Haywarduck

So they feel great about how it is all going until the boos come? Testament to the fact that the positive motivation Mario is using doesn't always work well with young men. Many young people, who have been raised in the trophy culture, do indeed love the positive feedback, but they need to be set straight on their journey to greatness. I am not advocating for booing of the players or demeaning someone's effort. I will say many young people need a father figure who will tell them exactly what it takes, and when that isn't happening. We saw that explode on national tv with one of our players, but maybe it needs to be more consistent information feed by the coaches and staff. This team has all the signs there are too many times the Ducks are looking for a kumbaya moment, when they need all hands on deck moments. The mentality of this team needs to change in order to reach their potential!

I brought this topic up because AB, Cristobal and the Oregon Athletic Programs are more like family than a hobby. The teams are our children and grandchildren and not some project we actively work on. Why can't we accept Anthony and all his limitations? Is he like the adopted child that never really bonds with the rest of the family. Does it take a proper amount of time to bond with a player. Do we ache for Ty, or Butterfield or even Ashford because they are our guys? Do we somehow want to go through the growing pains with one of ours, but not with somebody else's? Were Masoli and Vernon accepted because they met out standards? We certainly turned on Masoli once he made a mistake. Is it just too hard for most to accept a transfer running our extended family and accept their limitations? With Cristobal I think his acceptance goes back to our DNA. Many of us have rooting for the long shot in our make-up. The problem is we are no longer the dark horse, and the process of rooting for a group players we can't relate to, and allow them to develop is just too confusing. We have no tolerance, or understanding for how the elite struggle and evolve. We are use to beating those guys as they develop and always enjoyed that. Lastly with Cristobal he isn't an innovator. Oregon fans young and old hunger for innovation. The Knights are even building a 6000' innovation lab at Oregon, something Mario should visit often. The problem is Cristobal isn't an innovator, he comes from Blue Blood programs. The good news is we have young qb's we hopefully can relate to. Cristobal actually comes from a very humble background, and understands the foundational traits needed to succeed, which aren't just being born great. For now we have to accept our qb, even support him, he is ours. We also have to accept Cristobal and his search for Oregon's next great step. I think he will find it, it is taking these young student athletes and letting them enjoy the game more. He at times lets them, but he needs to accept Oregon's football heritage, while we accept him.

The new normal, 4th quarter with the game on the line, refs give the game away, the other team doesn't get it done. What we expect, Oregon runs away with the game, crushes the opponent. There is a large chasm between expectations and reality with this team.

It think it is a fair question, when we are a top ten team in the nation, why don't we appreciate, accept this team? We are a school which has been blessed with amazing qb play for decades. There are 130 D1 teams, each one capable of producing quality, NFL caliber qbs, and we almost without fail produce some of the best. I would name them but we all know and love them. Even when we struggled we had Justin, maybe the most talented qb yet. This allowed us to continue to think amazing qb play was normal. What we are seeing is the fact most programs struggle with their qb's. AB should be appreciated, but it is hard at Oregon when our expectations are so high, but the team is behind AB, make no mistake. We may not enjoy his limited abilities, there will be no NFL scouts, but Cristobal, and the players love the guy. As far as the offense, well plenty has been said about the prevent offense, enough said. Basically this team isn't enough for the fans. What I saw last night was it is enough, and acceptable for the players. We either accept that, or stay angry. I have to accept it.

If they do then it will make me feel better about playing the beavs this year. I want the Ducks pissed and ready to set it straght come November 27th. What is interesting about our recent record against teams we lost against in 2018 we had redemption against them in 2019, but then laid an egg against ASU. Maybe we laid the egg at Stanford, and now are on a run against teams we lost to and the others? Tonight is either the start of something, but hopefully not the continuation of the malaise of our recent past.

In 2019 we beat Stanford before the bye week. The game after the bye week was....Cal who we beat. We have the same situation this year, interestingly, but it has come and will come with different outcomes. In 2019 Stanford game a win 21-6, 2021 a loss 24-31 In 2019 Cal game a win 17-7 and in 2021 Oregon will win 28-17, but I don't feel good about this one. 1 turnover created 2 sacks 170 yds passing, unless the youth comes in then all bets are off. It is amazing the both games in 2019 were played in the same location Stanford at the farm and the Cal game at Autzen. History does repeat, but seldom the exact facts. Moorhead will be the difference this time, but who knows about what role the players will play?

In 2019 we beat Stanford before the bye week. The game after the bye week was....Cal who we beat. We have the same situation this year, interestingly, but it has come and will come with different outcomes. In 2019 Stanford game a win 21-6, 2021 a loss 24-31 In 2019 Cal game a win 17-7 and in 2021 Oregon will win 28-17, but I don't feel good about this one. It is amazing the both games in 2019 were played in the same location Stanford at the farm and the Cal game at Autzen. History does repeat, but seldom the exact facts. Moorhead will be the difference this time, but who knows about what role the players will play?

