Was a Sloppy Maryland Victory Just What the Ducks Needed?

[The Kamikaze Kid]

As the wins have stacked up and OBD climbed the rankings all the way up to number one, the season began to look almost impossibly perfect. The one point victory over tOSU was the game of the year, and the Ducks just kept getting better and better each week. Flattening every opponent that dared step on the field with them home or away started to seem to be too good to be true. I'm sure I'm not alone in beginning to wonder when the inevitable banana peal shows up.

 

With Lanning expecting the team to get better each week and after going into The Big House and manhandling the reigning national champs, how much better could they possibly get? Coming back down to Earth seemed to be a certainty but would that come with a loss? For Miami and Georgia this week, the answer was an emphatic yes. For the Ducks, it was a twenty one point victory and their highest scoring BIG game to date.

 

I personally am somewhat relieved that the step back game was a mere sloppy but decisive victory. Lanning can now hammer home the need to regain focus and discipline and the team can now truly feel the need to get better this week. The road game at Wisconsin has always look like a dangerous one on the schedule and I'm glad it will arrive when the Ducks feel a need to get back to playing at a high level and not just another game to play in cruise control.

[David Marsh]

Wouldn't be surprised if it's a mix of fatigue and looking ahead to next week. 

 

This was the 7th game in a row without a break. All of our conference games have come after our last bye. That bye week was critical to get players healthy but it was a long time ago now. 

 

Next week Oregon makes their last regular season road trip to Wisconsin. Wouldn't be surprised if players have more of an eye on that than the game at hand.

 

Some changes due to injuries played a role. The offensive line wasn't as crisp but they did enough. 

 

Getting receivers settled will be key to end of season success without Tez. We have the play makers they just didn't seem to be in sync. 

 

Then I get the feeling Dan is resting a lot of players... But it just felt premature as the game wasn't fully put away yet. 

[DrJacksPlaidPants]

I always look forward to Schwartz’s post game analysis after he watches the film. He basically said the same thing about motivation. 

[The Kamikaze Kid]

On 11/10/2024 at 10:10 AM, DrJacksPlaidPants said:

I always look forward to Schwartz’s post game analysis after he watches the film. He basically said the same thing about motivation. 

Yep. Pretty much sums it up. Good find Doctor.

[Utki]

It just makes me a bit anxious about next week's match against Wisconsin. They might be our Big 10 version of Stanford, but we shall see.  

[JabbaNoBargain]

Long season and navigating unprecedented waters. IMO this was just a workman like game no one will remember at the end of the season because we won by 21.
 

The only conclusion I draw is we just had a weekend where two of the top-4 lost, and 2 others in the initial top-12 won by 7 or less against teams with losing records. OBD played uninspired football on offense yet we still won by 21. 
 

Now that we’re at game 11, I have to ask, what is with the pervasive, lingering fear of Wisconsin? It’s 2024, they’re a .500 team with a second year coach in rebuild mode. It’s Michigan with less talent. Iowa (yes Iowa) scored 42 on them last week. They aren’t rolling out Russell Wilson.

Edited November 10 by JabbaNoBargain

[David Marsh]

This may have been a sloppy win but let's keep something in perspective. Great teams win the games they're supposed to win even if it's ugly. 

 

Oregon took care of business, other teams weren't so lucky. 

 

Miami and Georgia both lost. They played poorly and it got them.

 

Oregon played poorly and managed to win by 21. It was not consistent but we saw flashes of this Oregon team and when that team showed itself they dominated. It just wasn't for the entire game. 

[CalBear95]

Weather forecast for the game is 54/47 and cloudy.  That's super temperate and removes one of the disadvantages of playing in Madison in the middle of November.

[30Duck]

No game this season has OBD reminded me of Saban's Alabama more than this one. Every once in a while, they'd play a game and it just wasn't working. but in the end 'Bama won and often by less than 21, and without missing their prime playmaker & and integral member of the OL. 

On 11/10/2024 at 10:44 AM, JabbaNoBargain said:

I have to ask, what is with the pervasive, lingering fear of Wisconsin? It’s 2024, they’re a .500 team with a second year coach in rebuild mode. It’s Michigan with less talent. Iowa (yes Iowa) scored 42 on them last week. They aren’t rolling out Russell Wilson.

Had to point out how much I agree with this.

[Drake]

The physical, and mental challenge of navigating through a new conference schedule is difficult all by itself. Being ranked #1 makes it even more distracting. 
 

Physically, players are banged up, and mentally the team is expected to play mistake free ball each and every game. 
 

While Wisconsin should not be feared, they should be respected. They will be very motivated to knock the Ducks from the unbeaten ranks. 

[Charles Fischer]

I now love this ending of the schedule, as the players know they can give-it-their-all in Madison,

...and then they get a break to heal and recharge. 

 

Energized for the final week because...

 

 

[30Duck]

On 11/10/2024 at 10:59 AM, David Marsh said:

Oregon took care of business, other teams weren't so lucky. 

 

Miami and Georgia both lost. They played poorly and it got them.

Oregon played poorly and managed to win by 21.

Agree overall, though I don't think luck played any part in Oregon's win or Georgia & Miami's losses. They were both outplayed. Oregon took care of business and remined the unanimous No.1. Indiana withstood Michigan's offense, scored less than Oregon won by, and moves up 3 spaces in the AP & 4 in the Coaches poll?

Edited November 10 by 30Duck

[Jon Joseph]

On 11/10/2024 at 1:44 PM, JabbaNoBargain said:

Long season and navigating unprecedented waters. IMO this was just a workman like game no one will remember at the end of the season because we won by 21.
 

The only conclusion I draw is we just had a weekend where two of the top-4 lost, and 2 others in the initial top-12 won by 7 or less against teams with losing records. OBD played uninspired football on offense yet we still won by 21. 
 

Now that we’re at game 11, I have to ask, what is with the pervasive, lingering fear of Wisconsin? It’s 2024, they’re a .500 team with a second year coach in rebuild mode. It’s Michigan with less talent. Iowa (yes Iowa) scored 42 on them last week. They aren’t rolling out Russell Wilson.

This will be 8 in a row for OBD without a nap. Wisconsin is coming off a bye and it's a 6:30 local KO, plenty of time for Badgers fans to brewski it up. 

 

A bye week after Wisconsin and then UW at home before in all likelihood traveling to Indianapolis to play a rematch with Ohio State. The Ohio State which gave up 32 points to Oregon has allowed a total of 64 points in its 8 wins. 

 

Will Dez be good to go on 12/7 in Indy?