Jon Joseph

You cannot have too many good players if, in today's free agent world, you can keep them at 'home.' This young man is leaving a team that played significantly better last season and finished 8-4. He was foundational piece to this improvement. His DC has departed but his team's QB, DTR, is back. And UCLA with its cupcake OOC schedule will be 3-0 to the start the season. Regardless of the competition, after week 3, UCLA will be ranked in the AP top 25. If I'm the guy tasked with tracking and recruiting the portal, I would definitely want to know why this young man is leaving LA? Ditto for why any young man heads to what he believes will be 'greener pastures.' As we often see in the NFL, free agents who leave their team to sign for more money elsewhere quite often do not play as well or better, for their new team. If the coaches see Agude is a team player, sign him up.

The red flags are about to turn into lots of green backs. KT will be fine. Put that many microphones in front of my face at KT's age and I shudder at the comments that would have been uttered. Focusing on 'me' and not team seems to be the norm in today's society. An UGA starting WR left a champ team to get more throws from the Heisman Award winner. Our guy Dye? Off to LA for the $. QB Ewers graduates high school early, signs with Ohio State and without seeing the field makes big NIL bank before transferring to Texas. Why should the players differ from their coaches? SEE: Lincoln Riley, Brian Kelly and Mario Cristobal.

I apologize if too off topic. I just checked out all of the broadcast times for the Pac-12 CBB tournament. All games are on the Pac-12 Network except for 2 broadcast by FS1 and the champ game on FOX. How do you sell 'this stuff' to recruits? Would you rather play on the off the radar Pac-12 Network with its relatively few subscribers and lack of market reach; or play on the ACC, B1G or SEC Network? Fiddle while Rome burns? The 'leaders' of the Pac-12 have let the Pac-12 network drift for years now with, as far as I can tell, no cogent plan to make the network financially solvent; no plan to obtain more subscribers required to return the network to solvency and no plan to increase distribution. This 'strategy' included not expanding the conference's market size. As far as I can tell this is the plan: Merlin or Harry Potter will stop by, wave a magic wand and all will be well in the kingdom Larry built.

Hush puppy, hush y'all. Any collard greens sold in the local grocery stores? Black eyed peas? Hoppin' John? Probably doesn't matter; Eugene tells me that Sir Jack of Daniels is available.

But will the Ducks be up? Like UGA, BYU will be a physical game. I hope the team does not overlook WAZZU that will be 2-1 and with an outside chance at 3-0 when the Ducks visit the Palouse. One thing for certain, the Cougars fans will be geeked and the Ducks DBs and LBs are going to get a work out. Likely to be a 7:30 KO so in addition to being geeked the fans are likely to be well lubricated.

Maybe? But Ward did win the 'little Heisman Award,' the Walter Peyton Award for being the best player in FCS in 2021. Different competition as you so correctly note, but throwing for close to 5000 yards in a given season at any level is darn impressive. And kirklandduck, spot on in noting that Ward's HC at Immaculate Word is also coming to WAZZU as the OC. The system will not be new for Ward. HC Diekert is a D guy who is not likely to insert himself into the O. Wisconsin does not have a prolific O. The returning Badgers QB is mediocre at best. WSU gets the Badgers in a shoot out and ? I am impressed that WSU was able to schedule a H+H series with Wisconsin.

NEMESIS?

Isn't Jerry Glaucoma the front man for The Grateful Dead (Refs?)

And to get these Cougars on the road right after playing the BYU Cougars?

But now distant from MMMS (Mario Micro-Managing Syndrome,) think about how much he is saving in Doctor bills?

Between Axel's takes and cat GIFS, my cardiologist is on speed dial. 'Do you have a license for that monkee? What! Are you blind!' Axel, you are the man! I understand that your application to join Pac-12 HQ has been declined? Shocking!

Thanks Alex. I agree, 'much ado about nothing.' Edge rushers are a much needed commodity in today's NFL. If KT had issues, I believe said issues were with the HC and not KT taking plays off. In both Utah games he was most often double teamed and sometimes, triple teamed. Popo and Dorlus are good DL guys but did not help out with any kind of push up the middle vs the Utes. It could be argued that by the Utah game all Ducks knew that Mario was bolting and for this and perhaps a number of other reasons, were not inspired to ball out? Of course KT did not play vs OK. But what did we see vs the Sooners after being down 3-30 at halftime. In the 2nd half of the Alamo Bowl the entire team for some reason was unleashed and played a terrific half of football. Athletes were allowed to be athletic. Mario's 'small ball' not only wore down the fans, IMO it wore down the players.

