OregonDucks

Sorry, but I think that's an excuse for poor execution. Oregon's defense was confused and out of position against Penn State in the B1G Conference Championship game. Obviously they did nothing to improve it with the time off. Ohio State had just as long off before facing Tennessee and smoked them like they are doing right now to the Ducks.

Ohio State is doing whatever they want offensively and defensively. The leaders need to step up and start to make some plays.

Safety was late there. WTH.

Well we see that Ohio State's game plan is to air out the ball like they did against Tennessee. Need to make adjustments quick. It should play into Oregon's favor, since our pass defense is better than our run defense but we need to get some pressure on Howard and our secondary is going to have to make some plays.

Well there goes Oregon's mediocre defense. Linebackers are confused and missing in action. Missed tackle by safety. Not a good start.

Terrible non-call. It was clearly helmet to helmet (it doesn't matter if it was intentional or not).

Arizona State ties the game! LET'S GO!!! Hoping for two former Pac-10 schools to make the college football semi finals!

It's not over yet!!!! GO SPARKY!

The incident is being investigated as a potential terrorist attack. The pickup truck had an Islamic State Group Flag and was reportedly rigged with explosives. Law enforcement officials do not believe that the driver acted alone. My hearts go out to those who were affected by this senseless act. Safety comes first. Driver rams New Year's revelers in New Orleans, killing 10; FBI doesn't believe he acted alone APNEWS.COM Law enforcement officials have told The Associated Press that the suspect in the New Orleans crash that killed 10 people and injured 30 was killed after a firefight with police.

Sugar Bowl postponed to Thursday after New Orleans truck attack - ESPN WWW.ESPN.COM The College Football Playoff quarterfinal between Georgia and Notre Dame has been postponed by 24 hours to Thursday following a deadly pickup truck attack in New Orleans.

Day (thought bubble): “What tricks do you have up your sleeve, this time?”

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!