The Kamikaze Kid

I think the tOSU game is going to come down to limiting penalties and turnovers. A first quarter like last night and OBD will fall behind and it's game over. Play like the second quarter and I think they have a fourth quarter lead and will be in position to seal the deal. With that said, I want tOSU showing up next week in top form. To be the best you have to beat the best playing their best. I'd take an asterisk victory but I want an A game vs A game W.

I think this game really introduced OBD's new BIG conference rivals to their much talk about O and D lines. While last week was the official first Duck BIG game, this week was our introduction to the old school BIG. Both lines absolutely man handled their opposition easily all night long. The MSU message boards are blown away by how dominant the Ducks were in the trenches. Nobody takes UCLA seriously as a big school but MSU while going through a down turn, is still supposed to be respectable in the trenches yet got destroyed like an FCS team. I think BIG fans were expecting the Ducks to be introduced to the BIG like SUC was. All flash but no substance up front. Two horrible first half goal line turn overs kept the score from being 35-0 but the stats accumulated up to that point reflected that level of beat down. That sound you heard last night as the game ended was the collective gulp of millions of football fans about two thousand miles away. Be afraid BIG fans. Be very afraid.

Without the costly turnovers, OBD routs Boise St and obliterates MSU. So far, this season has been like watching the guy in Fight Club fighting himself (sorry for the spoiler!). So far almost halfway through the season, the only thing that has slowed down the offense has been their own turnovers and penalties. Each week they seem to be getting things more figured out and the separation between them and their opponents keeps widening. I like that trend.

I think one of the problems OBD have been facing so far is just figuring out a solid rotation so the guys on the field can get used to each other. I think the O line issues while sorting out personnel were obvious for everyone to see. I think the figuring out linebacker and DB personnel has taking a little longer than expected as potential starters had to be replaced early do to injuries. In the end this may be a good thing as the players have been given the chance to show they belong on the field and the different combos have given the coaches enough tape to see which ones work best. The frustration of watching the team have less than anticipated results should turn into confidence that the team can keep it's composer in a crises when it counts. If the tOSU game comes down to the wire, the closer than we wanted Idaho and BSU finishes will be huge experience assets the Buckeyes won't have. As a fan I actually am finding the close games entertaining and the victories feel more earned than simply expected. I remember those deadly Stanford teams that would find themselves in 4th quarter nail biters not only against top ten Duck teams but also with bottom feeders. This team may end up being more like those teams than the blow out by halftime teams of the Mariota years.

UO 31-24 1 3 285

Seemed like a concussion protocol situation to me at the time. Good news!

If the BIG plays nine conference games plus an SEC game but the SEC only plays eight, I’d have to pass on that deal.

After a preseason #3 ranking, expectations were for this year to be a legit top five team with a legit shot at a championship. Now I think reality may be setting in that this may be a top ten team that may become top five but a championship is becoming a fading dream. Being 50/50 against other top ten teams or being an underdog to top fives might be less than we hoped but still puts OBD in the playoff hunt with a chance for the final four. To me that still makes for an exciting season and maybe pulling off a couple special plays from a very special season. Basa’s gonna score! BASA’S GONNA SCORE!!! I’ll take it.

It seems like after the pick six, the training wheels were put back on the offense. I think they just wanted o play it safe in a night game on the road and come out with a win. The defense was never in danger of losing control of this game so limiting offensive risks may have been smart but in an unsatisfying vanilla type of way.

Well that was a buzz kill.

UO 45-13 3 TOs 4 sacks 385 passing yards

Don’t worry. There will be a (Mari Oh No! Did that actually just happen?) moment or two before the season is over. Same as it ever was. Same as it ever was.

I am not worried, as we have a perfect schedule for proving ourselves, and moving up if we keep winning. Post marked as "moderated" by Charles Fischer09/15/2024 01:50 PM Love the pic. Lunar has made the coaches praise Great pic Charles. Limar has made the coaches praise his name two weeks in a row now. I say award this man with more touches!

I think the best thing about this W was that it wasn’t a bunch of guys complaining my back from injury riding to the rescue. it was basically the same guys that were having problems in the first two games figuring it out n the third. Can’t stress enough how important that is.

Didn’t expect to be fearing third and long on D in year three with Lanning.

Special teams coach earning his money this year!

UO 38-13 1 TO 3 Sacks 385 Passing yrds

Great work Charles. The offense seems to have three significant problems, blocking, penalties and turnovers. It looked like OBD figured out some blocking things in the second half but penalties and turn overs continued to be a problem. Hoping all three get dealt with this weekend. Even with all three problems on full display last weekend, they still put up 37 points on a potential playoff team. This weekend will be the first time I'm rooting for The BIG to beat The Pac! Strange days indeed.

If DAT picks up that block for Mariota against Furd, then we’re in the championship again. That’s my story and I sticking to it.

Awesome news Charles. You're O and D line analysis is some of the best I've ever seen!

Idaho > Idaho St and by a lot. BSU > SD St and by even more. Rankings UO BSU Idaho OSU SD St Idaho St This should be a blow out whether the Ducks get their O line figured out or not.

I want to see the O Line tryouts continue in the first half with the solidest five playing together in the second half. In said second half, I want to see the offense getting back to doing what it does. This game should be a great test for the O line to stop the false start penalties. I want to see them pass that test. I want to see a stadium full of rabid orange fans realize that this rivalry is over.

I have to tip my hat to the SAD 2 (Stranded Abandoned Delusional) for attempting to stay in the headlines for another week.

My sports psychology extrapolates the conclusion that OSU would most likely lose to both Idaho and BSU. Idaho just beat Wyoming which is probably about the same level as this year's SD St. Boise St would destroy Wyoming, SD St and the Beavs. The Ducks have been struggling to resolve some fundamental issues while fighting off solid well coached teams with lesser talent than themselves. As we wonder what's wrong with the Ducks offense, we need to remember that this struggling team just put up 37 points against a potential playoff team. I see this game getting ugly in Corvallis but not in the way the Beavs are hoping for.

Nice article. I'd add one more crucial point: Win the Oregon vs Oregon battle. Ultimately, this has been their downfall the last two weeks. Drive killing penalties and turnovers throughout both games continuously attempted to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. One step forward and two steps back rinse and repeat is how you find yourself in a nail biter against inferior foes. This week I think some field leaders need to emerge to steady the ship in turbulent waters.