Do You Feel It?

[Ktmguy2018]

There is something VERY different about this Duck team.  No, I'm not trying to be Captain Obvious.  I am referring to the FEEL this team has.  

 

Past Duck teams have had significant success and yet there was always that fear that they would plant their heads up the proverbial nether region and lose a game that they had no business losing.  And it nearly ALWAYS happened.  Look no further than the Fishduck article yesterday, "Will ASU Destroy Oregon's Playoff Hopes AGAIN?"

 

Yep, they lost to Washington in a game they should have won.  But they have not allowed inferior teams to hang around to the end of the game.  The mentality of this team is one of toughness and focus.  In the past, I was waiting anxiously, knowing that some game was coming that the Ducks had NO REASON to drop but they would.  ASU would have been one of those games.  Maybe even Cal.

 

There is a resiliency about this team that has considerably eased my anxiety of past teams.  It seemed to me that there used to be a mindset of "we HOPE our athletes can be superior to yours when it matters" in past teams.  This team seems to have a really bad dog in them that says "you're athletes don't matter because we will beat you down".  Look no further than Patrick Herbert's second touchdown where he was escorted by two offensive linemen who were LOOKING to crush someone.  Or Bucky Irving flushing tacklers like a dead goldfish.  Gary Bryant making a video game type of run after his catch.

 

There were glimpses of that from previous players.  I recall Thomas Tyner absolutely trucking a tackler, or Colt Lyerla dragging tacklers down the field.  But I have NEVER seen an entire squad play that way.  

 

Commentators last night described Bo Nix as a surgeon as he dismantled the ASU defense.  If Nix is the surgeon, the rest of the team is the Anesthesiologist who tells you to count backward from 100 after they give you the meds and you get to 98 and are done.  You blink and it's over.  That was the game yesterday, and the Colorado game, and Utah game, and the Cal game.  

 

THIS is the feeling of success, not luck.  I like it.

[OregonDucks]

Yes, I feel it. This year’s team is different. 
 

However, one of the biggest differences this year, is that there is no team that is head and shoulders better than everyone else, like we’ve seen with Georgia or Alabama in prior seasons. Any team that makes the college football playoffs this year has a legitimate shot to win the national championship. That is why I’m really hoping the Ducks can make it this year. They are as good as any team in the country, led by the Heisman Trophy front runner.

 

GO DUCKS!!! Beat the Beavs.

[Duck 68]

I have been feeling it too! There is a confidence that this team is so deep, is focused, disciplined and on a mission. DL and his staff have assembled a great group of young athletes who have the character to match their skills. We also have the best leader on the field in Bo Nix. That said, the Beavers always pose a challenge, but our Ducks should win this Civil War by at least 2 touchdowns. On to Vegas for sweet revenge! 

[Jon Sousa]

On 11/19/2023 at 11:04 AM, Ktmguy2018 said:

or Colt Lyerla dragging tacklers down the field.

... Or Colt Lyerla dragging his quarterback into the endzone... when the QB tried to pull the ball on the option read and neither one of them let go.  

[Desert Duck]

On 11/19/2023 at 1:52 PM, Jon Sousa said:

Or Colt Lyerla...

 

I don't mean to be a Debbie-Downer, but what a sad, sad, cautionary tale. He was one of the most gifted athletes I've ever seen in the many decades I've been on this planet -- full stop.

 

I hope he found the help he needed. 

 

But Ps. Yes, I feel it!

Edited November 19, 2023 by Desert Duck

[Haywarduck]

Like I mentioned, I still feel that angst, when we get to a 3rd, and 11yds. before getting our initial first down. 

 

At the same time this team seems to have that ability not to panic and just execute. I would say the difference is this team is getting better too.

 

We haven't had anyone big go down, and each unit seems to be improving. This is something few teams can say, especially the team that is set to go the conference championship already.

 

I was struck by how much the dawgs were relying on pass interference. That almost seemed to be their go to reaction when a pass was thrown.

 

To answer your question, yes I am feeling it, but those other feelings aren't too far from the surface.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Desert Duck]

On 11/19/2023 at 2:34 PM, Haywarduck said:

but those other feelings aren't too far from the surface.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm afraid for any of us Duck fans who have been around through the decades, those feelings of Duck PTSD never fully leave.

 

That's why I'm grateful for the Duck PTSD group therapy. But even with all of the Duck PTSD group therapy I've had, those feelings, admittedly, can quickly rise. (Fyi... the group therapy consists of meeting at the local watering hole, with fellow Duck brethren, while simultaneously supporting local businesses -- aka. craft breweries, as we attempt to exercise our ancient demon Duck losses).

 

Unfortunately, my wife doesn't believe in my therapy program (how sad is that). And as often as I've tried, my medical insurance plan won't accept the group therapy receipts as apparently, there is no clinical psychologist on their list who goes by the name 'Dr. Porter' -- but there should be). 

[1Ducker1]

IMO after being a Duck fan since 74 this is THE BEST team Ive ever seen in Oregon uniforms.

[Log Haulin]

Ever since the Husky game.  I know it was a loss but you could see it, you could feel it. Thats when it changed for me.

 

Oct. 11th was when the Ducks found that next level deep inside themselves.  Even in the loss, I believe thats when this team saw themselves as they truely are. They also knew they had a process that would take them there. 

 

Every player on this team has fully bought in. Every coach on this team is fully engaged. The standard is clear and anything less is unacceptable to every person who plays a roll in this progr'm. No matter how big or small a roll, they are all held to the standard.

 

It's said above that no team is head and shoulders above, that the NC is wide open for any of the top 6 or 7 teams. When it's  all played out and the crown has been won. We just might be looking back at this season and saying the Ducks in 23' were head and shoulders better than every team in the country. 

