Mike West

I only watched the first quarter. Shut it off when I posted such. What I saw was there was no way I'd blitz knowing my Safeties were going to be at least ten yards off target. Jeremiah Smith made a beautiful catch against perfect coverage ( he muscled his way open). That pass should have been batted down by a safety. Smith caught another pass in traffic for the exact same reason. The safety was late to the play. Why? Guess Cover Two requires a safety to shut down fades, posts and corner routes. It's so simple, the GEICO Cave man can do it. That's it . Three routes. But if you're looking at the QB instead of getting your butt in position to cover those routes, a blitz absolutely guarantees an explosive play. That's why I shut the TV off. I've seen this movie before. I'll say it again. With the exact personnel in the secondary the past two years, DL wins a title if his LBs and Safeties take away options instead of looking at the QB. I'll say it one more time. Tua threw an overtime TD pass because the safety, in Cover two, didn't take away the fade route on his side of the field. That is exactly why Alabama beat Georgia for the Natty. Look at the film.. Film never lies.

I look at this stuff a lot. I love BB. But I would attack him and Bassa specifically. Because both are not only a step too slow, but they're practically frozen in time looking at the QB. What makes BB special is his instinct at defending the run. He reads RBs well, and has a very good feel for where the holes are. If I'm an OC, I'm drawing up pass plays to attack those two. Because both are a step too slow.

I have to disagree just a little. I think Ohio State played possum better than Lanning did. Wil Howard practiced those plays way before the Michigan game. Over and over and over again. Lupoi never saw them. Just three or four plays against Tennessee. Stein on the other hand, in order to win every game, exposed the entire offense. Every play Stein revealed yesterday was already on film. Lupoi didn't really face an explosive offense until Ohio State, and the Buckeyes didn't show even half their playoff set of plays. Ohio State had Stein 's ( and Lupoi's) entire sample. So essentially, Lupoi and Stein had forecast every response they'd have to multiple situations, while Chip Kelly didn't show why he had against Penn State or Indiana. And ESPECIALLY Michigan. They could've obliterated the Wolverines, but they chose to shelve those plays. I believe Ryan Day concealed his entire playoff playbook because he had enough talent to win just playing basic football. Combine my pet peeves and you have the perfect storm. I believe the most fundamental tactic to win a Natty is to forget about looking at the QB. That is a guaranteed ten win season all by itself. Ask Georgia fans. They'd have three modern Titles executing that one task. It's more complicated in general, but that specific skill will shut down most QBs, and force OCs to really earn their millions. My opinion of course.

Oh I believe DL has his hands all over that defense. They're looking for a prototype at each position. DL got it at Georgia, put his stamp all over it and made those boys beyond awesome. Lightening in a bottle. One in ten million odds. From my perspective, there just aren't enough players in college football to play the kind of system DL and JL want to run. I don't want them to stop their talent acquisition strategy though. I think they'll figure it out. DL is too driven. He's going to get that damn title.

One thing I'd like to say is this team was coached well enough and was talented enough to handle Ohio State. They proved that in October. Size and physicality wasn't the problem yesterday. I've mentioned why in another post. I've actually stated what some major flaws are for two years. Never abandon the edge on defense ( ever- give up something else, but seal those damn edges as if your life depends on it). The other flaw us a national pandemic. Coaches harp on eyeballing the QB. You cannot cover your man and look at the QB simultaneously. You'll always lose your man. Even if he's right next to you. One day, I'm going to post a thousand videos of exactly that. Yes, there are thousands of examples. That's how I know it's worse than any disease mankind has faced. On offense, were fine. Physical enough by far. The only reason I won't describe why is that the changes I recommend will never be implemented. It's not my offense. Heck, I'd hire Fushduck in a hot minute and challenge him to infinity in coming up with five hundred Sequential plays. Nobody would stop Fushduck if he has 500 Sequentials. But alas, Will Stein is pretty damn good. He'll learn from today. He will find conflict routes against the best damn Havoc causing defense eventually. It is possible. Just watch Joe Montana dismantle the best havoc generating defense ever,- the 1985-87 Chicago Bears. Winning a Natty is within our reach. Lots of things have to go your way though. It's just the nature of the beast

Overall I agree. One thing I'd like to say though is this team was coached well enough and was talented enough to handle Ohio State. They proved that in October. Size and physicality wasn't the problem yesterday. I've mentioned why in another post. I've actually stated what some major flaws are for two years. Never abandon the edge on defense ( ever- give up something else, but seal those damn edges as if your life depends on it). The other flaw us a national pandemic. Coaches harp on eyeballing the QB. You cannot cover your man and look at the QB simultaneously. You'll always lose your man. Even if he's right next to you. One day, I'm going to post a thousand videos of exactly that. Yes, there are thousands of examples. That's how I know it's worse than any disease mankind has faced. On offense, were fine. Physical enough by far. The only reason I won't describe why is that the changes I recommend will never be implemented. It's not my offense. Heck, if hie Fushduck in a hot minute and challenge him to infinity in coming up with five hundred Sequential plays. Nobody would stop Fushduck if he has 500 Sequentials. But alas, Will Stein is pretty damn good. He'll learn from today. He will find conflict routes against the best damn Havoc causing defense eventually. It is possible. Just watch Joe Montana dismantle the best havoc generating defense ever,- the 1985-87 Chicago Bears. Life is good in Duck Nation. Trust me.

