I think it's no turnovers on downs. Giving Iowa a short field is playing into their hands. Our punter is a stud. Let's give them a taste of their own medicine of a long field by punting on every fourth down outside of field goal range. Make them fight our defense the length of the field.

We can't afford to hand the ball off to Whittington straight ahead on the first few drives for 2 yards a carry. Give him a wheel route, or other outlet routes if we think we can pass early. If we want to run straight ahead, it has to be Davidson or Harris. And don't keep doing it into a loaded box.

If we find something that works early run it again and again until they stop it. I don't care if we are just getting 4 yards per bubble screen, keep doing it. Get them chasing our scheme instead of us running away from theirs.

I'm so sick of us trying to challenge every blade of grass and seeing a defender beat us to it.

I really want to see Stein and Moore evolve beyond their predictable weaknesses that defenses keep attacking.

WRs need to learn how to maximize open space in zones and show their numbers, raise their arm to Dante so he is comfortable with making the throws then they truly are open.

We're young and our weaknesses have been obvious. Let's hope we really took advantage of the bye week and come out with some answers to these tough defenses.

We have built an offensive roster that is superior to theirs in the passing attack; with both teams loading the box, our difference can be through the passing attack, in particular with our veteran receivers, DAK, and Evan Stewart as a decoy at minimum. He will suck defensive attention to him to open up DAK, Bryant, Benson and the Beast.

This is the game to establish and remind everyone that better recruiting counts.

And for those who tremble about the weather? What did you expect in the Big-10 in November?

This is what we built our roster for...

2 hours ago, Solar said:

I think it's no turnovers on downs. Giving Iowa a short field is playing into their hands. Our punter is a stud. Let's give them a taste of their own medicine of a long field by punting on every fourth down outside of field goal range. Make them fight our defense the length of the field.

We can't afford to hand the ball off to Whittington straight ahead on the first few drives for 2 yards a carry. Give him a wheel route, or other outlet routes if we think we can pass early. If we want to run straight ahead, it has to be Davidson or Harris. And don't keep doing it into a loaded box.

If we find something that works early run it again and again until they stop it. I don't care if we are just getting 4 yards per bubble screen, keep doing it. Get them chasing our scheme instead of us running away from theirs.

I'm so sick of us trying to challenge every blade of grass and seeing a defender beat us to it.

I really want to see Stein and Moore evolve beyond their predictable weaknesses that defenses keep attacking.

WRs need to learn how to maximize open space in zones and show their numbers, raise their arm to Dante so he is comfortable with making the throws then they truly are open.

We're young and our weaknesses have been obvious. Let's hope we really took advantage of the bye week and come out with some answers to these tough defenses.

You're on fire Solar. WRs raising their hands is a great one. They're open too much for Moore to miss. So part of this will be Moore's ability to determine which side of the field to key on based on alignment. When a QB only has two seconds, he needs to read the correct side of the field. Throwing WRs open would help (for those unfamiliar with that term, it means throwing the ball to a specific area BEFORE the WR makes his cut. It also includes making the LBs and Secondary pay for always looking at the damn QB-by looking away from that designated area).

I hope Stein uses RPO tactics to figure out how Iowa will attack the running game. Pass first and determine the blocking schemes to counter their strategy. I happen to believe Stein is reacting quicker to what defenses are throwing at him. I also believe Lanning was certain we could have lit up Wisconsin throwing the ball, but decided to show teams we will stuff it down their throats at will. I think Lanning is playing the long game-that he will start introducing this weekend. OBD will have to shred pass defenses in order to win the title. And I mean shred. Stein showed me lots in the Indiana game. He cracked their code, but QB Moore went into a shell.

You were spot on Solar about Moore bearing the burden. I think he reads zone defenses fine, but he is gun shy. Moore will need to come out of his shell. He has decided to return next year (a very wise move since he is still learning on the job and the extra 12-16 games will make him NFL ready). My thoughts on him are he needs to pull the trigger like Val Kilmer did in Tombstone. He has to make quicker decisions, with unbridled confidence. That hopefully has started in practice the past two weeks. This team will ride the fortunes of Dante Moore.

By the way, I also believe the offensive line starts blocking with fury when the freshman are in the game. They truly start plowing once they're in regularly. To me, that means Whittington should be used for passing situations far more often. I don't even care if opponents figure it out. They still will have to stop them, and I don't believe anybody can. Including Ohio State. Those are my thoughts on the matter. Slowly unfolding an offense that will rip you to sheds because they can is what I hope happens. I even hope the coaches simply tell the players it's on them, and that they have complete faith in their ability to pull it off. It's all about confidence, and let the process develop that confidence. Put the best players in position to kill it, and let em play.

Do you think Stein will start pulling out the kinds of plays he did against Montana State?

8 hours ago, Solar said:

Our punter is a stud. Let's give them a taste of their own medicine of a long field by punting on every fourth down outside of field goal range.

This should be the strategy, but I will add one more thing. Punt the ball out of bounds. Their returner averages 25 yards per return and has two touchdowns. He also has eight kickoffs for 262 yards (long of 100 yards) and one touchdown so OBD should probably kick away from him. He could be the difference between a one-score win and a one-score loss.

Great stuff everybody! I think to sum up a general them, the Ducks just need to be the freaken Ducks! Aggressive play calling with passive execution has been a disastrous mix. Tone down the 4th and go for its and bump up the self confidence at QB seems to be a winning recipe to me. I think the Ducks should lean into whatcha gonna do about it plays with their whatcha gonna do about it players. Sadiq, Dak, Hill and Davison are problems. Make Iowa have to solve them.

