Mic

Answering the original question: Uhhh... yeah, because: 1) Oregon is 1-0 at this point, and 2) They have a mostly favorable schedule going forward. Can they beat Utah (at home) and the Beavers (away)? They'll likely have to win both to win the North. I really can't say at this point whether or not they can but maybe by the time those two games come up (assuming no unexpected losses/injures) I'll feel more confident in making the prediction. Still too early, imo.

Close? I hope not. I don't like close games when Oregon's involved. They make me too nervous. This is what I kinda expect will happen Saturday: WSU will set up to stop the run game forcing Nix to throw more. They will test the O'line's ability to protect and Nix to make the tight throws. I think at this point opponents probably feel Oregon's game is run 1st, pass 2nd, seek a balance. If WSU can stop the run I think they hope to force Nix into making some turnovers. The closest I'd like to see this game is 0-0 on the opening kick off. After that, I'd really like to see Oregon pounce on top of Wazoo early and pound them like they did that other Cougars team last Saturday. GO OREGON!

Makes one wonder why he hasn't seen any action for 2 years. Injury? Discipline? Effort? Lanning will probably have a pretty good idea and if he's a gem in the making he'll know that as well.

No pancakes?

Think he'll finally learn? If this is his 'dream job' one would think he'd be willing to listen to his assistants - if only to hang on to it. Boos coming from Joe Robbie (Hard Rock) should get his attention more than any other.

This is a perfect screen shot of what you are telling us. It looks to me like the 'read-key' defender is covered by a lineman, the outside defender by the TE. But the 2 inside LB's are not accounted for, save by the RB (if Nix keeps the ball). If BYU is able to set the edge (forcing Nix to turn inside the TE) he runs into the teeth of the two inside LB's with just one blocker (the RB)? So, the correct play is to give the ball off to the RB and hope by sliding off the RG he squeezes out positive yardage; in this case, the 6 yards?

Canzano did a good job reporting the behind-the-scenes machinations going on at Amazon/CFB. Unfortunately, he's correct in his analysis about leverage. It seems to me it can all be boiled down to one essential fact: Pac-12 teams must get good enough to win against the really big programs more consistently and make the Playoffs, period. Easier said than done.

Watching this video (and the RB getting 6 yards) looked to me like BYU wasn't so much out of position as they were throughly out-matched by Oregon's line. One could argue Nix should have kept the ball and ran for 10+ yards but it's hard to complain when the effort by the O-line was so dominate. Nothing wrong with 6 yards on a running play when you run right down the throat of the defense. It's demoralizing.

"Who are we playing against? Oregon!" - Dan Lanning in the 3rd qtr of the BYU game. A coach is always battling the complacency urge when playing over-matched opponents. It's also when unfortunate injuries occur because of the carelessness that complacency generates. It's probably a source of endless frustration for the HC.

I love these postings that help us to understand the nuances of on-field play. The fans really benefit by these. I remember fans screaming about video postings like this during the Chip Kelly years worried that Oregon's opponents would "learn how to defeat us" by watching them. I also remember very few teams actually being able to stop that offense, videos or not. It's not like other college teams don't have their own analyzers for more astute than fans. They don't need these to know what the heck is going on.

Well, coaches leave the NFL for the college ranks once again. Why not players?

Well, that didn't take long! I mean, this is the guy's 1st season - and only 3 games into it. Sheeeeesh... I think Mario will be fine for a little while longer. There's the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders up next. And the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets yet to play. Miami could/should win at least 6 games making them bowl-eligible. Will that save him?

All it takes is the right hire to come along (and a little $). Easier said than done, tho.

That, sir, is a very good point. If true.

Yeah, they're pretty young especially at a lot of the 'skill' positions (RB's, WR's even TE's and certainly the backfield on defense). The coaching staff is also (as a unit) even younger. This is why I think the Ducks put it all together in about a year or two when this new system has ironed out all the kinks and more players are experienced in and/or recruited into that new total team system. Struggle on the road? That's why we are all so anxious to see how this next game plays out. One game does not a trend make and losing to the reigning National Champions on the road is not a fair marker to make an accurate judgement, imo. There might not be a single team in the country that could have beaten Georgia in Atlanta 3 weeks ago.

