Ducks Game and Other Stuff...

Well, the Ducks lost over the weekend. Tough game. I was pretty bummed out afterward, and still am. I don't get as amped up to read about practices and the coming game... that's changed. I guess I'll get more into it come this weekend, but until then, still bummed.
What about this game can we take from it? For starters, the Offense is just fine. They got their points, 42 of 'em, and that is (and I'm not looking here) above the average or right at. So, they scored. Lots.
The D? Not so much. Basically, the D was who I thought they were at the start of the year, less our best DB's. Coming in to the year, I thought that we would have a tough time stopping the run and getting to the QB... and that good QB's would light up the DB's when given enough time. Well, that happened. See, up to this point in the season, we've been able to stuff the run and get to the QB and rattle him into tough throws. But Saturday, that guy (a freakin' freshman...) sat in there and made throw after throw and torched the secondary. He made pin-point throws when guys were covered, and he made improvisational throws when the protection broke down and the D was closing in on him. Basically, he had a career game. Give him credit, he played great.
The other issue is that the RB, who is really good, overpowered the DL and LB's... and he got huge chunks of yards with every carry. And when you can do that, you can set up the play-action pass, and sucker the D into single coverage and get good match-ups on the edge... and the QB was hitting those, like I said.
Wash Rinse Repeat... over and over again, and that is why we lost. The D didn't stops when they needed it, Stanford was able to stay ahead by 17, 10 points for half the game, and when Oregon is forced to score six in order to keep in it, then that is a recipe for disaster.
But they did have a chance at the end. They had a deficit of 20, but scored twice relatively quick to get within 6 and a handful of seconds left. Then they blew the on-side kick.
I don't blame the kicker, he was apparently unconsolable at the end, because the fact of the matter is he wasn't playing DB... or LB... or any other other defensive position. The Oregon D should not have played into that position. But still, they had a chance. Stanford recovered the attempt, hit a figgie with 11 seconds left, and that was that.
So, what does that mean for Oregon? The bottom line is, we still control our own destiny in the PacTen and the Rose Bowl. There is also another fact that the winner of the PacTen has not gone undefeated in league since 1990... and not played in the National Championship game or been declared National Champion (Washington in 1990). So, basically what I'm saying is that USC ran the table in the Pac when they were marching to Titles under the Reggie Bush/Matt Leinart era. Which, really, was the best College Football team is history. So, to lose a game in conference is OK right now.
In fact, a few times, the Conference champion has had two losses. Is it not inconcievable to think that Oregon can lose to Arizona and still play in the Rose Bowl. Stanford can lose to USC (although, watching USC Saturday, that is not exactly a done deal. USC looked very bad in that win over ASU) Arizona can lose to Cal and USC, they have to go on the road for both those games. Arizona has yet to be tested in conference, and they could be exposed on this stretch run. So, there are many scenarios where I see the Ducks still going to the Rose Bowl.
But that fact of the matter is, and I hate to say this, the game with Arizona is the key. That game, in the desert, is gonna probably be for the Rose Bowl.
Right now, the Ducks have three games left, two at home. ASU is this week, and we should win that one. The ASU D is good, but the O is bad. Putrid at times. And they have a true freshman coming into Autzen. Not a good idea... just ask Matt Barkley. So, we should win there.
At the end of the season, we have a surging OSU. That will be a tough game, and if we get by Arizona and need a win to go to the Rose Bowl, then you know that OSU would love to dork us in the same way we did them last year. But that game is winnable, and OSU has had issues this year. The thing for them is, if they don't get out ahead early... they have a tough time.
So, it all comes down to Arizona. But I won't talk about Zona yet. One Game At A Time.
... Just came over the wire...
Blount.
IS BACK.

Ranking the PacTen... Rivalry Version

I was thinking of a few things as I rode the bike home tonight. Stream of consciousness stuff, really... I don't like wearing black pants. You know who wears black pants? A waiter... The third Rush album really sucked... These tires are on their last season, no doubt... I would never get another cat... You know, that sort of thing.
Well, one thing I thought of was how much I dislike other PacTen schools, and where would I rank them. I hesitate to use the hate word, I do. I mean, I dislike Oregon State. I don't hate people who went there. But I definitely hate to lose to them, no doubt. So... how do the other PacTen teams stack up?
Let's think of it this way... when they aren't playing the Ducks, do I care if they win or lose? Do I root against them? That's one criteria. Also, what do I think of their fans? Are they obnoxious? Rude? Condescending? What's my favorite memory of playing that team? What's my bitterest memory? So, I'll look at all that, and rank the conference...
Animosity Rating is a number from 1-10 regarding how much I sneer at the mere mention of the name. Or, how much I really, really, want to see them lose.
Fan Rating is all about how I percieve the elitist attitude of fans. A totally subjective call. Are they realistic? Do they whine? Do they rub every win in your face? That sort of thing.
Best Memory/Worst Memory is about which games I look back on and think... wow, that loss really hurt, or that win was so satisfying... that sort of thing.

10. Washington State
Animosity Rating: 1
Man, this was the most no brainer of them all. I mean, you have to put them lowest on the list because they're so bad. I want to see them do better, because right now, they're the conference anchor. They're weighing everyone else down.
They're so bad, I just cannot pull myself to hate them.
This team is so bad, and there is no hope on the horizon for them... unless they start raiding all the shady Juco schools in Cali and bring in a bunch of gang-banger types, just totally thugging out with guys who can play but have no intention of going to class. What else can they do to turn this one around? I just know I totally want to see them win when they don't play Oregon, because we need them to get good... right now, they're the terd in the punchbowl, and the buzzkill in the conference.
Also, my pastor... his kid goes to WSU and plays basketball there. A part of me really wants to see them do well for his sake.
Fan Rating: 1
I have not met an annoying Wazzu fan. Really, I haven't. They are not in your face rude. More like in your face apologetic. Sorry we suck so bad...
Best Memory... Probably, what, three years ago we went to WSU and beat them, and we had a good solid game and Kent had his first touchdown. I barely recall that game. Maybe last year, we played really well. Honestly, I feel bad when we beat them so badly... because they're so horrible. I feel the same way when I race my daughter and I'm trying to win, because if I let her win all the time, she'll get a bad attitude. So, every now and then I beat her to the door or the street corner, just to keep her honest... but I don't feel good about it.
Worst Memory... Some fans think about 2002, when they totally thumped us at home, and it was such an ugly loss. But for me, it was losing to them in 1994... the only in-conference loss the whole season. That was a good WSU defense, probably the best D in the conference. But that loss sticks with me because it was the only one on the way to the Rose Bowl.

9. Arizona State
Animosity Rating: 3
ASU is this sleeping giant that never really gets woken up, and for the Ducks... that's a good thing. I truly think that with the right coach, it could be the most dominant program, or at least challenge for the top of the PacTen... great weather, great facilities, great campus... all the non-football intangibles that so many schools would die for. But they can never put it all together for very long. In the mid 90's, they got hot for a while, then it all fell apart. Then, two years ago, they looked like they would be there at the very top, but then imploded. And now this year, they're mid PacTen, maybe bottom half. Just average. Nothing special, nothing to really dislike, just average... sort of like the super smart kid who spends his time smoking pot, you feel sorry for all the blown potential, but then again you know that as soon as he sobers up, he'll be a lawyer or a doctor.
Fan Rating: 4
I have met some ASU fans who were total tools.... I have met some who were totally cool, so in the end, it all evened out. When they were up, the fans weren't stupid. I never got the vibe that they thought they deserved to be awesome.
Best Memory: Two years ago, they were ranked in the top ten, played us at home, we stomped 'em and were ranked #2 that week... all the talk was about Heismans, and the National Championship Game. That win, over a highly regarded ASU with ESPN GameDay in town for a night game on a perfect November evening, was the highlight of the Dennis Dixon year.
Worst Memory: Same game... because that was when Dennis blew his knee out, although we didn't know it until the next week.

8. UCLA
Animosity Rating: 5
I had a total dislike for UCLA in the late 90's because of one game... the Akili Smith/Reuben Droughns led Ducks went to the Rose Bowl and played an epic game with the Bruins. A game that was high scoring, back and forth, and was finally lost in overtime. During the game, the Ducks lost Droughns for the year... at that point, Reuben was averaging 200 yards of rushing a game, and was fast becoming the inside leader for the Heisman. Losing that game hurt, and for a few years, it really stuck with me.
But in the 80's and 90's, UCLA was one of the teams to beat. I still remember the 1995 game where we went down there and won on a last second fourth and goal to go play, where we stopped cold Sharman Shaw at the line... I still remember watching the game, and the TV going out right at the last second, right as we stopped 'em for the win. Good times. Back then, I loved to beat the Bruins.
Fan Rating: 2
My perception is that they really don't care that much about the team, that they would rather look good at the beach, driving the convertible. I just never got the feel that they cared too much. So, I never got the feel that they were annoying.
Best Memory: Probably 1995. That was an epic game.
Worst Memory: 1998. No Doubt. Just a painful loss, of what could have been an epic team.

7. Stanford
Animosity Rating: 6
I don't like Stanford, because they beat us in 2001... and that loss was the difference from playing in the National Championship Game. We were up by two scores, and we still lost. Heck, we were up by a full score, and we were still throwing the ball! That game bothers me to no end to this day.
Fan Rating: 2
I have to be honest, I have yet to meet a Stanford fan that was bothersome to me. I have no problem with their fans, none at all. Actually, most fans don't care about 'em. Which is sad, because they cold be USC-North, but there is little passion for the team.
Worst Memory: 2001. That game still makes me grimace. I want to pound them every year just because of that game. Also, 2005. We lost to them at home. We finished 10-2, only losses were to Stanford and Arizona State... both at home. We beat either, and we repeat at the Rose Bowl. So, Stanford dorked us twice.
Best Memory: 2008, because it was when Masoli realized that he is the man, that he has what it takes to lead this team. Maybe 1997, I flew down to Eugene to go to a game with my best friend, and it was the last time I went to a game until this year. That was a good memory and a good win.

