Cal is rolling into Autzen with a 1-2 record, a pretty solid passing game and not much else to brag about. This will be a good test of our defensive backfield and I believe Ifo and the boys will be ready for the task.
Offensively we should see another track meet, Cal gave up 37 and 44 to Portland State and Northwestern. Yikes! I look for DAT to have plenty of space to show off that world class speed. Byron Marshall and Marcus Mariota should also have NO trouble running the ball in this game.
As a side note I'm still not sold on Byron's running right now. Better against TN than he did out in VA, but he has got to make a decision and hit the hole. I really want to see Thomas Tyner get 4-5 meaningful touches with the 1st string. Hopefully light a fire under Byron. I think Byron is great, solid freshman year but I just don't think he's running at the top of his game right now.
I really don't want to hear anything about Colt. Other than we throw to him as often as we threw to Mundt last week. Colt had a rough week in VA and then out last week, then Jason Quick decided to send a tweet about Colt 'obviously' not having the flu. He's defended that by saying he is a journalist. A tweet with absolutely no fact behind it was journalism. pfft. Here's my journalism - Suck It Jason Quick. Suck it long and suck it hard!
Maybe Helfrich should try a jumbo package with Colt in the backfield and both Mundt and Brown in a double TE set. Why not? May be a good set up for 4th and short in big games. :) With all 3 being viable passing options as well. If the D loads the box we shift and spread everyone out, still have Colt in the backfield. My mind is going crazy with options in a setup like that.
Marcus will do fine in this game, the Ducks will do fine in this game. What I really want to see out of him is a steady start. Crisp from the 1st snap. He's been a tad off early in games.
We're a couple games in and Ifo, Avery, Terrance and Brian have been relatively quiet this season as far as picks are concerned. To me this means we're due!!! Due for a pick 6 or two.
Cal put up 34 points on OH ST. It will be interesting to see what we hold them to. I'd like to see 100% (or near) shut down of their run game, some solid pressure from our D line and forcing some turnovers in this game.
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Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Friday, September 13, 2013
Oregon VS ...... Tennessee
This is the week! If the Ducks were to fall, I may have to jump of a bridge or something.
Here's what my staff did to my office...
Seems as thought a ton of people are picking the Ducks by 25-35 points. For some reason I feel like it is going to be a little closer than that. I HOPE I'm wrong. But here we go.
OREGON DUCKS 45 TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS 24
A 3 touchdown game is what I'm calling. Conservative compared to virtually every pick I've seen.
The run game - Last week DAT saw a great deal of success on the outside. I think he can do that virtually anytime he wants. Where we struggled was up the middle. Byron Marshall also had a very rough game. I look for him to rebound with a much better performance but still have a tough time up the middle. If he does have any kind of repeat of last week I do believe Tyner will see some action early. He ran 4 plays and it was mop up duty late, but the burst and concise decision making was extremely apparent. How do you keep that kid off the field? I wouldn't mind seeing him and just giving him a swing pass or 2, maybe a jet sweep, just to get him in some open space and letting him make a play.
This is an odd prediction because Western KY averaged 5 yards a carry. 5 yards a carry. Western KY. If they can average 5 we should be able to do much better with our speed and athletes. So I may be way off on this. I hope I am.
Since I'm predicting a slow down (by Duck standards) in the run game this means Marcus Mariota will have to pick up that slack. If this game stays tight for the 1st half we will need to pass more. Marcus has had a ton of success running the ball in the 1st two games. Now lets see him flex that throwing arm. Couple of deep balls will open up the run game and keep them honest as well. Tennessee's defensive backs have seen great success in the 1st two weeks against sub par competition. I think Marcus lights them up!
Colt had a rough week last week dropping 3 passes. I've been told that he had a broken finger. Look for him to have a bit of a chip on his shoulder and make the most of each touch this week. I want them to hook him up early to get him back into this game.
Braylon Addison continues to make plays. Let's give him the ball a few more times. So many weapons to choose from. Since we led the whole way against Virginia we didn't see a ton of passes. Huff, Lowe, Hawk... I want to see Marcus toss the ball around and get these receivers involved.
Defensively I'd like to see more turnovers. Greedy I know, but lets get 10 or so. :) Ok, maybe 3. Ifo and Mitchell have been relatively quiet this year. If we get up a score or two Tennessee will need to throw. Last week the majority of the completions were underneath to the TE's for moderate gains, but it kept the chains moving. The LB's need to keep an eye on that, if I saw it you know Tennessee did.