The fall out at the QB position, with you I agree. Exacerbated perhaps by Nix having two seasons of eligibility left. Coming into 2022, Ty Thompson has 4 seasons remaining. We, including most definitely moi, tend to forget that 2020 was a no-loss-of-eligibility season. And RS seasons in addition to no-count 2020 are available. I do not necessarily disagree, but I think that if Nix gets the gig one of Thompson or Butterfield will stick around? And there are some big time QBs on the Ducks recruiting radar. The portal for better or worse has changed the QB recruiting calculus. Last season's presumptive Heisman winner from Oklahoma, will be starting in 2022 at South Carolina.

Not a question to begin with, but a statement - the CFB off-season is interminable. Especially, after the way a depleted team did not surrender in the Alamo Bowl after trailing 30-3 at the half. Oregon showed guts and gumption, playing one of the best halves of the season in the 2nd half in San Antonio. On to what I see as 5 key questions heading into the 2022 season. 1. Will The Coaching Staff Jell And Sell? We all have high hopes for Dan Lanning. But Dan has never been 'the Man.' On paper, Dan has brought in many the fine assistant coaches, all with terrific recruiting bona fides. But will these 'newbies' jell under the leadership of a head coach in his mid-30s? And will this group be able to sell a new system on both O and D to a still young Ducks squad? Will they be able to communicate the new systems to the players? One spring and one fall practice provides little time to do so before opening against the defending national champion. 2. Will the Team Be Able to Overcome The Loss Of Production On O? According to the Action Network's Returning Production Data, the Ducks O comes into the 2022 season having lost 80% of the 2021 production on O. This puts Oregon at No. 80 out of the 131 G5/P5 teams ranked by Action Network. With Brown, Dye (sigh) and Verdell moving on, Oregon is losing 80% of its 2021 rushing attempts. The good news, RB Cardwell returns having rushed for 8.6 YPC in 2021. And flipping RB James from UGA was a very good 'get.' But the RB room in 2022, if not already painted green, should be. Probably the best news on the O side of the ball is the OL returning 4 of the 5 guys who started in the Alamo Bowl, guys who played 85.2% of 2021 OL snaps. In this category Oregon comes in at comfortable No. 8 ranking. And the 2022 OL will be aided and abated by a very good and deep, group of TEs. At least in theory the offense will not be micro-managed by Dan Lanning, will be more up-tempo under OC Dillingham and will not play 'small-ball.' 3. Will The Team Be Able To Overcome The Loss Of Production On D? Action Network shows Oregon losing 53% of its 2021 production on D, No. 55 in the nation. In 2021, the Oregon D ranked a dismal 109 in Havoc Rate. However, the D needed a MASH Unit to look after all the guys who were injured. Foundational players like LB Noah Sewell (114 tackles, 8.5 TFL and 5 pass breakups,) DL Popo Amuvae and DL Brandon Dorlus return. But a player the quality of LB Justin Flowe has to be and stay healthy. To date, Flowe has appeared in 2 of the 21 games played since his arrival. The DBs have lost a couple of young CBs to the portal but there is talent returning and CB Gonzalez comes in from Colorado. Most importantly, Dan Lanning knows what he is doing when it comes to D and on paper, so do all of the assistant coaches on the D side of the ball. I have high hopes for the D playing together as a unit in a far better system on D. In Pac-12 conference play, the talent on the D side should be as good or better than any team and will not be dwarfed by an OL that the D plays against. 4. Will The Ducks Be Able To Overcome A Witch Of A Schedule? The Ducks open on the road 'at' Georgia. The defending champion will come into this game returning its championship QB and ranked a most likely No. 2 or 3 in the AP Preseason Poll. E. Washington is not an FCS lay-up; especially when playing E WA after what will undoubtedly be a very physical game versus Georgia. Then, Oregon gets BYU, a team that went 5-0 versus the Pac-12 in 2021 and a team that will be preseason ranked in the top 20. And 2022 is a year in which Oregon has to play 5 conference road games. This includes teeing it up against a very dangerous Washington State Cougars the Saturday after facing the BYU Cougars. It will be a home game, but Oregon also crosses-over against defending Pac-12 champ, Utah. 5. Who Starts At QB? Auburn transfer Bo Nix, Ty Thompson and Jay Butterfield give Oregon a deep and talented QB room. But only 1 guy can start. Nix is reuniting with OC Dillingham, Nix position coach the season Nix was Freshman of the Year on O in the SEC. Nix has wins over Alabama and Oregon on his resume. I expect the competition for the starting QB position will continue through fall camp. In this day and age of college football 'free agency,' via the transfer portal, why give any team an early shot at QB 'roster-tampering?' Oregon will have the highest ranked roster in the Pac-12. But the schedule in particular presents a very difficult challenge for a new head coach, one with no head coaching experience. Can't hardly wait for the Spring Game on April 23rd and the opener on September 3rd. Go Ducks!

