Equating a season opening loss to a ranked Boise State team to a late season loss to an unranked Arizona team is just silly. The "graduation losses" argument is bass-ackward. That should have hurt the Ducks early, when the defense was playing fine, not at the end of the season. Other than that - nice article.
So where do we end up playing? AP didn't move us up at all after that win. We're 12th. I doubt we get anyone good.
The loss to Stanford was acceptable due to two blown ref calls and MM's total inability to run. There was no excuse for the AZ loss.
How about needing a late score to slip by the 6-6 Beavers? And letting them run for 231 yards/5.9 YPC? For a team that came in without a 100 yard rusher ALL SEASON and averaging 2.8 YPC (last in Pac-12). I know, I know . . . it's a "Rivalry Game". Yeah, maybe if we hadn't seen Stanford & 'Zona push us around then we could use that excuse. But if there was any doubt before the Civil War about the quality of our defense, especially vs the run, there isn't any longer.
Sure has. And as good as our DBs are, they are constantly having to run up and make tackles instead of just blanketing receivers. So now they're off balance and getting beat more than they should be. It's just been ugly. There's a lot of quality names on that defense. There's also a lot of youth/inexperience on the DL & at LB. But the talent is there at most positions. The schemes/coaching isn't. It's not all Aliotti, but he hasn't helped. Personally, I love his fire & it's obvious he truly cares about the players & the program. But he's not an elite DC, and that will continue plague us until it's addressed.
I disagree, but thats okay. He's been directing the D while Oregon has risen from mediocrity and his Defenses have had a lot to do with that. Without question something is amiss right now, but I very much doubt it's his coaching that has suddenly sprung a leak. I'll be shocked if he isn't back next season and we'll see if this slump continues STOMP