6. Cal
Animosity Rating: 5
See, this is where it gets tough. I think I should hate Cal more... but I don't because they have a lot of ex-Oregon guys there, as coaches. Plus, they're an elite team, and beating them is good for Oregon. We get up for them, we get excited to play them. I like to see them win, when we don't play them, because they are an elite PacTen team, and they usually do good by conference standards.
Fan Rating: 3
Again, I have no problems with fans. I have met a few, and they were cool. So, far this fan rating thing is not working out like I thought it would...
Best Memory: Goodness, this year. That was the start of the thinking that this would be a great Oregon team. A very satisfying win.
Worst Memory: The way they punked us three years ago. It was ugly, and we had our cans handed to us. Man, they were good... and we looked so bad. I turned that game off half way through the third quarter, because we got nothing done. You would think I would say the game two years ago where we fumbled a game winning TD into and out of the endzone. Yea, that was a tough loss, but in retrospect, it didn' hurt us too much... we would have still gone to the National Championship Game if Dennis never got hurt.

5. USC
Animosity Rating: 7
I used to hate USC, because they were the gold standard in the conference, and we could never get the best of them. Then they were bad, and we had their number. Then they hired Pete Carroll, and we could never beat them, except when we did and those were great wins. See, here's the deal... I don't hate USC. I greatly respect them, because they are so good. My animosity comes from how they hammered us all these years, just relentless... and then how good it felt to beat them the same way this year.
Fan Rating: 10
OK... a ten is not good. I have to tell you, this is one of the worst fan bases in the world. They think they are the shizzle. They think they were birthed by Zues, and that they walk among mere mortals, and that they shouldn't. Obnoxious is the nicest thing I can say about their fans. Worst band wagoners, also.
Best Moment: Last Saturday.
Worst Moment: All those years they thumped us by 30 points, and didn't even bother to acknowledge that we were on the field. Or maybe three years ago, when I was watching USC play us, and I saw Pete Carroll yell "F*** You!" to Bellotti. It was so obvious...

4. Washington
Animosity Rating: 9
When UW was good, the fans were as annoying as USC fan. Probably more. They have this innate ability to turn up the Jackhole Meter to 11 when they get the slightest chance. In fact, watching UW fan squirm for the last 6 plus years has been really satisfying. I grew up with a deep dislike of all things Huskies, and how they lorded it over all the rest of the Northwest. From a very early moment in my life... I wanted to beat UW worse than I wanted to beat OSU. That still lingers.
Fan Rating: 10
One of the most obnoxious and toxic fan basses I have ever seen first hand. Watching them lose gives me great joy.
Best Moment: "Kenny Wheaton is gonna score!!!"
Worst Moment: Beating UW in 2000... only to see them go to the Rose Bowl. That hurt. It was a three way tie for the conference... UW goes to the Rose, OSU to the Fiesta, Oregon to the Holiday Bowl. That hurt.

3. Arizona
Animosity Rating: 10
Wow. You might be surprised to see UA this high up, especially for a team that we have had good luck with over the years. But I hate 'em, I really do. I cannot stand their coach... at all. That dude never stops screaming. I want to see Arizona lose every game, I really do. The thing that sticks in my craw is how in 2005, we go down there and we lost Clemons in that game for the rest of the season... and the coach says afterwards "Well, we took their Quarterback out." Like he was proud of it. That bothered me. Since then, I have had a total dislike for Mike Stoops.
Fan Rating: 5
I have not met any real hard core UA fans. Which is good, because I hate UA.
Best Moment: Beating them in 1994, 10-6... that was the Rose Bowl year, and the Desert Swarm defense was the preseason number one, and that win was huge... I still remember watching that game at my friend's house, and then going out to toss around the football, we were so stoked.
Worst Moment: Two years ago. Without a doubt, the most painful loss as a Duck fan. Evar.

2. Oregon State
Animosity Rating: 10
Come on... it's OSU. They're the biggest rival. I love, absolutely LOVE to hate on 'em. Watching 'em lose gives me perverse joy that I cannot express... unfortunately, they don't lose enough.
Fan Rating: 6
I have met a lot of Beava Believas out there, and some are nasty, and some are nice. There are so many Beava Fans that I have come to accept that I will have these Rodents in my life, and that's how it is.
The funny thing is, there are a few good friends of mine that are huge Beava fans, and they are the coolest folks I know. Sometimes, I cannot hate Beavas at all... but then I remember... hey, this is the Beavs were talking about!
Best Moment: Last years win was the most satisfying win... till we beat USC this year. To dork them out of the Rose Bowl, and to beat them as bad as we did was so awesome. That is one of two game hi-lights I have on my iPod. I cherish that win so much...
Worst Moment: 2000... man, they were good, and we played so bad. That was the most bitter loss until we lost to UA two years ago. Just brutal. I remember having a nasty flu, and watching that game, and just being so pissed because we played so bad. Uggg.

1. Boise State
Animosity Rating: 1000
Uh, no... I haven't forgot how BSU is not in the PacTen... no matter how badly they want to be. But there is little doubt that I hate these guys. I hate them so bad, and I so badly want to see them not only lose, but to see them get hammered... wheels falling off, a total tire fire... that's what I want.
I read about how BSU is doing because I want to see them lose. I was at work, and on my break I checked the score of the BSU v. La Tech game to see if they were losing... I don't care about anything else, the only thing I want on a weekly basis is for Oregon to win and for BSU to lose. I flat out despise BSU. I hate the blue turf, I hate the Angry Pony logo, I hate the rinky dink stadium they play in, I hate the WAC, I hate those guys! I hate that they beat us. Twice.
Fan Rating: 1000
Again, do you have any idea how much I cannot stand their fans? Do you know how much I hate it that they only had to win one game and now they think they're the best in the nation? This team would not win five games in the PacTen, no way. They wouldn't be ranked in the top ten if they had to play USC and Cal and OSU and UA every week, week in and week out. That bugs me. But if you talk to BSU fans, then that one win, that one game, is all that matters. I am sick of hearing how they beat us. Yea... I get it. YOU WON. What have you done lately??? Who else have you beat? I mean, La. Tech. put up points on your sorry team.
Really, that game was an anomaly. I would love to play them now, I really would.
But, I have to tell you, in Boise... you would think no other team existed. Look, I travel to Boise quite a bit. Nice town. But I was there once, and in the local paper they had an article... front page, about the fold, full color... about the coverage the Broncos.... er, Angry Ponies... were getting. A front page, above the fold, article about other articles about BSU. Unreal.
BSU fans are the most unrealistic fans in the world. They think one game gets them in the national championship game. That bugs me.
Worst Memory: Blue Turf. LaGerrette Blount. A punch.
Best Memory: When they lose.

Third Quarter... Ducks v. USC

Well, this quarter is where Oregon pours gasoline on the fire and we put this game away for good.
Oregon has done a great job of making adjustments at half, in that they anticipate the defensive adjustments. They don't have a third quarter let down, which was all too common in the Bellotti days, I have to admit.
So, we get the kick, and it goes into the end zone and we set up shop at the 20.
First down... solid gain across the middle for 16 to Dickson. It was pretty clear that this team was settled, and ready to play after the intermission.
First down... another first down. Wow. 18 yards to LT. There is no pass rush on Masoli. But he did roll out on this one, so he was running away from any rush.
First down (again) and Masoli is pressured and he forces the ball out of bounds. No problem.
Second down... First run of the night, and LMJ gets seven. Again, no dropoff.
Third down... the ball sails past Maehl. Now... do we go for it here? This is a gutsy call, but it is in that no-mans-land of too long to kick, too short to punt. They go for it.
Fourth down... The bubble screen was stopped, but the defender hit him forward and got him the first. Thanks!
First down at the 35 was a false start, then first and 15 was another ball that Masoli tossed to avoid the rush. He made good decisions all day, and never got sacked. This was a far cry from BSU, where he was rushed, tossed the ball in coverage, got sacked. He was just more polished.
Second and long... a strike to Maehl underneath the coverage, and then he does the rest to get the chains moving. Great play by both guys.
First on the 22 and Maehl drops a surefire touchdown. He had six.
Second down... Masoli does downline option to LMJ, and there's a ticky-tack flag on Maehl. One of the worst calls I have ever seen. That was so weak.
Second and a bus ticket... LMJ has a short run that has about half the SC team ride him like a pony.
Third down leads to fourth, and we kick it for the figgie. Third down was front corner of the endzone, but it wasn't the best thrown ball in the world.
Oregon 27
USC 17
Ten points, should have been 14. The pass to Maehl was that good. But, on the whole, the drive was picture perfect. It was so solid, it was like they were going off a script and the whole thing was choreographed.
USC gets the ball at the 32. Again, great coverage. But I have a feeling we'll need to be better against Stanford.
First down... Bradford stuffed for two. USC comes out with a false start, so the crowd didn't show up late after refuelling at half. Good on ya, Autzen...
Second down... McKnight for 11, which means a decent third down.
Third and two... and McKnight has his best run of the night for 22 yards. Reggie Bush would have taken this to the house. McKnight is not the runner that USC has had in the past. But, you know, that was a bad tackle at the point of attack, just an arm wrap, we needed to have more guys there.
First at the Oregon 34... another first down, a pick up of ten. USC is steady on this drive, and they came out firing. You could not expect less from USC. They're too good.
First at the 24, and we're holding 'em here. An incompletion.
Second down, and I'm tired of hearing about the injuries to USC. Oregon has injuries, too. It's part of the game... but on the play, they get two.
Third and 7 and it's shut down. Barkley threw with a guy right in his grill. Great D.
The kick is good, and these are the last points for SC on the night.
Oregon 27
USC 20
That is the closest they will get. I would have thought that you were crazy if you told me that this was gonna be a near shut out in the second half, yet it was.
The kickoff, again, was spot on. Could you expect less from SC? Well, we have the ball at the 20, and you know that USC is thinking we need to shut this down, get a three and out. But what happens on first down? Jeremiah for 26. We just kept responding and coming right at them. They had no answer for Masoli.
And the next play was another first down, on the quick out to LT. Cannot stop this.
First down at the SC 43... LMJ for 9. Like I have said all season long, you get nine yards a pop, you win. Lots.
Second and one, and again... nine yards. Nine freakin' yards against SC. We did this all day.
First down at the 20... and it's Maehl for about seven.
A time out right now... what? But maybe coach saw something? I don't know.
Second and three... and it's LMJ all day for a first down inside the 5. You know what happens next... a TD for LMJ. That was too easy, he just walked in there. LMJ looked like it was practice, it was so easy.
Oregon 34
University of Spoiled Children 20
The next series, USC goes five plays and a punt. Nothing special to report here, they're starting to look beat, and they know it. There were bad throws, rushed throws. They look beat.
I will say that the coverage on this kick was awesome, he was put on his can right at the 23. Perfect coverage.
Everytime they show the punch from BSU, it seems like it was ages ago, and a different team. Anyways...
Oregon will field the punt at the 20 and this drive is great...
First at the 20... LMJ for six tough yards.
Second down... LMJ for 22 and an awesome run. He gets to midfield, and this USC defense looks really bad.
First down and second down were runs by Barner, he gets the first. Few passes at all on this drive. They didn't need to. The run is so solid right now.
First down at the 34 was a false start. Maybe the guys are too anxious. But there were plenty of false starts that have hurt both sides. The next play was Dickson for six off the play action. When you run as well as we do, the play action works pretty well.
Second down... and another first off the run by Masoli, after a perfect fake. At the end of the run, Mays gave Masoli a cheap shot. That guy is so over-rated... and a total cheap shot artist. That hit didn't even get a flag.
First down from the 15 and it's a nice pas to Dickson for 12 and another first and goal from inside the 5. The clock is about to wind down to end the quarter, and the Ducks totally wanted to get this in before the quarter ended because USC was totally on their heels. That was an awesome call by Chip, just totally heads up.
The score was a nice run by Barner. The thing was, not one guy had more than one TD. A total team effort. A score each on the ground by Masoli, LMJ, Barner, and Crenshaw. Masoli had one through the air, but other than that, they were spreading the love around.
Oregon 41
USC 20
And that ends the half, and this game is over. Really... it's over. I was still stressing over this game, but this game was over. Oregon was too good, too efficient.

