The Kamikaze Kid

Camden Lewis kicked that crazy extra point off the up rights to seal the game. If you take a closer look on the replay, you can see his planting foot almost spin completely to the left causing him to nearly fall down. He was kicking on that freshly tilled side of the field. In real time I thought he almost blew the game but now I see that he actually saved it and should get some well deserved props.

I don't think of it as rooting for the fuskies. I see it as hoping they don't blow it for the Pac.

Great review. I see one concerning common denominator for UO's last four games (UW, UU, OSU, NC). In all four games, the Ducks looked like the superior team and took control of all four games. Also in all four games, one or more bizarre you'll never see that again type of plays happened against the Ducks. After said plays in all four games, the Ducks lost confidence and found themselves in tight battles. I'd say, you could add the UGA game to this list because after the two early interceptions, the Ducks lost confidence that never came back and the game got away from them quickly. This is where real time leadership needs to kick in. I think this is where Lanning has the most room for growth as a coach. I think Lanning will process his own short comings in these situations, have talks with Coach Smart on these topics and return next year better as an in game leader of the team. I've always loved the Mike Tyson quote about everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face. I think that is the biggest factor this brilliant first time head coach faced this year. This year he seemed to try to get momentum back with risky gambles on forth down and onside kicks. Hopefully next year we'll see better in game adjustments on both sides of the ball and less panic and wild gambles in those situations. I'm already looking forward to the Spring game. I think Lanning will get this head coaching thing figured out sooner than later and playoff runs will be returning for the Ducks.

LOL. I was thinking the same thing!

Way to finish Ducks. What a game!

UO 48-38 2 1 345

I remember a press conference where Lanning was bringing up the dark side of the portal and if we really wanted to go there? Like any other game, Lanning is playing the portal/ recruiting game to win and is getting national praise for doing so. Still, it was good for me to see him make that statement. Uneasy with knowing what winning the portal game requires but also prioritizing doing what makes the team better. I'd much rather have Coach Lanning handling these tough calls with some compassion than Coach Prime practically gloating over the fact that he's going to be giving a lot of his team the axe.

I’d take DJ over TT but it seems like QB has been addressed at this point. I’d say keep on stacking up that D.

This sad story has next year’s portal written all over it.

The 70’s Steelers defined football for a decade. RIP Franco.

The Beavers are a QB away from being a legit PAC Champion threat. Just get players that want to play and coach them up. Sure roll the dice on some five stars and maybe land a few. But this flip flop drama will only increase in the nil era.

If you were a four star or above running back, would you want to be a featured back that gets a lot of highlights but accumulates more wear and tear shortening your NFL career or would you prefer to rotate reps getting fewer highlights but having less wear and tear?

At this point I'd consider this the QB pecking order. QB1 Bo or transfer, QB 2 Moore. QB 3 TT.

I think the 12 team playoff format should also have NIT type little brother playoffs as well. Teams 1-12 in the real deal playoffs. Followed by 13-24, 25-36 and 37-48. Most teams with winning records get a playoff experience with other teams in their skill range. NFL bound players can show case their skills in a playoff environment instead of a meaningless bowl. Extra home games for for the first couple rounds and then bowls can still be used for the final fours. This creates meaningful games end of season games for most teams, it generates more late season interest for both fans and players. To me, this seems like a win win for all involved.

To me, the defense may have the similar issues as last years women's basketball team. That team was pretty much the sophomore campaign of "the greatest recruiting class ever". After Coach Graves watched that team basically watch an injured Nyara Sabally try to win the tournament by herself, he called out the team as soft. How did they respond? They hit the portal and left. A new group of top tier talent replaced them and they now appear to be the real deal. I think the Mario era of recruiting mimicked the USC model and just grabbed as many high ranking stars as they could, regardless of fit to a scheme. Swapping out DCs every year or two also makes recruiting to a scheme nearly impossible. You see time and time again in the NBA when teams that just horde top talent without a real plan of how it will be used usually flop. I'm very interested to see how Lanning uses the portal to get the right guys in the right positions and how fast that improves the D. As of now, I'll trust the process.

I don't really care who's in the final four but I do find it highly ironic that "every game is a playoff game" except conference championships.

Sure Lanning blew it. Needless gambles when you already have momentum spells disaster. When all heck is breaking loose maybe calm and steady David Shaw type coaching may be better than rolling the dice. This was a learning year for him and the cost of his education was a trip to the playoffs. Ouch! Still this year was playing with house money. Until the defense gets solid, they are not winning a playoff game or an NY6 game. Shore up the D, get a good OC, learn from mistakes and move forward. In a year when half the Pac was top 25 caliber, the Ducks were still just two 4th qtr melt downs away from the playoffs with a bad D and a first time head coach. The glass is much more than half full.

Bandwagon fans fill stadiums, go nuts in the stands and buy merch. They do have an important role to play for successful teams. They just don't contribute much when the chips are down. I kind of like when my teams struggle at times. It shows me who the other real fans are. One of my favorite Autzen stadium moments was during a game with UCLA in '79. UO had the ball with a minute to go down 35-0. On forth and long they faked the punt and got their 6th first down of the game. All 5000 or so fans that were still there in a pouring rain storm immediately started going berzerk and doing the wave. The UCLA players all were looking at us as if we'd lost our minds. In those days there was no bandwagon, just fans, and I still loved it.

If the Ducks get that A+ OC hire wrapped soon, defensive players may think they could be the missing link the D needs to be a playoff caliber team. That's how I'd feel anyway.

Sounds like he should go play for Hugh Freeze.

Expect guys with C- performance grades to be shown the doo….. uh I mean enter the portal.

Outside of a playoff caliber teams OC, with the offensive success UO had under Lanning in year one, I'd think he could get pretty much anybody he wants.

Yes. If he gives us back a scoop and score, I'd call that even.

TT seems like a good guy and I wish him luck in life but a fumbled hand off turned scoop and score in his one and only play in a game is the last play I'd like to see from him. I'd consider the starting audition closed.

I'd say bring in a couple senior QBs. I don't think Moore would be too concerned being behind a legit first string caliber guy for a year. Being a four year starter, he probably feels he has a legit chance to win a competition. If you want to go to a playoff caliber team, you have to expect stiff competition for a starting spot.