The biggest Saturday in the ACC is on the horizon. And there are many matchups around the country that will give us more clarity on the fluid BCS projections.
Here is CFB Kings best prediction as to what teams will land where in the BCS Bowl Games:
BCS Championship Game: Auburn vs. Oregon
Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Pittsburgh
Fiesta Bowl: Ohio State vs. Oklahoma
Rose Bowl: Wisconsin vs. TCU
Sugar Bowl: LSU vs. Boise State
Showing posts with label Oregon Ducks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oregon Ducks. Show all posts
Monday, November 8, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Eyes of Boise and America should be on Blacksburg Tonight
Ever since the night of September 6th, the eyes of the College football world have not ventured in the direction of the state of Virginia. The Virginia Cavaliers have struggled through Head Coach Mike London’s first year. And people seem to have forgotten about a certain team that dons maroon and burnt orange on Saturdays. But tonight, as that team steps back into the spotlight, the nation should understand that the Hokies aren’t only playing for themselves. They are playing for the life of BCS busters everywhere.
After the Hokies lost a thrilling Week 1 showdown to the Boise State Broncos, many expected the win to boost Boise into the Top 2 of the BCS for the entirety of the year. Such a strong win in a virtual road game (at Fed Ex Field) would definitely sway the votes in the Broncos favor, right? Conventional wisdom said yes. What conventional wisdom didn’t expect was for those Hokies to go on to lose their next game to the FCS (formerly D-1AA) James Madison Dukes. It was a devastating blow to Boise’s chances to play for the national title as it appeared that this Hokie team was vastly overrated. Nobody has thought about the team since that devastating Week 2 blunder.
Then came Week 3… and Week 4… and weeks 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. And quietly the Hokies have won 6 straight games, including a road win against #23 ranked North Carolina State. And suddenly in the last BCS standings, Virginia Tech showed up at #22. They now enter their toughest stretch of the season starting tonight against Georgia Tech, followed by trips to North Carolina and Miami, before finishing at home against the rival Cavaliers. If the Hokies win 3 of 4 of those games, they will win the ACC Coastal division and play for the ACC Title in December. And even more interesting, certain projections show that if the Hokies win all 4 November games and the ACC Championship, they could move into the Top 7 of the BCS Standings. Would you believe me if I said another school would be even happier with Virginia Tech’s success than the Hokies themselves?
Nobody stands to benefit more from the success of Hokie Nation than the Boise State Broncos. With Oregon and Auburn atop the standings and fellow BCS busters TCU ranked #3 and Utah ranked #5 rounding out the top 5, Boise State is in a prime position to capitalize on this years love of the Non-AQ schools. Utah and TCU face off this week in an “elimination match” that will only leave 4 unbeaten’s in the country. If Auburn and Oregon win-out, then they will undoubtedly play each other in the BCS Championship game. But if either slips up, it possibly opens the door for a Non-BCS school to finally play for a BCS championship. With Boise sitting at #4 in the polls and playing only 1 more ranked opponent on their schedule (#23 Nevada on Thanksgiving weekend), their only hope of catapulting the TCU/Utah winner in the polls would be for Virginia Tech to win out and finish ranked in the Top 10.
As if that weren’t enough to make this game important… let’s not forget about the defending ACC Champion Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. With a remaining conference schedule that consists of tonight’s opponent, Virginia Tech, along with Duke and Miami, if the Yellow Jackets win out, they will claim the ACC Coastal division title and play for a 2nd consecutive conference championship. All the while, the Miami Hurricanes are sitting at home realizing that if they win-out, they have a chance to win the Coastal division and play for the conference title for the first time in their ACC existence. “The U” still plays both of these teams later in the season. Think they might be interested in this game?
And in case you haven’t put this puzzle together yet… consider that if Alabama wins out (which would include wins over #2 Auburn, #10 LSU, and #20 Mississippi State), they might leap-frog an undefeated Boise State, especially if Virginia Tech isn’t highly rated come December.
Interested yet?
