I'v only been able to listen to the game not watch it but it sounds like our offense for the most part is taking up where it left off last year but the D was very very sketchy in the first half and were going to have BIG problems against the run vs BIG Olines. Didn't get to listen to most of the second half but it looks like the D is a lot better in the second half then the first.
The secondary looks extremely green right now. That's the biggest concern. Our three-headed monster at RB is insane though. Royce/Tyner/Marshall is crazy good.
More like picking up where it left off at the beginning of last year, as it really sputtered towards the end. The defense didn't look too good, especially considering they were playing South Dakota. I think the big problem is the LB core.
Byron Marshall had his best game ever as a duck. 89 receiving yards and 138 rushing, and that was in just 16 touches. Ducks have 3 very good RBs.
Honest question because I'm not 100% on the rules and stat keeping... would he have had a worse game stat wise if he hadn't dropped the ball?
Well, here's how I see it: he got a bunch of yards, but no touchdown, and then got a touchdown after we got the pick (if I remember everything correctly, which is only 50% likely). If he scores a touchdown on that first play, I doubt we get the pick (different enough offensive situation), so he doesn't get the extra yards from that "second" (actually first) TD.
Well that's space-time continum question. If he hadn't dropped the ball, he'd have gotten the yards and another TD. The fumble that happened after the Coyotes got the ball back could have happened on the ensuing kicking had the TD been scored, they are not really connected events. So I'd say he'd have had a better stats if he didn't drop the ball. BTW.....glad we got that shit out of the way vs the Coytes.
No kidding! I know there are people here who don't like me harping on DET, but he did cost us a chance to play in the title game because of a silly showboat mistake just like that (not blocking for Mariota on his TD run against Stanford). At least these shenanigans were against a team that couldn't make us pay.
Didn't know about the game threads here for the Ducks but I think next week I will visit the game thread for MSU. 1) Defense needs to play more efficently and more aggressive. 2) DP needs to be up in the both and not on the sideline. 3) I predicted that Nelson would be the next DAT and I'm glad I made that prediction. Coincidence that he's wearing #6? 4) Now that Oregon clearly has a WR core, Mariota needs to get his timing down with the receivers, he under threw a number of balls where the receiver needed to slow down to catch the pass. 5) I think if we could have played this game again, I would have focused in on the short passing game as a scrimmage for MSU where were not going to have the deep bombs like we did last night. 6) I thought the offense looked good last night. 7) For now on, Byron Marshall needs to run to the back of the end-zone before slowing down and dropping the ball. I'll bet a wooden nickel that he won't make that mistake again.
I think Mariota should be careful with scrammbling this year. Only bring that out for the tough games. Didn't like to see him taking hits in the open field yesterday (though he only took about 1).
Can I pile some more stuff one?? What about the multiple fumbles against LSU? What about the arrogant "Bulletin Board" material he gave Arizona after saying that we will drop 40 on them? What about DAT's fumble against Stanford last year when we were threatening to score? That score would have won the Ducks the game. IMO he's a freak athlete in terms of measurables but he's a fumble machine with a cocky attitude that can't back it up in a big game and he's already on the injured list in the NFL and the season hasn't even began. I know those are harsh words; it would suggest that I don't like DAT and that's not the case but I do think that he was over-hyped and was a cancer to the team.
I agree with you on this one and I think that's going to be the plan. I think what makes this a possibility is that we now have receivers who should be able to take the lid off of the defense and open up the running game for out backs provided that our OL his bigger and can shed blocks and force the LB's to respect the run game. We will see and I hope that Mariota doesn't need to run as much.
I don't Ifo taking the punts. That has disaster written all over it. He's way too important to our defense.
I tend to agree with you but I have to believe that Helfrich made some promises to entice him to stay instead of turning pro. I just can't imagine that Ifo had anything else to work on in college as he's already a shutdown corner. I suppose that doing returns on special teams can only add to his draft stock.
But it's just silly. He's not even in the top five of our most elusive return men. He's not a Cliff Harris.
Would you rather have Ifo in the NFL or would you rather him be at Oregon shutting down one side of the field and the only thing it costs you is his insurance premium and a few returns on special teams? I just cant see any other reason for him to stay?