What's The Deal With Blount?

I was thinking that the AD would have an announcement this week, especially early in the week and we would see Blount on Saturday. But, so far, there has been no movement. I read that the University hasn't even sent an official notice to the PacTen. Yet Blount is still on the practice team, and from all reports, he's laying guys out. He even did extra work this week, sprints with LMJ, in anticipation he will return. LMJ was interviewed, and he said he did the sprints with LGB in order to motivate him and let him know he's there to support him because he wants him to be ready.
So, if I read the tea leaves right, they are telling LGB that he's on track... otherwise, why would he be out there running gassers after practice?
On the other hand, there has been nothing on when he comes back.
I want to see LGB out there ASAP. I think he will do a great job of relieving LMJ and being a short yardage back. He won't take away LMJ's carries, I've said this before. He will take away carries from Barner, Crenshaw and Alston... Barner won't worry, he'll get his touches on kickoffs, which is where he really excels. His carries as an RB are just gravy at this point. Plus, he runs alot like LMJ, just not as shifty, so he's not the change of pace guy that LGB can be.
Crenshaw and Alston have been career back-ups, and have seen most of their time when the game is in control. They are not guys you really want in there when the game is on the line, during the first half or during the late part of a close game. They carry the rock to run out the clock. Exhibit A is when Crenshaw had it first and goal from the one yard line against SC, and he needed three cracks to stick it in. LMJ and LGB cross the line on the first try. Bottom line is that Crenshaw doesn't hit the hole fast, and can be indecisive at the point of attack.
I feel, in my heart, that the incident at BSU was actually what has made this Oregon team the team it is. If we would have lost that game, and LGB jogs off the field and there is no punch, I really do not think we beat Purdue or Utah... because we would not have seen Barner or LMJ so much in those games, and those two were the difference in those early, hard wins.
It took a while for the O line to gel and open holes... holes that are easier for them open with a smaller, quicker, more agile back like LMJ breaking through them. See, Blount is slower to the hole, is bigger and therefore needs a bit more room to operate. He's great when he has a truck sized gap to plow through, because he needs a head of steam... he usually does his damage in the second line of defense, trampling LB's or jumping over safties. I've seen him cold stopped at the line of scrimmage way too much... and that was the problem with the BSU game. At the line, he would get stuffed.
You go back to that game, and if you knew then what we know now, that LMJ is this awesome back that hits the hole so fast and is so creative behind his blockers... you would definately have used him 20 times against BSU... not the two carries he did have. Blount's play develop a little slower, and with a line that was very green on the first game of the season, it showed.
Well, that line has gotten really good in the last month and a half. I would like to see how Blount plays, and hopefully he will play this weekend.

V... Plus, The Second Quarter of SC

I don't watch a lot of TV. I just don't. First of all, I don't have cable. That limits my choices right there. Secondly, I really like to read.
But when I do watch, I really get into a few shows. I mean, I get into it deep. I loved 24. Then it jumped the shark this year, and I doubt I'll be back for next year. I still love Lost. I look forward to that show returning this winter. That is probably my favorite show of all time, and the only show that I would even consider buying the whole thing on DVD. And I totally loved Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles. Unfortunately, that was canceled... basically, network executives are idiots. That show rocked.
You know, but other than Lost, I don't have another go-to show that I have to see. They ended Prison Break, that was another one I watched all the time. Nothing else out there for me to set the DVR to and make sure I watch.
Until today...
I watched the premiere of V. That was awesome. Everything that I want to see... the sci-fi, the dystopian POV, good acting, good editing, a cliffhanger to end the episode, questions at the end that basically said you have to tune in next time to check this out. All that. About half way through, I was thinking "OK. So far, so good. But do I want to tune in again?" Then in the last ten minutes they got me hooked.
The part about the resistance, and one of 'em is a V was the hook for me. I don't remember that part during the original show from the 80's. I also like the social commentary. That can be a really good angle. I really look forward to the next episode, this should be a good one.
--
Anyways.... back to the game...
The end of the first quarter saw a 7-3 lead for the Ducks. What is so important about this is that the team that leads by more than four points after the first quarter wins 80% of the time. Which is an amazing stat. So, USC didn't choke us out in the first stanza, we're sitting on a lead... and that is something that you do not want an underdog (especially a home dog) do.
We open with the ball, second down in the drive, 14 yards to a first. Barkley looks pissed. LMJ gets two on an option pitch.
Third and long. A pure passing down. Masoli hits Maehl for a first, but he coughs up the ball at about the 40. Ouch. I was worried that this sort of thing would happen. Maehl always carries the ball soft, and this was no exception.
Barkley had new life. They come out power, but pass for a first to Williams. Single coverage. Now they have first down just outside of the 20.
First down... gain of 6. Second down started out with a false start. Credit that to the Autzen crowd.
Second down and long... a short pass that was totally smothered.
Third and long... a quick slant for the first to the five. Williams made a great catch right in front of the DB. USC hits play on that damn song.
First and goal from the five... a run that is stuffed right away.
(let me just say right now... I love that camera angle that seems to float right behind the line of scrimmage. Man, that is awesome. That feels like you are right in the game. I know that that camera is on a remote, that it's really small and on wires. But the angle and perspective it gives you is just amazing. Especially on a replay, and you can see all the defense in the exact same way a QB does. I love that. As a fan, this is an even more awesome innovation than instant the first down line.)
Second down and goal... a run up the gut that was totally smothered.
Third down and the quick out to the front corner of the endzone. Touchdown, USC.
I totally felt at this point, this is where it all comes apart. USC takes advantage of the turnover, and then we give them a good look at it, and they capitalize.
USC 10
Oregon 10
The kickoff was short, a bloop kick. An up-man, Embry, fielded it and returns it to the 45. That was a case of USC trying to get us napping, and it didn't work.
First down... a quick roll-out to LT. He gets the first. This is gonna be the theme of this drive. First down. I don't think we had a second down the whole drive.
First down.. and LMJ has an awesome run where he squirts out behind his linemen, and runs all the way down to the 12. Coach Carroll will see this run in his nightmares for a long time. 32 yards for a run that should have been smothered.
First down... another run for the first. Inside the five. That kid is amazing. First down at the two, and LMJ takes a breather and in comes Andre Crenshaw to stick it in from point-blank range.
But it takes him three stabs at it. You wanna know why LaGarrette Blount would do well when he returns? Well, he would be perfect in situations like this, where you need one tough yard. LGB will take carries away from Crenshaw, and from Alston... not from LMJ. Blount would have stuck it in on the first attempt... but instead, Crenshaw gets it in on third. Three first downs in quick, decisive plays. Then three runs at the one by the third string RB.
Oregon 17
USC 10
And this game was really shaping up as quite the battle. It looked at this point that the game would be back and forth, back and forth, till the bitter end... that is what I expected.
The kickoff was fielded at the 5, stopped at the 28 by Boyett. A very good tackle.
First down... eight yards to McKnight.
Second down... McKnight has a decent run into Oregon territory for a first.
First down... Barkley had his TE wide freakin' open across the middle. Next year, Barkley makes this play and it's six for SC.
Second down... Barkley makes a long, across the field throw that was very hard for the first. Wow. That kid is good. The way he looked off all his receivers before going for his third option.
First down... a short run, three yards. We stuffed it.
Second down was at the line... a nice pass that well defended, but even if he did haul it in, there was a penalty on SC for false start.
Second down and long at the 40. And the refs take forever to get the play started. What is up with that? Then they review the play? The whole thing took forever. Just stupid. When they finally got it all figured out, they did a toss to McKnight... and the tackle by Boyett was money. They loss yards.
Third and 14... a screen that gets a yard short. They go for it.
Fourth and one... Power I for the first, McKnight on the run. You knew they could get one yard.
So, first down from the 25, and it is stuffed. USC could not run at will today. Not like Oregon could. Oregon was getting ten yards a pop it seemed, but USC would get two or three.
Second down and 6. Pete looks pissed. He calls a TO. After we get started, USC has a play fake that is stopped by a false start. After a timeout, you get a false start? Odd.
Second down and 11... what an awesome throw to Williams. Single coverage, perfect position. First down from the 10... McKnight runs to the five, second and goal to go. But McKnight limps off.
Second down... a very nice pass to Williams who makes a nice move to literally stick it in the endzone for the touchdown.
USC 17
Oregon 17
Like I said, it's looking like a barn burner, a game for the ages where two heavyweights slug it out and go back and forth. This is the closest that USC will get all game.
The kickoff goes to the endzone for a touchback. First down at the 20.
First down for the Ducks, and they have it at the right hash. Masoli drops back, then quickly pulls it down runs for almost 50 yards. This is another run that will give Carroll nightmares, because it was so money.
First down from the 30... two yards by LMJ.
Second down... Masoli keeps it on a planned option, splitting the seam goes down for the first inside the 20.
First down... Masoli guns it right into the endzone to Jamere Holland. Just pure smoke on that ball, but Holland was wide open and he hauls it in for six.
Four plays. Wow.
Oregon 24
USC 17
This concludes the scoring for the half. But the thing is, this was the final score when Oregon won two years ago, 24-17.
On the kickoff, it was totally smothered at the 22. First down was a sack. Barkley was just crushed. By this time, the D is really starting to feed off the O. Eddie Pleasant for the sackage.
Second down... a run by McKnight that got back to around the 20. I do think that Oregon really wanted the ball back, they really wanted to stick it back in the endzone.
Third down... a delayed draw that got stuffed. Immediately, Kelly calls time and he wants his O out there. I think a score here, and Oregon having the ball to start the second half would have pretty much put this game away.
The punt was money. Oregon set up from the 30 with 40 clicks left. It was reasonable to think they could go the distance. First down... scrambles away from pressure, tossing the ball out of bounds.
The announcers talked about how injuries were piling up for SC. Boo Hoo.
Second down... Masoli threw it behind his reciever. I don't know, maybe they should have run it. You stop the clock with a first down.
Third down... a run got about nine yards, so SC calls time. Oregon will punt for the only time in this game. I think they should have ran the zone read, it was so effective earlier. Instead, they passed, they didn't burn much clock, and USC plays the only song they know, it is boring and it's slow. They come after the ball, but we got the kick off, and it was a pretty good punt. 54 yards. Nice. That means SC will burn clock and take this into the locker.
Third Quarter is next time. This is when we went nuts and put this game away.
We're really good at Third Quarter this year. Know what that means? Adjustment. We adjust at the half, and come out firing. We did that against UW. But to do it against SC was stellar.