Sure, at (6-2) and (5-3), respectively, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech aren’t exactly competing for a National Championship tonight. But when the 2 teams face off in Blacksburg, VA this evening, the implications of this game will stretch as far south as Miami, FL and as far west as Boise, ID (not to mention Tuscaloosa, AL, Eugene, OR, Fort Worth, TX, and Salt Lake City, UT).
After the Hokies lost a thrilling Week 1 showdown to the Boise State Broncos, many expected the win to boost Boise into the Top 2 of the BCS for the entirety of the year. Such a strong win in a virtual road game (at Fed Ex Field) would definitely sway the votes in the Broncos favor, right? Conventional wisdom said yes. What conventional wisdom didn’t expect was for those Hokies to go on to lose their next game to the FCS (formerly D-1AA) James Madison Dukes. It was a devastating blow to Boise’s chances to play for the national title as it appeared that this Hokie team was vastly overrated. Nobody has thought about the team since that devastating Week 2 blunder.
Then came Week 3… and Week 4… and weeks 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. And quietly the Hokies have won 6 straight games, including a road win against #23 ranked North Carolina State. And suddenly in the last BCS standings, Virginia Tech showed up at #22. They now enter their toughest stretch of the season starting tonight against Georgia Tech, followed by trips to North Carolina and Miami, before finishing at home against the rival Cavaliers. If the Hokies win 3 of 4 of those games, they will win the ACC Coastal division and play for the ACC Title in December. And even more interesting, certain projections show that if the Hokies win all 4 November games and the ACC Championship, they could move into the Top 7 of the BCS Standings. Would you believe me if I said another school would be even happier with Virginia Tech’s success than the Hokies themselves?
Nobody stands to benefit more from the success of Hokie Nation than the Boise State Broncos. With Oregon and Auburn atop the standings and fellow BCS busters TCU ranked #3 and Utah ranked #5 rounding out the top 5, Boise State is in a prime position to capitalize on this years love of the Non-AQ schools. Utah and TCU face off this week in an “elimination match” that will only leave 4 unbeaten’s in the country. If Auburn and Oregon win-out, then they will undoubtedly play each other in the BCS Championship game. But if either slips up, it possibly opens the door for a Non-BCS school to finally play for a BCS championship. With Boise sitting at #4 in the polls and playing only 1 more ranked opponent on their schedule (#23 Nevada on Thanksgiving weekend), their only hope of catapulting the TCU/Utah winner in the polls would be for Virginia Tech to win out and finish ranked in the Top 10.
As if that weren’t enough to make this game important… let’s not forget about the defending ACC Champion Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. With a remaining conference schedule that consists of tonight’s opponent, Virginia Tech, along with Duke and Miami, if the Yellow Jackets win out, they will claim the ACC Coastal division title and play for a 2nd consecutive conference championship. All the while, the Miami Hurricanes are sitting at home realizing that if they win-out, they have a chance to win the Coastal division and play for the conference title for the first time in their ACC existence. “The U” still plays both of these teams later in the season. Think they might be interested in this game?
And in case you haven’t put this puzzle together yet… consider that if Alabama wins out (which would include wins over #2 Auburn, #10 LSU, and #20 Mississippi State), they might leap-frog an undefeated Boise State, especially if Virginia Tech isn’t highly rated come December.
Interested yet?
Sure, at (6-2) and (5-3), respectively, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech aren’t exactly competing for a National Championship tonight. But when the 2 teams face off in Blacksburg, VA this evening, the implications of this game will stretch as far south as Miami, FL and as far west as Boise, ID (not to mention Tuscaloosa, AL, Eugene, OR, Fort Worth, TX, and Salt Lake City, UT).
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
We're Asking the Wrong Question
Ever since 2004, I have been amongst the BCS-Elitists whose slogans represent something to the effect of “Just Say No to the Non-AQ!!!” Sure, I have respected the success of Utah, Boise State, BYU, Hawaii and TCU over the past 6 years, but I was strongly against their inclusion in the BCS Bowls and in particular the National Championship discussion. So many people that argue with me on the subject continue to ask me some variation of the following question: “What… you don’t think that Boise or TCU could beat Mississippi State, Clemson, South Carolina, LSU, Arkansas, Georgia, or Alabama?”
And there within lies my problem with the entire discussion. We’ll come back to this.