This is a big, strong and talented offensive line. It will be a good test for our D-line this week. We should see what kind of defensive line we're going to have for teams like Stanford, UCLA and Washington. Look for the boys in the trenches to show their stuff this week.
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Here's what my staff did to my office...
Seems as thought a ton of people are picking the Ducks by 25-35 points. For some reason I feel like it is going to be a little closer than that. I HOPE I'm wrong. But here we go.
OREGON DUCKS 45 TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS 24
A 3 touchdown game is what I'm calling. Conservative compared to virtually every pick I've seen.
The run game - Last week DAT saw a great deal of success on the outside. I think he can do that virtually anytime he wants. Where we struggled was up the middle. Byron Marshall also had a very rough game. I look for him to rebound with a much better performance but still have a tough time up the middle. If he does have any kind of repeat of last week I do believe Tyner will see some action early. He ran 4 plays and it was mop up duty late, but the burst and concise decision making was extremely apparent. How do you keep that kid off the field? I wouldn't mind seeing him and just giving him a swing pass or 2, maybe a jet sweep, just to get him in some open space and letting him make a play.
This is an odd prediction because Western KY averaged 5 yards a carry. 5 yards a carry. Western KY. If they can average 5 we should be able to do much better with our speed and athletes. So I may be way off on this. I hope I am.
Since I'm predicting a slow down (by Duck standards) in the run game this means Marcus Mariota will have to pick up that slack. If this game stays tight for the 1st half we will need to pass more. Marcus has had a ton of success running the ball in the 1st two games. Now lets see him flex that throwing arm. Couple of deep balls will open up the run game and keep them honest as well. Tennessee's defensive backs have seen great success in the 1st two weeks against sub par competition. I think Marcus lights them up!
Colt had a rough week last week dropping 3 passes. I've been told that he had a broken finger. Look for him to have a bit of a chip on his shoulder and make the most of each touch this week. I want them to hook him up early to get him back into this game.
Braylon Addison continues to make plays. Let's give him the ball a few more times. So many weapons to choose from. Since we led the whole way against Virginia we didn't see a ton of passes. Huff, Lowe, Hawk... I want to see Marcus toss the ball around and get these receivers involved.
Defensively I'd like to see more turnovers. Greedy I know, but lets get 10 or so. :) Ok, maybe 3. Ifo and Mitchell have been relatively quiet this year. If we get up a score or two Tennessee will need to throw. Last week the majority of the completions were underneath to the TE's for moderate gains, but it kept the chains moving. The LB's need to keep an eye on that, if I saw it you know Tennessee did.
This is a big, strong and talented offensive line. It will be a good test for our D-line this week. We should see what kind of defensive line we're going to have for teams like Stanford, UCLA and Washington. Look for the boys in the trenches to show their stuff this week.
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Saturday, September 7, 2013
DUCKS DOMINATE!!
Probably should go to sleep, have a 9 hour drive in the morning. BUT I CAN'T. Still pumped up from seeing my boys live for the 1st time since the TN game a few years ago. Who won that again????
Anyway, what a game. I swear I am spoiled rotten, I am thinking we are not playing well. We WON 59-10 against a team that knocked off a top 20 and I'm wanting more. Sheeesh!
I predicted 56-17. We got an extra FG and didn't give up a garbage TD at the end of the game. I'd say that was a solid prediction.
Marcus ran for 100+ with a nice 71 yard TD run and DAT went over 150 (124 yards rush with 3 TD's/28 rec yards) as well. Marshall fell quite a bit short. Tyner looked phenomenal on 4 carries late.
I still think our passing game has a ways to go. Last year we relied on it against CAL, that will happen again. Colt! UGH. I begged for more touches for Colt and he drops 3 passes. 3!
(Sunday update - I have since learned that Colt has a broken finger. That would explain the drops. Here's hoping for a quick and complete recovery so that I can continue to beg for 8 touches per game)
Marshall also dropped one right in his hands. Marcus was 14 for 28. Yeah he got 199 yards 2 TD's. But I'd like to see a better completion %, even without the drops. There seemed to be 2 guys open on every pass play, he didn't always go to the open guy.
