The Kamikaze Kid

The only reason Iowa was even close in this game is because of three self inflicted disasters in or near the red zone after three unstoppable drives. One was an end zone interception, another was a third down trip over feet and another was a third down holding call. If OBD doesn’t self sabotage themselves and collect a mere three points from those three drives, the score would have looked as dominant as the performance. I would rather the Ducks be an actually dangerous team lurking under the radar than being fed rat poison at number one like last year.

And USC hasn't played tOSU in two years. Also got both Michigan and Penn St at home in separate years.

To me, the fact that a conference leading showdown between Texas and Oregon on ESPN (via partnership with Pac 12 network) never happened is a huge part of the Pac's demise. Also, just look at all the major media markets that kept hitting the snooze button since the Pete Carol era. LA (SUC, UCLA) Phoenix (ASU), Denver (CU), San Francisco (Cal) and Seattle (fuskies) were all mostly no shows the entire time in football. Only OBD (Portland), Stanford (San Jose) and Utah (Salt Lake City) were competitive for any long stretches of time. The Pac spent way too much time squandering viewership in it's biggest local markets while thumbing it's nose at a national one (ESPN) while relishing in badminton and tiddlywinks championships. The Pac got what it deserved and sometimes the truth hurts.

Apparently shutting out Citadel at home is more impressive than winning a rock fight in a near frozen car wash at Iowa.

I really hope our early game play calling/ decision making vastly improves. An early midfield 4th and go for it stop spotted Indy an early 3 points and momentum out of nowhere. Another early 4th and go for it midfield stop helped Wisky stay in the game longer than they should have. A three passing attempts and out started a game in a near frozen car wash before we even found out the run game was near unstoppable against Iowa. All three bad starts were due to a riverboat gambling mentality against tough defensive minded teams where chess like strategy was required. The Ducks have the horses to compete in these smash mouth battles and I wish they would act like it early on.

Calling that two feet out of bounds two point conversion good was the worst call I've ever seen. Even in real time, he was clearly out of bounds.

When you’re in a ‘65 Packers game but you think you’re the ‘85 Dolphins.

Man Penn St is trying hard to pull this off. A long run plus a short TD gets them closer. Indy still leads 20-17.

About as good of news as one could hope for after all the rumors and speculation since last night. This is a real gut check game due to opponent, weather and injuries. I think this is the type of game Lanning excels at motivating for. I hope to see some future leaders rise to the occasion. Go Ducks!

Interception! And the melt down in Happy Valley continues.

Wow. Penn St literally fumbles away the game with less than two minutes left in the half deep in their own territory struggling for a pointless yard on a no gain play on third and eight. Geeze. Indy up 17-7.

The Oregon injury report comes out at 10:30 (two hours before the game). No need to get too worked up until then as the rumors will fly in all directions until then. I expect a mix of truth and fiction in the rumor mill but who knows.

It’s like fate decided to shine on NW but they said “No thanks”.

Great stuff everybody! I think to sum up a general them, the Ducks just need to be the freaken Ducks! Aggressive play calling with passive execution has been a disastrous mix. Tone down the 4th and go for its and bump up the self confidence at QB seems to be a winning recipe to me. I think the Ducks should lean into whatcha gonna do about it plays with their whatcha gonna do about it players. Sadiq, Dak, Hill and Davison are problems. Make Iowa have to solve them. I love the punter/ returner chess match that could develop. I say punt even in field goal range and make Iowa live on their own goal line. Force them to get a couple first downs just to get back to the 25. I think this game comes down to Oregon's state of mind. Swagger without arrogance, caution without being timid taking the win without hoping for it is what I want to see. I think we do and the Ducks take a huge step towards maturing into a legit championship contender this week.

OBD 17-13 2 TOs 2 Sacks 150 Passing yards