Mic

I suppose at this point in the game going for it on 4th and 1 inside your own 35 "might" have made sense because 1) your QB was playing hurt at <100% and 2) Little Oregon had done to that point showed they could stop Penix from scoring. There was probably no one on the Duck sideline who wanted to play for O.T. and we were, at that point, tied if I remember correctly. Everyone wanted O to be the last one to score but not getting the 1st gave the Huskies just that as it turned out. Yeah, our D did have a stop left but our O didn't have any scores left. 3-point loss.

And Utah held our 40+ point machine to 20. Oh, and UW also held it to under 35 with Bo healthy all the way thru- til the near end. This is not a 40+ point scoring machine any longer from this point out due mostly to quality of opponents but also to those unfortunate series of injuries to Forsyth and Nix and a few others. Another dog-fight - but then, with the Beavers, they always are.

There's a reason why the military drafts 18-year olds and the whole entire structure is manned by mostly 40-somethings or younger. Risks that seem foolish to us older adults seem like "good ideas" to them because they're naturally much more aggressive and confident. "Bullet-proof" is what they call it in the military - the thinking no one can hurt you or stop you due to that natural blush of youth. There's also a reason why most Admirals and Generals are 50's-somethng. Better decision making and risk assessments. Or, one hopes. Dan Lanning should only get better and better at being a H.C. but if he's starting off at this high a level, we have a lot to look forward too in the coming years.

Like against Washington? Yeah, it comes with the territory - everyone fears the risk-takers except when the risks pay off. Then they love them. But as Charles recaps, some risks just have too little up-side potential to justify the down-side risk. Like that mistake of a fly-sweep inside the Red Zone, with a cold QB with little experience. With Bo at the helm, the defense either gets read correctly (and a audible calls O out of it) or it works because Bo make a better fake at keeping the ball and taking off with it. Or, it doesn't work at all because it was a mistake to call it in the 1st place.

That one very risky run for the last 1st down Saturday may pay off in huge dividends. OSU must now anticipate this and scheme for it even if he never does it again. But I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess he will run a few times; if only to keep them guessing and committing. It's risky for a QB in his condition but this kid and his coach are risk-takers. See Charles article above if you haven't already.

-4.5. Yep, the Beavers are getting plenty of respect (finally) from the odds-makers. Good for them. Now THRASH 'EM! OREGON !!

Pretty much sums things up Charles. There are a lot of fans talking about this, if what I caught in conversations at the last several tailgate gatherings are any indication. And too many of them involve a huge disappointment of a backup QB.

Just another example why a lot of CFB fans dislike this man (Lane Kiffen). What's this, about his 18th coaching gig somewhere?

I don't know about all that, genes are such funny things, esp when combined with whatever types of genes his mother has. But I will say this, the young man has the competitive spirit in buckets. He's fearless out there with a confidence you can see in his every move. It's partly his age and experience but he must have had it when he was a Freshman too because of how he played.

(psssssttttt!.... That #55 rating is by a guy who's hoping his team will get him)

As an avowed devotee of the author George Orwell deleting pix of historical events smacks of something... well... Orwellian to me. That said, being as this picture contains a disgusting player from a team that is thoroughly disgusting making a likewise disgusting gesture to one of our BD's (wearing a likewise disgusting uniform) I believe it may indeed be deserving of total pixel annihilation anytime that can be arranged. I'll side with Steven A's sentiments but... defer the better judgement to Charles F. That way everyone wins! (Everyone except the guy in the Duck uni).

Maybe that's why the D had a definite uptick last weekend; perhaps he was losing patience with Tosh's schemes and calls? That would be just fine with me.

I'll let my friend (the Beaver alum) know to tell the boys over there to go easy on the Ducks next Saturday. . Darren P needs a Christmas and Steven A needs his house!

