EastBayDuckDad

Oregon 56-24 2 TO 3 Sacks 355 yds (Some by Thompson)

Oh, most revered former Axel, thank you, thank you for the walk down memory lane with the bisons. I was in the stands, freezing my glutes off at that 1996 Cotton Bowl debacle. How it could be 70° and sunny in Dallas the day before, then 40° with wind chill lower than a Norwegian fiord at game time was a polar vortex mystery that swore me off central Texas forever. Add to that the miserable experience of watching OBD get beat badly and Neuweasel pull one of the crappiest low stunts of sportsmanship in the history of college football. Some revenge was extracted by Joey and company in the 2002 Fiesta Bowl which I was blessed to attend. But a little revenge never seems to be enough. Thus every bad thing that ever happens to Colorado, Neuweasel, and the fuskies for that matter, is well deserved. Our karma runs over your dogma, indeed (woof, woof, fuskies, that includes you). As Roger Miller once sang, 'You can't roller skate in a Buffalo herd, but you be happy if you beat the snot out of them by six touchdowns and take the over'.

I posted this on a previous thread when Harsin got canned. Seems pertinent to this discussion as well.

Thanks for the analysis, Coach Boles. Love how DL and Dilly exploit that cover 2 alignment now that Oregon has legit deep threats with Franklin, Hutson and Cota (may he return soon). The opposing secondary has to respect them and the TE as well. If the slower LBs are just slightly out of position on a good Nix play action fake, the speedier RB gets to a wide open spot on the wheel or Texas route and an explosion play results.

Assuming this was tongue in cheek as among current more successful NFL starting QBs: 6'2" Aaron Rodgers Dak Prescott Lamar Jackson Jimmy Garoppolo Patrick Mahomes 6'1" Jalen Hurts Tua Tagovailoa < 6' Russell Wilson

My wife has a more succinct way of describing it: Windbag

When the fat lady sings (with all the teutonic, viking helmeted, Flight of the Valkyries, operatic, body shaming, misogynistic implications of that) U$C gets to go it's own way because they are sleazeballs, and they can. UCLA gets to answer to the UC Board of Regents and California taxpayers.

Great observation on the technical in game coaching DL and staff are doing. Although the UCLA game wasn't cited, the Ducks scored at 6:34 in the 2nd qtr and spotted UCLA a FG at 3:00. Then they executed a near perfect drive culminating with a Nix to Franklin TD with 6 seconds left to go into the half at 31-13. After the early onside kick (huevos grandes, DL) and subsequent TD, that score as the half ran out was a gut punch to the Chipper and crew. The Bruins ate up six minutes at the start of the 3rd to yield only 3 points, then Oregon essentially put the game away on the next drive. Perhaps not specifically within that middle 8 time frame, but pretty damn close. The nod to that kind of coaching exhibited by the previous regime was a pistol plunge for the the last eight plays of the half, followed by the mirror image of it in the 3rd qtr. Somebody check my math, but I'll bet I'm not far off.

Folks can take issue with Walton and his Greatful Dead, THC fueled, Wavy Gravy, Ken Kesey, Furthur, Merry Pranksters, tie dye bike short wearing, one toke over the line sports commentary, but he was one helluva basketball player. The 1974 Mac Court win over #1 UCLA is famous in large part because Walton was on the floor. He bleeds baby blue and gold. Even when he was agonally torturing Dave Pasch and English language syntax, he was entertaining. Marginally. His take on UCLA bailing to the B1G, however, is spot on. Not that he'll be listened to. Kudos to Canzano for tweaking Walton to put his opinion out there for all to see. Love him or hate for his time at the Oregonian, my take is that he is a good sports journalist that puts out interesting content.

Does anyone know if 7 played enough games to burn a redshirt year? Could explain why he is leaving the team now. If he has already torched a year of eligibility, then leaving is a bit more problematic.

