Jon Joseph

Oregon has covered the spread one time in 2021. Remember the game in Columbus ? SIGH Oregon and CAL have combined this season for 60 points on average. With the Oregon D dinged up I am taking the Over. Now 9-5 on the season. Almost had the 63.5 over TX/OK at half time. UF 42 vs Vandy 0 covered the 38.5 over. But Va Tech could not hang on vs ND.

Parity or parody? The Pac-12's OOC record makes the case for parody.

Charles, this great take of yours brings me to today's article up on the forum regarding what QB would play for Oregon coaches in the past? Mario's offense is a DC-3 in a world of jet propulsion offenses. Both the play calling and the execution on O, as well as the QB coaching, are all bad. Saturday, watching Sark, Riley, Kiffin and Day call QB friendly plays in QB friendly systems was beyond frustrating. The WR talent that Mario has recruited is totally going to waste. Are Ty Thompson, Butterfield and Robby Ashford all busts? Not one of these guys has more upside than a QB who will be lucky to play in the CFL? I do not want to and haven't given up on the Ducks in 2021. But I am 'this close' to saying farewell to Mario. Farewell before the OREGON BRAND is completely destroyed. Before Autzen Stadium on gameday looks like Stanford stadium. How can Mario and Moorhead, if Moorhead is listened to, be this incompetent?

Very interesting article, thank you. For the most part you have, correctly I believe, determined that all or almost all of the former HCs mentioned went with and would go with the conservative choice. Last Saturday was a great example of what a change in QB can and cannot do for a team. Penn State was in control of the game at Iowa. Then the starting PSU QB, Sean Clifford, went down with an injury. The true frosh QB who replaced Clifford was simply over his head and not ready for prime time. Iowa came back to win. Texas vs Oklahoma. OK QB Spencer Rattler was shaky from the start. Lincoln Riley replaced Rattler with true frosh Caleb Williams. Due to COVID, Williams did not play a down of football his senior season in high school. Yet, Williams was more than ready to play and to lead his time to an all time comeback vs Texas. Someone at Oklahoma obviously was coaching Williams up. Are QBs in the Oregon QB room being coached up? Shough started 2020 playing very good ball. He retrogressed as the season progressed. At Texas Tech under OC Sonnie Cumbie he won the job and was leading the B12 in a number of stats before being injured vs Texas. And Burgmeister is playing well after transferring to Va Tech. We have all seen what Justin Herbert has done since progressing to the NFL. JH's talents were not properly used at Oregon. Of course he has better WRs in the NFL but it appeared to me that Mario's system on O not only inhibited JH's growth but also the growth of the WRs? It was FCS, but Vernon Adams was a big time winner at E Washington before grad transferring to Oregon. Before transferring to Oregon, Anthony Brown was average. AB came to Oregon after 2 knee surgeries. AB is playing the same way he has played his entire career. AB has no NFL upside. Recruits in the Oregon QB room that on paper have NFL upside, either were vastly overrated by the recruiting services, are not being coached up and/or playing in a system that stifles QB growth. A system designed to keep the score close and let the D win the game. The other thing to consider under Mario is whether the system is QB friendly? Is the system designed to lead to the greatest success with the least amount of on field, in game stress? Last Saturday, Sark, Riley and Lane Kiffin called plays designed to help out the QB. Creative plays to help get receivers in space and pressure the opponents DBs and LBs in coverage. What other Oregon coaches would have done? I don't know. But I do know that AB has hit his ceiling. And if one of the guys in the Ducks QB room doesn't have more upside than something is wrong with the coaching, the recruiting, or both.

Win out + win the champ game? That = Final 4.

Of the 4 you mentioned, which of the teams played good defense? Kentucky? I'll wait to see how KY looks at UGA Saturday. Penn State, without Sean Clifford? Why would the Ducks not be competitive? The Oregon team that played at Ohio State without it best player on the field, can compete against any team in the country.

Do not discount head to head results. The Stanford loss on the road is a far less injurious loss than the Bucks home loss to the Ducks. Come the Committee's final vote in late November, Ohio State will not have 5 Ws against 'top teams.' Believe me, come November Georgia's W over Clemson will not be considered by the Committee to be a win against the 2nd best team in the country. If Oregon and Ohio State both go 12-1, both are in the final 4.

