Mike West

They don't look very physical at present

OBD look a little off

I used to think that way. Until I saw Utah give Penn State all it could handle (till Cameron Rising got injured). They were good enough to give Michigan and Ohio State fits last year. And nobody expected a Mario Cristobal led Oregon team to beat Ohio State in Columbus. Sometimes it's a matchup deal. Ohio State sure surprised Georgia last year (as I suspect any team with a high caliber QB to do in the SEC). I'm quite confident the best coaches (and there are about twenty) can tango with the elite in a one off. I believe the playoffs are going to surprise people the next couple of years. Clearly I believe the SEC has been overrated a few years (even OBD ran in Georgia well. Had Nix had elite WRs, that's a horse race of a game-their secondary rarely gets exposed- and I think that's because the conference has average QBs).

The only thing I disagree with is the four playoff teams really have been the best. After COVID the balance started to change. Now, as in 21';22' and this year, the top 8 teams are fairly close with #s 1&2 separated from the rest. This year there are 8 solid teams with little separation. I think rankings will continue, and eventually the conference title games go away. That will create some mismatches in my opinion, but unless a team focuses on winning ten every year, they will not be good enough to be in the playoffs, much less win the Natty.

Oregon 35-23 1 1 335 yards passing

I'm nervous too. The Fuskies have a matchup advantage here. They, like Georgia (whom I believe is the hardest puzzle to solve), set up the Secondary so well they get guys open often. I believe the Corners (OBD) get beat here and there, but not to the degree they did before. Washington likes to Gondor TDs from their own 40, the opponent's 40 and the opponent's 20. That is their major tell. I believe that will be defended much better Friday. Fingers crossed!!!

I'm going to make two unpopular statements here related to this. First of all, I don't believe this number is high. For all intense purposes, the"mistaken fourth down calls" were a result of not executing. The final score should have been 46-29 had Nix taken his trying and gone through his progressions ( first time) and taken his time on the second throw to Franklin at the two ( he scored if he catches it). I realize everybody in the solar system disagrees. That's fine with me. Execution was the problem. And as we have witnessed, the offense and the defense have spent the rest of the season on better execution. Penalties, and once again, the Safeties are going to be the difference in this game. If I see a Safety look at the QB instead of take away his choices I'm going to go nuclear. I may be able to attend this game, so " The Sun of All Fears" may be in play lol.

Oregon 45-17 2 2 350

I feel it too. But it doesn't diminish from the fact this team has killer instinct, and shows poise as good as Chip's Natty team. My worry is the same issue I brought up before the Fusky Fiasco: I'm not sure the Safeties are good enough to shut down the best passing offenses. I've seen improvement. I've seen better adjustments than I've ever seen before. What bugs me the most is our Safeties get caught flat footed because they stare down the QB instead of taking away his options. Looking at the quarterback is like a kid in the candy store: you forget what you're doing. You freeze because all the candy looks so good. You reach for the snicker bar forgetting you came for the payday. OBD have an Achilles Heel. I still think they pay the Fuskies back. And I actually believe they are as good as every elite team out there. It comes down to inches at this point. I hope I never see an interception turn into the completion before we give up the go ahead score type play again. But I have my doubts. Even though we haven't seen many fiascos like that play since, I know how good these elite coaches are.

Oh I so hope you are correct. I'm just worried a Bama UGA game like the Tua stunner plus Michigan Ohio State playing a thriller just monkey wrenches the whole deal. Any repeat of the battle in Seattle from those four, without a couple of flat out dominating wins by OBD gives the committee justification to foster rematches not including OBD and UW. Fingers crossed!!!!!

Arizona needs to step into the top ten. They hurt the conference by taking out Oregon State. Unless of course their rout today is a huge marker in the CFP Committee's eyes. Are Arizona and Oregon State considered the Penn State, LSU, Missouri types this year? Or does the committee look at the PAC12 like the media is starting to feel? Oregon State has to win looking like Ohio State v Michigan next week tonight in order to make OBD look playoff worthy. Even then, we need a 49-13 performance three weeks in a row to quell the narrative the PAC12 Champ is mediocre. I expect a battle in Seattle type game in Ann Arbor next week. That is going to hurt OBD, because a similar battle in Atlanta resulting in a Bama win makes those four look better than us. Titles go out the window unless we just obliterate the Beavers and the Fuskies. Style points are definitely going to matter. As I speak, the Beaver-Fusky game is passing the eye test. They are pounding each other physically. That helps. Points will also if the Beavers win. Then we need to just gut those damn builders. And the Fuskies. That is the only way I see a playoff lock: gut the Beavers so convincingly it looks like nuclear war dropped, and singe Washington so convincingly, the Beaver victory (theirs and ours against them) look ordinary AND put a wet blanket on eye candy Blue Blood wonderkind matchups. Sorry guys, I don't trust the committee. By the way, OBD are an early 11 1/2 favorite next week. Not a good opinion of a "top ten" Oregon State, of the conference's reputation (though we are definitely that much better than fhem) Either the Fuskies dominate tonight, of this game starts to look more like the battle in Seattle in my eyes. Otherwise, Four Best is going to haunt me.

UW all the way. Bama, Georgia Ohio State and Michigan are too Blue Blood to leave it to Beaver.

