Wrathis

Given the improvement week over week, one might call them weaknesses or miscues or any other number of things. Certainly a prudent coach might call them opportunities, or chances to improve. Blitzing can and does work when the pressure can get there while everyone is taking care of their zones or assignments. I'm absolutely seeing that Dorlus and Johnson aren't getting there enough on their own, that might be a clue...yet, I still think it's an opportunity for them as well. Main point being I would love to see the defense setting the tone, dictating what the opposing offense does. That the defense isn't setting the tone certainly qualifies as what surprises me so far this season. I expected the defense (given the talent and coaching) to lead the way, not the other way around. Then again, had I read the clues I might have properly predicted that the offense would be leading the charge...Either way, I'm thrilled at the way we're playing and will be watching weekly to see what opportunities for improvement present themselves, and how we react and shore those items up.

I 100% agree with you and yet, I'm hoping that this will be the game where we're blitzing and play aggressive defense! Where our defense dictates what the offense does, not just having us react to what they're doing. Wouldn't that be a pleasant surprise...

I still don't think he was taunting during the Stanford game. To me it looked like he was trying to find a ref to toss the ball to, and when he finally did, the Stanford player inadvertently walked right into it. I don't hold that one against him at all...

Bo Nix is Oregon’s best QB they have fielded since Marcus Mariota and Justin Herbert. After reading this, something struck me...what do we think Dillingham could have done with Anthony Brown at the helm? Don't get me wrong here, I think Nix has been marvelous thus far and he's really a true dual-threat, but Brown was a great runner and still threw a fairly pretty deep ball. I'm not saying Brown was as good as Nix at all, but what I AM trying to get out of you all is how far do you think Dillingham could have taken us with AB at the helm? His system is great and the play calling has been fabulous! Is Dillingham talented enough to have won the PAC-12 with AB leading the charge? Please let me know what you think!

Cardwell was listed at 6' and 210lb...which I wouldn't consider a small back by any means.

I've been in TT's corner pretty much from the start, so take this with a grain of salt if you must. I think TT's issues could well be a combination of everything that's being said. I think he's a gunslinger with a cannon and isn't used to these complex schemes. He's also been subject to having his confidence stripped away and not being coached up by the previous administration. Also, I do remember reading that his star rating was given on "potential" and not on expectation. That being said, I believe we have a responsibility to the young men that join our program. If they're willing to stay committed to us, we have a responsibility to do everything we can to get the most out of them...to help them reach their maximum potential. Diamonds aren't dug up already polished and finished. They're dirty, with flaws and needing to be worked. I still believe Ty's a diamond, one that needs some cleaning, polishing and even some pressure. Without those things, I don't think we get what we need out of him, nor what we owe him. I want to see him succeed, and I want it to be here. KD and DL may not be the coaches he needs for that, however I absolutely think they're the exact coaches he needs, especially when compared to what he had available to him previously...

I'm pulling for Utah, period. In times past I would have wanted the success for Chip, if for no other reason than gratitude for what he did for us. However, UCLA finds themselves on my hatred list; below the Fuskies but above USC. They also are turncoat traitors, and while this may have in large part been USC's (ie Carol Folt) doing, they are complicit in it with them and will share the same Benedictian fate.

I was (and am) a big Mike Leach fan! Granted, I hated playing Wazzu when he was coaching there, but he took the unwashed part of the armpit that is Washington and made them somewhat formidable. If I'm being completely honest, I sometimes watch random videos of his interviews just for the humor. His take on which mascots would win in a brawl I find hilarious! So while I do miss him, I like that he's the SEC's problem now on the field but I still get all the benefit of his humor without the possibility of catching an "L" for the entertainment.

Arizona concerns me and not just b/c of our checkered history down in the desert...They're spinning it down there and Cowing and T-Mac (whom I wish we could have kept) are playing phenomenal phootball! While I feel Gonzo will do his part to limit Cowing, I don't know that Bridges or the Jhalil's will be able to hold down T-Mac. They all lose the height contest to him and his ability to leap/contort to the football is going to be a real problem. That leaves DeLaura...and our NEED to rattle him on every snap. Dorlus looked the part this past weekend, and DJ should provide some help as well, but we have to get after the QB in 'Zona otherwise we may suffer another long evening there in a shootout I'd rather not be in. Crazy things happen in the Arizona desert at night and we need to put this away as early as possible. Grind it out on the ground, score touchdowns in the red-zone and keep their offense off the field...

I don't have a caption for it, but it's my new background on my work computer! Thanks for sharing!!!

I've softened my stance on Bo Nix. Initially I didn't want yet another transfer QB in and felt we needed to develop what we already have...you know, just 2 of the most highly rated QB's we've ever signed. Granted, I knew they would take their knocks, but they'd have a great offensive line to do it behind. I'm now (at least for the moment) glad to have Bo here. He's playing well and helping make us a contender for yet another conference title. That being said, I'd really prefer he move on after this season. I know that may very well mean we take some lumps for the next season or two while TT, JB or DM learn the ropes, but I believe that to be better for the long-term growth of the program. Ideally I'd like to see TT or JB come out firing next season after having had a year to get refined with Dilly, then let them play 2023 while Moore gets some garbage time clean up experience and a year with Dilly. You know, simply put I'd like to see us become a traditional QB factory. I mean, we have these high hopes for Moore but truth be told someone being our "highest rated QB recruit in history" doesn't necessarily mean it translates to the field...and I'm not willing to risk the futures of TT/JB to lose them and have all my eggs in one Moore basket...

