EastBayDuckDad

At least the defense is forcing FGs. Then again, they have a kicker that can. Somebody shake the bed and wake OBDs up.

Too entertaining for me. Oregon should be up by 3TDs if not for the mishaps. Time to settle down.

Good Lord. You'd think that Oregon had never seen rain..

Refs missing Cal penalties right and left. Two PIs, clock violations and Illegal motion from a guard due to the tempo.

Crazy! Let's just let the D stay on the field and give the O the night off.

3 TDs for Oregon. Credit for one. As weird a game a you could imagine. Then again, it's Cal. And Lewis shanks it again. Sheesh!

Cal could be tough, but hard not to be close to the spread. TOs and sacks will reflect them trying to get back in the game after Bo and Co. get them down by 2 TDs. Wet, windy and sloppy afternoon impacts the passing game a bit. Ott gets a couple of nice runs before Cal has to throw to keep up. Oregon 42-17 2 TOs 5 sacks 245 yds (with 200+ on the ground)

There has been rather sharp criticism of the upcoming 12 team playoff from some quarters of the sports media. A lot of it valid as in years past the top four teams (in spite of the SEC bias) have usually had one or two teams that were head and shoulders above the rest. An expanded field wouldn't have altered the outcome. 2023 is different. This year there appears to be more parity, without one team, like the 2019 LSU Tigers or 2022 UGA Dawgs, that looked destined to win it all. It is possible that an elite one loss team like Oregon could be left out of the current four team mix. SEC and B1G bias could select a one loss Alabama, Georgia (in the unlikely event that they lose to Bama in the SEC CG), Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan or tOSU over the Ducks. Oregon can only control what they do on the field. Continue to win and run the table through the Pac-12 CG.

What the 2022 team lacked was a solid top 30 or 40 defense. It was good against the run until that ghastly OSU game. It had its problems with teams that could wing it all year. The difference this year is a stingy, nasty and opportunistic defense that comes at you in waves with not a lot of drop off between the 1s and 2s. Stopping the elite arms and WRs in the Pac-12 is still a concern, but it has been for every defense. The only combination that got behind the Oregon secondary and swung a game was Penix-Odunze. A defense that held Colorado, Stanford and Utah to six points. Let that one sink in for a second. Two of three were away games. Those teams put up way bigger numbers on other competition. The key in each game was getting up by a few scores then forcing the opponent to play catch up. Into the teeth of a defense that simply shut them down. That is what is different from previous years, including 2014 and 2019. An offensive juggernaut paired with a stifling defense. Yeah, Oregon could lose to Cal. It would take a series of unfortunate events. A few turnovers, injuries to essential players like Bo or JPJ, blown assignments and coverages on defense or lightning striking the Oregon bench. The game should ultimately hinge on what almost every one does: match-ups and personnel. Oregon has the advantage almost across the board. The three and a half touchdown spread is an acknowledgment of that fact. The Ducks just need to do what they've been doing. Play in the moment, execute the game plan and continue this very special season.

Slick and Mari-no-O both came to Oregon with bigger fish they thought they could fry and dream jobs they wanted. Taggart got what he asked for and proved his own Peter Principle. Cristobal ditto, but the jury is still out on what he might do in Miami. The 'Caine fan base is quickly understanding that tough talk, press conference glowering and an occasional 'The Rock' sighting won't bring back a NC. DL seems to have no geographic agenda and if he takes the Ducks where he claims he will (I for one believe he can), then there will be very few programs that can lure him away. It's not like there is a lower Midwest team that would hold much appeal. A plum NFL job might be enticing, or being the heir apparent to an SEC powerhouse like Georgia or Alabama. Outside of that, I think he's here at least until his youngest is out of school. I'd be happy with that decade.

I love that Stein thinks like the QB he used to be, "what could I have done to make that play succeed?" Followed by "I won't make that mistake again". Accountability and the 1% better creed seems to apply across the board at Oregon. Anyone in a job with risk and high stakes understands the importance of those two concepts. If you are going to be elite you realize that it is not just a destination but a process. And you have to constantly remind yourself that you aren't there yet. That humility goes a long way towards achieving the goal.

Best. One. Yet. Brilliantly edited. No MUSS no fuss. Coaching, cohesion, calculation and communication. Man, more like this please.

1 Georgia 2 Tosu 3 FSU 4 Michigan 5 Fusky 6 OBD

College age fans everywhere can do stupid things. So can some adults. They are in the minority thankfully. A year ago there was a lot of criticism directed at the Oregon student section for a few idiots that chanted some very distasteful stuff at BYU. Even Utah students can get a bit out of hand when they are hopped up on rooiboos herb tea, caffeine free soda and near beer. Boos are just a part of the game When DL was interviewed by the CGD bunch, the partisan crowd rained boos down on him. He just smiled, gestured over his shoulder and said, "They're chanting for Bo!"

