Mudslide

As a former Aztec, I look with pride at those performances. But one sick kind of irony...the Aztecs head coach has been none other than....(drum roll)...Brady Hoke. (And I STILL don't like him.)

We haven't had our whole hour yet! .... And don't forget, there is always women's volleyball to watch. 'Tis strangely calming.

Okay. The thing about modern collegiate football (and most sports) is that it's both a big business and it's play. Business is in it for the bucks and play is for the fun. In the coming bowl game, the buck chasers are already (mostly) gone. So we'll see how much the play-ers enjoy the game. Play is for the fans, too. We don't watch these games for money (uh, gamblers excluded, of course). So take some deep, slow breaths and repeat for several minutes..."It's just a game. It's just a game. It's just a game........." In reply to the article, I keep in mind that the play on the field isn't just about "want to". It's also about health, training, play preparation, and skill. I fear that those things will be in short supply for the Ducks. But I hope for Duck strength on the field () I, for one, can't wait for the game. Play on. GO DUCKS!

I swear, if the Ducks didn't pass into a triple team, they wouldn't pass at all. How many turnovers this game?

It is ... wacky. And out of whack. Football is a GAME played by kids. For once I have to agree with Mrs. Mudslide. Paying anyone $5 mil, or $8 mil, or whatever, for coaching this game played by kids is so very out of line with the world today that it is a bit pathological. And from my retirement/Social Security view of things, it's a LOT pathological. Who can afford going to games any longer?

Wasn't DeRuyter recently hired by Texas Tech?

Whoa, Jon. You may want to make that 9 only. I think the Ducks kick off at 12:30 (3:30 Eastern).

I abhor anything that hurts my beloved Ducks. And that includes booing. Those of you that think it helps the team in any way, you do not understand human motivation. It only helps booing fans express their unmet expectations. It, in fact, hurts the team and its coaches and players who are putting out more effort than 100% of the fans who are booing. In my mind, booing is the adult version of infants screaming for their bankies.

Both coaches are half-baked game managers. But CK is CK. How I hate to predict this. I hope I choke on crow.......... Aye, that's it. Old spoiled crow meat........ UCLA 38-28 1TO 3 sacks 270 passing yards

I may be mistaken, but didn't the Ducks come back from ~10 point deficit against Arizona? And also, it seems like they started out in a 10-0 deficit vs. AZ St...not sure about this one. Maybe it was UT?

Just a note...In 2020 the Ducks totaled 11 TD's from the receivers. Six went to the the two tight ends, Kamp and DJ. Only 5 went to all the rest of the receiver group.

Thank you for a terrific article. I hope one day, maybe with this article, that we stick the final dagger into the notion that the Ducks did not up-coach Herbert.

Thanks for the great article, Coach. I wonder what rotation Altman deployed in previous years. For certain he always tightens up the rotation late in the season, but I don't recall what he does at the PAC-12 tourney. I do recall that much was made about the 3 (or 4) games played on consecutive days harming PAC-12 teams going forward into the NCAA's. Some coach suggested not necessarily playing to win in the early games in order to rest his players. I don't believe that was Altman saying that...but it is a potential strategy for player weariness and body healing. My guess...the Ducks play 8-9 players in all games. That rotation would include a few extra minutes for Terry and Kepnang.

His HUDL tapes show pretty nice mechanics and field awareness. Now...does he have the 'it' factor? I can't wait to find out... about him or the guys in this year's qb room. (Whistling: Roll On Alabama...)

Charles, hopefully it is some consolation that you have THE best sports forum available...at least that I've seen. And thanks for the help you've provided me to get rolling here and understanding how it all works. You are much appreciated.

