Okay, so I write about many things; but clearly one topic stands out because I am closer to it than others - Oregon football.
Yes; the depth chart for week four came out yesterday - yes, Charles Nelson was listed as the starter. So I will say this: A Tuesday depth chart is about as meaningful as a point spread on Sunday afternoon or preseason polls. In other words, it is entirely worthless.
Willie Taggart addressed the injury Monday and said Nelson's ankle was sprained; but don't bet too heavily on him playing this weekend.
Don't Look Past the Sun Devils
Some of the players may be tempted to look forward; fans have certainly
written this off as a win. How could it be anything else? The ASU
defense has been putrid and the Duck defense better than expected. Vegas
likes the Ducks; the coaches like the Ducks; writers like the Ducks.
Look to Lee Corso for the next line:
Not so fast my friends!
I know that the ASU defense has been atrocious for a while. But judging that defense on how they performed against Texas Tech provides no value. The defense struggled early with New Mexico State and showed some signs of weakness against San Diego State. Despite that, Phil Bennett had them playing better last week. I know they lost and gave up 52 points, but they trailed 35-17 at half and came close to pulling off the comeback; they just got tired.
Where has Oregon struggled? In second halves of games. In the last two games, the Ducks have been outscored 24-10 in the second half; if they perform that poorly in the second half Saturday night, it might be a long, lonely flight home.
What are the two keys to the game? Anyone can say basic things like 'turnovers' or 'third down conversions' or 'run the ball and stop the run.' That is too easy.
Last night I watched the Texas Tech-ASU game in its entirety and I saw two areas in which the Ducks could make some hay. On offense, they need to run right at Koron Crump's replacement. Crump was an all-world pass rusher and would have given the Ducks trouble. If the Ducks put the heat on his replacement and keep the tempo up, they can have a field day running the ball.
On defense, I think the Ducks need to take advantage of the right side of the ASU offensive line. Against a fairly flimsy Texas Tech defensive line, the right side of the Sun Devil OL still struggled. If the Ducks can attack Manny Wilkins and Kalen Ballage by understanding that the offense for the Sun Devils is limited in its effectiveness to one side of the field, they can do what it takes to minimize the ASU output.
Some of the players may be tempted to look forward; some fans have
certainly written this off as a win. How could it be anything else? The
ASU defense has been putrid and the Duck defense better than expected.
Vegas likes the Ducks; the coaches like the Ducks; writers like the
Ducks. Look to Lee Corso for the next line:Not so fast my friends!
I know that the ASU defense has been atrocious for a while. But judging that defense on how they performed against Texas Tech provides no value. The defense struggled early with New Mexico State and showed some signs of weakness against San Diego State. Despite that, Phil Bennett had them playing better last week. I know they lost and gave up 52 points, but they trailed 35-17 at half and came close to pulling off the comeback; they just got tired.
Where has Oregon struggled? In second halves of games. In the last two games, the Ducks have been outscored 24-10 in the second half; if they perform that poorly in the second half Saturday night, it might be a long, lonely flight home.
What are the two keys to the game? Anyone can say basic things like 'turnovers' or 'third down conversions' or 'run the ball and stop the run.' That is too easy.
Last night I watched the Texas Tech-ASU game in its entirety and I saw two areas in which the Ducks could make some hay. On offense, they need to run right at Koron Crump's replacement. Crump was an all-world pass rusher and would have given the Ducks trouble. If the Ducks put the heat on his replacement and keep the tempo up, they can have a field day running the ball.
On defense, I think the Ducks need to take advantage of the right side of the ASU offensive line. Against a fairly flimsy Texas Tech defensive line, the right side of the Sun Devil OL still struggled. If the Ducks can attack Manny Wilkins and Kalen Ballage by understanding that the offense for the Sun Devils is limited in its effectiveness to one side of the field, they can do what it takes to minimize the ASU output.
Not so fast my friends!