I love the punter/ returner chess match that could develop. I say punt even in field goal range and make Iowa live on their own goal line. Force them to get a couple first downs just to get back to the 25. I think this game comes down to Oregon's state of mind. Swagger without arrogance, caution without being timid taking the win without hoping for it is what I want to see. I think we do and the Ducks take a huge step towards maturing into a legit championship contender this week.

Great feedback everyone. I think we are all of a similar mindset here. Hopefully this is a great minds think a like situation and Dan the man has some answers with Will, Dante and the rest of the Offense.

10 minutes ago, The Kamikaze Kid said:

I say punt even in field goal range and make Iowa live on their own goal line.

Another good strategy. Not just because of field position and weather, but also because Camden Sappingdonado is in a slump. OBD either need to punt or sacrifice a live chicken before the game to ward off the evil kicking spirits. If that doesn't work then maybe they can borrow Jobu from Pedro Cerrano.

As much as I want to see us pound the football, we have got to get the ball into our best players’ hands.

If DAK and Sadiq don’t have 15 catches between them, we’re letting defenses off too easy. We have to learn how to get the ball to our playmakers.

The key to all of it is Dante’s ability to read the defense, audible out of bad plays, know where he wants to go with the ball, and adjust protections as needed. We will go as far as Dante can take us.

Establish run game the turn Dante lose. Play to our strengths but get the ball in the air more then we have.

Convert 3rd downs.

Seem too many 3 and outs.

Score early and make IA play from behind.

Rumors swirling of as many as 4 guys out on offense Saturday, anyone else? I guess it has hit some of the bigger Duck forums, Scoop Duck, Ducks Rising (plus Reddit):

"Dak is out, Harkey out , Davison will play and Sadiq is questionable. This is info from a insider forum"

I have a feeling that Iowa will sell out to stop plays that they guess that Oregon is going to execute. So some misdirection will break that down.

I hope the Ducks do not run a Mario style offense - pound it up the box and then have third and long all day long.

Well, this is going around social media right now. Twitter is often times filled with a lot of fake BS. I can’t tell if it’s real because I don’t have a Scoop Duck account to confirm if Justin Hopkins really reported this. If true then it’s going to be a long day for the offense.

It basically says that Dakorian Moore and Harkey are out and Sadiq and Davison are questionable. However, there is nothing on the injury report. I remember last season the news outlets jumped on the Jordan Burch injury fairly quickly.

It’s addressed in this article as being rumors for now. We’ll see later on today.

Autzen Zoo

Oregon at Iowa gridiron clash, updates on weather, odds,...

The line has stayed steady and the weather forecast has worsened for Oregon at Iowa while injury rumors are swirling.

Down field early, punish them for loading the box.

Use Moore's mobility, move the pocket, roll out, half roll out, use the threat of him running without him necessarily looking to run.

Save the cutesy stuff for the fourth quarter if everything else is not working. Too many of the cutesy plays have turned into wasted downs early in the game. We don't need wasted downs.

A fast start would be wonderful, I'd love to see us up 14-0 after our first two possessions. Make them play from behind, change their game plan.

Oregon Ducks On SI

Confusion Surrounds Oregon Receiver Dakorien Moore’s Status

Oregon Ducks receiver Dakorien Moore has quickly proven why he was one of the most sought-after recruits in the country. The former five-star freshman has emerg

SI.com just reported that the DAK injury posting was taken down, so who knows. Nothing more yet on Harkey.

The Oregon injury report comes out at 10:30 (two hours before the game). No need to get too worked up until then as the rumors will fly in all directions until then. I expect a mix of truth and fiction in the rumor mill but who knows.

Reece Davis just alluded to Dak’s injury on CGD. This report has legs. I’m expecting the Harkey injury to be true as well.

It will be football weather day in Iowa City... a long and miserable football weather day. About 38° with the wind chill, and about 100% rain forecasted during the entire game. On the upside, wind will be fairly light.

Iowa is good. This should be a relatively low scoring game... something in the low 20s or upper teens. I'm predicting a rather ugly grind of a game. He who has the fewer turnovers today, wins. Field position will be paramount.

Edited 3 hours ago3 hr by Desert Duck

I watched the Indiana vs. Iowa game highlights this morning.

Iowa's front 7 is fast and gets really skinny to get between the offensive linemen. We absolutely shouldn't be be handing the ball off to an RB on 3rd or 4th and short.

I'm not feeling very good about our chances to put up points on offense unless Moore can get in a rhythm and pick apart their secondary to open up the box.

This I a game we must win! If we can not beat Iowa, I find it unlikely we beat SC or Wash by enough to erase the stink. Hope Dak and Harkey are not hurt, but if so, we 'd still better win or we probably do not deserve being in playoff. Go Ducks!!!! Either we are real or we are not, not our fault the schedule is weak or Penn St quit, but the hand we are dealt. Beat Iowa in the miserable weather and our schedule looks a bit better and we might survive a rd loss to WA.

I think DL will hold Dakorian out if he really is dinged up but can go. It’s going to be trench warfare due to the weather so he might be comfortable with McClellan taking his reps. I don’t know who would replace Harkey. My guess is Wilson.

How about passing downfield instead of moronic bubble screens that are never blocked correctly?