I think they're running game was clearly head and shoulders better than their passing games the entire time.
There first few no conference games are always on Pac12 Net of something like that. This is normal. Rest of their games after Civil War will be major networks you’d think. Haven’t looked.
Pretty softball presser. Nobody asked: "Does it worry you that you barely beat a weak Idaho team and an average Boise State team? Did it bother you that two hot dog moves had the potential to cost you two touchdowns?"
Considering you're using adjectives that are subjective that a reporter would never do, it makes sense they weren't asked in that way. But, it could have been asked in a professional way that didn't hit with your current feelings, which that dichotomy happens often.
It has not been great. If not for 2 special teams TDs, that is an embarrassing double-digit loss to an FBS team at home. So which is it? Either the offensive line isn't nearly as good as their star ratings predicted, the coaching staff is dropping the ball or what combination of those two? One game is a bit worrisome. Two games, back to back at home is more concerning.
I'm not sure what standard you hold up as full of high star recruits, but on paper I'll contend the OLine is pretty vaunted. According to rivals, who btw gives out the fewest 5 and 4 stars ratings, coming out of HS LT Josh Conerly was a 5* recruit. LG Marcus Harper was a high 3* while Center Iapani Laluolu was a high 4*. RG & RT are manned by transfers (Nishad Strother, Matthew Bedford & Ajani Cornelius) from lesser schools... they were able to land Oregon offers because of their performances in college so looking at their star level coming out of HS is outdated. This is especially so for Cornelius who was a highly sought after transfer and going into this season was projected to be drafted. Maybe my glass is half full again, but often it takes the offense a bit longer to gel/get on the same page with communication etc so I'm not as distraught over their early struggles as others here. I have lowered my hopes a bit and don't think contending is in the cards but I am looking forward to Saturday STOMP
Yeah by the time they play UCLA they will have had three practice games and a month of practice/video to get things working. I honestly think the Ducks will be fine. They do need to get it together this week. The Beavs always play tough against the Ducks. I think they really need a big win this weekend and then need to put together a good game vs the Bruins.
I read an interview with Marcus Harper this morning where he stated how the OLine is still cross training positions during practices and games to give them more flexibility if/when injuries hit. Over 57 offensive plays last week they had 11 changes in personnel rotating heavily. He stated that he played both Right and Left Guard, that Conerly and Ajani switched sides & they rotated in a bunch of guys. Doing this obviously is a challenge for communication and responsibilities, but should make them better as a group in the long run especially when they settle in with a more set rotation for the meat of the schedule. This early season heavy rotation likely has contributed to being flagged but also should battle test more guys for play if they should be needed. STOMP
It might be outdated but the point is this is not a group that is full of 5 * recruits. They have ZERO of them. Connerly ended up being a consensus 4 * recruit, as was Laloulu. The rest that have played Cornelius, Harper, Pickard, Strother, and Rogers 3* are all 2* and 3* recruits. That does not mean they were not predicted to be better, but their issues have nothing to do with their "star" ratings. As you alluded to it has to do with the lack of cohesiveness which we all know is extremely important for any O-Line. Bedford should help after the bye week. I was being facetious when I said they needed higher-rated linemen. This is the one position where recruiting rankings are inadequate because it is often based on their physical dominance in HS, which is quickly nullified after a year or two in the weight room for all the other linemen in college.
Im hoping that now with NIL, Portal jumping and a persistent challenge, and hopefully unraveling of the NCAA, the recruiting process needs to be evaluated.
the two biggest recruiting sites are rivals and 247 & both had Conerly as a 5* recruit. 247 had him as the #8 overall recruit in his class and according to their consensus ranking he was a 5* and #16 overall recruit. I have no idea where you are pulling your consensus ranking from or why you're being so CONTENTIOUS about something you go on to say you don't value. https://247sports.com/player/josh-conerly-jr-46057420/high-school-220895/ It's not just Lineman where recruit rankings often miss, two of the best QBs in Duck history (Mariota & Herbert) were 3*s. Both started & starred early in their college careers and went on to go top 10 in the draft. Recruiting rankings are just opinions (or guesses) about 17 year old guys, which is an age when lots of major physical changes are still happening for many so of course they're often off. Heck I grew 8" after I turned 17. The reason I spoke about the transfers being better then their HS ranking was because of the very reasoning I bolded in your post. I truly don't understand your beef with me here STOMP
