AnotherOD

Of Georgia, tOSU, and Texas, I'm still most worried about tOSU. At first didn't like the draw; but, if you are going to run into them, might as well be with 23 days rest and in the Rose Bowl. Ohio State will have to play what should be a very physical game against Tennessee and then turn around and have 8-9 days before traveling out to the Rose Bowl. It is unfortunate to potentially have to face Texas in the state of Texas and Georgia in the state of Atlanta; but, these sites were probably planned and scheduled years ago. Best case would be an upset or two knocking out a team (or teams) that would be getting a near home field advantage for what is supposed to be a neutral site game.

Playing not to lose rather than to win. Gonna go down to the wire now.

Stein is seing something that isn't there. How many times has the offense gotten into second and long tonight running it? Must be at least five.

I understand the point but people have scored on Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State, and Clemson when they have been winning championships. Just a half where the offenses rolled. Second half will be interesting. I think the lack of pressure has been more worrisome than the LBs and S legs.

Some games just turn into offensive shootouts and others defensive struggles, just happens year-in-and-year out. It doesn't surprise me exactly when it happens. I think they just said this is the most points Penn State has given up all year as well. I don't know if you are going to find too many LB groups faster than Jackson, Bassa, and Boettcher (a guy who ran a 10.54 100m in high school, a converted safety, and a MLB prospect at centerfield). Not saying its working great tonight but you know, not all games are the same. Travelling east to play a game that must be 80% Penn State fans? There is a reason the line was 3.5 and not 14.0.

Came across an interesting article on a Michigan site that sort of argues tOSU basically did exactly what it's offense is designed to do based on the defense it was facing (run the ball). If I read it correctly, it argues Michigan gave tOSU light boxes all game and tOSU did what a Chip Kelly offense will do, run at it. Michigan just was well prepared (and possibly aided by OL injuries) and was able to shut down tOSU's rushing attack with light numbers. It allowed Michigan to drop an extra defender in coverage (and double the first read on passing routes). The QB threw a couple picks into the D; and, quite possibly confidence wasn't as high throwing into an extra defender versus running into a light box. Michigan, it argues, just won with its preparation and strong DL play. Neck Sharpies: What Was Ryan Day Thinking? MGOBLOG.COM Michigan has a method for playing down a man in the box.

One of those things, the real story very well might fall somewhere in between? It was reported on another site (Wildwestsports) that the Kansas State board said Cure took a look at Oregon and went back to KSU and they upped their NIL package to $5 million for 3 years. Hometown kid sticks with home school still remains a good story. As well, who knows about the $ and actual NIL? It does seem a bit like Cure never really seemed too close to flipping to Oregon; but, that is just what one can gather from the recruiting articles. On the positive side, Reddit is reporting Tobi Haastrup has signed with Oregon. A three star but only one year of high school football. 6-4 and 240 with a reported 10.7 100m (that does appear to flash on film). Tape is worth a watch: Tobi Haastrup TD Club Highlight WWW.HUDL.COM Tobi Haastrup TD Club Highlight

I remember joking about it this summer but it is appearing more and more likely. If Oregon beats tOSU in the B1G Championship game, they will have to be placed on the same side of the bracket. If they are on separate sides, and they meet in the final Oregon will be 15-0 and 2-0 versus tOSU tOSU will be 14-2 and 0-2 against Oregon Even if tOSU wins the final the teams finish Oregon 16-1 and 2-1 against tOSU tOSU 16-2 and 1-2 against Oregon I dont know how one in good faith can vote the team with two losses and 1-2 head to head over an opponent from the same conference that has a single loss and won 2-1 head to head. I think the committee will want to avoid this controvery and they should. In this situation, how do you argue Oregon below tOSU in good faith? I am sure people would then talk about it as an almost unforseeable outcome; but, it absolutely was forseeable, especially after Oregon and tOSU played and both teams looked good.

NBC just posted a 9:15pm bracket and has Oregon facing likely Georgia, Ohio State, then Texas... Or Texas, Ohio State, then Georgia. So much for #1 getting an easy route (#2 team in the nation and two SEC teams). Of course, all subject to change. It appears, upon a casual look, it might help if USC knocks out Notre Dame, to shake up numbers 6-12. Maybe get somebody like SMU/Miami versus Indiana in that 8 versus 9 instead of Georgia/Texas versus Tennessee. (Can't really ever root for the Huskies) but might be the very rare occasion to root for the Trojans for a week. They have: 12 ASU 5 tOSU to meet #4 Boise State 9 Tennessee 8 Georgia to meet #1 Oregon 11 SMU 6 ND to meet #3 Miami 10 Indiana 7 Penn State To meet #2 Texas Of course, I'd probably take Georgia over Texas in the SEC (and think they then would then put them at #2 and Texas to 8-11); and, I'd swap and put SMU over Miami in the ACC (Miami maybe sneaks in at 12 and ASU goes to 11).

