Shouldn't that be the assumption any time we're talking about shooting for the NCG? Anyone outside the SEC is going to have a tough time getting in to the title game with a loss. At this point in Oregon's progression as a program, I would think that a weak schedule should no longer be an issue. National profile 3-straight BCS games Title game appearance 2 years ago 5 losses in 3 years Any team with that resume going into a season should be a lock for the title game if they run the table. The only "issue" with our schedule is USC's presence on it.
Aside from the Fact that we have to travel to USC.. I don't see any advantage for USC over Oregon aside from QB and WR positions. Oregon has a better run game and I think will be just as good on defense as USC.
that game is so late in the season, who knows what advantages will have shaken out? The 3 preceding weekends for UO feature a bye week @ASU & @Autzen vs the Buffs... hardly a gauntlet STOMP
I just feel like our secondary won't allow 50 yard bombs this year. which is what killed us last year.
Barkley was putting the ball on the money despite good coverage IMO. Missing our best pass rusher (Dion Jordan) for most of that game allowed the time for guys to get deep. The D-Line should be even better next year as they're older overall + deeper. Pressuring MB is definitely a key STOMP
I really think it was just bad coverage and the fact our CB's were in Solo coverage on guys taller and more athletic than they were.
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-I9cny_4ac[/video] Throw was behind the reciever even after he got atleast 2 steps on Troy Hill.. MB throws it short and gives Troy Hill a chance to break it up.. he doesn't turn and look for the ball to swat it.. and hes to short to get his arm in there and deflect the ball.
that will be the case again next year... their receivers are elite athletes and we will continue to put our CBs in solo coverage at times. Hopefully we're generating more pressure on Barkley then in your highlight STOMP
Our Secondary has much room for improvement.. What do these guys need to improve on? The only place they can go is down.
Dion Jordan will hopefully be healthy, and Armstead should be able to at least put pressure on the strong side.
USC didn't score on us for almost the entire second half in Autzen..... however we blew them up on offense and we played without Dion for a good chunk of the game as well. Please also note we didn't have Cliff Harris and our pass rush was on the sideline. Next year AA and Dion will be ready to go on either side with Buckner waiting to come in if either get hurt!
if they're going to go with a true freshman DE, maybe they'll go with the top athlete? The guy with the 100M time of 11.47, a 35.5" vertical jump-reach & the 3.5 GPA... his name is Cody. STOMP
I don't give a crap who we go with as long as we put paint on Barkley and make him have to scramble and dump pass all game long! I know Dion and Kiko are going to make his day tough and whoever else wants to step up all the BETTER!! Oh yeah that's the kid Chip said would have been a 5* had he played anywhere but Montana.....
Oregon had Carringer in their camp last summer. One of the regular insider type posters on the rivals site was talking him up as being one of the most impressive kids there as the camp was going on while not even being sure of his name, claiming CC was outshining the hyped DLine kids in attendance. Shortly afterwords he was offered and committed. Oregon has been getting very selective in who they offer, putting out far fewer offers then most anyone else. Cody must have really blown them away to get one of those golden tickets early. It's not a given that one of their true Freshman DE's (including AA) will get to take off their Redshirt and play as they've a lot of returning scholarship depth, but it's going to be fun to watch it shake out. STOMP
I'm going on record right now in saying there's NO WAY AA doesn't play big minutes next year! To many *'s to be redshirted....
Carriger will be a sleeper and a hit after he redshirts, I can tell you that. AA maybe a True Freshman, but he spent most of his time on the OL, so it could be Buckner instead
AA was a rivals *4 DE rated the 61st best 2013 prospect overall. Last season the Ducks Redshirted two rivals 100 *4s including the 31st rated overall prospect WR Devon Blackmon. The year prior they Redshirted *5 RB Lache Seastrunk who was the rated the 26th best overall prospect... he was the only rivals *5 who was Redshirted. There are many other examples that point to Chip and Co not paying much mind to star ratings. If Arik is to see action next year he'll have to earn it with his play in practice, same as everyone else STOMP
Yep. If Armstead, or Carriger, or Buckner, or Balducci play next year, it will be because they earned their way onto the 2-deep in practice. If they're 3rd-string, though, Chip has shown that barring injury, he's willing to redshirt a true freshman and play a veteran spot duty. We saw a lot of that last season at WR, where Sumler, Kelley, and Blackmon all could have played, but didn't because there were vets ahead who the true frosh hadn't beaten out in practice.