David, great response regarding ties and conference tie breakers. I'm certain that once upon a time back in the day that conference ties happened and the title was judged on agreed upon criteria. But it happened infrequently prior to having to play OT after a game finishing in a tie. THE GAME, Notre Dame vs Michigan State back in the day, 1966 as I recall, ended in a tie. That MI ST team ended up losing to UCLA in an amazing Rose Bowl game, the game where UCLA's Stiles was knocked out twice and came back to make a game saving tackle for the Bruins. Fortunately, no guy dinged once let alone twice today, is allowed to return to the field of play. Notre Dame declined to play in a bowl game that season and yet, finished No. 1 in the AP/UPI poll.

After the game on the Palouse, How About NO! As of now now I'm wondering if the Ducks could defeat my D3 alma mammy Bowdoin?

SIGH. Where in the hay is the effort?

And 2 martini adult beverages were not enough to keep me in this game. This looks like Ducks football in 3 of its last 4 games. Has Dana lost this team?

Yes. Unfortunately, I see no G5 team or Michigan, or sigh, a Pac-12 team, beating out these 2 out in 2022. ACC? Pitt lost its QB. Slovis is perhaps a replacement at QB, but not enough, IMO, to keep Clemson out of the playoff. Slovis was beaten out by Dart who will playing at Ole Miss. And I think that NC State along with A+M is preseason too highly ranked? Clemson still has, by far, the best roster in the ACC. I know Dabo lost both his DC to OK and his OC to UVA but I still think Clemson is better than any team in the ACC and I also think that the Tigers will win at Notre Dame. I am not sold on Freeman as the new Domers HC. A defense oriented guy who got schooled by Gundy's half time adjustments in the Fiesta Bowl. And opening at Ohio State? South Carolina could have been mentioned as a team on the rise with Rattler coming over to QB, but I think that USC east Gamecocks winning at Clemson is a big ask?

Where is the R rated version? Sorry, I forgot, wrong board.

Stanford vs SC in week 2, after SC has eaten Rice for lunch and Stanford has brushed off Colgate, should be a very interesting game. The Pac-12 'newbie' coach vs the Pac-12 'veteran coach.'

Thank you DanL. I considered including WSU as being a team on the rise? In 2022, WSU has but 4 conference road games. And 2 of its OOC games are home versus Idaho and Colorado State. These games should be Cougars Ws. And with Diekert now the official full time HC, and with the 2021 Walter Payton Award winner (the 'little Heisman') Cameron Ward, transferring in to play QB, along with his Immaculate Word U (IMU) head coach following Cameron to Pullman to be the Cougars OC, it will be 'bombs away!' Can WSU get into and win a shoot-out at Wisconsin? I expect the Badgers in 2002 to continue to be an O-challenged team. A WSU win in Madison will not be a shock to me. WSU Cougars get Oregon in Pullman the week after Oregon has played the BYU Cougars in Autzen. THIS is a 'best look out' game for the Ducks. Stanford did have a good 2022 recruiting class, no doubt. But Stanford's roster is nowhere close the days when McCaffery played what should have been Heisman-winning ball down on The Farm. The days when TEs, OL and DL guys routinely matriculated to the NFL. In addition to SC 'stealing' Dye from the portal, Stanford also lost its best RB to SC. BTW: Last season at Immaculate Word U, Ward threw for close to 5000 (not a typo) yards!

Great take. Stetson at UGA, coached up. AB at Oregon and I should add Justin Herbert, coached at all?