Blogging the USC Game... First Quarter.

I thought I would watch the USC game... again... I've watched it three times already, and I was gonna drop it in the computer DVD player, and watch it again and make comments.
So... I have it and here we go.
First of all, that opener was horrible. I mean, yea, it's Halloween and all. We get that. But the production value on that was high school level, not first team network. And that is what this is, this is Kirk Herbstriet and Brent Mussberger. This is the A team. I mean, it was like they slapped that opener together at the last minute.
So, after that it was a quick intro to the two teams, about how USC has not won in Oregon in four years, a quick look at Masoli and James, a reference to Boise State, then a toss to the studio in NYC and a run down of the top 25 on the day.
Back to Autzen, a quick chat with Coach Kelly, then it's game on.
USC gets the ball to start. They, like so many teams, run off a script for the first couple of dozen plays. And that opening drive was pretty pitch perfect. It helped they start at that 35. The first two plays were stopped cold, then they had a third and four. How awesome would it have been to hold USC to three and out here? But this is a good team, they worked the script and got a good first down. USC even jumped, the first Autzen Effect coming out... but they still got the first off a well timed pass.
The crowd got real quiet. Then USC breaks into their song. You won't hear it that much today, but usually they play it a hundred times.
They got another first, and it looked like Oregon was not gonna be able to match up physically here. They seemed to have their way at this point. I was a bit worried that USC was gonna do this all day.
Another first got it inside 30. I started to see chinks in the armor as right away, on second down, they had another penalty for false start, then burned a time out to talk it over. After the TO, they got eight yards, then went right up the middle with McKnight and it was first and goal to go. This was the first decisive moment of the game.
Goal to go from the 10... I would have called a play-action, corner or fade route pass. But SC comes out in the jumbo set, power-I formation and tried to pound it. They got two yards. Great gang tackling here.
Second and goal to go from the 8... Williams motions right, out of the single back set, and it's a quick hitch to him that goes backwards, by three yards. It was like Oregon knew it was coming and they were all over it. Eddie Pleasant was the lead tackler.
Third and goal to go from the 11... Autzen was nuts right here. Only the second third down in what has been a mercurial drive for USC. They go slant and go, corner of the endzone. But Tal Jackson was all over it. Epic play. It was clear that Oregon was gonna be hard to throw on. I was surprised they went Jackson's side. I mean, Javes Lewis was on the other corner, and he is less of the cover-corner that Jackson is.
But I was out of my skin at this point. Because a good team needs to put down the upstart early. You let a lesser team stick around, and that is dangerous. And, really, on paper... USC is much better than Oregon. I have said this before, that there are All-Americans backing up All-Americans.
Anyways... we hold them to a figgie and I was thinking that was a good test. The emotions are running high, and to be able to hold them was a good omen.
USC 3
Oregon 0
Also, this was the only time USC would lead. They would tie later, but never lead again.
So, with almost half the quarter done, they kicked off. We all know what happened next.
Kenjon Barner took it 77 yards, down to the fifteen. He almost scored. I was jumping all over the house, I was certain we were gonna stick it in. But maybe they were too nervous, or maybe they were pressing too hard.
First down... Masoli goes read option, and got nothing. He actually totally misread the play, and ran right into the tackler.
Second down... Masoli gunned a pass right into and out of the hands of DJ Davis. That ball was all smoke, and Davis never had a chance to haul it in.
Third down... Masoli lead Davis a bit to far on the out pattern. Davis was open, and I think that if Masoli just settles down, this is a TD. Instead, we have a figgie to tie it.
Oregon 3
USC 3
At least we put points on the board, and at least it wasn't a total loss... but you have to feel that we wasted a good opportunity. I was wondering if this would be the difference on the day, if this series would come back to haunt us. I mean, would trips to the redzone be hard to come by?
As it turned out, no... they would not. We would be down there again. Over and over and over again. But you could not see that coming this early in the ball game.
We kick off. And I was worried, because we gave a lot of kickoff yards early in the season, and I had a feeling that special teams were gonna be the difference in this game. We saw what Barner could do. But how would USC respond? Would they have a good return? Would we be giving USC a short field today? A short field for USC would be a disaster. Field position was gonna be huge all day.
So, what happened? A shortish kick, taken at the 10. But the USC returner went more sideways than not, but still got it out to the 30. Not what I want, but this could have gone to the 50, but the pursuit, and team speed, was awesome.
Boyett had a great play on first down. He would have a great game, and would make plays all day. All he does is make plays. Boyett is a better safety than Ward... and is probably a better Free Safety than a Strong. But, still, he plays the pass very well.
USC went three and out here. USC was really missing their tight end, McCoy. He was really needed. But on third, the throw was forced into triple coverage and it was not pretty. It was lame to see Barkley beg for PI. Come on.
Punt. Oregon ball at the 22. First down was LMJ for eight. He would have carries like that all day. When you can tote the rock for eight yards a pop, you get a lot of first downs and you win a lot of games. That play was a preview of what we would do all day. What was bad was that the snap almost sailed over Masoli... who is not exactly tall... and there were other times when he had to climb the ladder to get the ball.
The Ducks really moved the ball efficiently starting on this series... boom boom boom. Six here, nine there, and before you know it... the zone-read option was rocking and rolling and Oregon was inside Trojan territory after a third and one.
It's hard to watch this game and type at the same time... I need to stop it alot and make comments. The O line was so good here, and they were starting to push around USC.
Now, the first big play of this series was a scramble by Masoli, and he does a jump shove pass thing that got the first. Wow. That was awesome. And Paulson caught it. He has good hands, and we're gonna be alright when Dickson leaves for the NFL. Paulson is a big guy, blocks well, but has soft hands.
The very next play, was a quick hitter to a wide open WR who USC didn't bother to cover because they were cheating on the run. DJ Davis to the 15. Just plain bad coverage. We made them pay.
This was the second trip to the 15. On first we went to Barner. Two yards and that was all
Second down... A new wrinkle to the option read, where Masoli turns all the way around. This was a broken play, a TD was called back because a lineman got downfield.
Second down, again... zone-read keeper gets half the yardage back. Big Third coming up. If we get stuffed here, and we make trips to the Red Zone and don't come away with TD's... I was thinking it was gonna be a long night. I mean, that was OSU's problem, not converting when they had a good look at the endzone.
Third down... flare pass to James for the first. Very nice pass, caught in stride and he had a blocker and he got the first. We didn't need it all right here, just a first to keep the drive going and get that much needed six.
First down... Masoli on the keeper, and he scores. That was too easy. He made the USC 'D' look like WSU. The left guard also flattened his man, I mean just drove him into the carpet. That allowed Jeremiah a huge lane to walk through.
Oregon 10
USC 3
The next kickoff was smothered at the 28, after a short kick (I think that we wanted short kicks, so that we could get there and cover it and try to get a fumble. But, I would rather we kick it out of the endzone and have them set up at the 20 each time). This was the start of a string of awesome covers on kickoffs. All day, USC never had the short field that would have been devastating to the Ducks. The guy who got there and made the tackle? #43, Bryson Littlejohn. I love that name.
This series was not very good for USC... they had a thrid down and 13. The pass to the TE was not very good. The USC TE was wide open, and if he catches this ball, he could score, he had a step on the LB. But it went into and out of his hands. Another punt for USC.
These little miscues early, they killed USC.
The punt return was... wierd. Oregon called a TO as the ball was in the air? Why call a TO right there? Were they a guy short? I have to think that. The re-kick saw a shortish punt get bounced to the 27.
With :45 left in the quarter, first down saw a false start, then we saw a one yard zone-read
and that meant that Oregon was looking at second and 14 as they just walked off the field to let the clock run down and switch sides.
And I will stop there because I don't want to do the whole half. Just this quarter was enough. This takes a long time...