I know that the ASU defense has been atrocious for a while. But judging that defense on how they performed against Texas Tech provides no value. The defense struggled early with New Mexico State and showed some signs of weakness against San Diego State. Despite that, Phil Bennett had them playing better last week. I know they lost and gave up 52 points, but they trailed 35-17 at half and came close to pulling off the comeback; they just got tired.
Where has Oregon struggled? In second halves of games. In the last two games, the Ducks have been outscored 24-10 in the second half; if they perform that poorly in the second half Saturday night, it might be a long, lonely flight home.
What are the two keys to the game? Anyone can say basic things like 'turnovers' or 'third down conversions' or 'run the ball and stop the run.' That is too easy.
Last night I watched the Texas Tech-ASU game in its entirety and I saw two areas in which the Ducks could make some hay. On offense, they need to run right at Koron Crump's replacement. Crump was an all-world pass rusher and would have given the Ducks trouble. If the Ducks put the heat on his replacement and keep the tempo up, they can have a field day running the ball.
On defense, I think the Ducks need to take advantage of the right side of the ASU offensive line. Against a fairly flimsy Texas Tech defensive line, the right side of the Sun Devil OL still struggled. If the Ducks can attack Manny Wilkins and Kalen Ballage by understanding that the offense for the Sun Devils is limited in its effectiveness to one side of the field, they can do what it takes to minimize the ASU output.
Some
of the players may be tempted to look forward; fans have certainly
written this off as a win. How could it be anything else? The ASU
defense has been putrid and the Duck defense better than expected. Vegas
likes the Ducks; the coaches like the Ducks; writers like the Ducks.
Look to Lee Corso for the next line:
Not so fast my friends!
I
know that the ASU defense has been atrocious for a while. But judging
that defense on how they performed against Texas Tech provides no value.
The defense struggled early with New Mexico State and showed some signs
of weakness against San Diego State. Despite that, Phil Bennett had
them playing better last week. I know they lost and gave up 52 points,
but they trailed 35-17 at half and came close to pulling off the
comeback; they just got tired.
Where
has Oregon struggled? In second halves of games. In the last two games,
the Ducks have been outscored 24-10 in the second half; if they perform
that poorly in the second half Saturday night, it might be a long,
lonely flight home.
What
are the two keys to the game? Anyone can say basic things like
'turnovers' or 'third down conversions' or 'run the ball and stop the
run.' That is too easy.
Last
night I watched the Texas Tech-ASU game in its entirety and I saw two
areas in which the Ducks could make some hay. On offense, they need to
run right at Koron Crump's replacement. Crump was an all-world pass
rusher and would have given the Ducks trouble. If the Ducks put the heat
on his replacement and keep the tempo up, they can have a field day
running the ball.
On
defense, I think the Ducks need to take advantage of the right side of
the ASU offensive line. Against a fairly flimsy Texas Tech defensive
line, the right side of the Sun Devil OL still struggled. If the Ducks
can attack Manny Wilkins and Kalen Ballage by understanding that the
offense for the Sun Devils is limited in its effectiveness to one side
of the field, they can do what it takes to minimize the ASU output.
Some of the players may be tempted to look forward; fans have certainly
written this off as a win. How could it be anything else? The ASU
defense has been putrid and the Duck defense better than expected. Vegas
likes the Ducks; the coaches like the Ducks; writers like the Ducks.
Look to Lee Corso for the next line:
Not so fast my friends!
I know that the ASU defense has been atrocious for a while. But judging that defense on how they performed against Texas Tech provides no value. The defense struggled early with New Mexico State and showed some signs of weakness against San Diego State. Despite that, Phil Bennett had them playing better last week. I know they lost and gave up 52 points, but they trailed 35-17 at half and came close to pulling off the comeback; they just got tired.
Where has Oregon struggled? In second halves of games. In the last two games, the Ducks have been outscored 24-10 in the second half; if they perform that poorly in the second half Saturday night, it might be a long, lonely flight home.
What are the two keys to the game? Anyone can say basic things like 'turnovers' or 'third down conversions' or 'run the ball and stop the run.' That is too easy.