Even in this season, the 3 Non-BCS powerhouses have proven their capability. TCU beat a Baylor team that now sits atop the Big 12 South. Boise beat a Virginia Tech team who is currently undefeated in the ACC. And Utah beat a Pittsburgh team which has started 3-0 in Big East league play. Right now you’re probably thinking… “exactly, so they should have the chance to play for the title.” Keep dreaming (and reading).
There is NO DOUBT in my mind this year that Boise State, Utah, and TCU could beat any team in the country on a neutral field. Heck, I even think that they could go into some of the most hostile road environments, including SEC venues, and come away with victories. But let’s change that “or” to “and” and re-ask the aforementioned question.
“Do you think that Boise or TCU could beat Mississippi State, Clemson, South Carolina, LSU, Arkansas, Georgia, and Alabama?”
The answer to that question… is an emphatic NO.
But, that is what Auburn has been asked to do this year… and so far (with a 9-0 record) they have done it.
Ohio State has been asked to beat Miami, Wisconsin, Iowa, Penn State, Michigan, Illinois, and Purdue.
Oklahoma has been asked to beat Florida State, Cincinnati, Air Force, Texas, Missouri, Iowa State, Baylor, and Oklahoma State.
Even though Oklahoma and Ohio State both slipped up once, the fact that they are attempting to navigate such a difficult schedule is the point. Week-in and week-out, the BCS conference members have to play a schedule that requires their best effort. The Non-BCS schools do not have nearly the challenge that the BCS schools do. BCS teams are asked to beat more than 1 or 2 tough opponents every year, unlike the non-BCS teams.
Ponder this. In the heart of the season (October):
Boise State played New Mexico State, Toledo, San Jose State, and Louisiana Tech.
TCU played Colorado State, Wyoming, BYU, Air Force, and UNLV.
Now, during that same stretch:
Alabama played Arkansas, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Ole Miss.
LSU played West Virginia, Tennessee, Florida, and Auburn.
Oregon played Stanford, UCLA, Washington State, and USC.
The bottom line is that these non-BCS schedules are not on par with their BCS brethren, so why should the non-BCS teams play for the same reward? Even the title of the game itself should be enough to drive home that point. It’s not called the “College Football Championship” or the “FBS National Title”. It’s called the “BCS Championship Game”. It is a reward for the top teams that come out of the BCS conferences. It’s not a reward for teams that play schedules with a strength ranking below 90th.
I have softened my stance on allowing the Non-BCS teams to participate in some of the BCS games. It is entertaining to see how a Boise or TCU matches up with some of the BCS powers every now and again. But the BCS Championship should remain reserved for schools that reside in BCS conferences. That is a question that is easy to answer.
And there within lies my problem with the entire discussion. We’ll come back to this.
Even in this season, the 3 Non-BCS powerhouses have proven their capability. TCU beat a Baylor team that now sits atop the Big 12 South. Boise beat a Virginia Tech team who is currently undefeated in the ACC. And Utah beat a Pittsburgh team which has started 3-0 in Big East league play. Right now you’re probably thinking… “exactly, so they should have the chance to play for the title.” Keep dreaming (and reading).
There is NO DOUBT in my mind this year that Boise State, Utah, and TCU could beat any team in the country on a neutral field. Heck, I even think that they could go into some of the most hostile road environments, including SEC venues, and come away with victories. But let’s change that “or” to “and” and re-ask the aforementioned question.
“Do you think that Boise or TCU could beat Mississippi State, Clemson, South Carolina, LSU, Arkansas, Georgia, and Alabama?”
The answer to that question… is an emphatic NO.
But, that is what Auburn has been asked to do this year… and so far (with a 9-0 record) they have done it.
Ohio State has been asked to beat Miami, Wisconsin, Iowa, Penn State, Michigan, Illinois, and Purdue.
Oklahoma has been asked to beat Florida State, Cincinnati, Air Force, Texas, Missouri, Iowa State, Baylor, and Oklahoma State.
