I've been pondering again, (Always a bad thing?) and like you--was not pleased with our rush-defense, as Coach Lanning was not. Yet we know that the two Northwestern touchdowns were scored on the second team defense by the starting Wildcat offense...so just how bad is it?

If we left our starters in, we probably would have got the shut-out, but isn't it more important to get playing time to the young-guns that will be starting in the next two years? How does freshman Na'eem Offord learn without getting burned in game-speed? Do you want him to learn that during a game that counts in 2026 or 2027?

That is one important question we all need to ask? I've decided that playing time is more important for linebackers who are out of position--to learn at game speed--and is what they need to experience. It was garbage time...who cares?

Second question; just how realistic is it for us to expect perfection from the team? Yes, the No. 1 defense gave up more ground yards than we wanted...but they kept a Big-10 team scoreless while they were in there. Isn't that the goal?\

I do think we have to readjust our thinking to the new conference; if any conference is known for tough offensive lines that bull for rush yards...it is the B1G, because they have to in order to compete. Even weak teams will move the ball on the ground against us. We lost three starters on the defensive line to the NFL from last year, but recall how well Purdue ran the ball on us?

We won 35-0, but the Boilermakers got over 200 yards rushing off us, (Linked) and anytime you rush for over 200 yards, that is pretty darn good, and you will usually win. While demanding the best feels good...how realistic is it?

Look at the college scoreboard, and you will see teams with good defenses, (Like Georgia and Notre Dame) get a boatload of points scored on them. I think it is pretty unavoidable these days, as everyone has the firepower on offense to score. Thus why I think Will Stein will strive to score as many as possible because when we face good teams like Penn State...they are going to score a bunch on us.

Just a reality, IMHO.

Agree?

Agreed. But the first team did get pushed around a bit. This may have been due to perception of their poop not stinking. Or, a sure W, after travel, and early wakeup.

We won't know for two weeks whether to be worried or not. That is unless you are Alfred E. Neuman.

NM.

I think it is a yellow alert for now. I think a big part is the learning curve for the guys playing together against a team with a slight pulse on the road at 9:00 am.

In a way this is like the Idaho game last year. A messy figuring things out game. Big picture if we can keep the score in the 25-35 range, we should be able to beat anybody or at least be in position to.

Northwestern had 42 yards of offense in the first half. 174 yards of their 313 yards (55%) of offense took place in the 4th quarter, which was when they scored their only points against our 2nd and 3rd team defenders.

Winning ugly still gets the W.

Although, I can’t say that I am overly confident that we have a top 10 defense. So, the question becomes, can we outscore our opponents?

Bill Connolly's model is MAD about, not at, the Ducks!

ESPN.com

Ranking CFB's 39 unbeaten teams: Who is most likely to st...

Bill Connelly separates the contenders from the pretenders among the remaining undefeated teams.

As an older Duck fan from the late 70s Il take a road victory of 34-14 any day.

Charles, I agree with all of your statements. I have given up on looking for perfection on every single play. I'll let the coaches worry about pushing the players for the mythical perfect game. While, I'd love to have a National Championship, I'm just happy that we get to watch such a great program each week and season that Dan Lanning is our coach. It won't last forever.

Run D is very concerning. I’m not sure why Northwestern didn’t run more.

1 minute ago, VegasDuck said:

Run D is very concerning. I’m not sure why Northwestern didn’t run more.

Because they couldn't score with it until their starters went against our "2s?"

I’d say zero alert personally.

Stats in garbage time during a blowout mean absolutely nothing imo.

Florida International (house of pancakes) rushed for 141 AT PSU last week. Does that mean we’ll rush for 300?

Everyone knows I hate the saying "we beat ourselves", but NW really did stop their own drives with costly mistakes if you go back and rewatch their drives. Dan Lanning mentioned this in the post game talk with the media.

The counter to that is your team is really good if the other team has to play flawless to hang around, but they REALLY jacked up their opportunities to make this game VERY uncomfortable for us through halftime.

The Smart/Lanning approach seems to work best with a monster elite 330+ pound future NFL NT. While far from an unknown last season, I still felt Jamaree Caldwell was a bit of an unsung hero last year. This year the defense has three young guys who fit the profile but are still finding their way. The staff didn't seem to love anything in the portal at NT above the young guys so maybe that is promising. Maybe some of it is simple growing pains.

The rise of the Kirby Smart defense was (obviously) greatly aided by having 6 future NFL defenders to put in the box. The Georgia staff finding how to best leverage that advantage might have been much of their "secret sauce" rather than anything scheme (and that isn't at all a put down, rather good coaching).

Penn State obviously has a pair of good backs. Allen so far is 34-273 at 8.0 ypc. Singleton is 41-179 at 4.4 ypc. (Penn State so far has been 51% run). Maybe "mildly concerned" if Penn State can methodically rush the ball and put together long drives, keeping the Duck offense on the sidelines. I'm sure Penn State will be happy to try to play a game limiting Oregon to 2 possessions per quarter and not shoot it out.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by AnotherOD

1 hour ago, JB89 said:

Charles, I agree with all of your statements. I have given up on looking for perfection on every single play. I'll let the coaches worry about pushing the players for the mythical perfect game. While, I'd love to have a National Championship, I'm just happy that we get to watch such a great program each week and season that Dan Lanning is our coach. It won't last forever.

Great take. It's hard to win football games. The 100% accomplishment vs. NW, there were no penalties called on OBD.