1. Georgia - SEC vs 9 Oregon Pac-12 at 8 Michigan AL 2. Iowa - B1G vs 10 Michigan State AL at 7 Penn State AL 3. Cincinnati AAC vs 11 Kentucky AL at 6 Ohio State AL 4. Oklahoma B12 vs 12 Coastal Carolina Sun Belt at 5 Alabama AL 3 1st round home games for the B1G - 5 B1G teams in the field. This will be far different once MI, MI ST, OH ST + Penn State play one another. If the Committee was voting today, Cincinnati would not be in the top 4.

Would this be a good time to play Noah Sewell at RB?

With the games to be played in October, today's AP ranking will look quite a bit difference than the 1st PO Committee Poll on 11/2. Even if Cincy runs the table up to 11/2 it will not be ranked #3 by the Committee.

A 1L Pac-12 champion that defeated a 12-1 B1G champion on the road is certainly getting in over a 1L ACC Champ Wake Forest. A 12-1 Pac-12 champion with a head to head win over Ohio State is not necessarily going to be ranked behind a 12-1 Ohio State. Cincinnati's SOS will dip as the season progresses. The W over 14 ND still looks good but the W vs Indiana does not. 12-1 Oregon would have a very good case even against a 13-0 Cincinnati. Oklahoma's big OOC win came against Nebraska at home. I do not think OK goes 13-0? OK has to play in Stillwater and the OK ST D is far better than the TX D. To date in CFB we have seen 2 elite Ds. Georgia and Iowa. But if Penn State starting QB Sean Clifford isn't hurt I doubt that Iowa wins Saturday's game? Before the B1G champ game, Iowa's remaining SOS is bad. UGA has looked great. But the win over Clemson is a mirage. And UGA by SEC standards has played an easy SEC schedule to date. The B1G E is going to eat a lot of its own. Ducks run the table as does ASU and Oregon will play a top 15+ ranked team in the conference champ game.

Mike, he has had 6 years to correct this deficiency. He is going to 'get it' now? He is playing the same way he did at BC. He is not elevating the play of guys around him and better athletes than those he played with at BC have not elevated his game. If you want to play risk-adverse ball, play not to take a loss, Brown is your guy. But if you want to play with verve, energy, tempo? Play to win? Brown is not the guy. I think many programs in the country without the depth of the Ducks QB room would already have benched Brown? I love Brown's guts but Brown has hit his ceiling. He is not going to magically up his game.

Never a discouraging word against refs no matter how bad they may be. Although twice this season the SEC has owned up to blow calls. Simple to me? Targeting with intent to injure, disqualification. Incidental targeting, no disqualification and no ipso facto unnecessary roughness penalty. Every targeting call is reviewed. Make this part of the review process. Far too draconian to kick a guy out of a game for contact that results as a normal consequence of playing the game of football.

Love the thought Charles. Portal Parity has Michigan State with 12 starters from the portal, undefeated. 10 starters for Arkansas are portal guys, 9 for Baylor. Dipping into the portal has materially benefited coaches Tucker, Pittman and Aranda in their 2nd year. The Portal has somewhat altered the old, stand alone recruiting efforts and recruiting rankings. Better to take a 4* straight out of HS or a 3* with a year or 2 of CFB playing experience? I think the portal will prove to be the better provider of players than guys coming from the JC ranks? BTW, a starting LB at UCF with less than 5 games played in 2021 just entered the portal. Mario?