A word about Byron Marshall. I really like the kid. I thought he looked very good last year and I did NOT jump on the Tyner for president band wagon. Today though, whew. Tyner impressed when Byron was off. The difference was huge. Byron is pussy footing through the hole and not looking very decisive. Tyner was in during mop up duty late in the game but he made 1 cut and GONE! Gone gone gone!
A word about our DEFENSE. GREAT FRICKEN GAME. Virginia had the ball for almost 40 minutes and ran 86 plays. Total yards = 298 and 10 points.
They ran the ball 39 times for 124 yards. The top 4 runs went for 45, 10, 10 and 9. Take those 4 biggest plays out and you have 35 rushes for 50 yards.
Jake McGee for Virginia had a solid day. He had me yelling "cover the TE" on every 3rd down. We are going to face some very good TE's when we get to conference play, need to find someone or some way to cover those guys. Seemed like he had 10 catches. He and the other TE combined for 12 catches yards. From my perspective each one was for a 1st down. If Washington's Austin Seferian Jenkins is eligible and sober he could have a big game.
DAT looks great to me when we run him outside. I'm still not convinced he's an every down inside zone read running back. I'm not saying he should never go in there. But why not get him in space. Still seems stubborn. (of course he rushed 11 times for 124 yards, sooooo, what the hell do I know.) If DAT does nothing but prove me wrong over and over again..... I'm OK with that! I'm a humble guy, I will be happy to admit I was wrong as they lift the trophy at the end of the year.
125 - 13 this year. GREAT START. Let's keep it going next week!
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Anyway, what a game. I swear I am spoiled rotten, I am thinking we are not playing well. We WON 59-10 against a team that knocked off a top 20 and I'm wanting more. Sheeesh!
I predicted 56-17. We got an extra FG and didn't give up a garbage TD at the end of the game. I'd say that was a solid prediction.
Marcus ran for 100+ with a nice 71 yard TD run and DAT went over 150 (124 yards rush with 3 TD's/28 rec yards) as well. Marshall fell quite a bit short. Tyner looked phenomenal on 4 carries late.
I still think our passing game has a ways to go. Last year we relied on it against CAL, that will happen again. Colt! UGH. I begged for more touches for Colt and he drops 3 passes. 3!
(Sunday update - I have since learned that Colt has a broken finger. That would explain the drops. Here's hoping for a quick and complete recovery so that I can continue to beg for 8 touches per game)
Marshall also dropped one right in his hands. Marcus was 14 for 28. Yeah he got 199 yards 2 TD's. But I'd like to see a better completion %, even without the drops. There seemed to be 2 guys open on every pass play, he didn't always go to the open guy.
A word about Byron Marshall. I really like the kid. I thought he looked very good last year and I did NOT jump on the Tyner for president band wagon. Today though, whew. Tyner impressed when Byron was off. The difference was huge. Byron is pussy footing through the hole and not looking very decisive. Tyner was in during mop up duty late in the game but he made 1 cut and GONE! Gone gone gone!
A word about our DEFENSE. GREAT FRICKEN GAME. Virginia had the ball for almost 40 minutes and ran 86 plays. Total yards = 298 and 10 points.
They ran the ball 39 times for 124 yards. The top 4 runs went for 45, 10, 10 and 9. Take those 4 biggest plays out and you have 35 rushes for 50 yards.
Jake McGee for Virginia had a solid day. He had me yelling "cover the TE" on every 3rd down. We are going to face some very good TE's when we get to conference play, need to find someone or some way to cover those guys. Seemed like he had 10 catches. He and the other TE combined for 12 catches yards. From my perspective each one was for a 1st down. If Washington's Austin Seferian Jenkins is eligible and sober he could have a big game.
DAT looks great to me when we run him outside. I'm still not convinced he's an every down inside zone read running back. I'm not saying he should never go in there. But why not get him in space. Still seems stubborn. (of course he rushed 11 times for 124 yards, sooooo, what the hell do I know.) If DAT does nothing but prove me wrong over and over again..... I'm OK with that! I'm a humble guy, I will be happy to admit I was wrong as they lift the trophy at the end of the year.
125 - 13 this year. GREAT START. Let's keep it going next week!
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Friday, September 6, 2013
Oregon Ducks VS Virginia Hoos
Been in VA for a few days now, having a great time out in the Massenutten Ski Resort. Riley is having a blast...
Here she is on the ski lift on the way back down the mountain.
Not sure if I ever heard Virginia called the Hoos before this weekend but that seems to be what they call themselves so there you have it.