Even though Oklahoma and Ohio State both slipped up once, the fact that they are attempting to navigate such a difficult schedule is the point. Week-in and week-out, the BCS conference members have to play a schedule that requires their best effort. The Non-BCS schools do not have nearly the challenge that the BCS schools do. BCS teams are asked to beat more than 1 or 2 tough opponents every year, unlike the non-BCS teams.
Ponder this. In the heart of the season (October):
Boise State played New Mexico State, Toledo, San Jose State, and Louisiana Tech.
TCU played Colorado State, Wyoming, BYU, Air Force, and UNLV.
Now, during that same stretch:
Alabama played Arkansas, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Ole Miss.
LSU played West Virginia, Tennessee, Florida, and Auburn.
Oregon played Stanford, UCLA, Washington State, and USC.
The bottom line is that these non-BCS schedules are not on par with their BCS brethren, so why should the non-BCS teams play for the same reward? Even the title of the game itself should be enough to drive home that point. It’s not called the “College Football Championship” or the “FBS National Title”. It’s called the “BCS Championship Game”. It is a reward for the top teams that come out of the BCS conferences. It’s not a reward for teams that play schedules with a strength ranking below 90th.
I have softened my stance on allowing the Non-BCS teams to participate in some of the BCS games. It is entertaining to see how a Boise or TCU matches up with some of the BCS powers every now and again. But the BCS Championship should remain reserved for schools that reside in BCS conferences. That is a question that is easy to answer.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Week 10 BCS Bowl Projections
There is a ton of football left to be played. After this week (Alabama vs. LSU and TCU vs Utah) there will be a lot more clarity as to how the BCS picture will shape up. For now, here is CFB Kings best prediction as to what teams will land where in the BCS Bowl Games:
BCS Championship Game: Oregon vs. Auburn
Orange Bowl: Florida State vs. Pittsburgh
Fiesta Bowl: Utah vs. Oklahoma
Rose Bowl: Ohio State vs. Boise State
Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. Nebraska
BCS Championship Game: Oregon vs. Auburn
Orange Bowl: Florida State vs. Pittsburgh
Fiesta Bowl: Utah vs. Oklahoma
Rose Bowl: Ohio State vs. Boise State
Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. Nebraska
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Week 9 Upset Alert
There are a lot of teams that have tough challenges this week. Missouri travels to Nebraska, Michigan State travels to Iowa, and Auburn goes on the road to face Ole Miss. But the 1 team that is sure to be upset on Saturday is the #2 Oregon Ducks. Shhhhh… wipe the surprised look off your face and let me explain.
Anyone reading this blog right now is surely thinking “didn’t this guy see Oregon crush UCLA and Stanford?” To be fair, I’ll answer that question and say “yes”. But those aren’t the 2 games that have me thinking this will be an upset. Its Oregon’s other games that give me reason for concern. Here’s a quick breakdown:
-Oregon was tied at halftime against the Tennessee Volunteers. Sure, the Tennessee name carries some weight, but in reality that Volunteer team is the worst in the program’s last 20 years. They are currently (2-5) with an (0-4) record in the SEC.
-Oregon trailed 24-14 to Arizona State before rallying to win 42-31. Sure, Arizona State is a Pac-10 team, but they are the 2nd worst team in the Pac-10 and are below .500 at this point in the season for the 3rd straight year.
-Then, there is the game against Washington State. Oregon was down 14-8 to the Cougars and Oregon only led the Cougars by a score of 36-23 entering the 4th quarter. Washington State scored 23 points on the Ducks. We’re talking about the same Cougars team that only could manage 23 points against Montana State and 21 points against SMU.
Now, in Oregon’s other 4 games, they have played dominant football, beating UCLA, Stanford, Portland State, and New Mexico. So, what has been the difference in the performance of the team in these games? Simple. The 4 games that they played dominant football all happened in Autzen Stadium in Oregon (one of the toughest places to play in the country). The 3 games where they struggled… yep, you guessed it… all came on the road.
It just so happens that this week’s matchup with #24 USC comes on the road in what will be a sold-out, raucous, “Red Out” Coliseum. Add to that the fact that College Football Gameday will be there (they have been at the site of past 3 weeks of #1 upsets), and also keep in mind that USC had an extra week of preparation to get ready for this contest.
