oldretiredguy wrote:

There seems to be a bunch of angst over a 48-7 win. To me, we saw the growth of MC as a head coach. He never liked to score a ton of points, and a couple of years ago he would have pulled in the O and run the ball the second half, and he rarely allowed young QBs into the game. We saw two of our backups, and overall 80 kids played. I myself was proud of the overall growth shown in this game. An article about ESPN dropping them in their power ranking..
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/oregon-ducks-drop-spot-no-160105187.html

My thought was that this was a solid win coming of the OSU game. I mentioned the hangover many teams experience after a big win in another post. Ducks got quality minutes for their youth and were able to rest others. Good w in my opinion.

I agree with you ORG. I was pretty concerned with the start of the game. Mario allowing the offense to go for huge plays is a promising development. As DITM said the O-line play was especially bad during the first half. All in all coming off a big game I don't see this one as some sort of major problem.

lots of good stuff from yesterday:

• the W over Fresno St in Week 1 looks better every week; that's a poised, veteran football team w a solid QB. BruCru also looks good, but their D is little suspect. been jawing w my bro-in-law today about maybe getting down there for that game.


• every year tackling seems to be an issue in Sept; esp w young players and limited practices & contact these last coupla years. but the D this year flows to the ball and wraps up; can't remember many plays where an opposition ball-carrier squirmed loose and gained a lotta YAC


• there was a P12-Network sideline camera shot after Thompson's first TD: Thompson, Terrance Fergason (who caught the ball), Matavao, couple other players; all of them freshmen and (I think) true freshmen. we got a good look at the rookies yesterday, and they looked good. as I wrote few posts ago, I think Mario's offensive philosophy will evolve as these young skill-position players fill the program and take starting roles.

and then there was some ugly . . .

• O-Line took a major step backward. one week after allowing only one negative play in 73 snaps against an elite opponent, they gave up sacks, hurries, TFLs, etc. there seemed to be a lot of miscommunication on assignments and picking up blitzers. I've heard that McCormick was by far the best blocking TE in camp--rest of the guys at that position need to step it up. TBs, too. this is on everybody.


• our WRs still can't get consistent separation. didn't go to the game, talked to Duck friends who did. Brown just had nowhere to go w the ball several times in the first half. only thing that worked consistently was that quick-hitter up the sideline for 10 yards. I like the way Brown threw that and the way it moves the chains.

only thing that matters now is Zona, who's reeling, and the continued development of the younger players for the games ahead.

onward.
 

Last edited by OldMacManaic (9/19/2021 1:02 pm)