I'm generally an optimist but I can't agree (as much as I might like to) that a win in 'Corvallis' is a likely deal - even with a 90% Bo and Alex Forsyth (let alone without that). The Beavers are a legitimate threat to the Ducks this year. Likely win? Uh ... no, I don't think so. A win? Yeah, I can see it if Bo can go and the Beavers don't knock him out of the game. We're hearing he's around 60%. That might not be enough.

That was quite a bet to make back then Darren. Who thinks O wins >9 in a coach's 1st season? Was that before or after the 3rd Mohito?

Exactly. Which is why I wrote "the only knocks I can imagine ..". There will always be some mistakes - heck, that's how we learn to get better or do better in all walks of life. Football is no different.

I was reminded of Kurt Gibbons HR in the World Series on one good leg. Even hurt, the pitcher couldn't get him out. Saturday, even hurt, the Utah defense couldn't stop Bo from getting the crucial 1st down Noah Whittingham unfortunately failed to get.

Here's my un-imaginative answer: " Because of Bo Nix's bravery and refusal to quit even when hurt." How does a young man, playing on the same team with a guy like Bo Nix NOT want to give it his all when he sees his leader give it his All - plus more? This team believes (with good reason) they can win any game they play with Bo QB-ing the team. (And I think their opponents do too).

A lot depends on the nature of the injury he has, I think. If it's the type of injury that means a 100% return to health with mere time and mild therapy the pro scouts will likely disregard it. If it's the type that cause nagging problems that only get worse with aggravation by stress while playing, then he may need another year of healthy play on the filed to overcome that. For his sake, I hope for the former even if we should see him leave. This kid deserves a real shot at making the Pros - he'd be an exciting QB to watch play at the next level. Lord knows the young man deserves a look with the competitive nature (and guts!) he's shown. He's fearless out there on the field.

Remember all the speculation on the board a number of weeks back when a bunch of us were guessing on 'grades' for Lanning? How he needed this many wins or that many wins to get to a B or an A or an A+ or ... ? He's got an A+ in my books and there's not much more he can do to change that. The only "knocks" on him I can possibly imagine would be his occasional calls (like that disaster Saturday near the goal line) and a legitimate concern by many of the lack of prep for the backups at QB. But that's also speculation and puzzlement. When you consider this is his 1st gig as a H.C. he's done amazing well by any standard, imo.

IMO, USC being #5 is a joke. But it does help Oregon (if they beat the Beavs - which is far from certain) and meet them in the conference championship game, all right. So I'll swallow my laughter and take the 'gift' as it comes. And you know what? USC needs Oregon to beat the Beavs too just as much, if they want to make the Playoffs. Interesting, eh? Again, just my opinion.

I'm afraid Nix won't be much more (if any) mobile and it doesn't look like Alex will be back either. But I still think that if Oregon can beat Utah they can beat OSU. No more giveaways like that ill-advised trick play run by Thompson (not blaming him - it was a poor call at a poor time in a poor location on the field).

This is kinda what I think too - it will be a lower scoring game than Oregon's been used to because the Beavs do have one of the best D's in the conference. I'm hearing 60% for Bo's condition. You can certainly tell he's hurting on that leg and one worries about him if he gets hit in the pocket. If the Beavs can knock him out (and you know they'll be trying from the first snap) they feel the game is theirs. Our backups haven't shown our opponents any reason to be concerned they can run the offense. But ... the same goes for their QB. Do they have an adequate backup that can run their offense too?

Concerned? Probably more like curious. Right now the Beavers (after coming off their 31 points against ASU) are probably feeling like World-beaters. You can see the confidence building in this team - this is the best they've looked and played in years. With Bo hurt and Forsyth out they'll probably be expecting to win not just compete in this game.

This is something our defense hasn't been doing enough of this entire year. They did, finally, get a little more pressure on Rising Saturday, but either the defensive scheme Lupoi has doesn't stress QB sacks or O lacks the types of players who can get it done I just don't know. I agree with you, we need more and Gulbranson needs to find himself laying on the turf or running for his life.