Lastly, we can all agree that Oregon is a speedy team. Maybe one of the fastest in America. The only thing that nullifies speed is.... speed, which is something that the Men of Troy are never lacking. This will be the fastest defense that Oregon will face all season.
So, while everybody else in America may be surprised when the Oregon Ducks go down Saturday night… if you took the time to read this blog… you wont be one of those surprised individuals.
Anyone reading this blog right now is surely thinking “didn’t this guy see Oregon crush UCLA and Stanford?” To be fair, I’ll answer that question and say “yes”. But those aren’t the 2 games that have me thinking this will be an upset. Its Oregon’s other games that give me reason for concern. Here’s a quick breakdown:
-Oregon was tied at halftime against the Tennessee Volunteers. Sure, the Tennessee name carries some weight, but in reality that Volunteer team is the worst in the program’s last 20 years. They are currently (2-5) with an (0-4) record in the SEC.
-Oregon trailed 24-14 to Arizona State before rallying to win 42-31. Sure, Arizona State is a Pac-10 team, but they are the 2nd worst team in the Pac-10 and are below .500 at this point in the season for the 3rd straight year.
-Then, there is the game against Washington State. Oregon was down 14-8 to the Cougars and Oregon only led the Cougars by a score of 36-23 entering the 4th quarter. Washington State scored 23 points on the Ducks. We’re talking about the same Cougars team that only could manage 23 points against Montana State and 21 points against SMU.
Now, in Oregon’s other 4 games, they have played dominant football, beating UCLA, Stanford, Portland State, and New Mexico. So, what has been the difference in the performance of the team in these games? Simple. The 4 games that they played dominant football all happened in Autzen Stadium in Oregon (one of the toughest places to play in the country). The 3 games where they struggled… yep, you guessed it… all came on the road.
It just so happens that this week’s matchup with #24 USC comes on the road in what will be a sold-out, raucous, “Red Out” Coliseum. Add to that the fact that College Football Gameday will be there (they have been at the site of past 3 weeks of #1 upsets), and also keep in mind that USC had an extra week of preparation to get ready for this contest.
Lastly, we can all agree that Oregon is a speedy team. Maybe one of the fastest in America. The only thing that nullifies speed is.... speed, which is something that the Men of Troy are never lacking. This will be the fastest defense that Oregon will face all season.
So, while everybody else in America may be surprised when the Oregon Ducks go down Saturday night… if you took the time to read this blog… you wont be one of those surprised individuals.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Updated BCS Bowl Projections
Here is CFB Kings best projection as to what teams will land where in the BCS Bowl Games:
BCS Championship Game: Auburn vs. Boise State
Orange Bowl: Florida State vs. West Virginia
Fiesta Bowl: Utah vs. Oklahoma
Rose Bowl: Oregon vs. Michigan State
Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. Ohio State
BCS Championship Game: Auburn vs. Boise State
Orange Bowl: Florida State vs. West Virginia
Fiesta Bowl: Utah vs. Oklahoma
Rose Bowl: Oregon vs. Michigan State
Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. Ohio State
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Week 2 Upset Alert
We’ll start our conversation this week with our Upset Alerts. There are 3 teams that better have their eyes Wide Open this Saturday and all 3 games involve SEC teams:
- #1 Alabama Crimson Tide - Some people might think this one is far fetched, particularly because Penn State will be starting a True Freshman QB (Robert Bolden). But Bolden is not the player that will be the most critical for the Nittany Lions. RB Evan Royster has all but been forgotten by most of America, yet he still has the talent to be one of the best RBs in the country. The Crimson Tide will once again be without star DT and NFL 1st Round prospect Marcell Dareus. If the Penn State O-Line can get nasty and create a few openings for Royster, it could really get them out to a good start. Then, utilizing a heavy dose of play-action passes, Bolden could take advantage of the young Bama secondary who is still shaky trying replacing 2 All-SEC CBs from 2009.