David, yesterday was a darn good day for idle Oregon to sit back and watch. ASU as many of us believed would happen handed Stanford its 2nd conference loss. The Ducks Pac-12 N destiny is back in Oregon's hands. Win out and Oregon is the North champ. Missing ASU on the regular season schedule is a good break. 40 top 25 ranked teams have lost in the first 6 weeks of this season. Last time this happened was 1936. Kentucky is 6-0 for the first time in 71 years, back when Bear Bryant was coaching the Wildcats. Wake Forest is 6-0 for the first time in 77 years. Even Mr. FishDuck and I are too young to have seen that Wake team play. Wake is WOKE. Preseason top 10 UNC is 3-3 and Mack Brown is now 0-8 against his alma mater FSU. For all disgruntled Ducks fans, you could be Tar Heels fans. As noted above, Lincoln Riley had the minerals to pull 'Heisman' Spencer Rattler in favor of a true frosh QB whose senior year of HS ball was COVID cancelled. The young man brought OK back from a 21 point deficit for the biggest comeback in Red Rival Shootout history. The 103 points in OK/TX game mirrored the 103 in the Ole Miss/Arkansas game. Looks like the Horns and Sooners Ds are well prepared for the SEC? Iowa won when Penn St QB Clifford exited the game. Iowa has no ranked teams left on its remaining schedule. In the B1G E, Penn St, Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State all have to play one another. Divisions matter. And speaking of Ohio State, the Buckeyes obliteration of Maryland yesterday helps the Ducks cause. I still believe that with its offense, Ohio State will win the B1G title. DO NOT GIVE UP THE GOOD SHIP PUDDLES. All of the remaining teams on the Ducks schedule are beatable. And all depending on how Oregon plays can beat the Ducks. But the coaches do have to wake up like Wake. Perhaps change the starting QB as did Lincoln Riley and perhaps start calling some of great O plays and playing with the tempo we saw out of Riley, Sark and Kiffin.

Yes. Great call Charles. But with the Beavs loss and the Cardinal's 2nd loss, everything conference-wise is now in the Ducks hands. Oregon has a lot of guys dinged up but there still is no reason, sans inept coaching, to take an L against any team left on the schedule. One of the best games I have ever seen, today's Oklahoma comeback vs Texas. Riley benched his starting QB for a younger QB. And both Riley and Sark called plays that got young athletes in space. And Jimbo Fisher let his backup QB ball out to take down Saint Nick. A+M never took pedal from medal. You simply cannot be risk adverse in today's CFB. You cannot play thinking you will win a one score game. You cannot win wit stud young athletes sitting on the bench.

Watched a great game today. A guy who is a fixture in the PO benched his 'Heisman" QB in favor of a true frosh QB. Inserted the Heisman QB back in the game for a crucial 2 point post-TD conversion. Brought the young guy back in to win the game. Some HCs are risk adverse and others are not.

Mike I expected this. Stanford is Oregon's kryptonite. I was ticked off on Stanford's TD when O interference was not called. A clear 2 hand push off. jega? Parity or parody? Autzen, yes as to the best shot from others. I think the more salient question is whether Oregon will give other teams its best shot? Let's see how it plays out but I think the Ducks beat the best team in the B1G on the road. And every opponent gives the Buckeyes its best shot.

100 games winning against NR teams is over. As is never having lost to an assistant coach. 2021? Strange days indeed.

Friday - ASU is Pac-12 legit. Stanford now has 2 conference Ls. Hats off to Andy Avalos for taking down BYU. Saturday - Saint Nick in his 101st game vs a NR opponent opponent takes a loss. His 1st loss to a guy who was once an assistant coach, Jimbo Fisher. UGA is now #1. With a bullet. Lot's of guys from this UGA team will be on the field in Oregon's 2022 opener. OR ST now has a conference loss. Bit of a Ducks SOS bummer, Texas vs Oklahoma - Heartbreaker for the Horns. The Ducks WR recruits cannot be that slow compared to the TX/OK receivers, right? True frosh WRs for both teams balled out in this game. Good for the Ducks? Ohio State blew out Maryland. Penn State has a loss. Michigan and Michigan State won but have to play one another plus Penn State and Ohio State. Bad for the Ducks? Cincy kicked booty. And OK could well win out? Take note? Lincoln Riley benched a QB who was the preseason Heisman favorite, came from behind and won a great game. When it comes to O and play calling, don't diss Sark and Kiffin. TX and Ole Miss got their athletes in space. One lost a close game. One won a close game. Mario slow-mo is a no go. It is absolutely contrary to the way CFB is being played today. It is contrary to the way Joe Moorhead called plays at PSU. Love you David Marsh. Do not disagree with getting younger guys on the field. But as noted above, Oregon's path to the Pac-12 N and the PO is now squarely in the Oregon's hands. And maybe younger guys on the field will help? Last thought. Noah Sewell reminds me of the great LBs who played for Saint Nick back in the day. Smash you in the mouth, but cover guys in crossing patterns? With Verdell out should Noah get reps at RB?

