OregonDucks

ESPN College Gameday used to be a fun show that celebrated all of college football, especially the smaller programs and underdogs. Corso and the Gameday crew embraced the Oregon Ducks and Eugene before the rest of the country realized that there was something special brewing with “That Team Out West.” For whatever reason, I no longer feel that way towards the show. I still tune in occasionally because I like Corso, Howard and Herbstreit (sans his recent comments about the playoff teams). However, ABC/ESPN/Disney is so SEC biased, it’s hard for me to watch/listen to anything that they say.

I have tremendous respect for Coach Smart and Georgia’s defense and know that Georgia has as much talent as any team in college football; however, something seems off with your offense this year. You know Georgia better than I do but, from afar, it seems that Georgia really misses the playmaking abilities of Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey and just haven’t been able to replace those playmakers this season. I think that Georgia’s defense could hold Oregon’s offense below its season average, but I’m not scared of Georgia’s offense and don’t think they would be able to keep pace with Oregon’s offense, at the end of the day. Hopefully, we’ll find out, as we both have long and tough roads ahead…

Like Oregon, Ohio State has a lot more balanced offense than the teams we are watching play tonight, who rely on one primary playmaker. However, they have not been as consistent as Oregon (Will Stein > Chip Kelly?). I think both teams in the Rose Bowl will try to limit explosive plays (keep everything in front) and force the opposing offenses to string together 10+ play drives but, at the same time, you cannot let the opposing team’s running game gouge you for 5-6 yards per run. So, if I had to pick one, I would try to limit Ohio State’s running game and make Howard beat me. Howard has had some really good games but also some mediocre ones, especially when pressured. So, if we can force Ohio State into 3rd and long, use stunts or zone blitzes/simulated pressures to make him uncomfortable and force mistakes. However, I would not let Jeremiah Smith beat me deep. Put Oregon’s best cover corner, Mohammad, on him and if he gets beat put a safety over the top like Michigan did.

And, yet, they both easily moved the ball on Oregon and put up near season high in points. Yes, Oregon’s offense is elite but our defense is mediocre. Both d-coordinators in this game are focusing on taking away the opposing offense’s strengths - the running game for BSU and the TE for Penn State - and making them beat them other ways. What a novel idea (it’s called strategy)…we should try it! “In war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak.” — Sun-tzu’s Art of War

Both of these defenses are better than Oregon’s, through the first half.

I don't know how I missed this!

LOL. That is EXACTLY what he was saying when he ragged on SMU and Indiana for their performances, unless he thought that Ole Miss should have been in the playoffs. The SEC has not looked good this bowl season.

"Dan Lanning, the Ducks’ unconventional, 38-year-old head coach, has populated his staff with a collection of oddball coaches and analysts who largely built their reputations in the wonkiest corners of social media and obscure coaching clinics." "Casey is a prominent figure in an online subculture where football crazies gather to study schemes, break down video and master the tiniest nuances of the strategy of the game. Its denizens aspire not to be star wide receivers or linebackers, but offensive coordinators and quality control coaches. Casey’s X account, which boasts more than 140,000 followers, has become an invaluable resource for coaches across the NFL and college looking for new strategies and techniques." "In some ways, it isn’t surprising that in the internet age, it’s possible to uncover the secrets of the most complicated tactics in football. The part that definitely is surprising is that those kinds of people were able to land jobs at Oregon. Lanning said his analysts are people he knew from previous career stops, picked from a list he has been compiling since he was a graduate assistant at Arizona State more than a decade ago. “Guys that don’t necessarily have that experience, they have other strengths that you want to lean in on,” [Lanning] said." "And it shows. Oregon’s season has been defined by taking advantage of unusual situations that only a true football lunatic would have the wherewithal to recognize." “The culture that pervades Oregon,” Casey said, “is looking for the most minute edge on the field.” ==================== Very interesting read. However, I'm sure that Coach Lanning wishes the story was never published. Is our very own, Mr. FishDuck, a secret Oregon analyst?!

National analysts are saying the Ohio State has gone to a 2 high safety defense (cover 2?) and are stunting the defensive lineman more, after the Oregon game. They want to force teams to put together long drives against their defense. If so, I’d look for the tight ends to have a big game in the middle of that defense. Tez could also have a big game if he can split the safeties on slants and gets some space on crosses. If Oregon can establish a running game, Ohio State may have to move one of the safeties up, which will open up the deep ball. It’ll be fascinating to watch the chess match between Coach Stein and OSU’s d-coordinator.

Oregon’s defense played terrific in the 2010-11 National Championship game. Certainly good enough to win and much better than I expected against that Auburn offense. Hope our current defense can do the same.