- #8 Florida Gators - By now, everyone has heard how poorly the Florida offense played in Week 1, only managing 26 first half yards against a Miami (OH) team that had all of 1 win in 2009. That poor offensive play included 13 botched shotgun snaps between C Mike Pouncey and QB John Brantley. The defense was stout, as expected, but if the offense could only manage 26 yards in a half against a poor team, how will it produce against the most athletic team in the Big East? The South Florida Bulls pack quite a larger punch than Miami (OH) and in the past 3 years, USF has upset ranked powerhouses West Virginia (2007, 2009), FSU (2009), and Auburn (2007). Could #8 Florida be the next victim?
- #7 Oregon Ducks - The Ducks went wild in week 1, beating New Mexico 72-0. They clicked on all cylinders and completely dismantled an inferior opponent. Now they take their high scoring show on the road to one of the biggest stadiums in all of sports: Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN which will have more than 100,000 fans screaming Rocky Top on Saturday night. A lot of people will think I’m crazy with this one considering how talented Oregon is. But keep in mind, Tennessee is an SEC team and although they haven’t done great in their own conference over the past few years, they still have been recruiting Top notch southern talent and speed, so they will matchup with the Ducks better than almost any opponent on their 2010 Pac-10 schedule. Furthermore, this will be Sophomore Oregon QB Darron Thomas’s first career road start. Lastly, but also most importantly, Tennessee’s defense is coached by Justin Wilcox. Many of you will say “Who’s that?” Well, Wilcox just happens to be the former 2009 Boise State defensive coordinator. And if you recall he lead a unit that completely shut down Oregon’s fast paced attack and held them to 8 points in a early season upset (and that was with Heisman hopeful Jeremiah Masoli as the starter). Can he pull off the same magic on Saturday?
- #1 Alabama Crimson Tide - Some people might think this one is far fetched, particularly because Penn State will be starting a True Freshman QB (Robert Bolden). But Bolden is not the player that will be the most critical for the Nittany Lions. RB Evan Royster has all but been forgotten by most of America, yet he still has the talent to be one of the best RBs in the country. The Crimson Tide will once again be without star DT and NFL 1st Round prospect Marcell Dareus. If the Penn State O-Line can get nasty and create a few openings for Royster, it could really get them out to a good start. Then, utilizing a heavy dose of play-action passes, Bolden could take advantage of the young Bama secondary who is still shaky trying replacing 2 All-SEC CBs from 2009.
- #8 Florida Gators - By now, everyone has heard how poorly the Florida offense played in Week 1, only managing 26 first half yards against a Miami (OH) team that had all of 1 win in 2009. That poor offensive play included 13 botched shotgun snaps between C Mike Pouncey and QB John Brantley. The defense was stout, as expected, but if the offense could only manage 26 yards in a half against a poor team, how will it produce against the most athletic team in the Big East? The South Florida Bulls pack quite a larger punch than Miami (OH) and in the past 3 years, USF has upset ranked powerhouses West Virginia (2007, 2009), FSU (2009), and Auburn (2007). Could #8 Florida be the next victim?
- #7 Oregon Ducks - The Ducks went wild in week 1, beating New Mexico 72-0. They clicked on all cylinders and completely dismantled an inferior opponent. Now they take their high scoring show on the road to one of the biggest stadiums in all of sports: Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN which will have more than 100,000 fans screaming Rocky Top on Saturday night. A lot of people will think I’m crazy with this one considering how talented Oregon is. But keep in mind, Tennessee is an SEC team and although they haven’t done great in their own conference over the past few years, they still have been recruiting Top notch southern talent and speed, so they will matchup with the Ducks better than almost any opponent on their 2010 Pac-10 schedule. Furthermore, this will be Sophomore Oregon QB Darron Thomas’s first career road start. Lastly, but also most importantly, Tennessee’s defense is coached by Justin Wilcox. Many of you will say “Who’s that?” Well, Wilcox just happens to be the former 2009 Boise State defensive coordinator. And if you recall he lead a unit that completely shut down Oregon’s fast paced attack and held them to 8 points in a early season upset (and that was with Heisman hopeful Jeremiah Masoli as the starter). Can he pull off the same magic on Saturday?
