GangGreen2

Such a disappointing 2nd half . . . execution just wasn't there, and at times, they just got outhustled by the Bruins. UCLA played very good D, but there were opportunities to be had, and rebounds available if the effort was there. And waaayyy too many turnovers to have a shot against such a solid team. The loss didn't really hurt them that much, but now the pressure is on to essentially win out, or NIT here we come. I think if they win out (and that's a big IF) the reg. season, & make the Pac 12 semis, they get into the Big Dance. . . maybe even with one loss in there. But I wouldn't want to bet on it.

Would love to see the Ducks up their game tonight. UCLA is a very good squad and it will take a 40 minute effort just to stay in the game with them, let alone defeat them. If the Ducks can stay focused the entire game, and if the effort is there, they've got a puncher's chance. Go Ducks!

Man, that sucks for Rising . . . he's such a tough, gutty player, and has the build to take some punishment. Feel bad for him . . . he seems like a stand-up, good dude and teammate. Hope he heals well and is able to make a full comeback.

The Ducks played well against SC, but were a little fortunate that Josh Morgan was out with an injury . . . he averages 2.5 blocks per game (for comparison, each of Oregon's bigs average less than 1.5 per game). So without SC's best interior defender in there, Dante and Ware could feast . . . and they did (even the Duck guards could consistently take it to the rack). To me, the key was holding the Trojans to just 60 points. If the defense can be more consistent (Altman's best teams often were holding teams to about 55 points per game by season's end), this team could be very good; but that is almost all about effort and staying connected/playing hard for one another. They have yet to show that kind of effort game in and game out. I liked what I saw from Ware in his few minutes Thursday . . . he did a lot of good things in the brief time he was in. If he keeps that up, he should be on the floor a little more. And Bittle is playing well too . . . it's a great "problem" for Altman to have 3 solid bigs that he can go to, and he could play a lineup with two of them on the floor at the same time (although that can backfire against teams with fast, cagey guards). I think both Ware and Bittle can become true "stretch 4s or 5s" because they can both hit 3s with some consistency . . . I don't think Dante is much of an outside shooting threat, but so far, that hasn't mattered; he is such a good finisher around the basket! How the Ducks do against the Bruins tonight will tell us a lot about how the remainder of the season is likely to go . . . it will be a pretty big test for them. Hopefully Dana and Co. will have them ready.

This pleases me . . . a lot! Can't wait to see what he brings to the football team, as well as on the track. And he seems to be a smart young man who "has his head screwed on straight", as they say! Welcome Rodrick! And Go Ducks!

Some of the most whiny, childish "sports writing" that I think I've ever read, anywhere. How old is the author, for goodness sake? He might have an argument if the Ducks were playing 12 home games next season . . . oh, they aren't? Then man up, son. University of Spoiled Children indeed.

Ware is really young and raw . . . he is still growing into his body, but you can see the talent is there. He has such a nice touch, a soft shot. He is getting bullied by older, thicker, more experienced players at times, especially when he's on D or trying to board. Don't count him out . . . he still has the potential of being a dominant big man after putting a little more beef on his frame, and with some more coaching and mileage/experience. And unless this team goes on a big winning streak, they are not making the Big Dance . . . they could win the Pac 12 tournament, but that would be very unlikely (I think there is a pathway for them to finish the regular season at 20-11 or 19-12, and be inside/on the bubble . . . but that means only 3 or 4 more losses, and that's a very tall order. They would have to become WAYYYY more consistent with their effort and execution than they have been so far . . . but with Altman, you just never know! ).

I really do think Altman misses some of the assistant coaches he's had in the past. But not having a player that is the "alpha dog" (think Dillon Brooks, or Payton Pritchard) out there, keeping everyone else accountable and setting the tone, really hurts as well . . . nor is there a "coach on the floor" kind of guy. And I agree with SmithRiverD, Will Richardson is a good player, but he is no alpha. This team has been sooooo bipolar . . . their big swings from good to bad, and back to good again are crazy . . . so much inconsistency. A lot of it is lack of player leadership and accountability, some of it is the effect of a ton of injuries and limited time to gel together, and some of it has been periods of poor effort. Cousinard brings some maturity and skill that has been lacking, and an attacking, winning attitude . . . he is older and more experienced than most. And Dante looked like a man possessed out there against the Wildcats; it looked like a switch got flipped and the light came on! Perhaps these guys can set the tone for now, and push the others to greater heights and more consistent effort game in and game out. As a fan, that would be much more fun to watch . . .

That was hard to watch . . . just bad basketball all around. Poor overall effort, terrible individual and team defense for much of the game. The team seems mostly disconnected and lacking any kind of meaningful team strategy. It's gotta be driving Altman and the coaching staff crazy. Many Altman teams of the recent past could rely on solid defense when the shots weren't falling . . . this team looks lost out there on the defensive end, and much of it appears to be lack of effort (they got pounded on the boards) and not being connected. You're not going to win too many games with that kind of effort and a porous defense.

Dazed makes some great points, and I have to agree with you also, Smith72. The "too much zone coverage with defenders guarding grass" . . . that summed up the Oregon D during 75% of the UW game . . . looked like the Ducks had 7 statues out there while Penix threw to open receivers all night. The failure to adjust the D in the second half of the OSU game . . . that's on the coaches. When you have evidence that the other team is one-dimensional, and you continue to run your base defense, which is essentially nickel, and not be aggressive with your front 7, attacking the gaps . . . it means the opposing coach has out-coached you; Jonathan Smith basically dared Lanning and Lupoi to change their base defensive strategy . . . and they said "no thank you". So that was OSU calling "checkmate!". . .