Oregon Crushes USC

I did not blog that much this week. For a couple of reasons. First of all, I've been reading Atlas Shrugged. Been up late reading, not blogging. I would often fall asleep reading, then head to bed. But I was not blogging.
Secondly, I was really scared about this game. I have a tremendous amount of respect for USC. They are the premiere program in the PacTen. Winning seven straight titles will do that. They have all-Americans backing up all-Americans. They send more players to the NFL than any other program. I respect them, they are too good.
Here are a few USC facts... we know about their domination in conference. But since Carroll has come along, they have not lost by more than 11, that was his first year. Since then, he has not lost by more than 7. That happened twice. We did that two years ago, OSU did it last year. They are in every game, they have a chance at winning every game they have played. Often, they come down to the last minute. Like at UW, it was a last second figgie.
Today, they lost by almost 30.
Let that sink in for a moment. An Oregon team missing it's best RB, it's best defenders, and a bunch of freshman and sophomores out there (Oregon only has 7 seniors on the two deep, both sides. That's 44 players, seven seniors.) and they are thumping SC.
This game was not even close. At about the halfway mark of the 3rd, it was clear that USC could not stop the run, that Oregon could do whatever they wanted to do.
I am just gobsmacked by how good Oregon is playing right now. Just breathless. I am trying to say how amazed I am, and I do not have the words. I am blown away.
I thought the game would be tight, and I hoped that we could be in there at the end, and that the home crowd could win it for us late. I really did not see this coming at all. As good as we were against Cal, and we were, we were so much better today. All aspects of the Offense were clicking... including the receivers, who had the best game of the season as a group.
I mean, sure the D took a hit in terms of statistics... you knew that USC were gonna get yards, and were gonna score. But all that considered, and that one score was off a fumble and a short field, the D was lights out all night. In the second half, they were amazing.
What I think is that this might be the most satisfying victory as a Duck fan. EVER. I mean, thumping OSU last year to dork them out of the Rose Bowl was sweet, especially the way we did it... but this game, the implications were huge, and USC came with the A game. The whole nation was literally watching (and I mean that literally... who was watching the Notre Dame v. Wazzu game? I mean, not even Fighting Irish fans could watch that... on a halloween night. Ugg. Worst game of the year, and it's on national TV.) and Oregon just made a statement.... huge statement. They did it against the best team in the conference, against all odds and everyone picking against us, and they did it with flair and class. It was a great show.
Yea, it was huge. It was right up there with two years ago when we beat them at Autzen, and when we beat ASU a couple of weeks later... then lost Dixon and then lost two more games... so, I'm gonna try to not get too amped and realize that you need to take it one game at a time and not get in front of yourself, because if you do, then you go out and lay an egg at Stanford.
But it was a massive win, and by all right puts us on track for the Rose Bowl. If Oregon plays this well every game, and I believe they can, then we will be in the Rose Bowl, and we will win that game and we will finish the year as the second best team in the nation...
I still do not see how we play into the National Championship Game. That Boise loss hurts us too much for that.
How about the Heisman? I have to think you put Masoli's name in that hat because of the game he had tonight. He's in the conversation.
What else.... well, I was home watching the game on TV. I had a radio on the porch, so I wouldn't miss any play call at all. I would run to the door for trick-or-treaters, I was so nervous and anxious and high on energy. I had a couple of dads who said it was the best house, because the game was on. How nervous was I? I would keep a list of what tricker-or-treaters were wearing because I was so nervous and needed to keep my hands moving... plus, I wanted to prove to my wifey that I was manning the door and not ignoring the kiddies.
Great game... I'm tired... need to go now.

USC on Tap

Well... I haven't posted in a while because the youngest has The Pox. Really Bad. I think it's worse for her than it was for the boy. My wife said that the school nurse said the longer you are exposed to The Pox, the worst it is. I mean, for realsies here. She has Pox on top of Pox, and her back looks like total polka dots. Ouch. She had a rough night. Woke up a few times needing cream. Right now, I seem to think she's out of the worst of it, but at least three days away from being back to school. So, she's chillin' on the couch right now... which is all I want her to do.
--
Man... I hate to say it, but I am so geeked up about USC coming to Eugene this weekend. This is gonna be a good game. Oregon's Offense is playing as well right now as it did at the end of the season last year.... when we rolled up Arizona then OS, then rocked the Holiday Bowl.
The only thing that bothers me is that the Ducks have started so slow the last two games. We were shut out in the first stanza, and by half we were out gained by the Huskies. Sure, we poured it on in the third, but I worry about a slow start against USC. You have to go out and play four quarters against them.
What else we gotta do? Gotta play clean, error free football. You do not turn it over to USC, give them a short field and a good look at the endzone, and expect to come out with a win. They will make you pay for every error.
On the converse, you have to take advantage of Barkley. Here's a guy who is a true freshman, who has a tendancy to press it and to throw picks... but at the same time, this fearlessness means he will toss TD's and win games. For Oregon, you have to hope the same true freshman who almost gave it away against Notre Dame and OS, is the same one who shows up on saturday.
You know, I think of this game... and this is the toughest team that USC has played all year. Clearly, the Ohio State University and Notre Dame are not that great. OS was a tough out. Also, this is the toughest place USC has ever played. You telling me that a true freshman (no matter how good he is, and he is good) is coming into Autzen and he's gonna shut us down? I don't see it. He is amazing, and in two years he will be the best player in college football, but right now, there is time for him to get rattled and have a tough game.
Things are lining up for us. I like that. But I will not overlook USC, especially on D. But the thing that the OS game showed was that they have trouble covering the TE. OS has a good TE, but Oregon has a great TE... Dickson will make USC pay.
So... Oregon also needs to win the turnover battle. We also need to have great special teams play. Again, no muffed punts, which means short looks at the endzone for USC. We need to play every kick like it's the national championships. And if we can return one or two, then look out. And, again, OS had great success on returns.
I have faith in the Offense. I believe they can score on USC. I also think that the D is good enough to slow down USC. I think we can win this one. I do. I think it will be close. I think it might go to OT. I think if it does, it will be the game of the decade.
Oregon can win. I won't say we will win, but I will say we can win. I see a squeaker.
But, then again, I said that with Cal and UW... and we totally blew them out of the water. So, maybe we do that here. Maybe we totally wax USC and it's not even close. That would be awesome... but I don't count on it.
All I know is that this is gonna be a great game.

Coach Kelly

Here is a quick presser that Coach Kelly gave the other day:

Oregon Ducks coach Chip Kelly

My favorite quote,

"...24th, 25th, 26th... I don't know what number it is. I know we play on Saturday..."

Love that.

Oregon v. Washington

That was a satisfying win, I have to tell you.
I thought that coming into this game, it would be a tight one. I really thought that Jake Locker was the best QB we would face all year, and I thought that he would get his yards, and I was not sure how Masoli would play, if he played.
That was all put to rest with an explosion of points in the third quarter. But even before that, the Ducks did a great job of answering every single time. Every time we needed something big, they came up huge.
The Offense looked indecisive and stagnant in the first quarter of the game. The Ducks and Huskies traded short drives and punts. The Dawgs got a decent drive that stalled with a very long Figgie, and they got on the board first. Then the Ducks needed to answer. That drive, they ran at will, only to stall when Jeremiah was sacked on a 15 yard loss. It looked like the Huskies were getting in the backfield way too much, and Jeremiah couldn't scramble out of it. So, the Ducks punted, and the Dawgs had five plays and a punt...
... Which was blocked. That was the first answer on the day. That block was beautiful, and I would like to see us do that more often, get after punts. I know that you have a better chance of setting up a return and getting a touchdown that way, but I like how Virginia Tech (my adopted team on the east coast) gets after punts, and how they score so much off blocks. Well, the Ducks did that today. The placing of the block was off, it was just inside the 40, but I think it was situational in that the Ducks overloaded one side, and there was no one to block the one extra guy who just got after it. Touchdown Oregon, and we're on the board and we never looked back. The two point conversion was nice. Need every point you can...
So, UW next drive was pretty efficient, going all the way down the field and getting goal to go inside the five. An int., two short runs and then it was fourth and goal. That play was another int., and you had to know that if the the Dawgs couldn't get it done here, at that point in the game, they were never gonna get it done at all.
The next drive was the perfect answer: 80 yards, and Masoli on the keeper. That drive was so nice, because there was one point where we were 2nd and a bus ticket, something like 32 yards to the first... and we got it. Nice play calling, nice execution. When the Huskies gave up that third down play for 32 yards, and we had a close look at it... you know we were gonna score. Ducks were up 15-3.
That figgie to end the half was weak. But they got it, and it was 15-6 at the half.
In the second half, the Huskies went three and out. The Ducks? We went three and six... three plays, touchdown. Another way-too-easy walk into the end zone for Masoli.
this started the barrage of points.
The next drive for UW got yards, but it ended with an int. at the two yard line.
The Ducks then went 98 yards, in what I thought was a very nice, very methodical drive that was capped by the TD pass to DJ Davis... the first TD pass to a wide reciever by Masoli all year. Which is wierd, because this is the sixth game.
(A quick side note... the Beavers are giving USC all they can handle. Right now, it's less about two minutes in that game, and it is 36-42... USC has a third and two, just called a TO. The Beavs are in position to win this one... we'll see)
So, back to the Duck-Husky game... The next drive by UW went 2 plays, a fumble, then another Duck score. This time, it was LMJ for the six. Ducks by 30.
Game. Over.
There would be more scores, but it wasn't long before Costa was in to grind down the clock and salt this one away.
Final score: Ducks 43, Evil Empire 19
(I used to call them that in the 90's... but really, they ain't any longer. The Huskies are better, but even then, it was the same result. This game was all Oregon... oh, and USC did beat OSU by six. Hopefully, this is a USC team that is exposed now. Do the Ducks get good film to look at? Do they have some things they can exploit going into the SC game? I hope so.)
The thing was, it was not as close as the final score showed. That punt that was muffed led to a short field touchdown. There were way too many errors by the Ducks on both sides of the ball. We cannot do that against SC next week. We can win next week, I can feel it, but they need to have a perfect game. They need to play like they did this week, and they need to have no stupid plays... no dropped punts, no shanked punts from us, great special teams, all that. I mean, the Ducks need to put together a complete game to beat USC.
USC is not as good this year as they were last year... and they are not as good as they will be next year. This is when you need to get USC, when they are at least two years away from being the dominant force in college football. This is a team that can be beaten, and they are in Autzen this year. We can beat them. I have faith in this team, they are showing that they are something special.
But it's gonna be close, it's gonna be a tight game. The Trojans rarely lose, and they have not lost by more than a touchdown since Carroll took over there. In fact, two years ago, we beat them 24-17, and that was their worse loss in the Pete Carroll era.
We can repeat that... I am a total believer in this team...
In Chip We Trust.