Monday, July 19, 2010
#12 Oregon Ducks
Rewind to January. Even though they had just come off of a tough Rose Bowl loss to Ohio State, the Pac-10 champion Oregon Ducks were everybody’s trendy pick for the 2010 National Championship. OK, fast forward to the present. After 7 players dismissals and 3 other suspensions, the Ducks are in the midst of a Quarterback battle and people now vary in their predictions for this squad… predictions that range anywhere from 7-5 to still being a title contender. I’m somewhere in the middle.
2nd-year Head Coach Chip Kelly has had a tumultuous off-season, highlighted by the unfortunate dismissal of Heisman contender, QB Jeremiah Masoli (after 2 arrests and 1 conviction). Through it all, the Ducks continued to recruit well, pulling in the 13th ranked recruiting class and now as the season approaches, things seem to have settled down a bit. Most of the talent is still on the roster, but there is no way around the fact that the QB position (the most important position on the field) is unsettled.
With Masoli’s departure, the window has opened up for a battle between Senior Nate Costa and Redshirt-Sophomore Darron Thomas. Both players have a history of success within the program, but neither has been a starter. Costa was in a dead heat battle for the starting job 3 years ago, so he certainly has the talent and aptitude. Thomas (the more athletic of the 2) filled in for an injured Masoli admirably in the 2008 season opener against Boise State. Replacing Masoli in the 2nd quarter, Thomas threw for 268 yards and 3 TDs while rushing for 27 yards with 1 TD. Both QBs have had success in the spring and summer, and Coach Kelly has yet to reveal who the starter is going to me. If I were a betting man, I’d lean towards Thomas for a few reasons. First of all, he had has more game success. Secondly, he is the more athletic of the 2, which is vitally important in the Spread Attack that the Ducks use. Third, he is a sophomore, so starting him this year will allow him to get through the growing pains of a first year starter early, leaving him a Junior and Senior year to truly flourish. We’ll have to wait and see what direction the Ducks go in.
Regardless of the dismissals and suspensions, the Ducks still bring back 20 starters (9 on each side of the ball), which is more than any other team in the Pac-10. The WR corps will be led by Jeff Maehl, D.J. Davis, and Lavasier Tuinei. All 3 were significant contributors and collectively, they should be the most seasoned group in the conference.
The RB position has been interesting for Oregon. Last year, they entered the season with one of the best RBs in the country in LaGarette Blount. After the infamous Punch seen round the World against Boise in Week 1, Blount was suspended and in stepped True Freshman LaMichael James. He proceeded to rush for 1,546 yards and 14 TDs. He is sure to have another huge year in 2010. However, James is one of the players who will be suspended for the first game of the season when Oregon faces New Mexico. Backup Kenjon Barner is a solid replacement as he had 366 yards and 3 TDs in his freshman campaign. Also joining the RB group is Blue-Chip 5-star recruit Lache Seastrunk and he will vie for playing time early and often as he may be the fastest player on the team already. All 5 offensive linemen return so the running game should indeed be stout.
Defensively, the Ducks have to replace 2 defensive linemen, but aside from that, everyone else is back. And while, the Ducks weren’t necessarily known for their defense, they showed flashes of really coming together late in the season. Expect the most experienced returning Defense in the conference to improve on all statistics from 2009.
At first glance, the schedule might not seem that bad, but after some review, there is much cause for concern. In Week 2, the Ducks will take a first-year starting QB to the 5th largest stadium in America (Neyland Stadium) in Knoxville, TN for a road matchup against the Volunteers. In October, Oregon will face 3 of the California teams that made Bowl games last year (USC, UCLA, and Stanford) and expect a heavy dose of revenge to be on the Trojans mind after their embarrassing loss in Eugene, OR last year. November will then bring one of the toughest closing schedules in America. They face, in consecutive weeks, Washington, California, Arizona, and Oregon State (the annual rivalry game). The turning point for the season will be Week 2. A win on the road against an SEC team could give the Ducks a ton of confidence and catapult them to a 10 or 11 win season… but a loss might put doubt in their minds, and stir up controversy stemming from the chaotic offseason.
