Of course, anything is possible, but I think a perfect season probably isn't going to happen (despite how badly I want one). The main reason is Thomas at QB and our receiving corps. Now, to be sure, both have shown marked improvement but I doubt it's going to be enough for a clean sweep of the PAC10. My second concern is that we cannot continue to dig 14+ point holes and expect to continue and crawl out. My final concern is meeting a more talented USC team at their place- on grass, a surface we usually do not play on. Granted, USC is a very unmotivated team these days, but against #1 they will rise up and could very well knock us off.
Like you said anything is possible. But I like the WR Corps this year with the emergence of Huff. Maehl is almost twice the player he was last year. (I believe he started breaking out the last 4 weeks or so last year) Tuinei and Davis are steady. Thats a pretty good 4 deep there. And when Barner is healthy he can lineup in the slot as well with LaMichael in. But you hit the nail on the head with the defecits. If the Ducks keep starting from behind, its only going to be a matter of time before they run into someone who can maintain the intensity for at least 3 quarters but possibly more. USC is the team with the talent to do so. So here's to hoping the Ducks can jump on them early that game. But first things first... Ducks gotta start off fast tonight... put on a good show for the nation. And not give UCLA any inkling that they will be able to hang with the Ducks in the house of loud.
John Lund just simplified this question beautifully in his "daily dilemma". If you had to bet one way or the other, would you put your money on Oregon winning out through the Civil War, or losing one game along the way? Personally, I think there are just too many variables to bet on perfection at this point--I'd have to put my money on Pasadena rather than Glendale.
Sadly I have to agree with that. Do I hope I'm wrong? Of Course. I'm along for the ride either way. But its waaay difficult to go through 9 Conference games undefeated. 2004 USC did, and this team is no 2004 USC.
If it happens and we make it to the national championship game and then go on to win the game IMO it will surpass the 76-77 Blazers Championship as the single greatest sporting accomplishment in the state of Oregon history.
The toughest game left on the schedule is next week at USC. They're coming off 2 weeks of rest & they have a lot of talent. But which team will we face? The one that smoked Cal last week or the one that rolled over against the Huskies? The Beavers game is also not an easy one. On the road, the Civil War, with possibly EVERYTHING at stake...it WILL be tough. Of course injuries play into everything. We have to stay healthy to win against anybody.
But as a Beaver Fan you just gotta be loving the fact that hopefully you'll have the chance to knock off the number one team in the country. Just like last year it's shaping up that this year's Civil War will mean more than just bragging rights of who is best in the state of Oregon.
Thats the only thing i really have left to look forward too this year, but with our struggles against the spread, this could be humiliating....
[video=youtube;nPEhWfwUPTQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPEhWfwUPTQ[/video] [video=youtube;73mBFsc9E8s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73mBFsc9E8s[/video] It's not like the Beavers don't have a history of defeating #1 ranked teams, lol
You can hate a team and still respect them. I hate the Beavs, but I gotta give you all props for that 2-pt attempt last week, even if it didn't go in. That was ballsy.
It is so incredibly difficult to win out in the Pac. USC will be a real test. They always are. DO NOT discount AZ and Cal. I believe Oregon drops one, somewhere. They have have to SETTLE for a Rose Bowl appearance.
