The Pac-12 Thread....

NW..you want to talk about the ASU fan who graduated 2 from the U of A? It's easy to cheer for both since it's mostly kids playing against kids.
It also prompts the thought that 1 in state school can go 12-1 while the other 13-0 if you want to dream. 

Oly,

Since we saw the same game and apparently saw different things, let's explore this a little bit.

As to the playing conditions and rules, they were the same for Mariota as they were for Bennett.  The difference being Mariota went 80 yards and 27 yards on two runs for TD's.......untouched.  Bennett, and I like Bennett, but he absolutely stunk.  And, there is no question if the season started tomorrow, Mariota is the starting QB.  The one thing everyone was in agreement about following the Spring game was Mariota was amazing and Bennett stunk up the stadium. 

I'm not trying to justify why Bennett played so poorly, or why Mariota played so well, but you saw the reality of the QB competition on Saturday and there was no comparison between the two.  The job is clearly Mariota's to lose.......Unless Bennett can walk on the aforementioned body of water.

Do you actually disagree that Mariota threw the ball better, or was better at the mesh, or ran the ball better than Bennett? How about the fact that Mariota was getting his team lined up and plays off at twice the speed of Bennett? 

I agree Bennett became frustrated, but it was because he saw the starting QB position shift over to Mariota and there was little to nothing he was able to do about it.  Bennett stunk, there is no denying it.

As to Barner, I said he had one carry for one yard.  Do you disagree with this?  I said he didn't have anything to prove, do you disagree with this? A one yard gain was insignificant compared to DAT.  In fact, a one yard gain is insignificant, period. 

Barner is a capable back, but he was second to James and he is second to DAT.  Who catches the ball better, KB or DAT?  Who runs faster and is more elusive, KB or DAT?  DAT is the star of Oregons offense and he is a running back, and that is a fact that KB can't change.  DAT is the best player on the football team and you think he is going to play second fiddle to KB?  Not going to happen.  KB will get his share of carries, but it will be in relief of DAT, not in lieu of him.  Do you agree that DAT is the best player on the team?

Forde is a walk on who is servicable in limited relief, but surely you saw how slow he was getting to the edges.  And, Bassett did nothing that would make you want to start feeding the ball to him.  Forde may have been faster.  Unless Marshall shows up in the summer walking across the water with Bennett, then he redshirts despite the depth at RB this year.

Return showed nothing, we agree.  However, don't expect the franchise player to be returning kicks next year.  It is questionable if Kelly will risk losing DAT for the season on a kickoff from the 35.  Only in the biggest of games would you even consider it.

As to WR, as I said Dungy made a good showing.  Hawkins and Vaughn made some grabs, and Stanton showed a few things.  But, no one blazed like Lee or Woods are capable of. 

No one has called Oregon's speed a joke, except your reference to that phrase.  I said Oregon would boat race everyone except USC. 

Do you agree that USC is the best team that Oregon has to play this year?  Do you think any other team in the conference has 75 players greater than or equal to USC?  Where you at the game last year when USC dominated?

Did you see how quickly USC filled holes or closed in lateral pursuit?( And, that was a young group of linebackers).  Seriously, you would have to play an NFL team to find a quicker bunch of players.  I'm not saying Oregon can't be competitive with USC, I'm saying you can't out run them.  It will take everything the Ducks can physically muster plus a scheme that exploits any weakness and perfect execution.  Anything less, and it could hurt on Nov. 3rd at their house. 

Like I said earlier, this is a good football team, but it is inexperienced and that is what can and will be exploited by opposing teams.  Especially someone with the experience and talent of USC.

Beyond that, I love your avatar.  That was the first game I took my current GF to, and she fell in love with the Duck when he kicked the Cougars a$$.  The game was closer than it should have been, but the Ducks attitude set the tone for the second half.  Priceless.

Bennett and Mariota had different lines opening holes and different defenders to contend with.  If I based it off the spring game then yes Mariota would be the starter but things like this arent based on 1 time.  1 bad game doesnt define a player or a team.  should Oregon have scrapped the season after Boise State or LSU games?

Both QB's made good throws and bad throws. both had INT, Bennett was quicker to pull down the ball and try to run both need work on looking all the way through their progression. 

If Barner has nothing left to prove why should DAT have anything to prove? why give him more touches more carries more receptionts? Kelly is more about getting the right people in the right place to help the team.  Barner in the backfield is more helpful to the team with DAT lining up as WR because you dont know if he is there to run back and get the ball or take off down field.  without a goto guy like Maehl was then DAT will continue to line up out there so that Oregon has a recieving threat until someone steps up.  No one player is bigger than the team. Not even DAT. Barner is RB1

If James was returning kicks last year with DAT,  I see no reason why DAT woulndt continue to do so next season. Again best for the team. 

