Mic

All choices seem reasonable (and most are unanimous) but one choice where there is disagreement is for the Defensive MVP. I'd go with Matt Prelim's choice of Christian Gonzalez over the others choice of Brandon Dorlus. Without the backfield coverage (and Gonzo always draws the opponents toughest cover) Oregon struggles to stop the better passing attacks. His work on Mike Wilson was one outstanding example. Brandon Dorlus is not a bad choice, tho.

... meaning if Autzen sat 75K then with standing room only tickets all sold, >80K.

This is one of those times (like, 6 times a year) that one wishes Autzen held 75,000 instead of 54,000. And it also makes it evident why UCLA'S schedule, getting 5 of their first 6 games at home (and 8 of 12 games there) is patently unfair to the rest of the Pac. GO OREGON!

You can bet on one thing: If the B1G wants USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington then the B1G sees profit for themselves in it. If it means the death of the Pac-12 what would they care about that?

San Diego State, Fresno State make sense to me. Why no mention of Boise State?

This is a good article and I enjoyed reading it. But It left me puzzled when I read this portion: "I have purchased Direct TV and I have purchased Sling Orange/Blue. Yet, to no avail, I was only able to pick up the Oregon-Arizona game halfway through the 3rd quarter via YouTube." I had no difficulty (outside of navigating thru a tortuous user un-friendly and cumbersome channel guide) finding he OregonArizona game (on two different channels, Pac-12 Arizona & Pac-12 Oregon) with our Sling Orange/Blue subscription. I don't know why the author was unable to do so as well. Does channel availability vary on Sling region to region?

These visits are so important for recruiting (and a little R&R for coach) I hope to see him back in Eugene to help the team prepare for UCLA again soon. Nothing recruits better than a winning program and this next game is a huge one. That said, nice to see the coach willing to meet with fans too, though, and this is a nice photo of Dan and a young fan. What's the old saying? "Character is revealed when someone does something good for others - not for return of favor but for the sake of doing good." Or something like that. I bet this was a thrill for the young man! Thanks for pointing out the OHT program for our veterans.

Seven McGee's low snap count (9) continues to puzzle me. He did lead all receivers with 4 catches so he's being sent it to run certain plays of the type that allow him to get open quickly for short, solid gains. But, why only 9 snaps? I thought it would be in the 30's +. It looks like the coaches have just a few plays designed that he fits into?

Hooray. Oregon has been needing a great kicker for more years than I can remember. I've always wondered why Oregon was unable to get the great prospects to come here because Autzen is a perfect environment for the kicking game. Finally! (I'll breathe easier when I see him in uniform).

I'll give Dan Lanning an A at the end of the season if Oregon finishes >8-4. ie: 9-3+ A+ if Oregon finishes 10-2 or 11-1

Still very apprehensive. Also very skeptical. And very suspicious. And very confused. Dan Lanning sounds to me (in this article) like a man hedging his bets. Hoping for more. Hoping for the best. Not committing to anything. That's smart.

Oregon wins out and he wins the Heisman. And I mean wins out - every game played before the voting takes place. (Just my own silly opinion).

Of course. But we can make our appeal to Thor to strike thunder thru the heart of anyone signing the deal in ink.

Assuming Oregon beats UCLA (and I think it's less than 50/50 at this point) I would prefer to see Utah win because I like Utah and I don't like USC. I may even loathe USC but I'm not certain because years of gentle upbringing by a gentle and kind mother has gone a long ways of rooting out the "loathsomeness" in me. Otherwise it would be easy to loathe USC. But, it would definitely be better for Oregon to win out (if they can) and then play an unbeaten USC for the Pac-12 Championship. Utah, unfortunately, has been tainted with 2 losses and a win in the Championship game would lack that extra luster of beating an un-beaten USC. Damn it.

And Notre Dame!

... and getting "serious" consideration for another New Year's 6 bowl by the East Coast media suck-ups.

Possible, but I think it was something different. I think he was remembering what Lanning (?) or the other coaches were telling these players. YOU didn't make the great play - the team did. Nice catch, get back to the huddle and ready to go!

This quote from John Canzano's article referenced above just absolutely frosted me: " I also think the Irish are better off remaining independent, as long as they have access to the College Football Playoff and a pile of media-rights money." - Kevin Warren. This is why so many CFB football fans have grown to almost hate the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. It's their dam_ed condescending, independence, free from any tough conference opponents, schedules and competition that make it patently unfair to other college teams fighting thru tough inter-conference battles to try and make it to a bowl game and, hopefully, a Natty Playoff. Here's ND, with enormous resources, publicity (and long-past glories) to pretty much schedule who, what, where and when, (with too-few exceptions) to position themselves for ever constant bowl or playoff opportunities. We talk about UCLA getting 8 home games this season. That's nothing to ND playing 8 teams a year with little expectation of ever beating them. And then making sure any "tough" opponents they have to face come to South Bend as frequently as they can get away with scheduling it. I wonder, if USC continues it's rise in power under Lincoln Riley how long ND is gonna want to keep facing them once a season? ND to the Big1? Hah! I'll believe it when I see it! Why should they encumber themselves with conference pitfalls if they don't have to ? They seem to feel the National Championship Playoff system needs them rather than the other way around! That's why I stoutly and emphatically maintain the CFB Playoff system be limited to Conference Champions only. Let each conference decide for themselves how best to determine their champion. Force "Independent" ND to get themselves in the same system most of the rest of the CFB has to labor thru. Or screw 'em!

Yes ... but Dan Lanning is 0-0 at this point. And I'd be interested to learn what Chip Kelly's record is vs. ranked opponents after a bye week? But I'm too lazy to do the research... GO OREGON!

Call me crazy but over the past decade or two the TE position has under gone a renaissance. Remember when the position seemed almost an after-thought to the offense, a blocker on runs as interference ahead of the full-back, the tail-backs; an 11th man not figured in much of the passing offense other than as a blocker to pickup the blitzing linebackers and safeties, protect the QB? Travis Kelly showed us the other night how much that position has changed (and how incredibly important it's grown to the pro-system offense) when he became the 1st player in NFL history to sore 4 TD's in one game from less than 10 yards from the end zone. I may be all wet on this but I noticed the changing landscape for Tight Ends in the collegiate ranks first. Or maybe it seemed to me it was first because it's college football where new things get tried, proven or discarded and because I watch so much more collegiate football than pro any more now days. I just love how a team now has become judged not just by how good the QB & RB's are, but how versatile and dangerous the TE's are. Whole offenses are now being schemed around this position and Oregon is certainly one of those teams pushing the envelope outward. GO OREGON!

Alabama 18 Oregon 10 USC 4 UCLA 0

hmmm...

Here I stumble with your analysis. I'd flip these three.

It will be interesting to see how UCLA deals with or counters the 'jumbo' package when Oregon gets near the goal line. They're watching the game tape right now showing Jordan James run the ball 4 straight times till he hits the end zone, and Moliki Matavao carry the ball around the end into the end zone. That's Oregon showing their hand and daring them to stop it. Seems to me Dilly could take advantage of that and catch them in the wrong defense with a pass or QB run.

Another big surprise is 5 wins in a row - esp. considering that first game that I'm still trying to scrub from my memory.