Good optimistic view on the game Jeff.
I'm going to err on the side of a neutral take.
My concern is that Stein called a very bland game. Credit goes to the Idaho D, but the way Stein called plays reminded me of the disastrous Arroyo who had Herbert as his QB.
The offensive line was out of synch and seemingly mismatched again Idaho's D.
Gabriel had several great chances to run up the middle. Late in the game he tried to force a throw in double coverage to Ferguson when he had an easy 1st down right up the middle which parted like the Red Sea for him.
Do ya think Bo Nix woulda taken that run? Uh yeah. B1G announcers commented that Gabriel should have taken that.
I watched the game live on YT.
And it just seemed that the Ducks played out of sorts, which was quite inexplicable imho.
Ducks historically have disposed of teams like Idaho early on.
But now UofO clearly has got a target on their back, as teams are coming out of the tunnel on fire looking for upsets. That happened during the Chip Kelly era as well, but they disposed teams like That handily.
I expect Lanning to get it together,  but this first game has sown seeds of doubt,  I gotta admit.

Last edited by Orygun303 (9/01/2024 4:09 pm)