In keeping with upcoming March Madness, what CFB teams are likely to rebound in 2022 and what teams are like to 'foul out?' Here are my guesses. REBOUNDING - Pac-12 South - USC - The Portal King, sorry Lane Kiffin, is coming off a low 4-8 2021 floor. Many the quality transfer has come to Troy, including QB Caleb Williams, WR Mario Williams and sigh, RB Troy Dye. And having Lincoln Riley 'transfer in' and replacing the over-his-head Clay Helton as head coach (HC), is a big upgrade at the HC position. The OL play for SC in 2021 was the best in 4 seasons, averaging 4.4 yards per run attempt. 4 starters are back and a 2nd team OT from the ACC has also transferred in, coming from UVA. The OL gave up only 18 sacks in 12 games in 2021 and Caleb Williams is far more athletic than was QB Dart. The D? Long way to go, but Grinch as the new DC should be an improvement. All 3 out-of-conference (OOC) games, Rice, Fresno State and Notre Dame are being played in LA. The Notre Dame game is the last regular season game and Stanford falls between Rice and Fresno, giving the Trojans a good shot to be 3-0 entering the balance of Pac-12 play. However, Troy is on the road for 5 conference games, including at south division favorite Utah. I expect to see Troy play a lot of shoot-out games in 2022. I will be surprised if SC does not at least flip the script and finish 8-4, or better. Pac-12 North - Sorry my Ducks friends, but I see UW in 2022 at the very least becoming bowl eligible. New HC DeBoer lit it up in NAIA ball at Sioux Falls and did a very good job as the HC at Fresno. QB Penix, if he can stay healthy, is coming in from Indiana where he played his best football under DeBoer when DeBoer was the OC at Indiana. Kent State and Portland State in Seattle should be OOC lay-ups. And a win over a Michigan State team that lost many a good player including Doak Walker award-winning RB Kenneth Walker, at home in Seattle is IMO, doable. UW does play 5 conference road games this season but under new leadership and with a decent returning roster UW should be greatly improved. FOULING OUT - Pac-12 South - ASU last season started 4-1 before finishing 3-4, then losing a hard fought bowl game to Wisconsin. QB Daniels has left the building along with 5 assistant coaches who left in the middle of an NCAA investigation. ASU President, Michael Crow, has supported HC Herm Edwards, but Crow was also a big fan of Larry Scott. 2 of the 3 OOC games are definitely winnable but I do not see the Sun Devils winning at Oklahoma State and I do not think ASU will go bowling in 2022. Pac-12 North - OREGON STATE - The Beavers made it to bowl eligibility in 2021, finishing 7-6. But the departing excellent RB will be hard to replace. OR ST does not play a P5 opponent OOC but Boise State and at Fresno State are two worthy Mountain West opponents. In its favor the Beavs do play 4 conference road games. The Beavers have been surprisingly weak this year, to date, in attracting players from the transfer portal. I do not see Oregon State being bowl eligible in 2022. NATION-WIDE REBOUNDING - Clemson and Ohio State. I will be surprised if these two playoff 'usual subjects' are not in the 2022 final 4. Ohio State has brought in Jim Knowles from Oklahoma State to be the new DC. QB Stroud is one of the top 2 Heiman favorites. Ohio State has 10 WRs on its 2022 roster, all were top 150 recruits. And WR Ngata-Smith, who is back, was all-world in the Rose Bowl vs Utah. I think last season's loss in Ann Arbor was an aberration. Clemson - In a 'bad season,' Clemson went 10-3, defeating Iowa State in its bowl game. The Clemson D was strong the entire 2021 season. QB DGU played solid ball for Doctor Pepper, in Fansville, but not in the real world; 10 TDs, 9 Ints. 5* QB Klubnik, has enrolled early and the Clemson OL that was young and struggled last season returns 4 starters from 2021, who should all improve. Clemson's roster coming in to 2021 was ranked No. 4 in the nation and Clemson just signed another top 10 group of recruits. The Tigers do not face Georgia OOC. Clemson does play at Notre Dame on on 11/5, but gets Miami and South Carolina at home in the last 2 games of the regular season. NATION-WIDE FOULING OUT - TEXAS A+M - Jimbo has lost at least 4 games every season as the Aggies HC. A new QB will be starting for A+M in 2022. A+M lost all of its excellent DL starters all who are expected to be drafted come April. I think A+M will have a decent season, but when I see this team ranked No. 4, 5 or 6 in the 2022 preseason; well, I don't see it. I think A+M gets the same roster-rankings-bump at did SC for many the season post-Pete Carroll. CINCINNATI - HC Fickle has definitely down a great job at Cincy, producing the 1st G5 team to make the final 4. But this is not yet a 're-load program.' Cincy lost QB Ridder, RB Ford, DBs and certain to be NFL draft picks, Sauce Gardner and Coby Bryant. The Bearcats won at Notre Dame last season, a signature win in 2021. I do not see The Bearcats winning at Arkansas in 2022. Like A+M, I think Cincy will have a good season but will finish behind Houston and perhaps UCF, both to be future B12 members along with Cincy, in the AAC in 2022. Agree with me? What other teams do you see improving or floundering in 2022?

Don't know why football cannot follow CBB and distinguish between intentional and unintentional 'flagrant fouls?' Especially when replay is available for 3rd party review? Something regarding the timing rules needs to happen to limit the number of plays and contact in a game and to fit the game into the allotted broadcast windows. This is not 'three yards and a cloud of dust' football. We routinely see games with 60+ pass attempts. Start the clock when the ball is ready for play and not when the ball is snapped would definitely shorten today's game. And what is wrong with games ending in ties in regular season?