If I were interested in the top job at a flailing major company, I think the last thing I would do is take the top position at a place 3000 miles away with a lot of talent that had underperformed with the previous CEO. Then poach that flailing company's underachieving COO and turn him into a superstar. Turn the fortunes of your new company around. Earn the support and enthusiasm of your entire workforce and stockholders. Crush the local competition. Recruit outstanding talent nationwide. Earn the grudging admiration of the media and even the CEOs of your primary competition. Then chuck it all away to go to the very dumpster fire you have no history with, where you will always be looked at as second class compared to your rival cross state juggernaut. For a few dollars more. Oh yeah, and while repairing the damage done by turning their previous field general into something they could never do. Sounds like a recipe for success to me. Or something a desperate Fuskie fan thought was a great idea. Yeah, that's the ticket.

Sorry to see McGee leave under these circumstances. I think all were hoping he'd be the next DeAnthony. Never showed that insane shimmy and field vision that DAT had. Best if luck wherever he goes, but bailing mid season doesn't set well. Good group behind the current starters with some high value freshmen WRs coming in. Along with Dickey, 4☆ Cozart coming. I'll bet there will be some high quality transfer that will want to play in Dilly's offense. All were concerned when Dye went to U$C and CJ tried to land with the NFL, but that seems to have worked out ok.

That is a critical stat.. Nix is able to do what he is doing because the line is giving him time. Even when pressured he can look downfield and if no one is open, use his legs to get a 1st down or significant yardage. The big uglies are driving this train.

Oof, looks like Franklin strained/tore a hammy. Hope it's not bad

Oregon 41-24 2 TO 4 Sacks 260 pass yds

Thanks to NJ Duck for that fun read. Good analysis of why Nix ended up in Eugene and is having success with Oregon. And a little shade thrown at those war eagle guys to boot. We have forgiven freshman Bo for beating Oregon under JH in 2019. But we Ducks have long memories. Scam Newton. Chizik the jerk (now an defensive assistant at UNC, or something like that). And Dyer's knee was down.

Great article and observations, Charles. Alioti was never given enough credit for the flex defense he managed to pair with the CK up tempo minimal TOP offense that demanded it. The college football world was amazed then transformed by Kelly's offense a decade ago. Saban initially thought it was the devil and claimed there would be more injuries, real or (in Cal's case, ironically under coach Lupoi) imagined. Eventually even Saban and Alabama adopted some of the up tempo game. Defenses learned there were ways to slow it down and even defeat it. Even so it became a situational part of most offenses if not the sole weapon. The Oregon Kelly offense was literally lightning in a bottle that revolutionized college football but ultimately became a one trick pony. It could be overcome by fast enough bigger defenders that could stuff the smaller and athletic o-line and corral the skill players (see: Nattys: tOSU and Auburn) Even Kelly has evolved away from the 24/7 go-go approach. What is so impressive is how DL has taken a fast and creative offense under Dilly, added a bend but don't break defense and combined it with tempo, snail ball, creative clock management and smart situational football. He outcoached the Yoda (put big ears on Chip and tell me he doesn't resemble him a little) Jedi Master at his first crack and even threw in a pair huevos grandes ala the Chipster with that onside kick.

“I think you guys try to affect it more than anything. We have, from day one, made it very clear what we’re here to do and what we’re here to build. Our history has shown that we don’t sell a dream, we don’t sell any false hope. We sell the reality of a track record in what we’ve done, where we’ve been, and how we’ve done it,” said Cristobal. I believe MC actually borrowed this from a statement Napoleon gave to the press right before the battle of Waterloo.

I think that if Nix continues to perform at this level he'll get drafted. 2nd, maybe 3rd round. That lands him with a team likely as a back up. I believe there is no doubt that young man wants to go to the league. He certainly has the maturity and football smarts to compete, even if the talent level is not exactly that of a franchise QB. I can't imagine he came to Oregon thinking two more years of college life. Nor did his southern born and bred spouse. I do not believe another year of college ball would make a difference in his draft stock. At this stage you are what you are and Nix, in the right system, is a damn good college quarterback. Maybe even a decent pro one. Don't get me wrong, but as much as I love what he has brought to OBD, with a Dilly offense tailored to his skill set, you stick him behind a mediocre NFL o-line and the old Bo may well re-emerge. He is simply not a Justin H. type passer, able to chuck the ball 60 yds downfield on a dime. But he might end up being a Joe Burrow style qb, and that will land him in a decent place. My prediction is that KD stays at least another year to develop Moore or maybe Thompson as the next QB for OBD. Nix gets drafted. Maybe they look for another quarterback in the portal, but I hope someone in that room come next spring will be able to take the reins. Let's enjoy and ride the Bo train for as long as we can.