Are you referring to the Consensus All American, SEC Defensive Player of the Year, Lombardi Award winner and #13 overall NFL draft selection that Coach Chip Kelly decided not to block and zone read instead, who blew up play after play with his strength and athletisicm (accumulating 3 tackles for a loss, including a sack)? If so, yes, I, unfortunately, remember him well and would be terrified of him if I were an Oregon offensive player in the 2010-11 National Championship Game. He was a "bad man." Nick Fairley and Auburn's defense held Oregon's rushing offense, led by LaMichael James and Kenyon Barner, to 75 total net rushing yards. Hey, maybe Chip Kelly will decide not to block Jordon Burch, Matayo Uiagalelei or Derrick Harmon in the Rose Bowl. If so, I'll like Oregon's odds in the game!

Oregon has played 3 playoff teams and gave up 30+ points in each of those games (special teams won the Boise State game, we were fortunate that Ohio State's QB lost track of time at the end of the game because they were moving the ball on our defense and Oregon's secondary made a nice play, on a bad QB decision, to seal the Penn State game but we were fortunate that Oregon's offense was rolling). We are going to need DG and our offense clicking to win a national championship. I was hoping that Oregon could rely its defense by now to win big games, against quality opponents. (We played in a mediocre offensive conference this year so the national defensive statistics do not tell the whole story. It's also why Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State's defensive statistics are perpetually misleading.)

Coach Lanning: "This team believes in him. They're grateful every day that they get to step on the field with him. He's about connection and people first. But the poise that he shows in big games is unmeasured. I haven't been around players like Dillon. I'm really grateful I get to share the field with him....When the moment's the biggest, that's when Dillon is the most stoic and level-set for those moments. I think that's when he's calmest." Tez Johnson: "Those big games, we still don't know how in those big games he finds a way to separate himself. It's something he got in his veins that we cannot pinpoint. No lights get too big for him" T-Ferg: "I've watched his tape before at Oklahoma and UCF. He always shows up in big games. Just knowing him in the offseason and how much work he puts in, I already knew that's what he was going to do. He rises to the competition. He's going to play his best ball against the best teams." ================= If Oregon wins the National Championship this season, I believe that it'll be because of Dillon Gabriel. The dude is just clutch. We are so lucky that he is in an Oregon uniform.

Good analysis but makes me wonder why Reed was covering Smith, instead of Oregon's best cover corner - Jabbar Muhammad.

Joel Klatt's Rose Bowl preview starts around the 25:55 mark. I love his idea of ending every season with the national championship game in the Rose Bowl on January 1st and then opening up the transfer portal. It is the most spectacular setting for a post season college football game and a national treasure of a tradition.

Burch played against Boise State and Penn State: Boise State: 6.7 YPC (Jeanty: 7.7 YPC) Penn State: 8.7 YPC (Allen: 8.9 YPC and Singleton: 10.5 YPC) Oregon 37-34 Boise State (Sep 7, 2024) Box Score - ESPN WWW.ESPN.COM Box score for the Oregon Ducks vs. Boise State Broncos NCAAF game from September 7, 2024 on ESPN. Includes all passing, rushing and receiving stats. Oregon 45-37 Penn State (Dec 7, 2024) Box Score - ESPN WWW.ESPN.COM Box score for the Oregon Ducks vs. Penn State Nittany Lions NCAAF game from December 7, 2024 on ESPN. Includes all passing, rushing and receiving stats.

Dante Moore throws a beautiful ball but his issue last season was his decision making. Hopefully he learned a lot this year from Coach Stein, by watching DG prepare and play and getting reps against Oregon’s defense. I’m optimistic that he could be a special QB for Oregon over the next 2-3 seasons. He reminds me of Darren Thomas but with a better arm. If he can put up DT stats and wins, I think we’ll all be very happy. DT is the most under appreciated Oregon QB of all time. He went 24-3 as a starter, with 2 conference championships, and came within 3 points of winning Oregon a national championship.

Nothing to see here. Move along. Alabama Fans Already Calling For Kalen Deboer To Be Fired - The Spun Alabama Fan Unleashes Rant on Kalen DeBoer After Devastating Upset Loss - Athlon Sports

Oregon’s run defense is not good, which is puzzling. A coach broke down the Penn State game and Oregon’s “run fits” were terrible. We have two terrific defensive tackles but our linebackers and safeties were out of position or took terrible angles to the ball carrier. I just don’t think that we have the linebacker talent that those great Georgia or Alabama defenses had. Even past Oregon teams had better linebacking units.

Ward shouldn’t have played at all, including bowl practices, if he was worried about getting injured. College football is not the same as it used to be - Cam Ward was getting $1M+ to play for Miami this season (is NIL only good for the regular season?) and I’m sure he had NFL Draft insurance, in case of injury. It’s time to realize that most of these players are no longer “student athletes” playing for a scholarship. They are semi-pro athletes and the expectations should be as such.

Or should we work with the Jordan team to come out in these beauty's in the Rose Bowl? Ohio State's hearts would sink and they would lose the game before the opening kick...