KENNY WHEATON IS GONNA SCORE!!!!!

If you are a true Duck fan, you know what I'm talking about.
I'm talkin'... The Pick.
The most important play in the history of Oregon Football. The most important, the most unlikely, and the most memorable. There is a video of this play, and I think I've linked to it before, but here it is again:


I swear to you, I could watch it everyday. And, in the last week, I have watched it everyday. I do not get tired of it at all. Not only do I not get tired of it, I still get chills when I think of it, when I see. It brings back great memories...
I think of where I was when this went down. It's a bittersweet moment, but I remember it like was yesterday, not fifteen years ago.
At the time, I worked for the Department of Youth Services of Lane County in Eugene. I had the day off, but I wasn't planning on going to the game. I thought, "well, if someone calls and has an extra ticket, I'll go..." But that game was sold out all week, mostly because UW fans were snatching up all the extra tickets out there. So, I thought I would stay home and watch it on TV.
That morning, I got a call that one of my co-workers on the Detention Unit had tickets (he was a UW fan, by the way) and they needed coverage. I went in for the dayshift, from 0600 - 1400.
The thing is, the stadium is right across the street from the Unit, so I could hear the public address announcer make the calls, and I could hear the crowd road every now and then.
We had the game on the TV in the dayroom, and when we had free time, we were watching it. I saw the two TD's Oregon had in the first half, and I remember thinking "man, we can win this game..."
At two that afternoon, I got off. It was right at halftime, so I booked it across campus to get home and watch the game. I would go through the park, along the bike path, through campus to get home. I was riding a tandem cruiser, so I made it just in time.
I missed maybe the first two or three minutes of the second half, but I saw the most important parts.
It was just me at home, my roommates were out... I don't know where. This was also "pre wife" days, in that I had not met my smokin' hot wife yet... she was dating another dude... fortunately, she came around and we met the next year.
So, I was at home all alone watching the game on what I now consider a tini-tiny TV, I think it might have been black and white. I don't know, I only know that as the years go on and that day gets farther in the rear-view, the TV gets smaller and smaller... especially when I consider the 48 inch monster of digital flat-screen goodness I now watch games on.
Anyways... this game had two important parts... there was The Pick.... but before that was The Drive.
The Drive was when the Ducks had to go 98 yards to even take the lead. The thing is, I remember very little about that part of the game... because The Pick totally overshadowed it, but it was a very important drive. Without it, there is no Pick, and we don't win.
I do remember watching UW take the ball and methodically march down the field after The Drive. The were just unstoppable. Then they had a first inside the ten, and I was thinking that this was gonna end like all the other UW games, they score late and we go home crying.
I was hoping for a field goal... but I knew it was four down territory, and I knew they were gonna score. I was so angry, because for a moment I really believed we could win this one... but I knew the dreams were gonna be crushed, it was a matter of time.

Huard's gonna go back to throw the ball. Sets up, looks...

Well, the rest is history. I don't remember the exact moment when I totally and completely lost all composure, but it was about a nano second after the interception. I went from dejected, thinking that we were gonna lose again, to total sports euphoria.
I jumped up from the couch, and started leaping around the room.
Then, I ran out into the street, kneeling right there in the middle of University Street, betweeen 18th and 19th... on my knees, crying like a freakin' baby... arms upstretched to the heavens, and just totally out of control... total moment of rapturous joy. I have never been so happy as a sports fan, as a duck fan, in my life.
I doubt I will ever feel that way again. Not that I don't get excited, I do. When Oregon was playing USC a couple of years ago, during the Dennis Dixon years, I was down in the patio having a fire with the kids, and I was listening to the game on the radio... and when the Ducks intercepted the ball against Mark Sanchez (and, for the record, the guy was Matt Harper, and he was wearing number 20... just like Kenny Wheaton) I was flying my freak flag... dancing around the fire pit, hoisting a shovel over my head... my son was wondering what was wrong with me... my wife having to explain that the Ducks probably did something good. And she was right...
But that moment when Kenny Wheaton went pick six on Damon Huard, that has never been recreated. And I doubt it ever will. I'm older now, I don't get as excited as I did back then.
But, even beyond that, the circumstances were just amazing. The extreme shift of emotion, from total dejection to extasy. I almost peed my pants with happiness when it happened, I kid you not.
So... after the pick, my first thought was to jump on my bike and ride down to Autzen to try to celebrate with the guys. I jumped on the cruiser, and did my best Time Trial to the stadium. Along the way, I passed numerous Husky fans. They were totally dejected, and I would smile and say "thanks for coming!" Yea... I was sorta being a jerk. I admit it.
When I got to Autzen, I looked for someone I knew. I saw Aaron, and I started to celebrate with him. Then I saw Dusty. I just wanted to be with Duck fans. Riding back home with the fans, with Aaron and Dusty was awesome... I will never forget it.
I do regret that I didn't go to the game. Oh well... can't change that. It's still a great moment. I still have fond memories. I still get chills when I think of it.
What do I remember the most? Probably running into the street and dropping to my knees, crying and shouting to the sky.
That was a moment of pure joy. As a fan, I will never have another moment like that again in my life.
I feel fortunate to have had that one. I feel blessed.

Matt Bayley... this is for you...

Like I said, I was gonna respond a bit more in depth regarding the whole Husky-Duck thing. So here we go.
First of all, let me say that I am in the process of painting my bedroom. The main color is a shade of tannish-brown, with a hint of red in it. The accent color is, well, a light shade of purple. There I said it. When I close my eyes at night, one of the last colors I often see is purple. How it pains me to say this.
So, I'm not a total Husky Hater. In fact, I will stipulate that my favorite NBA player of all time... all time... is Brandon Roy. A Husky who absolutely killed the Ducks during his Purple Reign of Terror in the Northwest.
But I digress. This post is about the Husky-Duck Football rivalry. I stated that the Ducks are 10-4 against the Huskies, with winning the last five, and the last three by more than three touchdown. There is no doubt that in recent years, the Ducks have dominated the Huskies, and the Willingham years were particularly painful... because the Huskies just didn't even try. There is no doubt, not even you can deny it, that the Huskies were a miserable football team for the last five years, a combined 18-54 under Gilby and Tyrone.
Yes, the Huskies have a tremendous record against the Ducks. They completely dominated them for the 60's... the 70's... the 80's.... half of the 90's... But that is ancient history, man. Ancient History.
If you are a high school football player, a prospective recruit, you know that might as well be the 1880's it was so long ago.
And, yes, before I progress any further, I will stipulate that the Huskies have 2.5 National Championships. Which is exactly 2.5 more than the Ducks, Beavers, and Cougs combined. No one doubts that in the ancient days, the Huskies ruled.
But in the era since the scholarship limitations, cable TV and ESPN, things have been different. That is why I point to our record against the Huskies since 1994, when we are 10-4... 1994 is when the Duck Football program begins, in my book.
So, in the last 14 years, that is all I care about. It is all that the recruits care about, if that. They might care about the last five years, since that is all they can remember. Do you really think that there is a recruit who knows who Sonny Sixkiller is? Maybe Warren Moon. Maybe Don James. But I doubt it. History begins when they were born, man... and most recruits care about the here and now.
Why do I bring it up? Because it's true. Also, it does make the sake of my argument stronger. I can't deny the historical success of the Washington program. Why would I bother? The Huskies are a historically great program, like Notre Dame and Nebraska and Penn State. We, alumni, know that. Why would I argue that?
Recent history is what matters. What have you done for me lately? What has your program done lately? The trajectory of the Ducks since 1994 has been steadily upward, with two outright championships of the PacTen and a shared title... from 2000, when the Ducks, Huskies and Beavers all shared the PacTen title.
Yes, the Huskies have been to more Rose Bowls. The Rose Bowl as representative of the PacTen championship. In that regard, I consider the Fiesta Bowl victory over #3 Colorado on par with the Rose Bowl appearance in 1995 v. Penn State. 2001 was an outright championship season, and we were denied the Rose Bowl because that was the first year of the BCS National Championship to be held in the Rose Bowl. Nebraska lost miserably to Miami, and Oregon should have been in that game. We were robbed, and you know it.
Since 2001, it has been all USC. USC has 8 straight outright or shared PacTen titles. But Oregon has been right there, competing about as well as anyone can in the Pete Carroll led USC era of PacTen football. Oregon has been to 7 bowl games in that period. Oregon was 10-1 in 2005, and robbed of a BCS bowl by Notre Dame and Ohio State. In 2007 Oregon was on the brink of a BCS National Championship Game before Dennis Dixon went down.
Oregon has been one of the most exciting football programs in the nation the last ten years.
Washington, on the other hand, has been a miserable failure. I am being nice here, and you know it.
You cannot deny that Oregon is the superior program in the last ten years. It is not even close. Washington is resurgent, yes, and the day will come when they beat the Ducks. That may be this weekend, I don't know. I do know that they are better with Sark, that they are competitive once again, something you cannot say in the last seven years. Washington has the opportunity to move to the front of the PacTen.
It will not be this year. They are a work in progress, and the fact that they have done what they have done... and it is a lot, and I will give them credit for beating USC (but you get no credit for close losses to LSU and ND. Man's Game, bro. You need to win, not come close. It ain't Pop Warner, and you don't get a juice box at Shakeys Pizza because you were close.) That was tremendous. But the losses so far have been telling. Husky football has been revealed to be wanting of talent, especially in the secondary.
Look, I think it will be either a close game or an Oregon blowout. This is not a gimmie this year. Not like in the last five years, when it was an automatic W from day one. We'll have to play 4 quarters for a change. This is good for the rivalry.
I don't like it. I liked having Ty Willingham around, he was a great coach from a Duck perspective. I'm gonna miss him.
I am not a bandwagoneer, either. Don't accuse me of that. I sat through a lot of losses at Autzen. I was in the Band at Oregon... I go way back as a Duck fan.
If I didn't think to come talk smack with you, it's because that is not what I do. I prefer to keep it gentlemanly. But if the Ducks do win, I will make a note of it Saturday Night.
And if they lose, then I will be here to take my lumps.
But I feel good about this game. I see a win here, I see Oregon moving into the Top Ten, I see an epic showdown on Halloween Night v. USC. I see an Oregon team that basically has more talent on both sides of the ball. I see a win. Not an easy win, but a win.
That's not talking smack, that's not bandwagoneering, that's not being cocky or whatever. It's straight up. We have better players, we have a better scheme, we have a good coach, we'll be prepared.
This is not Washington's year.