That was my exact sentiment going into the Wisconsin game. I do think the CCG was a lesson though. The team's resolve was tested and they passed. I absolutely believe the layoff was a factor. There was no margin for error against an elite turn like Ohio State, and we suffered from the haze while they were in complete auto pilot. Ohio State expected to drill us like that in October. Nobody had shown the blue print for showing the Ducks down, and Stein attached exactly like I would have because the Buckeyes were not expecting the level of talent they were facing. This team was good enough to win yesterday. But flaws are flaws and I'm telling you right now, Cover Two is useless if the safeties are looking at the QB. Georgia fans can tell you firsthand because a Freshman QB won a Natty simply because their safety got caught looking into the backfield instead of shutting down that left side fade route. There isn't much I'd change from this year. OBD future is as bright as the sun.

I actually thought the CBs played well today. I believe the layoff hurt (the team was too slow to the Ohio State's speed - they weren't game ready for a full half and it was over by then). Will Stein did not prepare well for Ohio State's adjustments. One advantage the Buckeyes had was Maryland showed the blueprint, and only Ohio State had the personnel to execute it. Stein was ill prepared for dealing with the kind of talent capable of neutralizing the speed OBD have at WR. He'll learn from that lesson because WR screens and perimeter game will not suffice against the kind of talent t Ohio State has (and any team in the future with that kind of talent). Dan Lanning will win a Natty when he teaches his linebackers and safeties to take away the QBs options. READ CAREFULLY: DO NOT EVER LOOK AT THE QB. Josh Lupoi will win National DC of the year if he teaches his DEs/OLBs to forever seal the edge. No DEs sliding to the B or C Gap. Moses has spoken. The tablets have been thrown to the Israelites. The Red Sea has been parted. Ohio State had the one benefit OBD did not have: a set of teams that completely revealed how to slow down their offense. Maryland and Michigan showed how to use their secondary, and DL to slow Stein's offense to a crawl.

I guess I need to shut up. I might need to turn this game off. ‘’The End

Looks like OBD are shaking off cobwebs.

They blitzed and left Texas’ best WR in one on one. On 4th and 12. Unfortunate strategy. ASU had their shot though. Dilly is very impressive. Too bad it got away from them.

Can anybody tell me why kickers stopped kicking punts to the sideline when they’re trying to pin offenses inside the ten? Asking for a friend.

And quit looking at the QB. Reed covers that and probably intercepts that pass, or cuts off Smith’s route if he just looks at Smith/. My pet peeve violated already.

They ran that TD play against Tennessee. Poor situational planning there. And Lupoi has decided to go man to man. Bad choice. This defense absolutely must seal the edges and play zone coverage. Heck. Just stand still if need be. Let them run to you. Don’t chase them for crying out loud.

I totally agree. Would be a waste of time trying to stop him playing 1 on 1 against him. Better to force him to catch short passes all game. The guy is already NFL caliber. Muhammad (and Reed and Manning) are too small to handle his physical game.

It's the kind of thing that used to be a regular part of fandom about the time the O was placed on Skinner's Butte. Think Animal House. Toilet Paper in trees used to be a big thing too. Oregon State kidnapped Oregon's Homecoming Queen ( I believe the year OBD went to the Rose Bowl-noy sure, but the kidnapping happened). These days, you'd get arrested for such 'juvenile' antics. No harm, no foul as far as I'm concerned. Nobody died. We paint the thing every year anyway, so what's the big deal. If girls just want to have fun, why can't guys? Brings back memories. And yes, we got yelled at damn near every day. Somehow, us old geezers are doing pretty damn good.

34-31 Ducks 1 TO 1 Sack 300 Yards Passing

Ironically, it was BSU's QB that impressed me. I was sure PSU would shut Jenty down, and keep Boise under ten points. They did get a cheap TD off of a blown coverage, but BSU's QB played much better than I expected. Again, Penn State under performed. They really can't throw the ball. Not enough to win the big games.

Oh I’d take Bama fan any day. Ohio State fans were complaining about Day losing this year BEFORE they even played a game. Ryan Day is an excellent coach. Top shelf by far. His fan base better hope they don’t lose him because I don’t see ANYBODY hitting the level of success he’s already reached. Not to mention maintain the level of excellence Ohio State has been known for…for decades. If he loses Wednesday, they’re going to complain. But they just don’t realize that defense isn’t as excellent as they’ve been given credit for. They have fundamental flaws that have been exploited for years. Elite offenses own that unit. OBD have the same issue, so it will really come down to who makes more plays on defense. At least our fans can handle reality (at least better than Ohio State fans).

