Mic

Maybe it's time we stop dissing on Mario Cristobal and recognize his contribution (and give thanks) to what he did for Oregon. If you believe the knowledgeable pundits (not the lame-brainers) and your own eyes, who has the best, or one of the best O-lines in the country right now? Oregon! Who recruited and built that O-line, for the most part? Mario Cristobal and his staff. If Miami recognizes this fact, then if possible they ought to fire him as their Head Coach and re-hire him to do what he does best: build great O-lines. He's the proverbial round peg trying to squeeze himself in a square hole and we can all see how that's going. But this is not to say the man hasn't got merit. In my humble opinion, we owe Mario a big thank you for why our O-line is #1 in the country in allowing sacks, protecting the QB and crushing the defense of our opponents on the goal line, I'll bet a nickel to a dollar the Arizona D-line would probably agree with this right about now.

Perhaps the singles best turnaround of penalties I can recall from one game to the next. And the O-line did this in a sold-out stadium. Well, it WAS full, for the 1st half.

What is it that Dan Lanning likes to say in his press conferences? "Iron sharpens iron." Things might get pretty sharp on the 22nd. I kinda hope UCLA does bring their A-game and O does too. Then we will learn who's A-game is really an 'a'-game and who's game is really an 'A'. Does that make sense? GO OREGON!

Well, not yet, certainly. Here's to hoping we're wrong - and the young man springs into action with the skill and talent we all hoped was there! I'm trusting DL & KD to know for sure what to do with him and I am personally ready to admit I was wrong (!) the moment he shows up for action.

Never let not betting on something haunt you. Betting real money is a fool's game, but a fun one to be sure. It's always a crap shoot or the gaming industry wouldn't thrive like it does. GO OREGON!

On the subject of the UCLA showdown on the 22nd; The o/u is likely to be gaudy given the history of these 2 programs, this season. I have to see what the o/u is first, of course, but I'm inclined to be taking the under. I suspect O's defense might surprise the Bruins (tho probably not Chip). And perhaps vice-versa.

I'm happy that you can still see the glimmer of potential in this young man. We all wanted that for him so bad and still do. But... he has to start showing us that it's there. Or, more importantly, he has to start showing the coaches it's there. None of those reasons you cited above can account for him looking like he just saw Godzilla approaching when he takes the field. KD has a system installed that requires the QB to function a specific way within that system. TT really needs to show everyone he understands that system and is willing/able to execute it. In all fairness, he hasn't. Not yet.

In relation to what i answered Charles with above I am now realizing another reason why I like the hurry-up, tempo offenses (by any team but O esp.). And that's because to execute this, the players can't dance around, twirl and spin and generally draw attention to themselves as if they and they alone just made a big play. One team looked almost professional in its approach, the other very amateurish.

Another good article, Charles and it sums things up pretty well. I take one quote from this as an illustration on what DL & KD have instilled in this team: "I feel like I didn't even know we were scoring on that many possessions in a row, it was just 'okay, what's next," said starting center Alex Forsyth." That's: focus. They have the Ducks so focused on what they're to do, how they're to do it and why that those matters have taken over everything else. We also saw it on the way Kris Hutson nixed (pun intended) the after-catch celebration on that long bomb from Nix to the 1-yd line, the 'thumb's-up immediately after the big catch over the middle by... Franklin (?) and Cota's fantastic over-the-shoulder snatch at the sideline followed by an immediate return to the huddle without any fanfare. Very nice and refreshing to see.

If I had to hazard a guess right now, I'd say that he "appears" to have already made his decision either: a) he's never gonna equal the play of Bo Nix and has lost all confidence in himself, or b) he's already thinking about which team he's going to transfer to. I kinda think it's 'a' because if he wants another team to be interested in him transferring he has to start showing them why they should be.

We all like him. But we all want to see him do something with the little playing time DL is giving him! I'll bet DL & KD are just as stumped as we are.

Given the way Nix is playing right now (and, he looks to be a durable guy) I can't see any reason in the world why Oregon would bring in another transfer and risk Nix leaving. Now, if Nix says he's leaving (likely) then maybe O does the transfer thing again (ugh!). I'm really hoping for one more year with Nix and whether or not Moore commits to Oregon, Lanning and Dillingham will have another QB ready to go in '24. (Assuming they're both still here, DL & KD). It might be anyone, Moore, Thompson (not likely, imo) or _____?

It's what I bet Lanning will do. But I need to consult with Red Eddy first.

With ferocity, I hope.

Congrats R.E.G. Remind me to consult you when I put down my money on the 22nd.

While I think Lanning is dead-right in saying "this isn't the same team" as then (or after any week) I still say we haven't played a team anywhere (defense-wise) like Georgia. Although... I think right now the Ducks could scare the bejezzes out of anyone right now, including the Bulldogs.

Yeah. My thoughts are how in the world did this young man rate 5-stars? Also, are we to think that he's better than Butterfield if this is how he looks? And how does he 'look'? Like he's scared to death out there. But this is just me, probably.

We have two long weeks to await the really big matchup in Eugene in what should prove to be one of the more important games that week in the CFB, but I like to speculate on intangibles. For instance, by now we all pretty much know what Lanning thinks about the coin toss. He likes that so-called "middle-eight" period or the last 4 min of the 1st half and the first 4 min of the 2nd and to allow for that he likes to defer the ball when/if O wins the toss. General wisdom is to take the kickoff when on the road and defer when at home, the opposite of what Fisch did last night. It almost worked for Az when they managed to drive to the Oregon 11 but on 1st down fumbled the ball (unforced). Poof! Gone was the 'wisdom' (gamble, really) of that decision. What will Lanning do if Oregon wins the toss against a revved-up, turbo-charged Chip Kelly offense when they meet in Autzen on the 22nd? Do you take the kickoff and try to score first - thereby giving up the chance for a morale-destroying "middle 8" ? Or do you trust the defense to stop UCLA from jumping out on top (and possibly playing from behind) to preserve the possibility of it? I suspect some thought and discussion about just this will be going on 'twixt both coaching staffs during the bye week. It's a more important little 'detail' than a lot of fans think with two (or 6, actually) coaches like Dan Lanning and Chip Kelly, (along with their O.C.'s & D.C.'s). It's partially why the gaming houses place bets on such a thing. And games can turn on little details when two roaring offenses like these collide.

Or as Lanning put it "he got a little handsy". That's a habit that's hard to break a player of and I think that might be because they're afraid they're getting beat by the receiver. If anyone can help him correct it - it should be Lanning working with the DB coach.

I'm with ya on this Log Haulin - but I'm wondering how much of this was due to a vastly out-matched Arizona team who, coming off a big win against the worst team in the league was way over-confident, thinking they were a lot better than they were? This includes Jedd Fisch and his staff. We can't ever know for sure but I'd say they were thinking DeLaura and co. would be putting up scores and stats similar to last week. Then the cold water hit 'em in the face. Also, that unforced error (fumble) on the 11-yd line was perhaps the biggest play of the game for Arizona. That hurt them and their confidence at just the right moment, snatching away the whole reason why they opted to take the kick after winning the toss. Fisch hoped they would get out on top of the Ducks and make Oregon play from behind. As it happened, it made the rest so much easier for the much better team to crush 'em. Good things happen to good teams.

... but isn't that 3?

So, what's this "Lanning :Lager" we're hearing about from tonight's announcers? I want to know where I can get me some!

It's official, 45-38 ASU. Washington upset

The evil side of me is hoping the NFL siren comes calling once again and Kelly finds resistance futile. That or an SEC or ACC team.

I like how you think!