When I said Oregon's speed is no joke I didnt mean that anyone called it a joke just that it is no joke.  they are still rediculous fast and even if it didnt look like it they are still fast.  

Blackmon and Sumler were both listed at 4.4 40 times same as woods and Lee

If you want to draw your own conclusions the Oregon spring game is on now on ESPNU.....

Hey trucker 
I was wondering if you knew if SC will have the spring game on tv or not? 

USC Fight On, Im not sure. ESPN will probably broadcast it, if they haven't already.

I'd private message USCFANVVV, he has all that information on the USC thread. He'll know. Let me know when you find out, THNX

Oly,

I don't want to get in a pissing contest with another Duck over the Spring game, but you need to focus on what I'm saying.

Oregon scrapping a season over a loss to BSU or LSU has no correlation to Bennett and Mariota in the Spring game.  Bennett had two interceptions with one being a pic six.  Mariota was amazing, Bennett stunk.  Spin it any way you want, but that is the way it is.  The job is Mariota's to lose, why is this so troubling to you?

What is with," No one player is bigger than the team"?  Who ever said one was?  I said DAT was the BEST player on the team.  Every team has a best player, you understand that, right?  How do you get that a teams best player means he is bigger than the team? 

Apparently, you believe Barner is the best player on the team.  And, if that is truly your position, then you are simply wrong by every measurement known to College Football.  Barner is not the star running back for Oregon.  DAT is the way it is.

I find your analysis of Oregons speed somewhat confusing.......even if they don't look fast, they are still fast.  So, if they looked slow, they are really blazing?  Again, Oregon will boat race everyone but USC, do you think that means Oregon is slow, or does it mean USC has a fast crew itself?

And, when you talk speed, I trust that Forde and Bassett are not part of that conversation.  They looked slow to me, but I understand that is fast to you, but I'm saying they were slow by RB standards at Oregon.  I love my Ducks, but I am not delusional. 

As to Woods and Lee, you are saying that if we had a track meet, you would expect Blackmon and Sumier to come across the finish line at the same time as those two.  I can't argue that if all four run a 4.4 40 then it is a close foot race.  But, let's skip talking about track and talk about football.

Lee and Woods are premier receivers with Lee proving he has superglue for hands.  Blackmon and Sumier have yet to run a pass route in a college game, much less actually have caught a pass.  You do remember last year when Oregon defenders couldn't stay within 10 yards of Lee don't you?
And, Woods gets almost as open, but thankfully drops a few.  Blackmon and Sumier have a long way to go to prove that their 4.4 can get them in a position to make the catches that Woods and Lee have already proven themselves capable of.  This is the inexperience I have been discussing regarding this years team.

We will see how the team and the players evolve over the course of the Summer and into Fall camp, I am simply stating the here and now.  And, the here and now have Mariota at QB and DAT as the premier RB at Oregon.  Time will tell who best serves the Ducks interest in the not so distant future.

Have you seen the painting of the Pope and the one of Phil Knight at Taylors?  Classic.

EverybodyDuck, your posts remind me of JAG's . Remember him? Very similar. He hasn't been around for quite a while, hope he's OK.

Trucker,

Do I remember him?  Jag is still at the top of my favorites list, and it has been nearly two years since he posted anything.  Jag was a diehard Trojan and he represented USC well with his insightful post regarding his team and college football in general.  Just my opinion, but I think Jag was the most respected poster ever on this message board.  Wherever he is, I too hope he is okay and realizes how much his contribution to this forum is missed.

I know Woods has been nursing a foot/leg injury of some sort since before the UCLA game last year.  Kiffin said something about Woods reduced practice because of the injury lingering into the spring.  What exactly is the medical status of Woods injury?  If you know.

EverybodyDuck, I believe it was ankle sprains originally, now the problem seems to be inflammation which won't go away/keeps flaring up. He's parked for the spring the last I heard. They're hoping, so are a bunch of us,that it'll be over with by season's start....

My comparison of srapping the season based on 1 game and nameiing Mariota the starter based on the spring game alone makes perfect sense.  You are assuming that Mariota is stellar every time out and that Bennett plays like crap everytime.  
If we base it off just one thing then sure Mariota is the starter but until Kelly says it I am not counting Bennett out.  

You are missing the point of why I say Barner is the RB#1.  Without proven WR DAT will still line up outside until someone emerges.  Barner will be in the backfield.  DAT outside has more versatility than he does lining up behind the QB.  Kelly will use him where he helps the team the most.  Barner can be the feature back and would be at a lot of DI BCS schools.  