Maybe

I would say it will also take our opponents playing unimaginative defense like tosu did. Defenses are figuring out our offense under AB, and unless our offense become more dynamic we won't get to the playoffs or succeed if we stumble in. The key is getting better through the season. Those who make the playoffs play well at the end of the season. Can Oregon play well through to the end? We haven't prove we can up to this point. The time is now, or maybe next season, but we need to change how we attack games and the season.

The money grab begins, not sure Marshawn Lynch's marketing group, Beast Mode Marketing Agency (BMMA), is going to be where the most money is made, but it is a start. I watched a little of the 30/30 ESPN special on Marcus Dupree, and the people who handled him through his early years. BMMA may be a big help to Flowe, but I wouldn't count on it. The classroom and the programs opportunities are going to be where he should focus his attention. Handlers, and those who want to hang on to a talented kid like Flowe may want to be ignored.

Too funny, all I saw was the uniforms changing. You were fairly specific with your post, but then the uniform bias came into play and the news about the uniforms clinched it for me. Your post was all about the uniforms, funny how bias comes into play. What you see is what you think you should see!

It may be time, but Mario's watch is on a different time zone, his year may be off too. Seriously Mario just isn't ready to let a young guy lead until we absolutely have to, which may happen. It think it will be time when AB gets injured. I hope this doesn't happen, but if we continue to see AB lead the team in run attempts he won't last the full season. It may be tomorrow or the next game, but somebody is going to take him down a notch. Teams are starting to expect AB to keep the ball and there are only so many hits a qb can take, he has already been seriously injured twice. Sadly the season won't end well for AB if the trend we see keeps going. The other trigger will be a continued struggle with the passing game. If AB struggles, maybe has a few interceptions even, Moorhead and Cristobal will be forced to put in one of the young guns. I could even see them putting in Butterfield to lead a stronger passing attack. Without Verdell we are going to need a stronger passing game and a more rounded attack. Basically, the clock is turning to back-up time on many of the fans watches. The watch which counts doesn't see it that way, but there are some triggers which may turn the clock to where so many fans see it, but I hope not. AB can still be the man, we just have to evolve into the team we can be under Anthony.

Great one, as long as the fans are complaining about the uniforms, all is good. Us complaining means the fans across the country will be talking about the uniforms, and young kids everywhere will be in awe!

What any success going forward is going to take is for Oregon to take care of it's business, and not worry about the other teams or games. With that in mind what is most important is each player is put in a position to succeed. AB needs to be put into a better position to succeed if he is to continue as our qb. Having him run more than the RB's isn't sustainable, nor is the passing game so far. It is time to see our RB's get their opportunities. Dye is lightening in a bottle, but we have to use the skill set he provides. I think Trey and Byron are also excellent backs who need to see the right plays called, along with the O-line in concert with each other. Basically we are going to need a very good running game, which isn't led by our qb. The next item is AB's passing. He is going to need to make a couple longer throws to open up the defense. If he can do this then his strength, the short pass will be a weapon he can lean on. If he continues to struggle with the longer pass then I think the offense under AB will continue to struggle. Defenses, going forward are going to let the long ball be open, and dare AB to throw. So the long pass is key to seeing success with AB, and it is possible. We just need Moorhead at his best! I think we all know who our coach is by now, a risk averse individual who loves to see individual battles won. I just hope he is able to put each coach and player in a position to succeed. Individuals excelling, and each individual becoming a team while being led by shrewd coaching is what it is going to take. It can happen, but it needs to start tomorrow night!

After Miami hired Dennis Erickson away from WSU, the next WSU coach, Mike Price, seemed like the sure bet to cure Alabama's woeful problems. I think the Price story made teams check their coaches a little better. Of course there was George O'Leary's 5 day stop. One should never lie on your resume, oh well. O'Leary might have been a good fit for ND, but he only lasted 5 days. Agree sc history of hiring and firing coaches isn't going to help convince a coach sc is the best job in the country. I do remember our search for a new head basketball coach. We went into it thinking we were going to hire some big name. We ended up with a mid major coach and it turned out pretty good. Maybe sc will get off it's high horse and find a decent coach, nah that just isn't going to happen!

I was at a game where they gave you a tiny yellow or green flashlight, if I remember correctly, now that was cool. It was like a rock concert, with flashlights, but with Oregon colors.

