Washington Waddler

I think Ken Woody got it right. Mental outlook is formed by what your focused on. If it’s on yourself, you’re on the right track. That’s why this is not a game of revenge, but a game of redemption. Thought I saw a glimmer in AB’s play against the Beavs that suggests he’s at least slowing the game down under JM’s system. Looking for that same confidence in Las Vegas. Go Ducks!

It is also a business adage (at least in retail) that competition is good for business, which is why you often see similar businesses grouped within blocks of each other, or in malls. The reason is it brings in more shoppers than any stand alone could possibly attract. The same wisdom applies to recruits and the health of conferences. Recruits are not only attracted by specific programs, but by the competitiveness within the conference that can promote and display them. Without that competition, there is no stage, and without that stage a conference slips into mediocrity. As good as Oregon can potentially be, it can’t make it as a stand alone. It needs the USC’s. Where do you think Alabama would be without the SEC? Competition is good for business. So, enough knashing of teeth and pulling of hair over Riley’s recruiting threat. It helps us. Anyway, we’re Ducks — we’ve been here before, and we know how to weather storms.

Afraid the beauty parlor can’t hold a candle any longer to the online chatter box cafe.

Agree with the SEC/ACC 8/4 scheduling argument, however what makes that work (at least for the SEC) regarding CFP ranking is that their league will just about guarantee a highly ranked contender following a cup cake. Can we say the same for the PAC 12?

The back of Utah jerseys? Oops, did I just get called for targeting?

As Trey said, “I tore everything up.” Anterior cruciate ligament recovery can be anywhere between 8 and 12 months. With Cardwell filling CJ’s role and then some, why rush it?

At the risk of soundly hopelessly naive and lacking the appropriate level of cynicism, where — if anywhere — should we hope (expect?) institutions of higher learning to draw the line between the message sent by the Free Market, and what their historic mission has always been: to promote a well-rounded education that not only prepares the student for the real world, but instills the ethical values that help balance unbridled human desire with trustworthiness?

Yo, Darren, dat wuz bootifull!

While you can’t compare Herbert’s and Brown’s passing talent, you can compare their running ability, and capacity for taking a hit. Both have the height and weight to neutralize an lb and run over safeties and corners. You could argue that MC correctly preserved JH for the passing game while utilizing AB in the run because of his passing deficiency, but it felt like a waste of Justin’s (until the last two games) Senior year. Whatever the reason, it’s nice to see this change in how MC is using his QB.

Be wary of the word you choose to define what you want to be. Mecca is the one place all Muslims attempt to see once in their lives, but it is also only Muslims who are allowed to go there. Not sure Riley understands the nature of the ‘true believers’ attracted by his invitation.

Canzano’s pretty astute on this one. The question remains whether the Trojan horse is ready to ride for a hit the ground running type like Riley, or requires the disciplined retraining of a Fickell.

Whether the Riley hire makes you nervous or not, it’s a great move and will be a big factor in west coast recruiting, but not the only factor. Location and vision play a big part as well in the eyes of recruits. The disadvantages of being in the LA basin as compared to more inviting and livable environs like Eugene, plus our new indoor training complex that will specifically target warming trends that affect air quality are equally important, especially to parents. We’ve got our advantages too, and MC knows that.

The ‘blind bid’ idea reminds me of that family fairness teaching tool where one kid scoops the ice cream but the other gets to choose which bowl. Guaranteed to drive some coaches nuts

Especially when his priority was converting on 3rd. Great read progression!

Seen this to many times before. Stars matter more on Hollywood Blvd and Trojan resumes. Anyone coming in there better understand that appearance is just as importance as substance. If you can’t be a field general AND an acting promoter, you’ll fail.

Nice insight HD — and great article FD. MC’s coaching outlook has been influenced by his playing career in the trenches. And, priority one for a lineman is to protect. A child’s identity (ie, his/her self confidence ) won’t emerge until the parent takes off the training wheels and gives him a shove down the drive way. The trouble with toughness is not in being that, but in how it is focused. If that focus is primarily on the defensive, protective, then your not risking enough to succeed, to find your confidence — your identity. It takes that to score points. We saw that with Herbert. After all, it is the reflex of a lineman to protect his QB. That said, MC appears to get that, and has freed up AB (maybe because he’s had no other choice) to move about the cabin. I still feel Mario is a work in progress, and worthy of our support because he learns from his mistakes. Will he ever be able to take the training wheels off? Only time will tell.

I can still hear “More Than A Feeling” ringing in my head,

If there’s one thing I hope our program has added to the ‘don’t do’ list of head coach hiring practices, it is to never again assume that the preference of a departing head coach will provide the same magic associated with him, and automatically lead to those results. As much as we all liked Mark’s personality and wit, Chip’s stamp of approval was not driven by what was best for the program’s longevity, but by his ego. In that light, Mark inevitably became Chip’s “mini me”. What Mario will do is anyone’s guess, but my sense of the guy is a grounded, results-driven person. If going home is important to him, it will happen because he’s earned it and has the best chance at staying there on his own terms.

The real problem with a Coug victory would be the insufferable gloating on PAC 12 After Dark.

AB’s completion % goes up the shorter the distance is between him and his target. When we can’t keep him within his comfort zone on 3rd down, the opposing D knows it and loads the box which usually ends with a stuffed run or rushed throw. Any chance at consistency against the Beavs may rely upon putting AB consistently in a high % 3rd down situation which means well designed 1st and 2nd down plays loom large.

In the past, Beavs have been pretty adept at putting the horse before the cart. The unforgettable 2008 C***l War is a case in point. But, Jonathan Smith is not Mike Riley and will have his team focused on us and not the brass ring. No way can I wish any success for the mutts.

Let’s just respond from our loss to Utah how tOSU did from their loss to us and beat the Beavers!

The War Between the State? While we’re on the topic of rodent riddance week, might as well be time to trot out an old joke or two that all you oldies probably know, but some new comers may have yet to hear (read?). Should resist the urge, but I can’t help myself. Question: What’s the only sign of intelligence in Corvallis? Answer: Eugene 42 mi

Mario’s opportunity to learn and grow in Eugene would all but disappear in his home state. That’s why you leave home in the first place.

One of the possible way of seeing the potential in DA’s front court is by looking at what’s happened to Kelly’s team. Without Te-Hina or Endyia Rogers to run the show, his bigs are like a gear box without a clutch. Just think of how Sabrina drove the car!