Finally.... Washington Week

This is gonna be a tough game for the Ducks. I think we can win this one, and if Masoli is there then I think this can be the same outcome as with Cal and WSU. I think we can win this one with Costa, but it would be closer. I think that bottom line, we have more talent where it matters and we are just a better team, one that is better coached and focused for the task at hand. By that, I mean that the Ducks will not be looking past UW to the Halloween Showdown with U$C. We'll be ready.
The Huskies played really bad against ASU. They had bad play calls, and bad execution. When you have that, you don't usually win many games. It's one thing to mismanage the clock and give the other team a chance late in a close game, it's another to totally blow the defensive set when you all you needed to do was keep the opposition in front of you.
ASU is not a very good offensive team. They are not the Ducks. They got not one but two guys running free behind the UW secondary, and that pass to win it all with only seconds left was too easy. Terrible play call (the coach said that he had a three deep zone. Really? Needed to have a four deep zone, huh? Why did you rush anyone at all? You needed to have everything in front of you. How do you let those guys get two guys free?? Unacceptable.) Terrible execution. The DB looked clueless and like he had no idea what he needed to do in a close game with only seconds left.
Part of that is that UW still has crappy players. They have a good QB, probably the best in the PacTen, but he doesn't play D. Part of it is that UW made bad calls.
Not that I'm complaining at all. The sucktitude of the Dawgs has made me very happy in recent years, and I would like to see it continue for as long as possible.
We get UW at the right time. They are down, they know they should not have won two weeks ago, that was a fluke. They know they should have won saturday, and that they screwed up bad. I see a team that is bitter, is watching any chance they had of making a bowl game go down the drain, and they have their most bitter rival on tap. They see Oregon ascending, and they know that they have numerous issues that the Ducks can exploit.
Oregon just needs to stay focus, continue to play great D, and they can win this. My only concern about the Ducks, really, are the WR's... they have one touchdown amongst them, that flip screen to Mhael in UCLA. Other than that, the Wides have played poorly. They don't get separation, they don't get in space, they don't catch it when they do get separation and in space... ugg. I distinctly remember a play during Purdue where the Wide was so open he could have made a sack lunch, sat on the turf and ate it with a bottle of red wine, and still could have scored... but the ball clanged off his hands.
On the upside, they do a great job of blocking downfield, and that is good. Part of the reason we are running so well. I also still see no one covering Dickson, especially from UW. UW will concentrate on Dickson, that will free up an LB in the middle, and thus make a bit more space for the RB's... and that is the strength of this team, running the ball.
I see Oregon trying to run the ball 80% of the time, and I really do not think that UW can stop it. Look for UW to sell out to stop the resurgent running attack, and then free up single coverage for the struggling WR's... and if Masoli can see that and get them the ball, then it will be a laugher. Oregon will roll.
Oh... and the Special Teams need to be awesome. If we play with a short field, and get good returns, then this game will be over very early.

The Glass is Half Full

After the games today, I would say that Oregon did alright. I mean, considering we had a bye.
Not all the teams in front of us lost, in fact most won. But that would be expected.
I think that Texas looked really bad in their win, and they won very ugly. Oklahoma was right there at the end, and some questionable play calls here and there, and they could win that. As it was, Oklahoma could not run the ball at all (-22 on the day) and they still had a good look at it.
U$C beat Notre Lame. But it was close. The Trojans looked like they wanted to gag that one away. They were a bit exposed, and their lack of experience at QB really showed. It's funny, because at times they looked tentative and boring... then they could go three plays in the air and score so quickly and efficiently. Sometimes, SC is so plodding and deliberate. Part of that is that they run a true pro-style offense. But at times, I was bored silly watching them. That is a feeling I never get watching the spread under Texas Tech or Missouri or other teams.
But definately not Florida. That is a spread option offense that looked like they have never ran that offense before. I don't know what it was, but they could not get guys in space, they could not find mismatches, and when running the option, it looked so pedestrian... not like when Oregon runs it. I guess the D is really good in the SEC, but it looked like Florida was bored with itself, and wanted the challenge of going to the wire. They squeaked that one out.
On the plus side, the Ohio State University got beat by a bad Perdon't team. Virginia Tech lost to Georgia Tech (and looked bad about it in the process) so that is two teams ahead of Oregon who lost. That's about it, and at best Oregon will look to move just outside of the top ten. Maybe be in the top ten of the first BCS poll.
If everything goes right, and they handle Washington, they will be top ten when they face off against U$C.
In the PacTen, I was shocked at how well Arizona is playing. They took care of the Stanford, and the wheels have certainly come off that bus. Stanford has totally come undone in the last two weeks, going from PacTen leader, to old and busted. Gerhad only had 123 yards. Both teams forgot to bring DB's, as both QB's racked up 400 plus yards in the air. Both also had 500 plus yards of Offense. Arizona had enough in the tank at the end to score twice and put down the Cardinal. But that true freshman QB at Arizona is the freakin' real deal. His numbers (40 of 51 for 415 yards and 3 TD's) were sick.
UCLA is very bad. Cal handled them, and won a game they had to have. They looked good in the process. That was supposed to be a good defense at UCLA, but they gave up 288 yards of rushing. They were horrible.
That late game is UW v. ASU. Right now, UW is losing. But with five minutes left in this game, they have the ball and are driving. ASU has a terrible offense, and they seemed to move the ball very easily against UW. Now, they're in the redzone, looking for a score. Locker is gonna be tough for Oregon to shut down next week. Fortunately, UW cannot run the ball, so Oregon can load up on DB's and play to stop the pass first. I think we can run on them. They gave up six yards per rush to ASU. We have better RB's, no doubt.
I still think that, looking at it, this comes down to defense. If we can contain Locker then we can win this. This will either be a close one won by the D, or we blow them out and get ready for the biggest dang game of the year... US freakin' C.
UW just tied it up. A figgie with under four to go here. There is enough time, and UW has just about as bad a D as you can hope for, and ASU can score to win this one. We'll see. OH No... they just bogged down at midfield, and punted away with over a minute left in the game... enough time for Jake to steal this one.
Well that ends that one... UW had to punt after going three and out, then ASU went one play 50 yards for paydirt with three seconds left. ASU wins. UW goes to 3-4 with Oregon coming to town next week. Where was the pass defense, UW?

Saturday Means Football

I'm watching the Texas v. Oklahoma game right now. Texas should be all over Oklahoma, now that Bradford is out. But the story of the game, so far, is the stiffling Oklahoma D. When you can only get off one yard per play, as is the case of Texas, you do not win very many games. Both D's are playing good, because the Sooner O can only get three yards a play. And that's an average of a three and out right there. So, the difference so far is two oklahoma figgies, and that might stand up seeing how it's become a defensive slugfest.

I want to see Oklahoma win because I want to see every team in front of Oregon lose. Except USC. I want them to win every game before we beat them on Halloween. Plus, I hate the Domers. Notre Lame beating USC does us no favors. But I'm not too worried about it, because Lame is, well, lame. They have eeked out each of their wins over inferior teams like Perdont and Udub. When they play a better team, like Michigan (which is not that good) they lose.

Elsewhere, we have Va Tech play Ga Tech. I want to see VT win, since their my favorite non-Oregon team. I secretly root for the Hokies, and my desire has always been to see an VT/Oregon National Championship game.

So... already, I have two teams in front of Oregon that I want to win. Not exactly backing up what I said earlier about wanting 1-12 to lose this week. But, oh well....