It is amazing when you see a coach leave an amazing job, for his next dream job, and even more money and fail completely. What is it that drives some to their level of incompetence, so blindly? It certainly can't be the money, as many of us know, there is only so much you need, and then it becomes a distraction. It must be a huge blindspot for what is important in life. Happiness and engagement are more important than just having the biggest drum to pound on. You really only end up with something useless and looking stupid.

"But I don't think Bohn will screw this hire up? And I am fairly certain he will not be making the decision on his own? Too much is at stake." Do you mean a collaborative committee where group think rules, there is hope! Agree the law of averages just might be in sc's favor, but not history.

In his first AD job he took Idaho from winning about 60% of their games to winning about 20% under Tom Cable, his hire. He then went to SDSU who had been winning about 60% of its games to hiring Chuck Long who brought them down to winning under 20%. His last stop before sc was Cincinnati where he fell into hiring an Ohio native who won't be leaving Ohio anytime soon. He takes over at sc for a coach who was averaging winning about 60% of his games, unless he hires somebody who just wants the job, and falls into the spot, expect sc to go to winning about 20% of their games, if history is any indicator. Mike Bohn is exactly who we need to hire the next coach at sc, if we want to continue to rob the recruits from down there.

I still don't get it, Jack Del Rio has expressed interest in the past, as recently as 2019, and fits the bill. If I was the AD I would go after Del Rio like no other, full court pressure. You have a guy who is exactly what worked last time, an ex-nfl coach who failed, but is a good coach. Not only does he fit the mold of Pete Carrol, he is an sc legend. I suppose the one thing we can count on with the sc job is for the AD to make a poor choice. The AD in place has a history doing exactly that, and I fully expect him to pick another loser out of the candidates who apply.

I think it comes down to the lens with which Mario sees the game of football. Does Mario see the game as a gladiator or a chess player? Mario definitely sees the game of football as a gladiator fight. When the ball is hiked he wants it to be 'Mano-a-mano' as you stated. Lets see who is tougher and wins in the end, that fills him up. The problem is the game of football has moved beyond the gladiator phase and it is now a chess game. The next move is based on the previous, setting up the next. It isn't just let's keep punching until the other gives up. Even the game of chess has evolved into what is called 'blitz chess,' or speed chess. Few want to watch a chess game, but speed chess make it more enjoyable, much like football. No one wants to watch everyone line up, the other team knows what the gladiator is going to do and then it is Mano-a-mano, that game isn't marketable, nor sustainable in a competitive environment. No one waits for the other to get set and think about all the options and then wait for the other to be ready. The game of chess has even evolved, time for Mario to evolve. He can keep his gladiator helmet on and enjoy the battle, but he needs to see the chess game happening on the field!

My best case scenario was a loss at tosu, and then we build through the season. I think the win against tosu has been a tough one to live up too. We had to lose a game and may lose again. The good news is it isn't over and we can build out of this. The building starts this Friday and we need to see a good foundation laid with the defense and offense moving on up. From there who knows, maybe your prediction just might happen, crazier thing have happened!

The best case scenario is our young qb's are developing nicely and will see the field plenty the rest of the season. We need them to be ready for next fall, and the gauntlet that awaits. It just might be close between them and Mario is masterfully keeping them all happy and in line. The best case scenario is AB is actually a pretty good passer, he just hasn't been let loose, yet. He has made a couple throws and maybe he just needs to get turned loose this Friday night. The best case scenario is the defense does hinge on Thibs lining up and playing. Right now this defense, especially the line needs an anchor to allow the rest of the talent to have an edge. This young defense just needs a little more time and a continual dose of Thibs to become what we saw for one quarter against FSU. The best case scenario is Mario is beginning to want to turn our new weapons loose on offense. The RB's are going to have to play, Trey and Byron are going to get the rock more. The young receivers are gonna get more throws. The TE's are ready to explode in production! How many people would have believed Camden Lewis would have the stats he does. Mario believed in the guy, supported the guy and we have a kicking game! Maybe, just maybe we just have to believe in the best case scenario, instead going down that rabbit hole of yah but. I know I have been there and am trying to get out, Go Ducks! Are there any other best case scenarios we should consider?

As a team which runs the ball 60% of the time, I don't see Dye as an every down back. It seems Cristobal has stated he kind of lets the back with the hot hand run with it. I will be interested to see what the rotation is, in the Cal game. We will definitely see some differences in the rotation, what will it be? Seven was taking reps from Dye when he came in. Cardwell would seem to be the guy to take CJ's reps. Right now Cardwell is getting a couple yds less per carry. I could see Trey getting some of the reps too. We should be seeing the future of the Oregon running game. That should provide a little interest for the game. The problem is see is Cal's rushing defense is ranked 38th, while Stanfords is rated 123rd, might be a tough go.