Caleb Williams played against Utah . . . twice . . . lost both times, and the last time was NOT close (and Williams was responsible for 2 turnovers!). Bo Nix played them on one leg, and helped the Ducks to an ugly, close win over the Utes. I thought "character" and integrity counted when considering those in Heisman contention. Well, I happen to think that painting "F__k Utah" on your fingernails shows a lack of class, respect, and character. Good for the Utes . . . who were aided by Williams' coach leaving him in to get battered by the Utah rush over and over again in the second half (7 sacks) . . . nice work there, Link. This is nothing but an LA media hype story . . . if Williams was not at USC, he would not have won the Heisman, period. In 2014, Mariota won with gaudy numbers, but also led his team into the playoff, actually winning(!) a conference championship and playoff game . . . and demonstrated unassailable personal character . . . you knew he respected every opponent, no matter how he was personally treated. The Heisman is now a beauty contest . . . and excuse me, while I take a moment to go vomit.

As DuckFan93 alluded to in their post . . . it's indeed time for Mr. FishDuck to unleash the internet 'robocops', and let them do the dirty work! Thanks, Charles . . . I don't post often, but as a Duck alum, a long-time Duck fan, and appreciator of human decency (esp. in a time of metastatic incivility) . . . thank you, thank you, thank you for this experiment, and for your efforts in creating a safe space to talk, learn about, and ponder all things Duck-y! You are much appreciated, sir.

Which SEC team would you put in, David? LSU will likely have 4(!) losses. Tennessee's 2 losses were not close (though one was to Georgia, who is reasonably considered the current #1). Alabama has only had 2 losses, both close, and to good teams . . . but one of them was to Tennessee! . . . would it be reasonable or fair to put the Crimson Tide in over the Volunteers after losing their head to head? This is a real sticky wicket for the CFP committee.

Agree 100%

The Buckeyes have 1 loss, to a top 2 team. USC looked like crap for 3 quarters last night, and has 2 losses. I think the Buckeyes are in. If Georgia and Michigan win, I also think TCU still has a good chance of getting in with a single OT loss against a really good K. State team. Those would be my top 4.

Ah yes, winning the Heisman is now a beauty contest . . . how nice. This has almost reached "is this some sort of joke?" level . . . if Caleb Williams wins it, it would certainly be a travesty.

Have to agree with you and Mr. Fishduck . . . Kenny Dillingham has been a revelation as an OC for the Ducks this year: the "fun", high-scoring, efficient Oregon offense is, for the most part, back. Sure, he made some poor play calls situationally at times, but he would be a keeper at Oregon as OC, if he wanted to stay. After hearing him interviewed, I cannot imagine what ASU is thinking hiring him as a HC at his young age, and with his lack of HC experience. He does not seem to be ready to make the next step, and it seems likely he will fail . . . he could do with several more years of OC "seasoning" . . . but hey, when your alma mater comes calling, and breaks out "an offer you can't refuse" (see Mario C.), whatcha gonna do? Good luck to you KD, you're gonna need it.

When Herbie said "Utah was tougher than Oregon last year, and when they punched the Ducks in the mouth early in the game, the Oregon players wanted none of it" and just basically rolled over . . . that BS was locker room bulletin board material. The entire group at College Game Day embraced the "Oregon is too soft" narrative that still gets trotted out since the Chip Kelly days (and yeah, some of it may have been due to uncertainty about Bo Nix playing, but still . . . the "Utah is tough, Oregon is soft" narrative was still the thing). No, boys, what you saw last year in both Utah games was an Oregon team whose HC had his heart and mind focused elsewhere (Miami, Florida!) . . . and it showed. Glad that Lanning and Co. had the team ready to play . . . Bo toughed it out, and the D showed up when needed. Good for them! Eat that, CGD!

Ouch!

Agree with many commenters on this thread. I do think the defensive failure overall in the UW game was a combination of scheme, coaching, and to a lesser degree, player personnel. Some personal observations: 1) This game was all about Washington's offensive strength vs Oregon's defensive weakness. They have an excellent passing-based offense anchored by a very good/experienced NFL-caliber QB, an excellent O-line, and several very good receivers. This game really had me nervous because that combo always had the potential to be our kryptonite this season. And sure enough . . . 2) It was painful to watch the Duck D continually rush 4 and play zone on the back end . . . it looked like Penix was passing into a group of 7 statues on D most of the time (there were a few PBUs, but not many). He had time to pick the D apart. The few times the Ducks blitzed, he got uncomfortable and it did cause some overthrows and at least one pick. I have no idea why the D coaches didn't turn up the intensity with more blitzing in the 2nd half; the few times the Ducks did, it seemed mostly effective (just my impression, I am willing to be contradicted/corrected on this).

I am very concerned about this matchup for reasons well stated in the article . . . it's the Huskies' strength against the weakest part of the Oregon defense. Is DJ Johnson going to be able to go? Without him, it will be tougher to generate a consistent pass rush and make Penix uncomfortable. The Huskies O-line has been solid, and they have allowed only about 1 sack per game average. To at least make him move and uncomfortable in the pocket would help tremendously. I agree with David M., the Ducks need to run the ball . . . a lot . . . or at least maintain long drives . . . and shorten the game, limiting UW's offensive possessions. I think that is the recipe for the best chance at success. If the Ducks can continue to control the clock, be efficient on offense, and play with few to no turnovers, they have a great chance at a win.

Just ask Scott Frost . . . .

Ugh! That scenario would absolutely suck. It would be horrible for the Pac 12 (and there would be a huge outcry from Tennessee, Georgia, and many BIG 10 fans). You're right . . . it is past time for an expanded playoff format.

Good article, with one unfortunate typo . . .

I love Travis Dye and what he did as a Duck. I wish him well at USC (and he's playing great there) . . . until we (possibly) meet SC in the Pac 12 CG: at that point, I hope the Ducks can make him regret his decision to transfer!