I was thrilled when he made that pick b/c to be quite honest, they had been running that play (or variations of it) all day long and we hadn't adjusted to it very well at all...

Then let me be clear: if the fate of the conference goes through OBD and Wazzu won't spoil it for anyone, then our defense better get their $hi* together b/c giving up 41 points to conference rivals isn't going to get it done.

I respectfully disagree. I think WSU IS good and will absolutely play spoiler for someone. If you think the conference runs through OBD, and we escaped Pullman with a win, then they absolutely have the moxie to ruin someone's season seeing as how they damn near ruined ours. I expect Wazzu's defense to absolutely WRECK USC. If the Beavs held Heisman contender Caleb Williams to 16/36 (44%) for 180yrds and 1 TD with that patchwerk offensive line, the Cougs are going to feast on him ALL DAY! I'm not afraid to admit that Wazzu's defense is what ours should look like. If Havoc rate is the goal, then they're the current standard-bearer. Now I'm no Nostradamus and don't know how the WSU/OSU game will turn out, but I figure Wazzu wins that one. The Apple Cup ought to at least be very entertaining and I figure Utah and the Fuskies will be the only other teams that beats them. I admit our first half red zone offense was atrocious and we left plenty of points on the table. However chaos is the antithesis to perfection and they do chaos very well (on offense and defense). Point being, they will cause many teams to leave points on the table and it's going to take an extremely disciplined team to deal with them, ala Utah. Then again, they are the Cougs and it's called "Coug'ing it" for a reason...

I LOVE that the MTSU coach is emphasizing "toughness" as the reason for their win. That HAS TO BE salt in Mari0's wounds, it has to be eating him alive!

Just my .02, but the antidote to "rat poison" is humility. Either you tune out the noise and stay humble and hungry, or you lose one and find said humility (just ask Texas A&M). In my mind this really comes down to coaching and can Kirby keep the noise out of his locker room...and my thought is "yes, he absolutely can". There's really only a couple games on your schedule that have enough talent to warrant any concern: Florida (which is a rivalry so the team is always up for that), Tennessee is still a year or two from being dangerous and you have both those games at home. That leaves Miss St and Kentucky, both of which are on the road. The Pirate is always a wild-card and comes before your date in the Blue-grass State, so that's the game that I see being dangerous. Talent wise you all will continue to crush, but beware the Mississippi State game as it has the look of a trap game. However, as I stated earlier...I believe Coach Smart will keep this team focused and you have a large enough talent gap that if they lose focus for a game, it should carry them to a win even if it's close. However, I expect you all to continue steam rolling the competition and repeat as National Champions. Cheers, let's enjoy watching the season unfold...

I have to say that for me the most impressive part has been how when a weakness has been shown, how quickly they get it coached up and fixed. Poor tackling, improved. Setting the edge, improved. Downfield shots, happening. Now it's just a matter of opposite CB and a pass rush. If CDL & Co can get that shored up for this weekend, I'll be one happy duck!

Admittedly I haven't read the article yet, but the only way I can see UCLA losing money is if they take a reduced share and then have to split that share with the other state member schools. USC avoids this entirely by being a "private school".

I really feel bYu is an "Iceman" style team in that they're methodical, calculated and just wear you down. We're more of a "Maverick" in that we're completely unpredictable and an unknown commodity. I feel like we know they will execute, but if we can execute also, we take the W. We have more talent and a MUCH higher ceiling...it's just how much of our potential can we extract from this team? They'll give us their best and it will take 80% of our best to take them...Week 3, I think this is where the tables turn and things start clicking. We'll find out in 24 hours...

I had the same audio syncing issues a lot of people had. That being said, I still like the idea of Amazon picking up the PAC...I may be new to the whole "no network" thing, but I've been plenty happy with Prime Video, Netflix and Youtube TV.

Oregon 34-27 TO's: 2 Sacks: 2 Passing Yards: 296

27-17 Georgia 2 Turnovers forced 3 sacks (nom nom nom) 219 yards passing...

It would appear that I'm the kind of person that when wronged, might cut off my nose to spite my face... By avoiding the B1G we ensure those dastardly Trojans and Bruins have to travel across the country all season long to play their games in the frigid north. Couple that with my love for the Pac-12 (16 etc) and I find no motivation whatsoever to beg for entry to Warren's sandbox. I'd much rather stay put, find some new friends and play in our own slightly smaller (but much cleaner) sandbox. Who knows, with the right motivation perhaps I can even carve in a little Amazon stream through this sandbox that will bump up the value a few notches??? Good riddance to bad rubbish you feckless Trojans...

I've thought some about this...what our first offensive play call would be. Secretly I hoped it would be a play action pass for about 20 yards, but since that's how we started the Spring Game, I have to think it's not how we'll start the Georgia game. Maybe we can run a draw instead and capitalize on letting their pass rush over-play the ball...Who knows, but I do know we have the answer in about 53 hours! GOOO DUCKS!!!

Sounds an awful lot like Dan Lanning's design on defense now...seeing a defense do to teams what our offense used to do, now that has me excited!!!