But the Chipper was 'this close.' And without a Blue Chip roster. If he had only called a better game vs Auburn? Nick A's D showed up big time. Worst game CAM played the entire season. But like last week vs Stanford the Ducks got zero zebra support in that BCS champ game. Harris did intercept that pass and if Dyer's knee wasn't down his forward motion was stopped. Before Mario has a shot at a Natty he has to get there. You cannot be in the running and take a loss against a .500 ASU team.

Great take and observation. I am usually Debby Downer. But Stanford was but 1 conference loss. Stanford already has 1 conference loss. I have many the doubt about this Ducks team from here on out. But, and I hope it happens, if Oregon can re-group it could and on paper should run the rest of the Pac-12 table? That was the Stanford Voodoo happening in Palo Alto. How many pratfalls and extenuating circumstances had to happen for Stanford to win this game? The late game calls were called out not only by Ducks fans by but by many the CFB 'expert' across the nation. As I noted above. I am far from opposed to getting younger guys on the field. I was opposed to starting a guy at QB in his last season of eligibility. But I am trying to stay positive. I have watched every Pac-12 team play this season. If Oregon can show up with its B game it has a chance to win out. It defeated Arizona with its D game. Will it happen? I doubt it but at this point in time I am hopeful of seeing what many believe to be an improbable or even an impossible run. The idle week could not have come at a better point in the season. And getting CAL at home before tripping to UCLA is very favorable. 1 more L suffered by the 2021 Ducks, David, then I am completely down with everything you advocated in your excellent article. I shall return to the Dark Side. To date, the Ducks have the best OOC win in the country. And it came on the road. THIS will count when the Committee meets. And it will count even more if OH ST as I believe it will do wins the B1G title? The ship is listing but it has yet to capsize.

I am now 7-4 on the season after going a sorry 1-3 last weekend. I did not know that the Ducks starting center and OC would be on the PUP list? But I should never have overlooked the Stanford Nemesis Factor. I did not know Ole Miss best WR, Mingo, would not be able to play vs Bama? But, Come On Man, you never under-cook popcorn and you never bet against a Bama team playing in Tuscaloosa, never. As for Maryland hanging with and covering vs Iowa? No excuse Sir! However, I certainly did not see Tua's kid bro throwing 6 picks in front of a sold out Terps crowd? I did expect the Penn St to cover at home vs Indiana. Although, I did not expect the Hoosiers O to play like a bunch of Hosers? 24-0 PSU and my only Week 5 win. One problem with betting CFB vs the NFL? The NFL requires up to date data on player injuries and in regards to extenuating circumstances, such as an OC being out. This info leaks out in CFB, pre-game if it leaks out at all. But, and like I hope Oregon will do post-Stanford, I am ready to bounce back! No idle week for me. I'm still the QB in my 74th season with no young pups prepared to sit me down on the bench. The spouse however? FLORIDA -38.5 vs Vandy. The Gators significantly out-gained Kentucky in Lexington last weekend and lost. I look for the Gators to take it out big time on SEC punching bag Vandy. VA TECH - straight up +110 vs -1.5 Notre Dame. Blacksburg is a tough place to play; especially, when you have no idea about which QB to start against the Hokies? The ND OL has not come close to replacing the 3 Domer OL guys taken in the 2021 draft. And the ND run game is suffering as a result. TEXAS vs OKLAHOMA - I doubt we will see 4 OTs this season like we saw in the 2020 UT/OK game? But I still like the Over 63.5. OK's O awakened at least somewhat, at K ST and I think the UT O is good for at least 30 points against an OK but a not great, OK D. Never bet more than your wallet can absorb.

Ready against Oregon? Yes. Ready against K State in the opener? No. And UCLA's OL mauled the Cardinal DL. Stanford was only in the game vs the Bruins because of terrible Bruins DB play. Vandy, among others this season, ran the ball well against Stanford. I agree that we see great effort most game days out of Stanford. But the Cardinal today does not have the DL guys it once brought in. Does luck against Oregon, but no Luck at QB and no RBs like Gerhart and McCaffery.

As of today do you see the Beavs defeating ASU on 11/20 in Corvallis?