GROUND&POUND
Active member
10 Thoughts on this game.
First, our staff knows EVERYTHING there is to know about Vernon Adams weaknesses. I'd say that gives us an edge. He is a talented player but he is facing a staff that knows him inside and out. That could cause he and the Ducks problems. You might say it could make them "lame ducks"
Second, over the years I have seen this type situation before where a star player transfers and then the team he goes to plays the team he left. Always the team he left is a large underdog, but more times than what you may expect the underdog finds a way to pull off the upset on emotion, grit, and hard work. Nobody expects us to win, other than EaGLE NATION who seems divided. We have nothing to lose and can go out there with no pressure and a little chip on our shoulder. If this game is close at halftime, I predict we upset them.
Third, we couldn't be playing Oregon at a better time. VA will just get better each week (if he can stay healthy) and they will have a very limited playbook week 1. Less to defend should help us if the game is close at halftime because in the second half we should have a great idea what we will see if VA is at QB (remember, small playbook means by the second half we should have a great idea how they are going to attack us).
Fourth, I've read more than a few times that we "won't be able to run on Oregon"... I say that is complete BS. This OL with 2 All Americans and and our RB's, in particular Wilson can run the football on anybody. While I expect West to play well and make some solid throws I expect our rushing attack to be the strength of our offense this year. Yes we will pass alot and it will set up our run, but when we run, we will be BETTER than last year at running the football.
* note: I've coached two players on that Oregon roster and both are linemen. Neither would start over our OL or over our DT's. That is a fact! I mention this because I expect to win the battle at the line of scrimmage. If we don't, then we will lose big, but truthfully there is no reason we shouldn't beat them on the line of scrimmage. If we do that, This game could be like the Washington Huskies game of 2014. A shootout.
Fifth: We have the best player on the field: Cooper Kupp. For this game, on this day, he is the biggest playmaker on the field, they will do all kinds of things to take him away from us, but I suspect our fantastic coaching staff as well as CK's refusal to lose will potentially break things wide open for us. I'm excited for Kupp this game because I think it's Sept. 5th that he gains a national audience making huge plays to beat the ducks, there I said it.
6th: Our defense needs 3 legitimate stops on the ducks to give us a chance. A fumble recovery, an INT, or a 4th down stop. We get any combo of those 3 and we will have a chance against the Ducks.
7th: I'd take our coaching staff over the Ducks coaching staff any day of the week. Our guys are just better and that is a fact. :notworthy: They will come in to the game with a great plan of attack, and if the boys buy in as they usually do and don't get caught up in the duck hype, we have a chance.
8th: We have a suddenly awesome kicking game. It could prove to be a dangerous weapon because we can score more and longer on FG's and control the field with our punts. It should favor us week 1.
9th: I know everyone right now is riding the "Duck Wave", but I have to tell you that I think they are about to decline a bit over the next few seasons. I know several of the kids they have recruited and I'm not nearly as impressed with the ones that I know that they landed as I have been in the past. I'm not saying they won't be good, but I am saying I see them stepping backward some over the next 4 seasons.
10: Karma (if you don't understand how the Ducks may have some bad karma coming their way this season, then I can't help you).
G&P
First, our staff knows EVERYTHING there is to know about Vernon Adams weaknesses. I'd say that gives us an edge. He is a talented player but he is facing a staff that knows him inside and out. That could cause he and the Ducks problems. You might say it could make them "lame ducks"
Second, over the years I have seen this type situation before where a star player transfers and then the team he goes to plays the team he left. Always the team he left is a large underdog, but more times than what you may expect the underdog finds a way to pull off the upset on emotion, grit, and hard work. Nobody expects us to win, other than EaGLE NATION who seems divided. We have nothing to lose and can go out there with no pressure and a little chip on our shoulder. If this game is close at halftime, I predict we upset them.
Third, we couldn't be playing Oregon at a better time. VA will just get better each week (if he can stay healthy) and they will have a very limited playbook week 1. Less to defend should help us if the game is close at halftime because in the second half we should have a great idea what we will see if VA is at QB (remember, small playbook means by the second half we should have a great idea how they are going to attack us).
Fourth, I've read more than a few times that we "won't be able to run on Oregon"... I say that is complete BS. This OL with 2 All Americans and and our RB's, in particular Wilson can run the football on anybody. While I expect West to play well and make some solid throws I expect our rushing attack to be the strength of our offense this year. Yes we will pass alot and it will set up our run, but when we run, we will be BETTER than last year at running the football.
* note: I've coached two players on that Oregon roster and both are linemen. Neither would start over our OL or over our DT's. That is a fact! I mention this because I expect to win the battle at the line of scrimmage. If we don't, then we will lose big, but truthfully there is no reason we shouldn't beat them on the line of scrimmage. If we do that, This game could be like the Washington Huskies game of 2014. A shootout.
Fifth: We have the best player on the field: Cooper Kupp. For this game, on this day, he is the biggest playmaker on the field, they will do all kinds of things to take him away from us, but I suspect our fantastic coaching staff as well as CK's refusal to lose will potentially break things wide open for us. I'm excited for Kupp this game because I think it's Sept. 5th that he gains a national audience making huge plays to beat the ducks, there I said it.
6th: Our defense needs 3 legitimate stops on the ducks to give us a chance. A fumble recovery, an INT, or a 4th down stop. We get any combo of those 3 and we will have a chance against the Ducks.
7th: I'd take our coaching staff over the Ducks coaching staff any day of the week. Our guys are just better and that is a fact. :notworthy: They will come in to the game with a great plan of attack, and if the boys buy in as they usually do and don't get caught up in the duck hype, we have a chance.
8th: We have a suddenly awesome kicking game. It could prove to be a dangerous weapon because we can score more and longer on FG's and control the field with our punts. It should favor us week 1.
9th: I know everyone right now is riding the "Duck Wave", but I have to tell you that I think they are about to decline a bit over the next few seasons. I know several of the kids they have recruited and I'm not nearly as impressed with the ones that I know that they landed as I have been in the past. I'm not saying they won't be good, but I am saying I see them stepping backward some over the next 4 seasons.
10: Karma (if you don't understand how the Ducks may have some bad karma coming their way this season, then I can't help you).
G&P
