Mic

ICamel brought up a good point above. The big difference that I see between Kenny Dillingham/Dan Lanning's Offense from that of Chip Kelly's is that DL understands the importance of clock management - not just getting a score when there's little time left in the Qtr or game, but in taking time off the clock as much as possible when you're ahead, to maintain the lead. Clock management works both ways. We all remember the days when Oregon would score points FAST but then give the opponent too much time to score and re-take the lead. Yesterday's last drive illustrated Lanning's difference perfectly. O didn't need to score any more points yet UCLA was never given the ball back again to do anything with it.

He's right about that ICamel. Oh, and while you're at it - keep on scoring more points.

Yep! (but imagine the same if they were in the Horseshoe with 105,000. It'd look like the entire state of Ohio had turned out for the game.)

For sure Charles. For sure. We should all savor the moments because in today's CFB world everything is seemingly fluid; players, coaches and even conferences. Here's to 3 more years with this outfit - O may win a National Title or two by then.

Actually, I think Nix is being asked to do a lot precisely because of his experience and ability. And it's working. He's been given a lot of latitude to alter the plays on what he reads and which decisions he makes based on those reads. Also, you are correct about the difference in what it takes to build a recruit into a star; so on that part I'm all with you. As far as other programs waiting to see how Dilly does for another year, I'm not so sure other programs have the patience to see. Some may, the better ones. Others may not, the lesser ones. Oregon may have inadvertently exposed a formula for other schools to follow to get a program back on-track Go out and get a new HC and O.C. and find the best QB transfer you can.

As long as Nix doesn't pull up and toss the ball. I think I've lost count on how many times O has been flagged for linemen downfield. And it always seems to happen on a big play. It happened again yesterday.

I like succinct.

In the infamous (if rather meekly uttered) words of Lee Corso: "Not so fast...!"

Just in case there remains 1 lost should left among us that doesn't believe in such things as brand bias, I quote Jon Winner from the above article: Wilner makes the point that “Also working in their favor, and never to be ignored: Brand bias. “It exists, even in a space as objective as the selection committee’s boardroom. And you can bet your last dollar that one-loss USC, with Lincoln Riley and Caleb Williams, would have oodles of support.” Ergo, Oregon (or whomever) should just rollover in the Pac-12 Conference Title game to let USC go to the Playoff to represent our Conference? No. Earn it Conference winner - whomever it should be. Then let the 'objective' Playoff Committee show their biased hand to the rest of the country.

Well, they're starting to look like they are. Sans the knee-down yesterday, it might have been 8 scores-in-a-row on possession, topping their previous two games where it was 7-in-a-row on possessions. that'd make for 22-in-a-row possessions where they've scored. As it stands, they've scored on 7-in-a-row 3 times in a row! The NCAA may have to institute a new rule against such 'disrespect' for the opponent.

And I want to let everyone know I'm letting my wife hit me with a 2x4 over the head for picking UCLA to win. I deserve it.

I'd bet on it. Can't blame O for wanting to see how things worked out first, but unless there's a "total powder room collapse" Oregon is going to finish the season in solid contention for the Conference Crown and there should be presents coming for all. Including Dillingham.

If there is any "trap" game left it'd be OSU in Corvallis. I maintain that will be Oregon's toughest test, sans Utah, left on the schedule. For some 'mysterious' reason (lol) the Beavers never need any incentive to spank the Ducks. Johnathan Smith could win Pac-12 Coach of the Year (snatching it away from Dan Lanning) if he manages to win that game, assuming his team wins out beforehand. Which it could very well do. But Oregon is too focused now to lose. Dan Lanning nips out Lincoln Riley for C-of-the-Y, (if the PAC voters are smart instead of fawning to media).

Lot's of young talent in the NFL ranks - it's the mistake (imo) that Chip Kelly made when he jumped from Oregon to Philadelphia and tried to take on head coaching duties instead of teaching them his offense. Dilly would be a fine O.C. in the NFL and I'm guessing his salary would be equitable to the position, with a higher degree of success without the headaches and pressures of a Head Coaching position. Time will tell, I suppose. In the meantime we'll enjoy watching his Offense develop and evolve here while we can. Tis a thing of beauty when it works!

Of course they would have scored, UCLA was utterly unable to stop Oregon by that point. But, you're right, they didn't need to - just get out of the game before anyone gets hurt needlessly. It's sportsmanship and it's smart. And It's not showing other teams any other things Oregon can do to put points on the board.

No, but when Oregon comes in to town, that'll probably change. Fans always want the blood of big favorites and O will be a huge one Wilcox will have his team as prepped as he can and the fans will be there, not like the 59,900 yesterday in Autzen, but probably > any recent game there. Won't matter. Lanning has his team focused on how to win football games.

Imo, it won't be a head coaching job Kenny's looking for but a chance to take his Offense to the NFL. If O loses him, it'll likely be there. Either way, it'll be a dirty crying shame we couldn't keep him here long enough to help DL win Oregon a National Championship.

Dye is somewhere in-between: More power up-close to the goal line (more like James) than Bucky, less speed and tackle shedding ability, less elusiveness. If Dye were still a Duck, Dillingham would be utilizing him how his talents dictate. Dye might also be more durable but we don't know that yet either. Either way, in this system O is building Dye would have found a solid role and done just fine. I still wish he was a Duck but things are working out well for us without him. Besides, Bucky is more fun to watch!

Considering yesterday's game the Defense Lanning has Lupoi building is not (at least not at this time) predicated on stopping all scoring by the opponent but limiting them to scores that Oregon can over come. For instance, those 3 FG's instead of TD's that UCLA had to settle for. That's 12 points left on the table by UCLA. And, if you consider Chip Kelly, that might be 15 possible pts if UCLA goes for 2 pts instead of the point-after kick. O won by 15. Lanning & Lupoi are conceding the underneath stuff to prevent the TD's, counting on KD getting Oregon into the end zone and not having Lewis kick our way to points. So far, its working. Lanning said it in his presser "trading TD;'s for FG's is a winning strategy" or words to that effect.

Or certainly a risky one, he and Dillingham both. At some point in time ...it could work against Oregon. I'm betting DL & KD will know when to do something like this again and when not to.

All this attention is certainly good for the effect it has on the CFB pollsters and those voting for rankings, not to mention the fans. It might also lose us our Offensive Coordinator to the NFL sooner rather than later. But that's football. Collegiate football.

No, we shouldn't because both coaches don't believe in punting, preferring to roll the dice instead. It's what we knew Chip would do and what Dan Lanning has been doing. O did stop them in that they had to settle for 3 FG's instead of TD's. That's 12 points UCLA left on the table. Maybe 15 if Chip goes for 2 - which he most likely would have - being behind.

Well, according to his Bio on GoDucks when Bucky was a Freshman at Minnesota he was: "Second on the team in rushing with 699 yards in 133 carries to go along with four touchdowns … Led the team with 966 all-purpose yards, adding 194 yards on kickoff returns and 73 receiving yards to his rushing total ..." It sounds to me like he was already catching the ball out of the backfield before he came to Oregon. Shouldn't have been a surprise to us.

I don't think Dye leaving Oregon helped us, but it didn't end up hurting us either. Our RB room is stacked right now and doing just fine.

The only way Cal is a 'trap' is if Oregon lets it happen. Or a very serious injury occurs to Bo during practice week. Bite my tongue!!