The Kamikaze Kid

I think critical 4th down plays NEED to allow some options including running for Bo. The worst part of the play calling on the roll out, is the lack of options for Bo if the play is not working. I would have preferred he stay in the pocket giving him a scramble option if the receivers are covered, give him a dump off option to a tail back and that's three options Bo has to figure out the best way to get it done.

In his post game interview, Lanning seemed to point out this very subject. He said something to the effect of going for it before the half because he thought it was more of a high scoring type of game (get as many points as you can) but he should have thought of it as a close score type of game and should have taken the points instead. I think this is some growth on his part.

This morning millions of disappointed Duck fans are grappling with the feeling that their team let a big one get away yesterday. A few key decisions at a few key moments altered the path from victory to defeat even though the Ducks won the statistical battle in most categories on the stat sheet including QB performance. There where also haunting similarities to earlier losses from the Chip Kelly days. I think it comes down to the different coaching mentalities between being in a shootout vs a chess match. In a shootout, you just hope that your defense can get a key stop or a turn over as you race your opponent to fifty on the scoreboard. In a chess match, you brace for a defensive struggle and try to win the field position battle and scratch and claw your way to getting a few more points than your opponent. Watching Kelly and Lanning leave points on the field in a slug fest with elite teams is frustrating. Watching Mario settle into a slug fest mentality when his team was capable of boat racing most opponents was even more frustrating. I think there is a hidden skill to coaching that is about being aware of the type of game you are in not just believing the type of game you want to be in. Lanning has proven that he is a go for the jugular type of coach which is great against inferior teams buy has proven catastrophic in equal opponent chess matches. If he is the always achieving to get better guy he says he is, he will embrace the need to develop the tactile skills of a chess master and coach the team to victory in these situations. My glass is has full one this and I think he is that guy and will get there. If he gets there this year, they still may be a playoff level team. Go Ducks!

Disappointing outcome but still an impressive performance by the team. UO dominated so many of the major statistics, you'd think they won by double digits. In time, I think Lanning will come to learn to take the points when you can in tight games. Chip had to learn the same lesson the hard way in some of those close Stanford defeats. It's a tough loss but I also don't see them losing to another team on the schedule. This can still be a year of special things.

UO 34-24 3 TOs 3 Sacks 260 Passing

Great stuff Charles. I think the biggest key to the game will be the joy killing effect of the UO run game. 60 thousand soggy fusky fans watching the Ducks methodically move down the field for five minutes at a time is the buzz kill I'm really looking forward to. Silence is golden.

I see this stuff and all I can think is that this may end up being the best Oregon vs Them episode yet.

I'd expect the BIG to simply live up to the minimum expectations of the media contract. If Fox feels good with dumping boat loads of cash on the BIG for eight conference games a year, then that will be all the BIG will feel the need to schedule.

At this point, I've learned to accept the fact that if I don't like the uniforms, the kids must love them.

Great stuff. My keys 1. New nightmare blitz packages springing from the depths of Lanning's playbook. Personally, I'd be terrified to think of what Lanning could install given two weeks to prepare for an epic battle. Just ask Nick Saban. 2. The ground game just doing what it does. If 1st and 10 regularly becomes 2nd and 2 after handing off to Bucky and Jordan, the steady slow roll drives will dominate the clock and they won't outscore us. 3. Win the turn over battle. At WSU last year, a pick six right before half negated the work UO had done climbing out of an early whole and robbed them of halftime momentum. Anything like that Saturday may prove catastrophic. Go Ducks!

I think everybody else should be concerned about him landing with the coaching staff he was hanging out with less than 24 hours before this announcement. Hint:It wasn't the flea riddled leg lifters!

I'd say keep it simple and schedule MW and former Pac teams. Minimize travel and and keep the team healthy for the real part of the schedule.

The Ducks have been and will continue to do a great job of recruiting both O/D lines as well as skill positions. They'll be in the mix at the top of the BIG most years with some drop off with the occasional upset. The real question here is what will Canzono's lane be going forward? Does he embrace the Ducks national presence and climb aboard the bandwagon, or does he continue to stir the pot for the bitter Beaver fan? All I know is that I already don't care either way.

Maybe Miami just didn't physicality enough.

Miami's 24/7 board is like deja vu all over again!

Mario snatching defeat from the jaws of victory yet again. Maybe he's why Stanford joined the ACC.

What's worse for SUC fans. Getting beat by the Ducks every year or the prolonged dread before it happens?

I feel that this is indeed a special season and I'm glad this article points that out. I also think that this season has been and will continue to be a golden advertisement to any and all elite SEC players wanting to portal to a different school. Former five star players not having the career they hoped for only need to look at Bo Nix to see what can happen at UO. Also great players that happen to be stuck behind other great players in the rotation can look at guys like Khyree Jackson and see what becoming a Duck can look like. I think after next year, Lanning's recruiting classes will have stocked the cupboards full enough that mass portal renovations won't be necessary.

The UO detractors out there like to ignore the PSU results, say they barely escaped at TT, over powered an over rated CU and waltzed past a checked out Furd. Here, I'll go ahead and ignore PSU as well and pick up their string of scores beginning with the 4th Qtr at Texas Tech. TT 20-3 UH 55-10 CU 42-6 Furd 42-6 Total 159-25 That is against three power 5 and one group of 5 schools with one of them ranked at the time and two games on the road. Also,13 of the 25 points the Ducks gave up in that span were in garbage time. I don't ever recall a stretch like that in Duck history. Something special is coming together this season. Can't wait for more.

I always want the Ducks to take on an opponent at their fullest strength win or lose. I also like be the spirited rivalry with Utah. With that said, I think it would be in his best interest to heal up and get ready for next year.

I’d say I’d prefer the fuskies to be completely healthy for their excuse free beat down but who am I kidding? They always have an excuse for their beat down.

Very sad news. RIP Russ. Duck legend.

Disrespect is the fuel of champions.

If Khree Jackson is healthy, I like our chances.