Many good games this weekend to scout our competition and see what's what. First UCLA vs ASU last night. What's all the hype about FUCLA and this win? ASU was atrocious, this told us nothing about the Bruins and also made ASU look way overrated. ASU couldn't cover on kick offs, couldn't catch wide open balls, terrible play calling and their D gave up at the end of the 3rd. Let's also not forget ASU was playing without their starting QB. When Foster did run the ball UCLA's defense gave him whatever he wanted, unfortunately for the Sun Devils they couldn't convert a sandwich into their pie holes. UCLA next game might be the one to really watch against Utah... Speaking of the Utes... Fun game of the weekend Utah/Wazzu, let's see if Leach and crew can throw 500 plus on Utah and derail their season or if Utah is for real. It's going to be in Pullman, I'm going with Wazzu and the upset.... The Beavs and Trojans Can Mannion be NFL ready against a very strong but thin starting D for the Trojans? Does Mannion have the weapons and the O line to be able to pick apart a very talented but young USC secondary? Games in LA so we'll see if the Beavs can handle the big lights. I think USC takes this only because it's a home game.... Blow the Dog Whistles it's time for Fuskies.... UW and the Happy Trees live from the most thuggish stadium we know.... the Puppy Dome.... I like Petersen as a coach, and in 3 years UW will be back to barking loud, but it'll take more than their fans throwing bottles to beat down that solidly coached tree farm. Stanford pulls away in the 4th by 10. Colorado/Cal anyone? Anyone? K moving on...... Non Pac-12... upset of the week the Wolfpack takes out FSU in Raleigh....
I took the time to watch the Stanford Vs. UW game as both teams remain on the Ducks schedule. At times, I couldn't tell if it was good defense or bad offense I was looking at. While, I understand what Coach Peterson might have been thinking, I still believe that he made two critical judgement call errors in the 4th quarter that ultimately sealed UW's fate. It's pretty clear to me that Oregon is going to have to take what the defense gives them against Stanford. I just don't believe that out big strike offense is going to work against them. They are just to sound defensively. If Stanford gets their offense going......(Dare I say it?)....They may be the best team in the conference unless Oregon's coaches can call a better game plan and the players win their assignments. My hope is that Oregon's coaching staff is trying to diversify the offense and the defense and they are just buying their time to hit that light switch on for this team to come to life.
The difference this year is we have a RB that can attack their inner D gaps and our deep ball threat could certainly open Marcus and our TE crew to be lethal in the short game if they have to focus on Devon Allen, Lowe, Carrington on the long ball and don't be shocked if Addison isn't back by then. Oh and we have a "KNOCK ON WOOD!!!!!!" Healthy Marcus this year, and that will be the difference!
I agree with you that we now have multiple receivers we can throw the ball to. In looking back over the past few years, we haven't had that capability so that should help loosen up the linebackers for Stanford a bit instead of letting them just key in on the run. I disagree that our receivers are going to be able to take the lid off of the defense with the long ball but I certainly would love to see it. I believe that we may get one long ball reception but most of the completions are going to come, or should come in the middle of the field but behind the linebackers. I would like to see us take Stanfords greatest strength and turn it into their weakness. I think that would force the DB's to come down in the box and that is when you can spring someone free for the long ball. I just have to give credit to Stanford and they play really good defense. They mix up their schemes well, they make you throw into a smaller window while under pressure while playing their DB's in over protection. Just my opinion but very rarely do you see Stanford play under on their defense limiting the big plays. My game plan would just be to take what the defense gives you on offense and then on defense, our linebackers and DB's need to come prepared and play the games of their live's. Not sure if I agree with you on the running game though as the same 3 guys that are injured played against Stanford last year and they couldn't establish the running game. What makes you think that this is going to be any different this year even though Stanford is young?
I still contend that the team that scores first in the Oregon/Stanford game is going to win the game.
We have a Rolls Royce that will suck the LB's in to contend with him where as in years past we have smaller two step and cut up the sideline RB's. Royce will punch ya right in the nose and he'll carry their young DT's with him... The threat of that gut punch will give our TE's all the kinds of room they will need to maneuver in that 10-15 yard cushion and Marcus will find um. Once we suck that secondary in to defend our TE's, Marcus and Royce....then we hit um deep in man with DA, Lowe, Carrington and Stanford! We can Stanford, Stanford with our huge TE's and Royce makes Gaffney look like a JC player! We'll reign down on those Happy Trees!
Man, everything you are saying sounds good to me but I was hoping for your thought process last year and it didn't materialize. I think the key to winning this year is to actually play just like Stanford and win the TOP. I hate saying that but it's true IMO.
We don't use our TE's for crap and we should! When Colt was here he averaged like 15+ with YAC yards thrown in. If we used Brown, Mundt and Baylis in rotations with Royce and Marcus with our tempo we'd absolutely abuse Stanford's D!
Yes, we don't use our TE's like we should and it's been that way ever since Ed Dixon was here. I don't disagree with your theory, it's just that Helfrich seems hellbent on trying to crank up the offense against Stanford which unless we burry Stanford from the get-go, it's just not going to happen. I would like to see us win TOP and methodical drives down the field. THEN crank up the offense.