Charles, I'm really trying to understand what your complaint is. Is it that the Ducks' offense is not 'fun' or exciting enough? We don't crush teams? We don't win enough games? MC broke his promise about continuing the former offense? MC is just not listening to the fans? Scoring more points makes it easier for the defense...to what end? (12-2 remember.) I'm not sure we disagree...perhaps we're just focusing on different aspects of the team's performance. I'm looking from a results POV. They've been mighty good in that realm. And from that perspective, I have been saying that MC has done a bang-up job. Could he do better? Probably. We all could. I get it that we disagree on whether 2020 should be considered an outlier of little importance (me), or that one can glean important data from the season (you). But what is it exactly that bugs you about MC using his offense (if not one of the above)? On a completely different tack...as some have mentioned here, I have modest reservations about MC's backfield recruiting. As had been mentioned, he has had 3 years to find The Back...to nail a Najee Harris or Royce Freeman type player. He has been amazing at achieving an overall improvement in the Ducks' historical recruiting classes. But if he really wants to run a mash and bash operation, he'd better get one of those cruncher guys.

If I read you correctly, shouldn't we then either terminate the man or silently begin searching for his replacement...or both? Your comments describe him as quite incompetent. To follow your logic... COVID is not a factor in W/L record ... and a 12-2 record is not acceptable.

Charles, I was not diverting. You have forgotten my original point ... easily found. MC coaches and games to the personnel he has. You'll recall our conversation about the lack of quality receivers and running backs. THAT, IMO, is why he has been running the BCO. To the current argument...if he had the players I listed, do you think he would squander the Heisman Trophy ability of Davanta? If you really believe he would run the Duck's current offense with Alabama's personnel, then you give him zero credit as an intelligent coach who understands his players and still embraces learning. If you believe that, you should insist he be replaced. And lastly, to emphasize my POV, winning is everything. Win ugly. WIn pretty. But win.

How might we have done with all those 4 and 5 star O-linemen, Davanta Smith, Mac Jones, Jaylen Waddle, and Najee Harris?

And there is more to football than an high scoring offense (HSO). Ball control (BCO) is a philosophy that may or may not be anyone's cup o' Earl Grey. I would just remind that there is a synergy of all aspects of a game. The Ducks won under Chip's HSO and happiness filled all the land. But the other team had lots of time to score, too. The Ducks won under Mario's BCO. And the other team's scoring went down. Let's look at comparative 12-2 years...the second year under MC and third under CK. 2011 Chip's HSO zipped along at 46.07 ppg. Defense gave up 24.64 ppg. 2019 Mario's offense scored what some would call a lumbering 35.35 ppg. Defense gave up 16.5 ppg. I would offer that the difference of 21.43 ppg vs. 18.85 was proven insignificant to the win-loss records. I hope we all agree that 2020 was a strange, outlier of a year for all PAC-12 teams, including the Ducks. Not much can be taken from that year except sorrow for the country as well as our beloved football. And lastly, I get that an HSO is more fun to watch. But winning is what matters. Ultimately, it is ALL that matters. MC is, IMO, coaching for the best use of available personnel...with that goal of winning as his north star.

Please remember that last year was a one off kind of year. A couple of those games the Ducks had less than 60 scholarship players available. Judging how coaches do or do not perform from 2020 results might just be foolery. Of course, ALL coaches can improve and learn from mistakes...just like ordinary folks. But don't look for perfection because you'll never find it ... especially from 2020 football. I'll take the Ducks record under MC over any other in the PAC-12 (and beyond).

Hahaa...I made the mistake of playing 3rd base in high school. Bad choice. Craig (Greg) Nettles was in my class....made me rethink my sports career.

Thanks, ChicoDuck. I look forward to seeing this gent's progress. Kids from Texas just seem to have 'it'. As an aside, I'm surprised at the enrollment of those schools he attended. I wonder if those are typical numbers for Texas schools (high schools). Growing up in San Diego, most schools in our district had populations ~3,000...10-12 grades. Of course that was 3.5 million years ago.....

He looked decent as a D-tackle in his HUDL film. Maybe there instead of offense. We could use a big plug in the middle of the line. Surely he would be a guard if on the Ducks' O-line.

I've met Bill, and his sons (admittedly when they were young)...and his father...the nicest gaggle of arrogance you'll ever meet.