Key Returning Players:
RB LaMichael James
WR Jeff Maehl
C Jordan Holmes
MLB Casey Matthews
CB Talmadge Jackson
Key Games:
Sept 11 - @ Tennessee
Oct 2 - Stanford
Oct 30 - @ USC
Nov 6 - Washington
Nov 13 - @ California
Nov 26 - Arizona
Dec 4 - @ Oregon State
2nd-year Head Coach Chip Kelly has had a tumultuous off-season, highlighted by the unfortunate dismissal of Heisman contender, QB Jeremiah Masoli (after 2 arrests and 1 conviction). Through it all, the Ducks continued to recruit well, pulling in the 13th ranked recruiting class and now as the season approaches, things seem to have settled down a bit. Most of the talent is still on the roster, but there is no way around the fact that the QB position (the most important position on the field) is unsettled.
With Masoli’s departure, the window has opened up for a battle between Senior Nate Costa and Redshirt-Sophomore Darron Thomas. Both players have a history of success within the program, but neither has been a starter. Costa was in a dead heat battle for the starting job 3 years ago, so he certainly has the talent and aptitude. Thomas (the more athletic of the 2) filled in for an injured Masoli admirably in the 2008 season opener against Boise State. Replacing Masoli in the 2nd quarter, Thomas threw for 268 yards and 3 TDs while rushing for 27 yards with 1 TD. Both QBs have had success in the spring and summer, and Coach Kelly has yet to reveal who the starter is going to me. If I were a betting man, I’d lean towards Thomas for a few reasons. First of all, he had has more game success. Secondly, he is the more athletic of the 2, which is vitally important in the Spread Attack that the Ducks use. Third, he is a sophomore, so starting him this year will allow him to get through the growing pains of a first year starter early, leaving him a Junior and Senior year to truly flourish. We’ll have to wait and see what direction the Ducks go in.
Regardless of the dismissals and suspensions, the Ducks still bring back 20 starters (9 on each side of the ball), which is more than any other team in the Pac-10. The WR corps will be led by Jeff Maehl, D.J. Davis, and Lavasier Tuinei. All 3 were significant contributors and collectively, they should be the most seasoned group in the conference.
The RB position has been interesting for Oregon. Last year, they entered the season with one of the best RBs in the country in LaGarette Blount. After the infamous Punch seen round the World against Boise in Week 1, Blount was suspended and in stepped True Freshman LaMichael James. He proceeded to rush for 1,546 yards and 14 TDs. He is sure to have another huge year in 2010. However, James is one of the players who will be suspended for the first game of the season when Oregon faces New Mexico. Backup Kenjon Barner is a solid replacement as he had 366 yards and 3 TDs in his freshman campaign. Also joining the RB group is Blue-Chip 5-star recruit Lache Seastrunk and he will vie for playing time early and often as he may be the fastest player on the team already. All 5 offensive linemen return so the running game should indeed be stout.
Defensively, the Ducks have to replace 2 defensive linemen, but aside from that, everyone else is back. And while, the Ducks weren’t necessarily known for their defense, they showed flashes of really coming together late in the season. Expect the most experienced returning Defense in the conference to improve on all statistics from 2009.
At first glance, the schedule might not seem that bad, but after some review, there is much cause for concern. In Week 2, the Ducks will take a first-year starting QB to the 5th largest stadium in America (Neyland Stadium) in Knoxville, TN for a road matchup against the Volunteers. In October, Oregon will face 3 of the California teams that made Bowl games last year (USC, UCLA, and Stanford) and expect a heavy dose of revenge to be on the Trojans mind after their embarrassing loss in Eugene, OR last year. November will then bring one of the toughest closing schedules in America. They face, in consecutive weeks, Washington, California, Arizona, and Oregon State (the annual rivalry game). The turning point for the season will be Week 2. A win on the road against an SEC team could give the Ducks a ton of confidence and catapult them to a 10 or 11 win season… but a loss might put doubt in their minds, and stir up controversy stemming from the chaotic offseason.
Key Returning Players:
RB LaMichael James
WR Jeff Maehl
C Jordan Holmes
MLB Casey Matthews
CB Talmadge Jackson
Key Games:
Sept 11 - @ Tennessee
Oct 2 - Stanford
Oct 30 - @ USC
Nov 6 - Washington
Nov 13 - @ California
Nov 26 - Arizona
Dec 4 - @ Oregon State
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