Great article and observations, Charles. And not a word or video too long. I watched the first half of the game with several folks in a local bar. On that first drive when Bo hit Tez over the middle in the spot vacated by the linebacker, I announced to those within earshot that the absence of ILB Barton for the Utes was going to open up the short middle zone. And that Oregon would take advantage. When Bo changed the call on the drive in the red zone at the end of the first qtr, and had James wheel route to the same spot, he predicted the LB would bite to the outside. Dead solid perfect and even with the bobbled snap delivered that beauty to James for six. No one bought me a beer, but I got a "you called it" or two. After Utah owning the Ducks the last time they played in SLC, then again in the 2021 championship game, this was a real joy to watch. The difference between the old Mari-no-O 'physicality-but-no-mentality' offense and the DL/Stein attack them where they are weakest/not expecting it was night and day. Man, no let ups now. No one left on the schedule will be unprepared to face the Ducks or lacking motivation. Each opponent, even Sparky, will be gunning for Oregon with the hope to ruin their increasingly probable CFP run. The coaches will need to game plan with the same cold ruthlessness that we saw against the Utes and the players execute it in kind.

Outstanding. I was concerned that with the signifcant improvement in Arizona's defense he might reconsider, but that statement made by the Ducks at Utah likely sealed the deal.

It's almost like he watched the Oregon-Fusky games and said to himself "Anything you can do, I can do better!"

IDK. Two of those losses were to UW with Penix at QB, each a 3 pt game decided by a questionable play call or two and a bit of bad luck. Last year's CW loss where the Ducks knew what was coming and inexplicably didn't stop the run. Not really OC into HC playmaking brilliance. Remember the UCLA game last year. The Chipper certainly didn't have DL's number there. Not a reason to underestimate the challenge from U$C, Beavus, hopefully the mutts again, and even Sparky. Let's see how the rest of this season plays out against offensively minded HCs.

I don't have any data, but it looks to me like there were more blitz packages the last two games. For different reasons, I think. Against Wazzu to try and corral Ward so he couldn't go bat guano crazy on the scramble (which he managed to do some anyway). And against the Utes to disrupt a shaky pass offense. Both strategies worked for the most part. I suspect we'll see a steady stream of calculated pressures and safety/DB blitzes going forward now that DL knows what he can do with Evan, Tysheem, Kyree et al.

Very entertaining and telling game between the next two opponents. I'm an old Cal alum and have hated the Spoiled Children since childhood so I wanted a Bear victory. But a I'm willing to settle for more game film that will help the Ducks beat them both. Love it that these games are at Autzen. Both teams can be dangerous and Oregon cannot let down on either one. Williams is still one of the top QBs and he will get his. To a lesser extent Ott and the Cal run game. Both Cal and U$C have swiss cheese defenses that Stein and Nix will shred. I figure Cal by a couple touchdowns and Trojenz by one+ when it's Vegas odds time.

One thing the coaches appeared to plan for was to neutralize the Utes two-way emerging wunderkind, Vaki. Lupoi had a sign to let the D know he was in the game, as the Utes apparently had a limited number of offensive sets to use him out of. Makes sense since Vaki had only recently moved to offense. Thus Oregon more or less knew what was coming when he was in the game. So not only did the Duck D shut him down completely, they had a heads up on the plays being run. He ended up with 5 carries for 11 yds and no receptions. He was responsible for the first of Tysheem's two picks when he didn't complete a route (although TJ was in perfect position and may have made the play anyway). By the 2nd half he was back on defense almost exclusively and the Utes had abandoned the offense centered on him. That, my fellow feathered fanatic friends, is just plain good coaching and game planning.

Fumble a bummer but D held and only 3 points for Utah. And the Kyree PI was totally bogus on the prior series. Now another Duck TD drive is in order

Oregon 24-17 1 TO 4 Sacks 265 passing yds

Everything was secret and hunky-dory until he tried to relay pilfered play calls back to Harbaugh with a WWII naval signal lamp.

Yo, Coach Whitt's got some guns! Pretty good for a 63 yo dude. Great to see a coach that hits the weight room with his players. No wonder they run through walls for him. And on a related topic.... https://www.si.com/college/utah/football/lincoln-riley-acuses-utah-of-stealing-signs No, Lincoln, Whitt doesn't steal your play calls. And if he does it's because you are too predictable. What he does is steal your lunch. And drink your milkshake. He lives rent free in your head, haunts your dreams and owns your candy-caboose. And while I hope for your speedy recovery and return to the sideline for the Cal game, I'd get pneumonia too if i were as exposed as you and your defense were against the Irish and Utes.