No one's unbeatable, for long. Georgia just might be good enough run thru another season without losing - then again, maybe not. All teams have their strength's and weaknesses, including Alabama, Georgia and all the other current pretenders to the throne. If it weren't that way, how boring college football would be to watch and how much less special would those championship trophies seem if the same team won them year in and year out. And as to what EzDucksit said above, I remember when Alabama wasn't nearly as good as they are now and weren't in the picture at all. Back in the 70's & 80's it was teams like Oklahoma, Nebraska, Florida State, Miami, Texas, USC and Notre Dame that everyone thought were always gonna share the titles between them. Change sometimes comes quickly and sometimes it grinds slowly like a mill wheel. But I guess one could say the one constant is that nothing is constant except change.

The nature of the news business is to sell newspapers (or, in modern terms, 'clicks' on internet blogs, news articles and ratings on TV shows). How do you get that viewership and those ratings? You provide provocative stories about the most compelling subjects, i.e. the most successful football teams. How much time should a College Football analysis show spend talking about, say, Towson State football? How many viewers in American are interested in, or give a rat's 2 cents (to go with your 'rat poison analogy) about that program versus say ... Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame, GEORGIA? Right now Georgia sits atop the collegiate football heap after winning the Natl. Championship. Game one, they absolutely throttle a pretty good program in the University of Oregon. Of course the pundits are all gonna jump on this bandwagon and declare Georgia the best thing since sliced bread. And until someone comes along and upsets them, they are. It just goes with the territory. Enjoy it while it lasts because, while parity in collegiate sports isn't where the NCAA wants it to be yet, repeating champions are almost as rare as hen's teeth. Georgia's earned their time in the sun. "Don't worry, Be happy!"

Are the lack of sacks a concern (to us)? Yeah. Not giving up any is great, but not getting any, even against EWU, is - definitely.

If he did I missed that. In that case, my apologies to this forum. I suspect that if Charles is inclined to delete this topic he will with alacrity. But the problem persists and I do not envy our Athletics Director Rob Mullins having to deal with the vulgar behavior of students acting like children - especially when the reputation of the University is at stake.

The University exists to teach and train young people to be good, productive citizens of our nation. What better moment to teach and train vulgar, religiously biased students a lesson that might serve them well for the rest of their lives? I admit it's a very harsh measure but the audio of the incident suggests there were a lot more than just a few students participating. Or, we can just roll with the 'strongly-worded condemnation' of this ugly incident sent to BYU and the Press. And call it good.

This awful incident of student chanting against the BYU players, fans and coaches continues to get national coverage in the media. A new report comes out today that a recruit attending the game at Autzen Stadium left at half time possibly due to the chanting (he's a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints). Has the University done anything yet besides apologize to the BYU players & fans? What can Oregon do to punish the perps and (more importantly) will they? Here's a thought - a rather draconian one - to get the attention of the offending students involved: close down the Student Section for the next home game. Make the students pay for their tickets if they want to see the game like all the rest of us. One game ought to do it. Too draconian? How else do you separate the wheat from the chaff? Chants don't spread and propagate without either involvement or complacency by the rest of the student body. I would wager my ticket money this harsh measure would stop the vulgar chants quickly. Or, we can all talk about it till we're blue in the face and the next incident occurs to embarrass the University and stain the reputation of Oregon Duck Football & Athletics in general.

So I was thinking, but Steven A tells us (in the Oregon/Auburn Trade thread) that Bo might actually have another year of eligibility? Not that he would want to play another year but - he might. Then what?

Not for me to judge but I'll take it. Publicity like this is good for the entire program - not to mention what it might mean for the young man getting acknowledged for his effort and play. I suspect this is what Bo was hoping for when he picked Oregon to come and play ball for. If he manages to stay healthy and lead this team to a Conference Championship appearance he may gain a lot more honors and a good 'look-at' by the scouts.

Kinda looks like a Zombie above, kirklandduc. Tell me, can he catch passes?

Well, that's not quite what I said, but yeah, now that O has shown Bo is the Leader going forth the 'Ty/Jay' controversy is over and the leadership issue has been settled. Charles related the Musgrave injury (above), and what that had meant for the team. But Dan Lanning in his comments today, (when asked about Bo not using the slide) said he never asks his QB's to slide which means to me he's been given the green light to do his thing. As a loyal Duck fan, that means that issue has been settled for me as well. Go Oregon!