The Kamikaze Kid

I'd say OBD's biggest problem has been playing with their food and not converting dominance into points. The Ducks lead Penn St 3 to 1 in yardage but the score was only 3-3 into the fourth quarter. The Ducks lead Iowa 2 to 1 in yardage but were still in a rock fight to the bitter end. The Ducks spotted Indiana ten points then took control of the game, tied it up and were heading towards a halftime lead. Then the drive stalled, a field goal was missed and Indiana got barely into field goal range in a minute and took momentum back just before half. The D has been pretty consistent all year. When the Ducks finish drives, they route teams. When they don't, they're nail biters. It's basically that simple.

Sheldon should be concerned or maybe Pleasant Hill or Elmira.

I don't think there is anybody out there the spells automatic L. OBD's D can keep them in any game and their run game is as serious as anybody's out there. Oregon's biggest problem this year has been making things too difficult on themselves by going away from what works and leaving too many points on the field. Back to back interceptions kept our O on the sidelines against Indiana and allowed them to build a lead when the run game was proving effective. Three drives in or near the red zone netting a mere three points kept the Iowa game way to close even though the run game was dominating. If the Ducks play and coach smart, they can hang with anybody. Win the next two and they'll at least have a first round home game and should be at least 50/50 for the next round. Can't wait for the SUC fans to cry us a river this Saturday.

OBD 38-16 3 TO 3 Sacks 280 Passing yards

I'm not the target audience. I'm not the target audience. I'm not the target audience.

As a March Madness junkie, I’ve always preferred the six seed route. Sets up a doable three then two match up and avoids a one meeting until the final game.

I don't think being the one seed was the problem last year as much as having tOSU being game one was. I think OBD would have beaten anybody and everybody else in the field last year. With that said my dream scenarios would be: Win the BIG and get a one or two seed. Get seeded 5-8 and get a home playoff game. Just get in the playoffs and hope for the best.

I'm wondering how many times a BIG team has been scheduled to play a game on a Friday night after a road game against a team coming off a bye. My guess is probably about as many times as a team has been scheduled to play eight conference games in a row without a bye.

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

I'll admit I cringed when OBD went for it on 4th down early at mid field against Indiana. They had already shown themselves to be sure tacklers and able to stop ball carriers at the point of contact and not be dragged for extra yards. That needles gamble gave Indy a short field to kick a field goal, grab an early lead and play the rest of the game with confidence. That game was setting itself up to be a classic field position struggle against a disciplined team and not a river boat gambling type of game. I don't mind gambles if they're properly timed and situational. Somewhere in between Kelly's stubborn bravado (Stanford, Auburn redzones) and Mario's mundane plod ball exists good coaching. Calculated gambles mixed with solid safe decisions takes time to understand. I hope Lanning gets there. We will be a regular legit championship contender when he does.

Can Oregon miss the playoffs? I sure hope so. I never want to be one of those teams that expects to make it just because we're us. I want to watch these games with everything on the line. That's what makes them extra fun. To me, if OBD can't win a defensive battle with Iowa or an offensive battle with SUC or a test of wills with the dang fuskies, they don't deserve to compete with top teams in the country for the crown anyway. I'm sure Lanning feels the need to win every game left and I'm fine with being in that boat. Can't wait for Saturday!