I took tend to agree Dante was thrown into an almost impossible spot by Chip (where about half UCLA fans thought Chip had one foot out the door and the other half thought he was intentionally trying to get fired). He did appear to have a lot of ups and downs during that season; but, I was encouraged to read a detailed breakdown of his season by Hythloday over at ATQ where he felt Dante showed all the skills that made him a "five star". The short version (from the article): "For the purposes of contextualizing Moore’s play in 2023, it’ll suffice to understand just two things about the surrounding offense Kelly put him in: first, the offensive line play was atrocious, as per usual Kelly did no recruiting or development and attempted to just plug in multiple poorly performing transfers with typical results. Second, the playbooks Kelly has been designing for the previous five years (and earlier, in the NFL and at Oregon) while schematically fascinating and coherent in the run game, are in my opinion adequately described as “one (maybe two) read and then run” without the full set of progressions and options familiar to any post-Coryell passing system. That makes Kelly’s passing offense great for a phenomenal scrambler like Thompson-Robinson to bail him out, but terrible for a preternatural pocket passer like Moore – it was to be an interesting challenge for Kelly to re-invent himself and write a playbook that fit Moore’s skillset, and after studying the tape I don’t think he met it. That made watching this film like jumping between the hot tub and the ice bath. There is an incredible amount of potential here, shown off with plays of astonishing talent, immediately followed by the inevitable catastrophes when a rookie is put in a half-baked offensive design with a fraction of the necessary supporting pieces." For those wanting the deep dive: Quacking the Roster: QB Transfer Dante Moore WWW.ADDICTEDTOQUACK.COM Film review of Moore’s 2023 season at UCLA

Wild. tOSU had momentum and a buzz and the crowd in the game and then FOX put them through a commercial fest and it just sort of died and they get stopped at the 1.5 yard line. Even the Indy coach mentioned it when the sideline reporter caught him. Crazy. What is happening in the game right now? More commercials.

Whew. I think. Hard to tell a bit with Dan but it sounds good: On Jamaree: Lanning: "Yeah, he's doing good. In fact, he was laying down, he didn't realize we had interceptions, so I told him that. Fired him up. Obviously, you know, that was such a huge play by him, but I think he's doing good..."

Of course, we still have: Distance from Columbus Ohio to Indianapolis: 176 miles: 2 hours and 38 minutes Distance from Eugene Oregon to Indianapolis: 2,281 miles: 34 hours I guess Indiana could beat tOSU, but then it is: 57 miles and 61 minutes versus 2,281 miles and 34 hours

Holy cow, hope Caldwell is ok. He has (perhaps a bit quietly) been superb.

Come on now with the injuries. Ugh!

Was pulling for Nebraska. Wouldn't terribly mind the wheels come off at USC; but, they held on to get back to 5-5. USC appears to have a solid class; but, not a ton of guys (it appears) Oregon was really after (on the possible flip watch/wish list). 6-7.5 290 pound OT Aaron Dunn probably would be one though.

It's probably unlikely; and, admitedly maybe now "old school" type thinking, but when the offense brings in an extra TE (or OL) and the fullback Grace wouldn't bother me one bit to also see the 6-2 and 215 pound RB (Jay Harris). Might come in handy in goal line situations further in the season. The guy scored 23 TDs in 20 career games at NW Missouri State (doubt we see it though). Maybe hand one to the FB, though I guess he actually is a TE (22 TDs himself as a high school senior). Having a 1994 Duane Jones flashback.

USC-Nebraska crowd today, 25 minutes prior to kick (image Tom Shatel Omaha World-Herald):

Among the top comments from the Oregon State/AirForce game thread? "Jonathan Smith should be charged with arson for what he did to this program" "I have had root canals less painful than this!" "oh, so this is why Oregon State didn't invite AF to the pac12" "We may never score again" "Parker is running out of things to talk about on the radio. He will start talking about baseball soon"

Air Force 21 Oregon State 0 About 12 minutes left. I think Air Force was 2-7 with one of the two wins being Merrimack.