Looking around the horn in College Football today, we have the following:

• The Ohio State University is taking on Perdont. Early on, the Boilermakers are actually making a game of it. This would be a huge upset if Perdont can win. And it would help Oregon tremendously. First of all, Perdont sucks. They really do. IF tOSU can gag on this one, they will fall way down the rankings. Secondly, we beat Perdont (who hasn't...) and that helps the Oregon strength of schedule.
• Iowa is currently losing to Wisco. This is good. First of all, they are ahead of Oregon. Secondly, Wisco is not very good. A lose here, again, really helps Oregon. Also, couple this with a Buckeye lose, and we can really start to talk about how horrid the Big Ten is. As long as the top teams in the Big Ten are two loss teams, then they will only send one team to the BCS. That helps Oregon again. A two loss Ohio State V. Oregon in Rose Bowl? I like my odds there. Plus, a two loss USC probably gets in the BCS over a two loss Iowa. Because LA is a bigger market. Again, that helps Oregon. Two BCS teams from the PacTen is what we want, and we want one to be Oregon. The only other possibility is USC. In fact, the only way that the PacTen can get two teams in the BCS is if Oregon wins out, and then USC does after we beat them and if the BigTen continues to suck. I know, that's a lot of if's out there, but that scenario is possible.
• BS had a close win on Thursday, and I was sad about that since I want to see BS lose at least once, but that was a sufficiently ugly of a win to see BS probably drop a spot or two. We'll see.

Just watched a crazy play in the Texas game... punt by UT, Okie returner gets jacked up and fumbles, there's a scrum for the ball, UT comes up with it, he scoops it and then fumbles right at the goal line, into and out of the endzone. Is it a touchdown? A touchback? Okie ball at the one? Texas ball at the one? Still waiting for the call... The call on the field is touchback. The ruling is Texas ball at the 18, where the returner muffed the ball. That was a good call, because the guy never had control of the ball. But I always thought that if you touched the ball on the punt, just touched it, then it's a live ball and the kicking team can do what they want. Oh well.

This is the best look at the endzone Texas will have. If they come out of this with less than a touchdown, then it is a failure. Seeing how Texas cannot move the ball on this D, then we'll see.

But I don't want to live blog this game... I want to watch it.

Bye Week, etc.

The Ducks are off for the week. I hope they take the time to heal up, work out some kinks and get a good week of practice heading for Washington.
I wonder of Masoli will be back? I know that we did alright with Costa in there, and the win againstUCLA was nice. But I don't think that Costa can deliver us to Pasadena twice... if you know what I mean, and I think you do.
Masoli is the better passer, and his threat to run with the ball is better. I don't know if he has the speed now that he's nursing a sore knee, but at full strength, he is the more complete player for the Offense.
Some fans of the sport of college football worry that spread option guys like Masoli are not NFL ready. Maybe that's the deal, but I don't care. I really do not care how they do in the NFL. It's nice to see a Nick Reed scoop and score for Seattle like he did last weekend, but as far as I am concerned... all I care about is how they do at Oregon.
Yes, Joey Harrington was a bust as an NFL QB. But at Oregon he was money, and he led us to the promised land of a Pac Ten championship and a BCS bowl win. That is why I am a huge fan still of Joey. His NFL career means nothing to me. I actually never watch NFL games, maybe I watch on Sunday's if I don't have to work, but that's rare. If I have a Sunday night off, I usually defer to the kids who want to watch American Takes It In The Crotch.... er, America's Funniest Home Videos... insteade of watching the NFL. I probably watch a playoff game or two, but I don't get into it like I do college. I will go out of my way to watch the Ducks on TV, and I like to watch other college games as well. I just prefer the college game to the NFL.
--
The boy is still hecka sick these days. He has been riding the couch the last couple of days, just watching movies and resting. He has sores all over now. It looks so painful. I remember when I was his age and I had the Pox, and I remember it too well. He gets up and takes a few baths, takes a nap now and then, but mostly suffers through it all.
We got him a few movies that he's been asking to watch. Plus a book or two. We just try to keep him happy as can be, just letting him get through this.
I don't know if we make the field trip for Friday. I got the time off from work all arranged. But now, I don't know if we'll make it. Which is sad, because he totally was looking forward to this trip, and I doubt it that we'll make it.
--
So many other things on my mind... just trying to forget most of it. I mean, like the whole health care debacle right now. We know this is gonna go down, that we're gonna get some form of a health care bill that will rely on higher taxes for everyone, as well as fewer services and probably rationing. It makes me ill, becuase the fact of the matter is that there is no way that Government makes things better.
You cannot point to one program that the government runs better than the private sector, other than the military. Outside of the armed forces, what can the government do? Just make it worse for everyone else. I have said it time and again, if this health care plan that is propossed is so great then why will the senators and representatives who vote for it going to opt out? It's like the schools... the professional ruling class all send their kids to private schools. I don't care if they do that, that is their choice, but we should all have that choice if we want to.
I also have said that those agitating for this mess are always whining about the Big Insurance, the Big and Powerful companies that are making money at all our expense.
But there is nothing bigger or more powerful than the Government, and we want to put them in charge of health car decisions? It just makes me ill thinking about it.
So, I try not to think about it, but I know it's coming and I see this disaster developing in slow motion like I'm watching a movie or something.
Oh well, wahchagonnado??
--
So, I went to the library today, picked up a new book to read called The Last Undercover. This guy was a career FBI undercover agent who did jobs with the Mexican Mafia, other sundry drug dealers, international smugglers, etc. But his last assignment was the one that was the impetus for the book... going undercover to expose NAMBLA.
I don't know how he did it... I mean, other than that he's a total and devout Christian, a total family man. How do you go to your first meeting and resist the urge to kick every one else there right in the crotch? I know that would be my first impulse. But the guy's a pro, and he knew how to stay focused and stay with the mission... bringing pervs to justice.

Oregon @ UCLA

Ducks Win.
What else is there to say? I am a true believer in the D now, after that goal line stand. That was money... plus, it was bad play calling by UCLA. QB sneak on third and fourth down? What the heck? The second down play was actually a thing of beauty, becasue the RB was coming off the tackle and he had a clear line for the zone, but the speed of the Ducks shut that down, and left it about six inches short.
But, you know, mix it up... fake the dive, then give it to an RB for the end around or something. I understand on third down, you think that you had the Ducks sleeping, but then on fourth everyone in the stadium and at home knew you were sneaking it in. That made no sense.
So, by that time the Ducks seemed to just firing. That had the D motivated.
The rest of the half was horrid at times. The lone bright spot was when the Ducks took over at the one from the goal line stand and they had a draw that went 50 yards downfield. I mean, LMJ scores on that one if he doesn't outrun his blocker. As it was, if he just hits the jets and points himself at the goal line, he scores. But he tried to wait for his blocker, and by then the safety closed on him and made the play. I don't fault LMJ, it was an awesome run. But how sweet would it have been to see a 99 yard TD run... and a 100 yard kick return?
In one game?
Freaking awesome, it would have been.
Oh well, I shouldn't get greedy here. The Ducks played well enough to win, the D won it (called that) and the O was good enough to not lose it. Even the interception in the end zone was freakish. Just a great athletic play.
That brings me to my only criticism of the Ducks. The play calling when inside the one has been horrible. Three plays, two of 'em bad and one of 'em amazing. The safety at BS, the INT at UCLA, and the good result was the LMJ run at UCLA. Even that play was stopped for what was gonna be a safety... but LMJ spun out of a tackle two yards deep in his own zone, and then spun again at the goal line, and then was in the open field. That was all LMJ being LMJ and being all amazing. I still didn't like the call at all.
The INT was a bad call, period. Why throw? Why drop back and throw? If you are gonna come up throwing, do one of those quick outs to a WR and get an easy five yard gain. Not do some slow developing drop back pass setting up the screen. I didn't like that call, and it made the game way too close, and I had to sweat that game out way longer than I should have.
The thing is, that Offense at UCLA is very bad. And all the Ducks had to do was attack it and make plays, and they fell apart. How did the corners do? Not bad, it was good to see Gildon and Harris out there. I was worried that they would torch us on the corner, but they made enough plays to keep in it. I thought one of the PI's against Gildon was weak, but the other one was legit. But that's the only complaint. The good news is that the D can go into the bye week and work on technique with the corners and hopefully shore up that position, because the good lord knows that UW is the best QB we will face all year, and he will tear us apart if we don't step it up.
I still say that we need to be two scores better than UW, because that is how many the inexperience at DB will give up to UW.
But if we get Masoli back for that game, we should win it. I still see a close win against the hated Dawgs. But we should win that one, and we are the better team. We'll see...
At one point in watching the game, the Adorable Daughter called the Ducks opponent, "UCLA" as in you-kla. Which was awesome. I called 'em that for a long time, but I didn't that day.. she just did it on her own.
Nice...

UCLA coming up...

I'm on an every-other-day sort of roll lately, and I didn't want to post tonight, but since I needed to to be able to keep, I will. Does not make sense?
Mostly, what is on my mind are the Ducks as they get ready to roll into UCLA. This is a huge game. Can the Ducks do it with Costa? Can they win away from Autzen? Are the young kids in the secondary going to step up and step in for the injured seniors?
The line right now is Oregon -3.5... that means that those who makes bets for a living are saying that they see Oregon winning a close one. I think that's about right. I think that the UCLA D is a good test, but that the O is gonna suffer, and that the Oregon D is strong enough to win this one outright.
We either win a close one or we win this going away, Duck style... 40 points plus, 400 yards of offense.
I put that in there because that is what we hung onto Cal, and we can do it again. It would not surprise me. But if I was a betting man, I saw that Oregon wins a squeaker, gets to the bye-week in tact and puts together a devastating game plan for UW.
But we'll see.
--
Not much else to blog about right now. I could write all day about the current cess-pool shenanigans in Washington, but since that makes my head hurt, I'll ignore it for now. I know that they're ruining the nation, I know that, but I just can't do anything about it. I mean, my representative is doing the right thing, but the two idiots who rep us in the Senate are gonna cram this health car thing down our throats.... or at least try to. Merkley is the worst. I swear, if ever there was an example that you can be functioning retard and run for Senate, Merkley is that example. My empty beer mug next to the keyboard is smarter than him. Merkley is absolutely giddy about this cram-down, and I think he is even happier about crushing the economy with the Carbon Tax. I can't stand that guy. But what can I do? I tried calling his local office, but his people were the rudest bunch of thugs I ever came across, and I just hung up on those jackholes.
But... you know... lately, I just don't worry about it. I just try to relax and recognize that God is on this, that He's in control and that it will all work out in the end.
That's my plan A.