Now up to 53.6 % 15-28 from 3, extremely hard to beat a team that just can't miss.

Hard to stop a team shooting 50% from 3.

On 1/2/2025 at 1:57 PM, OregonDucks said:

We could have blitzed the linebackers.
 

You can’t let a QB sit back in the pocket and pick you apart, especially if the safeties aren’t in the right place and are giving up big plays anyway. Might as well be aggressive and try to get pressure on Howard. He has made mistakes when under pressure. Unfortunately, Oregon’s defensive line was not able to get pressure only rushing 4.  
 

Oregon’s defense got gashed in the ground (7 yards per carry) and beat deep through the air. What exactly were they trying to do? Usually you aim to take something away from the offense.  

The D-line that was getting pressure in the first game against more or less the same guys was getting pushed back on their heels in the second game. The main difference I see is the amount of time off Oregon had. Had we had a lesser opponent for our first game to warm up I believe this game would have been a lot different. 

 

How many no-shows has there been in bowl games over the years, too many to count. Starting off with one of if not the best teams in the playoff after they had a warm up game doesn't bode well for OBD. 

 

This is why in the NFL many teams play their starters in games that really don't have any impact in playoff standing. They play the week after their final games and coaches still don't like to rest their players for one week unless they are true veterans. Remember these are still young adults and are easily distracted by the holidays, women, partying, etc.

I have to agree with Mike on this one DB's and safeties were not up to snuff and definitely not at the level we're used to having. I can barely recall a single time this year where a safety was in position to make a  play on a top receiver down the field. In  years past we always had a game changer at safety and there were no faster than the guys we have now. 

 

 

On 1/2/2025 at 12:20 PM, OregonDucks said:

Also, where is the player development? Other than one defensive end and the linebackers (who are a major part of the problem), Oregon has completely relied on transfer players. I would expect to see more contributions from sophomores/ juniors by now.  

Boettcher was a walkon I believe and his development over the last 2 years was nothing short of amazing. What we're really missing is a bunch of five star LBs and DBs that can compete with the talent of the five-star WRs and RBs we we're facing.

The only thing I see missing is Shelstad hitting more threes, for some reason he's been in a little bit of a slump this year. Tracy and Bartholomew are shooting amazing from outside but need some help from the other guards along with Evans and Bittle not shooting anymore threes. 

 

That's the only glaring weakness of this team that I see and I'm sure that'll just get better. Looking forward to the exciting year of men's basketball.

Unbelievable, the guy was literally knocked out.

How is it that Dilly didn't get coach of the year? Taking half the talent and going up against the big boy SEC to the end.

If you look at the stats to this game you would think Arizona State was ahead by two TDs.

What a great game! Dilly Dilly!

Seem to be executing on a much higher level O line giving a little more protection.

On 1/1/2025 at 12:13 PM, David Marsh said:

They look more overmatched. When small plays big the small player can win but they need to be perfect every time. 

 

Big takes advantage of any little mistakes. 

 

ASU has a good offensive line and good players... For the Big 12 but the Big 12 isn't he SEC and Texas has been one of the best recruiters in the SEC. They're in another league. 

O line is definitely over matched and yes the talent level is not even close to being even. Poor execution on defense has led to big plays now that they've settled in ASU's defense is looking much better.

 

Dropped passes have hampered the ASU O generally a sign of being rusty.

ASU seems rusty, I think this is everyone's biggest worry for the ducks.

ASU!

SEC is 0-4 against the B1G! I'm sure there's plenty of excuses why that is.

Herbstreit is really crying in his beer now. This game was a lot closer than it looked, tons of holding calls not called not to mention the horrible fumble call at the beginning of the game.

On another note Illinois is looking pretty good against another overrated SEC team. The refs took seven off the board and gave the ball to SC or this game would already be a lot different.

Alabama proved where they belonged.

Refs trying to help Bama win with that PF.

On 12/31/2024 at 10:12 AM, jrw said:

I say it's well past time for us to stop looking for validation from the "experts" and for pats on the head from ESPN and other blathering heads: the Ducks program is 100% legit and here to stay. I know it, you know it, and the chattering classes know it, but just can't bring themselves to say it.

 

We don't need their stinkin' approval. Instead, look at the numbers that matter, 13-0, and ranked #1.

ESPN talking Head just talked about the Ducks home game in Corvallis against tOSU. Do we need to say more.

Couldn't hold them down forever, Michigan is really getting burnt on the zone coverage.

I forgot about the interception.

Alabama's coughing up the ball left and right on their side of the field. 2 fumbles and a turnover on downs. Let the whining Begin starting with Kirk Herbstreet.

I would expect Bama to win this one but you just never know which Bama team will show up.

On 12/30/2024 at 3:57 PM, 30Duck said:

110th nationally in EPA-per-rush

This seems like a really funny metric.

 

Best ball stats quote

"In order to calculate EPA for a play, one has to know the expected points before the play and the expected points after the play. Expected points is based on down and yards to go until a first down, and distance to endzone. The values for expected points has been found by taking historical data and computing the average number of points scored by the possessing team in each situation."

 

33rd nationally in run defence allowing 126 yard a game, 26th in TDs.

 

Advanced metrics and analytics really need to be read and used carefully as a lot of it is  situation and some things are really hard to describe with an algorithm.