Jon Joseph

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

And AB may play OK in the Canadian Football League? Great analogy. Lots of guys can bomb it but have no on-course strategy and have not mastered the short game nuances. The little things that distinguish the bombers from the guys and ladies on the pro tours. However, there are lots of CC pros who can teach. Can communicate how to 'spin the wheel' and make hackers better players. And Mario is not coaching guys with hand-eye coordination issues. He is coaching guys with great potential.

This rating almost perfectly reflects Brown's time at BC playing for 'grind it out' HC Steve Addazio. After being canned at BC, CO ST for some reason hired Addazio. The O has been missing from Colrado St ever since. Brown had no one pushing him at BC. He never won a big game at BC. He was under a 60% completion guy there and we have seen the same at Oregon. He did not turn the ball over at Ohio State and JM used him to attack the edge in Columbus in the same manner in which OH ST attacked the edge against the Ducks in the Playoff champ game. And in the Ohio State game we also saw well called throws to TEs underneath and in drag routes. JM and the guys were in the game in Columbus from the get-go. In the other 4 games? Since the L in Columbus, Ryan D has demoted the Buckeyes DC and abandoned a steady diet of playing a safety very deep to prevent the big play. And the back up Buckeyes QB played well when Stroud was injured. In other words, Day made the necessary changes on D with the coach and system. He also benched experience guys on D in favor of younger guys with more upside and the back up QB was prepared when he came into the game. I truly admire AB's guts but I hate to think that he has the most upside of all of the QBs in Oregon's QB room? If he does, the recruiting rankings were seriously off, the design on O has major flaws and/or under Mario, QBs will not be coached up or be given the opportunity to shine? Interceptions are killers. But a QB who throws 3 TDs and has 1 pick has a far better statistical chance of winning than the guy who completes 0 to 1 TD passes with no interceptions. As we witnessed when Justin Herbert was the QB, Cristobal prefers the no risk QB playing in a no risk O. Ty and Butterfield are better passers. Ashford is better running the ball and I do not see Robby having a worse % when throwing the ball than AB? Mario often reminds me of Vince Lombardi. But Vince had better Ds. A smash mouth OL and guys who could get open when required. And in Vince's day you almost always saw close, low scoring games and not shoot outs. No guts, no glory?

6 seasons of CFB. AB is an under 60% passer. Grayson McCall at Coastal Carolina? Completing 82% of his passes.

Stanford? No. The smug David Shaw, YES!

Sun Devils, Trojans, Beavs, in a tight one, and the Chippers, win.

Great question Charles. I very much doubt that what Mario described was the system when JM was the OC at Penn State? BTW, the system Mario described is certain to eliminate a hurry-up pace of play. Most committees I served on did nothing until an individual led the way for the rest of the committee. GA great leader let's the committee believe the ultimate decision was made by consensus. A committee to design a game plan during the week? OK. But no committee will properly execute the plan on game day.

True, but 1 more conference L by Stanford and there will be at least 1 more L for this Cardinal team, and the Ducks conference-wise, is totally back in control. Run the table and OR has the tie breaker against a 1L OR ST. Even if ASU only has the L to BYU, Ducks play ASU in the champ game and win, Oregon is potentially a 12-1 conference champ. I do not think that a 12-1 Pac-12 champ with a big and possibly bigger OOC win, if Ohio State runs the table and wins the B1G, will be left out. The win at Columbus is still the biggest OOC win to date. UGA's W over Clemson? Iowa over Iowa ST? Not close to the win in Columbus. Swing for the fences? Heck yes! But don't panic with so much left to play for.

OK, raise your hand if you were alive in 1962? Unfortunately, my hand is up. 1962 - Wisconsin vs Minnesota Before tomorrow's Penn State at Iowa game, that 1962 game was the last time 2 top 10 ranked B1G teams squared off in a game that not involve Michigan or Ohio State! BTW, James Franklin is 0-9 in road games vs top 10 teams.

"The calm voice comes over the headset right as things are getting a little tense in Corvallis. Oregon State is trailing Washington by 7 with 10 minutes to go and Beavers OC, Brian Lindgren, is feeling some pressure. Then, Lindgren hears the casual reassuring words of the man in charge, Jonathon Smith, 'We're doing all right. I love your plan. You're great coaches. Let's relax and put together a great drive. Don't panic.' From an article by The Athletic's (TA) Brody Miller, who is the TA beat writer for LSU, up today and describing how Smith in his 4th season has patiently stayed the course in a monumental rebuild that currently has the Beavers in 1st place in the Pac-12 N. Made me wonder? Is the same demeanor in play on the Oregon sideline in close games? Did 6th year QB, AB, HC Mario, OL coach Mirabal, gather the OL around before the late 4th Q drive that could have put the game away at Stanford, and say something like: "Our back up center is doing a great job. No false starts here guys. Move on the snap of the ball and not before. Let's ice this game?'

LOL!

I think the following is most likely to determine Mario's future? When will a pedestrian O and 1 score struggles against overmatched opponents stop fans from paying to watch live in Autzen? Mullens cannot ignore this question. Winning on signing days when you don't win or win with style on game days, is a curse as well as a blessing.

As was often heard in the 60s: HEY BUDDY, GET A HAIRCUT! Man, the injury bug in 2021 has replaced the 2020 COVID bug. BUMMER!

Spot on Charles. I think one of Urban's motivations in taking the Jax job was to prove that he could succeed where Saban failed? In today's PC world, Urban would be a toxic college hire.

