Read a short, and fairly worthless, blurb on the Bleacher Report wondering if the resurgence of USC spell the end of the current Duck reign in the PAC-12. Of course, cited was the USC victory (against the injured marred Ducks) and their incredible signees thus far. My thinking is that while USC is a great team, I think the Ducks still have the PAC-12 title this year (barring a slew of injuries to key players). Our defense is deeper and better. We will have an experienced QB by the time we play them. Also, we may not have a 'between the tackles' runner, but with the sheer speed we do have it may not matter.
USC can have all the five star recruits in the world but they don't have our coach which will be the difference over and over again. All the hype around USC's win last year has fueled the BS arguement, but here's the facts..... wthout Jordan, Kiko and Cliff Harris our freshman seconday held the best two recievers in the country scoreless for almost two quarters of the second half. Our offense put several TD's on them effortlessly and had Chip gone for it like he usually does at the end of the game, this USC question wouldn't be getting play right now..... Now we'll have to go in and stomp on their heads with Kiko, Clay, Jordan,AA and a much better secondary ready to rock. When we crush them, with all the hype around USC it will send a shock wave to SC fans, the college world and pollsters which is... this is not Pete's SC and these ARE CHIPS DUCKS!!
Yep, when we go to LA and beat 'SC there will be serious respect throughout the land. It's also entirely possible both teams will be undefeated for the game. It may be the college game of the year.
I'm saying this right now, last years Duck team that scared the shit out of USC and "beat themselves" will be 2X better this year.... 1) Dion Jordan is an animal 2) Kiko will be playing 3)AA will pinch hit for huge plays and will overstack their Oline making for some very fun QB hits on Barkley... 4) Our secondary are not true freshmans this year 5) Clay and Boyett will answer the call on fire this year... 6) Our D line is taller and heavier than last year... On offense..... Oh shit, where to begin.... 1) Whichever QB is starting wont sit in the damn pocket till hell freezes over if his reads don't pan out and maybe pick up a yard like DT did! Both BB and Mariota will make defenses pay for the sag and pick up 10 to 15 yards.... 2) TE's and more TE's 3) I think Barner, DAT and Marshall will be a freaking handful! 4) Deep ball reciever with height in Stanford who will be a TO type of reciever for us, not to mention Blackmon, Dungy and Huff..... 5) Break out season for DAT, Colt, Barner and AA.... 6) Mariota will be the most feared QB in the Pac-12 after this year, I'm calling it now! Throw in Chip and a Ducks team that knows they didn't get beat but rather lost that game and I see USC in deep shit by the 3rd quarter and thats before the Ducks even turn on the jets in the 4th......
USC will defintely be a force to deal with next year. I don't know what they put in the drinking water on that campus, but quaterbacks continue to decide to stay and play at SC instead of going pro. I hope I'm wrong, but the big factor between these two is SC has a proven stud quarterback while UO is going into relatively uncharted territory for that position . . . a crucial position on any team but especially with Chip Kelly's offense.
Bleacher Report is the People magazine of sports websites with webhits as their only goal. They throw out a topic and a pic or two to suck you in and then hope you stay for one of their many cheerleader pics links. They've been casting their bait Oregon's way for a few years because the fans are so voracious about anything Ducks, but SC has a far bigger fanbase in sheer numbers. I wouldn't put too much stock in anything they say. another key player missing from that game was Brandon Hanna who was the main backup at both DE spots. Without two of three guys in the regular DE rotation, Oregon was stretched really thin on the line. Instead of coming in with waves of fresh defenders, the healthy guys left had to make sure they didn't completely run out of gas. I hope to see much more pressure on MB this year STOMP
Well USC just keeps recruiting and recruiting and stockpiling their horses but then what? Barkley is gone next year and so are both his all american receivers "IF" they win it all. Fair to say? That meaning the recievers, Barkley has to leave, isn't he a 8th year senior or something? HA! At that point all the talent in the world wont mean shit if Lamo can't coach um up like "CHIP CAN" and I still think Lamo's going to get that program SMU'd judging by the fact that the recruiting probation period started this year and he's already out recruited BAMA, LSU,FSU and Ohio St. that doesn't happen without raising an eyebrow or two, and we all know that most SEC coaches think LAMO is a fucking idiot. This could be a very funny summer indeed to watch unfold!
Well, to be sure, USC is a formidable team, but they have a habit of playing below their talent level. They are often 2 and even 3 deep 4 and 5-star players and still lose a couple of games every year. That's poor coaching and poor discipline.
Agreed, the only thing I see USC doing on offense is chucking the ball deep on the side lines for their great receivers to get. Take away their deep ball and they are very average. We saw that last year, second half in Autzen!
Replace the Ducks as Pac-12 winner? No. Raising the competition? Oh HELL yes. USC used to run the Pac-12 like no ones business back in the day, but now they have competition in Oregon now.
With the last two recruiting classes USC has gotten and this years class which is GOTHIC, if they don't produce it'll be obvious why! Lamo can't coach, but he will leave the cubbards full for Pete to return to!
Yeah, for sure. They have unfathomable depth at every position. To not win 12 would be a sin. Of course, we're going to abuse them.
I always laugh when i see someone post a Bleacher Report article on a site while taking it seriously.
I take it Bleacher Report is not to eb taken seriously? I've been fighting with some southern hicks over if the SEC will get Natty Numero Seite(7) and have been claiming that either of the teams below has a big shot: Clemson Oregon WVU USC(can't deny it). Michigan.
The Ducks played shot themselves in the foot many times, and still almost won that game. But still, USC is one of the top teams in the nation, and Matt Barkley is returning for his senior year, so they may well unseat the Ducks this year.
play of the new QB and staying healthy are the biggest keys to Oregon's potential this upcoming season. I'm at least as optimistic about their chances as I've been about any previous team. Chip has fared really well vs USC and now the on paper talent gap is closing. It's going to be really fun to see these last few talent rich classes worked into the mix STOMP
I say UO takes this one. With our running back combo and improved defense I think we have it again this year.
