we watched last weekend. I think Cristobal is smart enough, but is he determined enough? Dominance forces Submission. That's what his terms lack. That is the missing piece. Chip even ignored this fact. That's why Stanford was his ultimate nemesis. It starts with looking at what it takes to beating the elite. Colorado shouldn't even have the right to breathe in our presence. USC should fear waking one the field to play us-even with all their talent. Bama and Ohio State should scheme all year to beat us. NFL execs should complain about travelling to Eugene week to week. We already have that kind of talent. Time to put it together.