What! Are you of the Philly folks who booed Santa Claus?

Stanford will take a loss Friday night. Stanford's good fortune against better Oregon squads does not translate across the conference. Stanford was man handled by UCLA. Last Saturday Stanford needed every break and every call and non-call, to do the Cardinal's way to beat the Ducks in OT. A Ducks team without its OC and starting center. Saturday was a Stanford mirage.

Another great read David, thank you. But I have to demur regarding Oregon's PO hopes in 2021? The ACC is out of it. TX beats OK on Saturday or the B12 champ otherwise finishes 12-1 and with the W at Ohio State, a 12-1 OR will have a better resume than any B12 champ. One of Iowa/Penn State will come out of Saturday with an L. I do not see Michigan or Michigan State running the table in the B1G? I see the B1G champ with an L. If that is Ohio State, the Ducks win in Columbus is even better. I don't think Iowa's O is good enough to go undefeated. Same with Penn State. If Iowa wins the B1G, its big OOC win will be versus a disappointing Iowa State team. Yes, Bama could and likely will finish 13-0. And UGA could finish 12-1? But today, how impressive is the win against Clemson? A 12-1 conference champ Oregon will be in the discussion with a 12-1 conference runner-up Georgia. Especially, if tOSU runs the table and wins the B1G. Stanford? I see the Cardinal taking an L Friday at ASU. And I do not see Stanford, with an L at UCLA, finishing with but 1 conference loss? Stanford is 112th in the country per play against the rush. Stanford, unlike against Oregon, does not get every break and every call going its way. ASU keeps winning and the Beavers keep winning and both will likely be in top 25 when OSU plays Oregon and should Oregon play ASU in the champ game? But make no mistake, I'm all in favor of getting the best guys, regardless of youth, on the field. No one has been more suspect of Mario's HC ability than I. But I simply cannot conceive any coaching staff playing guys who are not the best in practice? Do not give up the ship. This idle week comes at a perfect time for this Ducks team. As does CAL coming to Autzen next Saturday. Oregon has the talent to defeat every team on the remainder of the schedule, to win the Pac-12 title and finish 12-1.

Thanks Oregon 112, interesting thoughts and take. Stanford is 112th in the nation in yards given up per rush. Oregon outgained Stanford. IMO, far more RPOs and straight handoffs to the RBs should have been called in last Saturday's game?

Thanks Coach. So true that Barkley's are rare indeed. The shoot out with SC in the Rose Bowl was so much fun to watch. Unless you're a DC?

BUMMER!

Recruiting rankings do not count guys on a team's roster who came out of the portal. Smith has done a good job picking up guys from the portal. In 2021, MI ST has 12 starters who came from the portal. Arkansas has 10. Another coach doing far better in his 2nd season than his first, Dave Aranda at Baylor, has 9 starters from the portal. Better to sign a 4* out of HS or take a 3* with a year or two of playing experience from the portal?

FYI. 2nd year Michigan State coach, Mel Tucker, has Sparty at 5-0. 12 starters for this MI ST team came out of the portal. NFL teams have split scouts. One group looks at college guys and the other evaluates players heading into free agency and those with trade potential. Recruiting still very much matters. But someone best be keeping an eye on the portal.

Brother, I feel and share your pain. According to the wife, I went off the deep end long ago. I posted in the preseason that I would not be surprised to see this team finish anywhere from 12-0 to 8-4? Anywhere from the Playoff to the Sun Bowl? When one of 'the kids' could not win the QB job from a QB who never completed more than 50% of his passes and was coming off 2 knee surgeries; well, I was leaning more toward 8-4? Then, Columbus happened! Was that game a complete aberration? I don't know? I do know that any opponent is a threat when you play down to the opponent's level. That there is no way that even the best teams win every one score game. Hoping that the time out this week really helps? If AB starts against CAL, I will of course cheer the team on but I will not be optimistic.

Another great article. Thank you Coach. I do note that the RPO seems to work better with McSorley at QB and Barkley at RB? And being an OC under a hands off HC, James Franklin, also likely helps? This O was so-so at Mississippi State and it isn't lighting up the Pac-12. Love the O in theory, but it still comes down to the Jimmies and the Joes. Love AB's guts. But he is a square peg trying to fit into an RPO role. Have to make the right decisions and you have to be far better than a 50% passer for the RPO O to really hum. Thanks again.

I think he has matured? I don't believe a team he coached has ever gone on probation? His players have not gotten in a whole lot of trouble. After attending the Nick Saban Former HC Rehab Program, Kiffin did a terrific job at FAU and is doing a good job at Ole Miss. Blown out by Bama last Saturday but what team isn't blown out by Bama in Tuscaloosa? He did stiff arm Tennessee. But SC was the guy's dream college job and it was offered. What Haden did to Kiffin on the tarmac is as scummy as anything Lane has ever done. Haden of course is in the running for worst AD ever. I certainly do understand your concerns regarding Kiffin. He is not a buttoned down guy. But Saban frequently goes after the press, mostly as a motivational tool. Oregon grad and USC coach John McKay was not a shrinking violet. Etc, etc., etc. Since serving under Saban and updating the Bama O, he has a winning record both at the G5 and P5 level. Again, I am not trying to 'win' an argument here. Many CFB fans share your concerns regarding Kiffin. As a practical matter, I don't see Mario departing. Kiffin is in a conference with no financial worries. And I think he will get a call when coach O is fired and maybe, when Saban finally decides to hand it up?