 

So yeah, I can absolutely feel it. 

[Desert Duck]

On 11/19/2023 at 3:36 PM, 1Ducker1 said:

IMO after being a Duck fan since 74 this is THE BEST team Ive ever seen in Oregon uniforms.

 

1972 for me. My first game Oregon 0 - UW 58.

 

And yes, I'm with you 100%...  this is the most complete team I've ever seen at Oregon.

[Mic]

I sure did yesterday.  Of course, scoring 42 straight points on 6 straight possessions and seeing it all on a 100" screen with 7-speaker surround sound system (in my friend's Man Cave) may have had a bit to do with it!  

[Mike West]

On 11/19/2023 at 1:34 PM, Haywarduck said:

 

 

To answer your question, yes I am feeling it, but those other feelings aren't too far from the surface.

 

 

 

 

I feel it too.  But it doesn't diminish from the fact this team has killer instinct, and shows poise as good as Chip's Natty team.

 

My worry is the same issue I brought up before the Fusky Fiasco:  I'm not sure the Safeties are good enough to shut down the best passing offenses.

 

I've seen improvement.  I've seen better adjustments than I've ever seen before.  What bugs me the most is our Safeties get caught flat footed because they stare down the QB instead of taking away his options.

 

Looking at the quarterback is like a kid in the candy store: you forget what you're doing.  You freeze because all the candy looks so good.  You reach for the snicker bar forgetting you came for the payday.  

 

OBD have an Achilles Heel.  I still think they pay the Fuskies back.  And I actually believe they are as good as every elite team out there.  It comes down to inches at this point. 

 

I hope I never see an interception turn into the completion before we give up the go ahead score type play again.  But I have my doubts.  Even though we haven't seen many fiascos like that play since, I know how good these elite coaches are.  

[Wood Duck]

Yeah, there seems like something not right about the pass interference play where the receiver goes long

and the QB underthrows the pass, receiver stops and the db plows into him.

Automatic 15 yd gain. it almost seems intentional.

[PittDuck]

I feel it as well.  

 

We have an explosive offense guided with laser precision, protected by bigs with attitude, featuring ball handlers with blazing speed and bowling ball toughness.

 

This year we finally have a Defense  to match!  The D line is stout and the edges are beasts!  The depth is incredible! The whole team has a focus I can’t remember seeing.

 

That said, too many times have OBD unbelievably, inexplicably, and heartbreakingly  come up short.  My biggest fear is they somehow run up against a brick wall in the 4th quarter.

 

Sound familiar?  I keep telling myself that this year it is different, that we lost the 4th quarter in several games this year because we are 3 and 4 deep into the rotation (while giving next year’s Ducks experience), not because we are running into the wall.
 

I want to believe that OBD could play all 4 quarters like they played the first two last Saturday.  
 

THAT team can and probably will win the next 4 games and give us a National Championship.

Edited November 20, 2023 by PittDuck

[DuckFan33]

Been a fan since 1990 and I have NEVER felt as confident about these Ducks as I feel today.  The difference is the lockdown defense... We've never seen a defense at Oregon like we're witnessing this season.  

[Cacker Guy]

On 11/19/2023 at 1:34 PM, Haywarduck said:

I was struck by how much the dawgs were relying on pass interference. That almost seemed to be their go to reaction when a pass was thrown.

I hate the way PI is called these days -- and not called.  Maybe it's because I'm an ex DB.  Too many phantom calls.  Plus receivers get away with pushing off.

 

If I'm an OC facing third and long, I'd just throw it long -- and a bit underthrown -- and you have better than a 50% chance of getting a PI call.  I just hate it!

 

The Huskies use this.  I consider it cheating, but in some ways it's very clever.  Their CBs hold like crazy, especially just prior to the catch and in a way that refs don't often see.  Muhammed (#1) is a master holder.  In addition, he took away our receiver's arm on that 4th and 3 pylon throw in the 3rd quarter.  Really hard to see, but if you look at it in slow motion he totally grabbed our receiver's arm.  That was PI.

 

And of course, Odunze is a master at pushing DBs at the last minute.  Infuriating to me.

 

So, I think our team is different.  I feel it too.  But I still don't trust the refs.  I have officiating PTSD.  

 

Edited November 20, 2023 by Cacker Guy

[Charles Fischer]

On 11/19/2023 at 9:34 PM, Cacker Guy said:

Odunze is a master at pushing DBs at the last minute.  Infuriating to me.

Glad to see someone else observe that.  It could haunt us later..

 

[Cacker Guy]

On 11/19/2023 at 9:46 PM, Charles Fischer said:

It could haunt us later..

It's almost as if the Huskies are coached to hold -- or push off -- in crucial situations.  Counting on the refs not throwing a flag then?  I don't know.  All I know is that PI is frequently hard to get right in real time and the calls -- and non-calls -- are almost always critical.  The whole PI thing drives me nuts.

[Nevada Dawg]

I can relate to those who almost expected prior Duck teams to lose a game they had no business losing. This happened at Georgia for nearly three decades and is the major reason that a coach with a stellar Won-Lost record was replaced in 2016. Three times during that coach's tenure, Georgia lost games that kept them out of the Natty, and these were loses no one saw coming. Kirby Smart was hired to be a different kind of coach, and he has proven to be exactly that.

 

Ducks fans should be "feeling It" because in my assessment (for what it is worth) Lanning is looking to be the same kind of coach.

[OregonDucks]

On 11/19/2023 at 9:34 PM, Cacker Guy said:

But I still don't trust the refs.  I have officiating PTSD.  

If Oregon and Washington are playing in the conference championship game, can we request B1G refs?