Last week was a glorified scrimmage, no way we were going to be slowed down by Nichols. In Virginia we face an upcoming and hungry team who just knocked off a top 20 team. This is a trap game if we don't bring our A game. Or at least a B. You go out flat and turn the ball over we may find more than we want. Having said that, we'd have to play pretty bad for that to happen.
So let's see what I want to see tomorrow live.......
Oregon 56 Virginia 17
I think we roll again. The offense looks better against VA than we did against Nichols. Marcus sharpens up the misses he had and the receivers clean up their drops. We see more than the vanilla offense than we did against Nichols.
I think we have a solid chance of having 3 X 100 yard rushers again. That would be 2 weeks in a row to have something that has never happened happen. huh? Yeah.
Release the BEAST! I NEED Colt Lyerla to get the ball this week, more than mop up duty late. He needs a reception in the 1st QTR. No reason he doesn't touch the ball 6-7 times a game. The crappy thing for him is he's usually the change of pace guy. Since we don't often need a change of pace he doesn't get much action. As much talk as DAT gets, Colt NEEDS the ball. He's too good to let him just block. Couple of quick hits up the middle a game. Keep the backers honest.
Last week it seemed they went to prove that DAT could run between the tackles. He did well. And, I'm fine with them doing it. I would like to see us get him in space a few times. Jet sweep. Screen. Motion him out to the tazer slot. Something. I feel like running him up the middle 20 times is a little stubborn. Sure, let him be the every down back. But get him in some space from time to time.
Looking for a big game out of a receiver this week. My pick is Braylon Addison. Huff will get a couple but I think this is the year Braylon breaks out.
Predictions -
Ifo - 1 Pick
Lokombo - 1 turnover
Marcus - 250+ yards passing AND 100+ rushing
DAT - 150+ Rushing
Marshall - 100+ yards rushing
TEAM - 400+ yards rushing
Defense - 5 sacks
Taylor Hart - Gets 2 of those sacks
Addison - 100+ receiving yards
I think we roll again. I've enjoyed my time in VA and I wish them well. But I think we get this thing really rolling tomorrow afternoon.
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Here she is on the ski lift on the way back down the mountain.
Not sure if I ever heard Virginia called the Hoos before this weekend but that seems to be what they call themselves so there you have it.
Last week was a glorified scrimmage, no way we were going to be slowed down by Nichols. In Virginia we face an upcoming and hungry team who just knocked off a top 20 team. This is a trap game if we don't bring our A game. Or at least a B. You go out flat and turn the ball over we may find more than we want. Having said that, we'd have to play pretty bad for that to happen.
So let's see what I want to see tomorrow live.......
Oregon 56 Virginia 17
I think we roll again. The offense looks better against VA than we did against Nichols. Marcus sharpens up the misses he had and the receivers clean up their drops. We see more than the vanilla offense than we did against Nichols.
I think we have a solid chance of having 3 X 100 yard rushers again. That would be 2 weeks in a row to have something that has never happened happen. huh? Yeah.
Release the BEAST! I NEED Colt Lyerla to get the ball this week, more than mop up duty late. He needs a reception in the 1st QTR. No reason he doesn't touch the ball 6-7 times a game. The crappy thing for him is he's usually the change of pace guy. Since we don't often need a change of pace he doesn't get much action. As much talk as DAT gets, Colt NEEDS the ball. He's too good to let him just block. Couple of quick hits up the middle a game. Keep the backers honest.
Last week it seemed they went to prove that DAT could run between the tackles. He did well. And, I'm fine with them doing it. I would like to see us get him in space a few times. Jet sweep. Screen. Motion him out to the tazer slot. Something. I feel like running him up the middle 20 times is a little stubborn. Sure, let him be the every down back. But get him in some space from time to time.
Looking for a big game out of a receiver this week. My pick is Braylon Addison. Huff will get a couple but I think this is the year Braylon breaks out.
Predictions -
Ifo - 1 Pick
Lokombo - 1 turnover
Marcus - 250+ yards passing AND 100+ rushing
DAT - 150+ Rushing
Marshall - 100+ yards rushing
TEAM - 400+ yards rushing
Defense - 5 sacks
Taylor Hart - Gets 2 of those sacks
Addison - 100+ receiving yards
I think we roll again. I've enjoyed my time in VA and I wish them well. But I think we get this thing really rolling tomorrow afternoon.
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