Last night I watched the Texas Tech-ASU game in its entirety and I saw two areas in which the Ducks could make some hay. On offense, they need to run right at Koron Crump's replacement. Crump was an all-world pass rusher and would have given the Ducks trouble. If the Ducks put the heat on his replacement and keep the tempo up, they can have a field day running the ball.
On defense, I think the Ducks need to take advantage of the right side of the ASU offensive line. Against a fairly flimsy Texas Tech defensive line, the right side of the Sun Devil OL still struggled. If the Ducks can attack Manny Wilkins and Kalen Ballage by understanding that the offense for the Sun Devils is limited in its effectiveness to one side of the field, they can do what it takes to minimize the ASU output.
Not so fast my friends!
I know that the ASU defense has been atrocious for a while. But judging that defense on how they performed against Texas Tech provides no value. The defense struggled early with New Mexico State and showed some signs of weakness against San Diego State. Despite that, Phil Bennett had them playing better last week. I know they lost and gave up 52 points, but they trailed 35-17 at half and came close to pulling off the comeback; they just got tired.
Where has Oregon struggled? In second halves of games. In the last two games, the Ducks have been outscored 24-10 in the second half; if they perform that poorly in the second half Saturday night, it might be a long, lonely flight home.
What are the two keys to the game? Anyone can say basic things like 'turnovers' or 'third down conversions' or 'run the ball and stop the run.' That is too easy.
Last night I watched the Texas Tech-ASU game in its entirety and I saw two areas in which the Ducks could make some hay. On offense, they need to run right at Koron Crump's replacement. Crump was an all-world pass rusher and would have given the Ducks trouble. If the Ducks put the heat on his replacement and keep the tempo up, they can have a field day running the ball.
On defense, I think the Ducks need to take advantage of the right side of the ASU offensive line. Against a fairly flimsy Texas Tech defensive line, the right side of the Sun Devil OL still struggled. If the Ducks can attack Manny Wilkins and Kalen Ballage by understanding that the offense for the Sun Devils is limited in its effectiveness to one side of the field, they can do what it takes to minimize the ASU output.
Elsewhere In Sports
Cowherd goes after KD
Anyone who has read my work in the past will know that I really do not like Colin Cowherd. I think he is a weasel and simply makes shit up to get clicks. Today he took to the air to lay into Kevin Durant. Called him 'the most fragile athlete' in the world. Man, I sure wish KD was more like Jim Everett. I would love to see him challenge Cowherd in studio and watch Cowherd cower.
Since his days in Portland when he attempted, without success, to post incognito on message boards, he has simply rubbed me the wrong way. It sure would be nice to see him get some comeuppance for his vitriolic attacks. He is the Radio/TV version of click bait.
Baseball's home run barrage
Don't be too surprised if, in the coming years, stories start to sneak out about what has happened with the home run barrage in 2017. Sure, part of it is young talent like Aaron Judge; and a finally healthy for most of the season Giancarlo Stanton, but the timing of the peak sure seems serendipitous for a sport which had been struggling to keep pace with football and basketball.
I love baseball - it was the first love I ever had. I am also someone who loves the purist aspect of a 1-0 shutout (I remember vividly Jack Morris throwing the 10-inning, 126 pitch, 1-0 masterpiece clincher against John Smoltz and the Atlanta Braves in game Seven of the 1991 World Series might be the greatest game I ever watched). Home runs are exciting and in the era of offensive football drawing more fans than ever to watching football, it seems more than coincidence that baseball has a sudden power surge.
The last time we saw this was also the last time baseball's position as 'America's past time' had seemed to be waning. Then Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa resurrected the excitement. By washing their hands of an entire era by discarding players who kept the game alive, MLB came out as clean on the other side as Andy Dufresne. or so it would seem.
I was never against those 'steroid era' players getting recognized; they were still the best of their era and it's not exactly like only the hitters were juiced. Maybe this time it is just the ball - but something in baseball definitely has some new juice; and that ain't really a bad thing for us old-time baseball fans!
0 comments:
Post a Comment