I was at the Hall of Fame ceremony when Rich Brooks was inducted. It was clear that night he learned how to develop OBD into a perennial title contender. He figuratively built a Lego Land version of the Duck (think of our mascot lol)) that put Oregon on the list of future Blue Bloods. If you include Chip Kelly, three coaches left unfinished business on the table, and all three threw away damn good shots at a national championship. For each one of them. Think about that for a moment. All three had the talent, and two of them had the type of offense and defense to make it happen (the third flat out abandoned the most lethal offense Oregon has ever had in the history of the program). I truly believe Cristobal made the right choice, because, as Miami is learning, he doesn't have the chops to turn a program into a champion (now he gets paid for their folly). Taggart was an absolute fool. He hadn't learned how to develop any school into a champion, and walked away from the best talent he ever coached ( and recruited for that matter). It was all there for him to put together, and he shattered the paradigm that Oregon couldn't recruit elite talent Poor Chip didn't realize professional football players don't give a damn about football. Watching Chip fundamentally transform that game of football was thrilling to say the least. Yet Chip proved brilliant football acumen is no match for greed and self interest. Which brings me to one of the best young minds I've ever seen in the sport. Always prepared, thoughtful, and diabolically strategic. The guy can motivate, and is a superb leader. Everything one wants in an executive walks into Oregon's pressroom every Monday and remind us what world class excellence looks like. We are extremely fortunate. We are witnessing history. Dan Lanning is giving Oregon it's best shot to finish what Rich Brooks started.

I have a feeling the absolute arse kicking will stick this time. If you think we have a bitter taste from last year as fans...

Man, What will OBD look like if they eliminate the unforced errors and penalties? This team is on the cusp. I hope they can fine tune those issues.

Penalties and unforced errors are making USC look decent. This game should be an absolute obliteration. OBD have lost their killer instinct.

Got away with the push off. That is why I can't stand PAC12 refs. Ref was watching the ball instead I'd the WR/CB. It's a conspiracy!!!!!!!!

Disappointed in the breakdown on the last defensive drive. I don't USC to score in the 2H. That is possible. Have to seal the edge better ( a glaring issue I see too often). But for the one 56 yard pass play, USC hasn't been able to move the ball much. Hoping for adjustments to totally shut them down. We're in competition with Alabama, and holding USC scoreless in a half would serve notice OBD are a complete nightmare to face.

Well, There goes the shutout (an old guy can dream!). Williams is the only reason they can score so much. Just can't defend that kind of mobility. Secondary looks good though.

oops.

I do actually. It is getting cold here in Nevada, and I suspect it will be in Tuscon as well. That favors our boys. Nothing worse than having to adjust to a kind of heat that also feels humid this time of year. An East Coast Prime Time Kickoff would be ideal. Continue to get eyeballs Prime Time AND be able to work in PNW type conditions would be great.

Oh but I fear you more than any high school coach. You pick up what the experts do as well as the experts. And I doubt you have the hubris to stick to your guns just because you know football!!! You're a chess player without even knowing it. Oh yes, I've had discussions with you that make Gretsky's spin move seem normal. Make Magic Johnson's no look passes ordinary. I can only imagine what you would throw at high schools with the knowledge you throw our way (not to mention quite a few D1 coaches).

To elaborate on this further. I have seen some brilliant analysis of OBD in this forum that have shaped my opinion of the team. Observations that have shaped my belief of where the team is, and perspectives about the coaching staff this year. When Lanning says he self evaluates, it seems like coach speak most times. Looking at what the team has put on the field since backs up his words. WSU is dangerous, and it requires taking it to them immediately to blunt their belief they can play with anyone. Utah is dangerous when you give them leeway they don't deserve. Both teams faced a blunt instrument-the full force of our talent at the line of scrimmage on both offense and defense. It is as if Lanning reads this forum because some of the comments I've seen appear to show up on game day. From play calling to attitude to showing the ability to calibrate aggressiveness into better results (more practical analysis of the conditions on the ground). I've seen comments about adjusting thought processes to what the team is facing real time, and low and behold the team is dealing with it real time and executing accordingly. The players are loose as a goose, and clearly focused on handling business. They are dealing with the moment more frequently, something someone mentioned ( I can't remember who said it though). What I am seeing is a team that understands itself, and its opponents. That is a dangerous team because that kind of team can find solutions to the challenges of the moment. And I got that from insights on this Forum. Iron sharpens iron. We may be on to something special here.

I don't think you're mistaken at all. I don't even believe your thinking is flawed. OBD did look like the better team, but we just missed out on some key plays that would have shown just how much better we are. I actually expected a loss, and I was quite pleased the team showed it could handle the pressure of a team that could perform as well as they do. OBD erased a lead that appeared improbable. We certainly gambled too much-on offense and defense (in my opinion). They just played out of their minds and were clutch more than anyone expected. We handled that atmosphere better than most would, including UGA and Michigan in my opinion (the two teams we would have to play absolutely flawless ball against). I also believe OBD are better than Washington. And the team as a whole are on a positive learning curve-players and coaches. I talked to an expert whom I trust better than most. He thought Lanning gave the game away also-something I still disagree with, because I just don't think the Fuskies were going to lose that day. They coached as well as we did. What I especially took away from that loss was Lanning absolutely knows what he is doing. Lanning planned and executed well for EVERY condition and the exact outcome. He knew FGs were not going to cut it. That has bourn out exactly since then. To the degree he had his players were very well prepared for Utah. Not only that, the players are starting to figure out football. Especially on defense. They are exactly where they are supposed to be no matter the opposition's play call. I only saw three plays where defenders were out of position according to where they were supposed to be (from my perspective mind you-this probably isn't a universal opinion). The coaches and players adjusted quickly to Utah's adjustments-even when they didn't succeed initially. That is a direct reflection of how the game was called against Washington. Teams can be better than you on a given day, and still not be better than you overall. Matchups and situations, and performance on that weekend predicated the Fuskies would win that day. I thought OBD played better than expected, and showed just how good of a team they really are. Which is why I stated they are ahead of schedule. I didn't expect the kind of performance they displayed in Seattle-especially the coaching. I expect it now-especially after Lanning explained himself after the UW loss.