A brief comparison of coaching styles: DL: Lets his asst coaches do their jobs Manages tempo, alignments and game situations taking appropriate calculated risks. Keeps the opponent guessing Throttles up to put the game away without humiliating the opponent. Plays Oregon football, not up or down based on opponent Uses stern but caring admonishing for in game faux pas (see Troy F.) Post game "We'll coach this better and fix it" Manages the clock!! MC: 'My way or highway' to asst coaches Ground and Pound x2. Throw short. Punt. The defense doesn't know what's coming. Oh, wait. I guess they do. Offensive throttle stuck in idle for extended periods Play up for tOSU, down for Stanfurd Lights up player on sideline with ugly national attention (see Kris H). Post game "We're just not physical enough" "There’s how much time left?" Does anyone doubt that if MC was still in charge this would be at best a 5-2, or even 4-3 team with losses to UGA, WSU and maybe even UCLA yesterday.

Oregon 38-34 1 2 235 yds

No doubt those ribs are a problem, but Justin was running for his life and had to force passes several times. No Keenan Allen as your go to WR. No All-Pros Rashan Slater and Corey Linsley to protect his blindside and call blocking assignments and protections really hurt that Chargers offense. The o-line is like a sieve without those two and they were already weak at RT. Thankfully Austin Ekeler was full go and dependable as always, and the kicker Hopkins nailed four FGs including the walk off OT game winner, playing on a bad hammy. But man, that was an ugly game.

Get after DTR with pressure and hold the edge on the pass rush. The UCLA o-line is good but not elite and if DJJ and Dorlus can pressure him he will not always have the time to isolate out his primary receiver. Gonzo on Bobo in man, as he is the better athlete, forcing DTR to go elsewhere. Bridges, Manning, et al need to limit the damage from the other WRs and TEs I believe the interior of the Dline can handle UCLA's inside run game and Sewell-Flowe will make tackles if they play disciplined gaps. And be ready for the inevitable Chip tempo when it comes. No mistake, UCLA is the best offense, after Georgia, that Oregon will see this year. DTR outside the pocket may be the x-factor. The odds makers have Oregon -6 with an over of 70+, so it will likely be a high scoring affair. I believe that the Duck offense will do what it does as the Bruin defense is good but won't be able to stop the run. Oregon will outscore UCLA just enough. The defense will play just well enough to get a home win. Just thankful this is in Autzen this year.

Dear Coach Riley, The rest of the sporting world feels your pain and the immense injustice that the Pac12 refs inflicted on your team. Welcome to the club. From what the rest of us could observe, your team fought hard and played a great game. But the officiating was not the deciding factor. The grit, heart and determination of your opponent, in Utah, was. You had multiple opportunities to put the Utes away. You did not. The refs simply balanced the iffy calls on both sides of the ball You lost to the gutsier team and coach. You won the early game. Utah finished better. You have talented 5☆ transfers. Utah has committed 3-4☆ players that play for each other and their coach. You whine. Coach Winningham humbly thanks his players and praises their moxie. Quite simply, you don't have a big enough suitcase to carry Coach W's brass. You can now go back to your 17 million dollar crib, lick your wounds, and revel in the reality that the promised move from the Pac12 to your coveted BIG will occur. Then you can live with that move. Perhaps humility will follow in it's wake. PS: Watching the 2012 Oregon v USC game never gets old.

Ok, so that was fun. Love that #86 kid. A little Gronk and Kelce in him. It'll be fun when they come to Autzen.