Penn State shouldn’t scare you. Especially if you heavily scrutinized their playoff game. We made them look much better on offense than they are in my opinion. I was extremely disappointed in their offense. They reverted right back to how they played Ohio State. I’m not impressed. I think they ransack Boise State, but they will have trouble scoring in the Semi Finals.

Oh but I want OBD to win so bad. To shut them all up. Outside of Duck Nation, it feels like nobody wants Oregon to win the Natty. FEBU

Well believe it or not, Georgia and Texas will be favored as well if we face either of them. All three squads have more talent quite frankly. Especially on defense. Dillon Gabriel has been the measurable the sports books, FPI and eye test can't account for. I want to show why, but it makes me want to say what I want to do, which isn't going to happen. I happen to believe one simple adjustment on defense would just about shut down everyone's running game. Which is ironic, because we still have trouble stopping lethal passing attacks. Again, it's a waste of breath explaining what I'd like to see because frankly, I'm not the DC. So I get to fret because I know if I see it, the guys that get paid millions see it. The one thing that gives me hope is the defense has yet to allow momentum go against them for more than two series on the field. They kill momentum enough times to allow our offense to outscore teams. That saved OBD against both OSU and PSU. Dillon Gabriel is going to be the reason we win it all. As long as Stein gives him multiple options to complete passes, OBD have a chance to make history. Because we're going to have to score 40 plus every damn game. We're basically looking at Oregon/UW circa 2023 the next three games. Get your popcorn out because fireworks are going to be on full display the next 4-12 Quarters.

I've actually been hoping he'd run a Sequential play off the bubble/tunnel screens. This is a perfect game to unload a couple with a check- down option.. Stein has created a short game juggernaut. Corners and safeties are going to look for those 5-8 yard routes Wednesday. No better time to pull a "Marcus Arroyo"and steal a TD going against his typical screen with a fake block, straight upfield fade/seam combo.

The SEC and B1G could entirely settle this by scheduling the other p2 in November. Then SOS will truly be on display. Better yet, leave games open in each of the "P4"/G5 conferences in late October to late November so the contenders can weed out the Pretenders. Will they do that? Probably not. I would love to have seen a Minnesota versus Ole Miss in Minneapolis one year, and a USC versus Bama in Tuscaloosa. Indiana at South Carolina. A&M versus Miami. Missouri versus SMU. The possibilities are wonderful. The impact enormous. The TV ratings close to playoff type numbers for the teams still in contention. Better yet, it would preserve what makes college football different than the NFL (a pull for your alma mater and rooting for the teams to beat the teams you hate). All the teams would be who they are, and we would get a mini playoff for the main contenders, and exposure of the true depth of each power conference the first and second week of November, maybe the last week of October. That would clean up a lot of mystery about who is qualified. But the SEC won't do that because their true depth would be on display. But Indiana would have been exposed. South Carolina would have had another Clemson like matchup to display their level in comparison to Bama and Ole Miss. Bama and Ole Miss could state their case on the field instead of hiding behind their conference. Notre Dame would have to prove they could handle more than just the ACC. Indiana, Miami, SMU, Clemson, Kansas State, Colorado,ASU and BYU would had their shot at showcasing their status. It might even work in lieu of the CCGs. That way, Ohio State can face Tennessee before the playoffs, and Oregon could have displayed what they were against Bama or Ole Miss since both of them were supposedly going to be favorites against the spread. What I'm saying is a little creativity would go very far to separate the wheat from the chaff while still preserving the beauty of college football. The end of the regular season can function like the.'play in' games in the NCAA basketball tourney. Some kind of format to make the end of the season a TV bonanza while people talk about who is actually deserving. The playoff committee could still be a part of the process because let's face it, controversy sells. The SEC could toot its horn and demonstrate their belief they are a better conference. The ACC and Big12 could show their Boise State circa 2004 chops. Notre Dame would been exposed without really losing much status with a decent showing (their defense impressed me this year, not sold on their offense though). I guess I like to write novels, but long story short, the P2 can take their regular season money with their power contracts, while the other p2 can get some good TV money from the deal. Even the contending G5 could get in the game. This kind of format would allow the P2 their power,, while providing some financial assistance to the P2 and the G5 contenders. College Football would still look like College Football and fans outside the P2 would still be interested in the P2 ( I don't think that will happen if the P2 go down the road they'd like to go). In my opinion, this comes down to greed versus protecting the sanctity of college football. We know the SEC has more talent in their region. We know the P2 are way better than the rest. The TV execs can get their main playoff matchups without soiling college football. It's up to the universities to fight for the game.

10-3 SEC far more qualified. Especially in Georgia's case. The Bulldogs played the "top of the conference". Whatever that's worth. The SEspnC have better lineman than the other conferences. That's about it. So Tennessee and South Carolina can probably beat Indiana. Given that, the real question is how much do we want the SEC and the B1G to take their beach ball and play on another beach? The separation is already clear between them and the other two "power" conferences. I'm fine with it so long as the SEC schedule includes B1G teams. Then roster management and coaching will determine who the best teams are.