Obviously when you are a top team, you tend to get everyone's best shot (at least as long as they remain competitive in the game). Coming in off a bye certainly doesn't hurt prep time. Wisconsin is going to come out and give that shot as well (and will have that bye). I think it is a later kickoff, which is less optimal. I believe Wisconsin is 5-4 coming off a 2 TD loss at home to Penn State and then a 42-10 smacking by Iowa. Took a quick look and Maryland was ranked #34 in total offense (and #9 in passing offense). Not that bad. Wisconsin is #82 in total offense and #92 in scoring offense (25.1). Against the 3 best defenses they have faced, they scored 10 against Alabama, 13 against Penn State, and 10 against Iowa. Winning on the road in conference in college is rarely considered a "lock" and strange things can and do happen; but, the Ducks should be in a good position to continue the formula that has been successful so far this year. From all accounts, Wisconsin is a tough place to play. Anyone recall in 2000 the Ducks losing a heartbreaker in Madison? They had taken a late lead with a 47 yard interception return for a TD by LB Matt Smith but then surrendered an 83 yard run by UW's Michael Bennett down to the Duck 1. Bennett who had been held to 32 yards in the first half, exploded for 258 yards in the second half including TD runs of 59 and 75 (as well as the 83 yarder). The Ducks had shut UW out in the first half and lead 6-0. Bennett ripped off the 59 yarder early in the 3rd, then the Ducks had a punt blocked and returned for a TD and all of a sudden it was 6-14. Ducks battled all the way back to lead 23-20 with about 5 minutes left, only to see Bennett break the long run, and give the Ducks one of their two losses in 2000 (a loss I believe that eventually kicked Oregon all the way down to Holiday Bowl as nonconference record ended up being a partial deciding factor in breaking the conference's three way tie for 1st that year).

Nothing on Tez, but looks like good news on Harper. Regarding an update, Lanning mentioned that Harper told him he'd be "fine" postgame. "He told me in the locker room that he's going to be fine," said Lanning. "We want to make sure we get him assessed and take a look at that. But I don't have an update right now."

Tez does so many things. Shoulder sprain or shoulder separation maybe? Painful but usually 1-2 weeks? Harper's knee? Could be a lot of things. Ugh!

Not a rules expect here but I believe in college an OL must be within 3 yards of the LOS if the pass is beyond the LOS. Took a look at the replay and the LOS looked like the 34 and when the pass finally is thrown Harper had drifted to about the 30. I guess it looked like 4 yards, which would be too far; but, given Harper was not only not blocking anyone, didn't even have a Michigan player within 5 yards of him, is a call I imagine isn't often made, as it doesn't really seem to why the rule is enforced. The pass play took a while to develop, it almost lools like Harper had started to jog upfield to be in position to line up for thr next snap, if the pass wasn't a score. So, kind of a wierd spot for Harper to get caught in (on the complete other side of the play, at least 5 yards away from the nearest Michigan player who was running away from him). The commentator guy called it a good catch by the officials but I'm not sure I see it. Harper was about 15-18 yards away from where the QB was throwing the ball with no Michigan players really near him (they actually were running away from him) and his last few steps looked like moving to get back in place if there was going to be another snap. He is kind of jogging alone by himself when he drifts forward that last yard.

Don't even really like talking about the "I word", it is such a difficult part of the sport. I've been watching much of the season finding myself thinking, "Ok, nobody get hurt, nobody get hurt, nobody get hurt!" The run to the Oregon/Auburn National Championship game was a pretty phenomenial year with health. I don't think the defensive unit missed a single game from a starter due to injury (with 21 defensive players listed as playing in all 13 games). The only offensive injury I can really recall was Kenjon Barner getting knocked out for two games after the kickoff at WSU. Really remarkable. 2014 Oregon/tOSU National Championship year wasn't quite so lucky. There were injuries early and then very unfortunate and unlucky injuries late (impacting the playoffs). From what I can remember, the season started off with starting LT Tyler Johnstone being lost for the season with what was a bad knee injury. Fisher moved over to LT and Andre Yruretagoyena was inserted at RG, where he hurt his foot in game two (and I don't think ever played much again for the Ducks before retiring from football). Ficher then hurts his knee the next week versus Wyoming. For a couple games the OL was really scrambling at OT, then in game 9 Matt Pierson who had been helping hold down OT, hurt his knee. Grasu even missed the final two games of the regular season with a bad leg. Despite that, the season is probably more remembered for Pharoah Brown's horrible leg injury game 10 against Utah where he was lost for the season tearing two ligaments in his knee and opening up an artery which cut off blood flow to the leg below the knee. Prior to the injury, Pharoah was having a breakout season as one of the Pac-12s top TEs. I also recall Thomas Tyner missing a couple games with that shoulder. On defense, of course, Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, on his way to being a very possible first round NFL draft choice, hurt his knee in the practices leading up to the Florida State game and was lost for the year. Armstead missed two games with an ankle. During the playoffs, Devon Allen tore his ACL on the opening kickoff of the Florida State game, and then, while not an injury, Darren Carrington, got suspended for the Ohio State game (Carrington in the prior two games had 14 catches for 291 yards and 3 TDs). This year, knock-on-wood, has been pretty good so far, with Burch possibly missing 4-6 weeks as the biggie. Also, as most I'm sure know (but arguably should be mentioned), Oregon has been without two projected starters in Florence and Bedford, its #4 WR in Bryant, and backup OL Luli all season. In some years past, that might have spelled considerable trouble, really amazing how well the staff and team have pushed through those absences.