I said even if they dont look fast to you.  Most schools would love to have the speed of Oregon's average guys. Forde didnt look slow to me Forde is a serviceable backup.  

blackmon and Sumler, Lee and Woods yeah I would expect a close race that ran 4 times could have 4 different winners each time.  and so what if Blackmon and Sumler have yet to play a college down, thomas took over with very little experience and Mariota and Bennett will do the same.  James did and DAT both did it that way too.  

i have not been to Taylors in years I dont live in Eugene and actually travel to games more than I see them in Autzen. (UW, WSU, fresno, Purdue, Tennessee, Rose Bowl)   and hopefully Arizona State and in Seattle this year.

Oly,

I assume you will be going to the Tennessee game at Autzen in 2013.  Take that opportunity to go to Taylors and see these paintings, it will brings tears of laughter to your eyes.

Mariota's rise to the starting QB position is not something that just happened in the Spring game this year.  Coaches and players have been raving about this kid since he arrived last year.  The Spring game simply gave us fans an opportunity to see what all the raves were about. 

I like Bennett, I'm sure he is disappointed and motivated to perform better, and if he can walk across that river by Aug. 24th, he will be Oregons starting QB.  I'm sure we will see them both in the first couple of games unless one outshines the other like we saw last Saturday.

DAT is not really a WR.  He lines up the majority of the time in the TAZR position in the spread formation.  His motion feeds him the ball from the backfield via the jet sweep.  His speed and ability is such that regardless where he is on the field, he must be accounted for on every play.  Kelly takes advantage of his talents to stress defenses because of this fact.  Often you will see DAT in the backfield in a traditional RB formation.  The results of his coming from the backfield between the tackles was observed setting a Rose Bowl record 91 yard TD run.

Barner will get a lot of carries from the backfield slamming into the opposing lines, but not because he is a more premier back than DAT.  DAT needs another year of physical conditioning before he can endure prolonged punishment from defensive linemen.  The #1 or #2 back is a misnomer.  Both are good players, DAT is a bit better.  Well, a lot better.  But, that is not to say Barner isn't a stud in his own right.

Fast is relative to how fast is the guy you are playing against.  Oregon as a team is fast.  I think Trucker made a good observation when he said USC has downsized a bit on defense to be competitive with Oregons speed.  And, he questioned if that downsizing might be a handicap against a traditional SEC/B1G offesnse in a National Title Game.  My point is, when Oregon plays, you can see the difference the speed makes against their opponents.  You will not see this gap in speed when Oregon plays USC.  I don't like it, but I accept it, and Kelly needs to scheme to deal with it.

Again, we have great talent at Oregon, but inexperience is a problem at this time.  And, yes, I hope their OJT comes along quickly.

GO DUCKS 

Does it truly matter who the QB is for Oregon? Just throw those bubble screens to Thomas or do the little play action and just lob it like Dixon and Darron Thomas did. Last year Bennett seemed to be a star in the making. 

Just my opinion, but I think Jag was the most respected poster ever on this message board.  Wherever he is, I too hope he is okay and realizes how much his contribution to this forum is missed.

Agree with you about JAG. He was the best. I only wish I had his patience, but I don't. JAG posts occasionally at Conquest Chronicles, so he is alive and well.

I know Woods has been nursing a foot/leg injury of some sort since before the UCLA game last year.  Kiffin said something about Woods reduced practice because of the injury lingering into the spring.  What exactly is the medical status of Woods injury?  If you know.

Woods had ankle surgery last December, but there has been lingering inflamation in the area. Woods should be fully healed by summer practice, but there is no information out, yet.

4SoCalFan, thanks for the clarification re Woods, I was close but no cigar. What is Conquest Chronicles?

4SoCalFan, thanks for the clarification re Woods, I was close but no cigar. What is Conquest Chronicles?

It is USC's blog site on SBNation. Here's the link. 


http://www.conquestchronicles.com/

4SoCalFan, thanks, added it to my favorites.  Any more going on in the hallowed halls we need to know about?

4So.......Thanks for the Jag update.  And, thanks to the SC crowd for clearing up the Woods medical condition.

Of course, Lee is the real star of that receiving tandum.  Here's hoping Woods fully recovers.

Oh, and sad to hear about your Alum.  Junior is one of the all time greats, he will be missed by many well beyond the LA basin.

4SoCalFan, thanks, added it to my favorites.  Any more going on in the hallowed halls we need to know about?

I haven't heard anything out of the ordinary. Today has been a sad day for Trojan fans, with Junior Seau's death.


I was happy when Kylie Fitts committed to USC a couple of weeks ago. He goes to high school about a mile up the street from me, and I have seen him play about 10 games the last two years. He has a motor, and should a great addition to the defensive line.