Oregon -9.5 at Ariz St (ov/un 68.5) Thurs 9 ESPN

[BB73]

Allowing 20 points and 360 yards per game is big boy defense? Maybe for Oregon it is....I guess....

That's coming against Arizona (DickRod), Fresno State, Tennessee Tech, Arky State (where they gave up 34 points), Wazzu, Washington (their lone good win) and so far against ASU. Not exactly impressive.

They had a huge early lead in the Arky State game (50-10 at the half), just like last night; and Oregon stepped off the gas, making the final score look semi-respectable for the opponent, instead of hanging 80 or 90 points on them. Chip Kelly is going somewhat against his run-it-up reputation this season - it's either to avoid injuries to Mariota/Barner/Thomas (which is wise), or to keep some surprises hidden until they need them (also wise), or because he's trying not to hurt the feelings of the other team's fans (which is unlikely).

But taking his damn foot off the gas in the 2nd quarter cost me the over last night.

I'm not completely sold on Oregon's defense, but a lot of the scores that the Ducks have given up this year have been in the second half when the team was coasting.

Halftime scores this season:

50-10 : Ark St
35-06 - Fresno St
35-07 : Tenn Tech
13-00 : Arizona (no letup there, just RichRod Red Zone ineptitude)
23-19 : Wazzu (51-26 final)
35-07 : Washington
43-07 : Ariz St

So really, their only bad half during a close game was against Wazzu. Obviously Stanford and USC will be better tests.

Another factor for their scoring defense is that they face more drives than most defenses, because of the increased game pace. I'm not going to calculate their points per possession allowed (which is the relevant stat), but it would be a more realistic number in determining their effectiveness.

 

[TooTall]

They had a huge early lead in the Arky State game (50-10 at the half), just like last night; and Oregon stepped off the gas, making the final score look semi-respectable for the opponent, instead of hanging 80 or 90 points on them. Chip Kelly is going somewhat against his run-it-up reputation this season - it's either to avoid injuries to Mariota/Barner/Thomas (which is wise), or to keep some surprises hidden until they need them (also wise), or because he's trying not to hurt the feelings of the other team's fans (which is unlikely).

But taking his damn foot off the gas in the 2nd quarter cost me the over last night.

I'm not completely sold on Oregon's defense, but a lot of the scores that the Ducks have given up this year have been in the second half when the team was coasting.

Curb stomping a team in the first half and then coasting in the second half is going to bite them in the ass sooner or later. Their players are going to get too comfortable with a lead, no matter how big. When the opposing team comes back to take the lead, they'll run around like chickens with their heads cut off.

 

[DubCoffman62]

They had a huge early lead in the Arky State game (50-10 at the half), just like last night; and Oregon stepped off the gas, making the final score look semi-respectable for the opponent, instead of hanging 80 or 90 points on them. Chip Kelly is going somewhat against his run-it-up reputation this season - it's either to avoid injuries to Mariota/Barner/Thomas (which is wise), or to keep some surprises hidden until they need them (also wise), or because he's trying not to hurt the feelings of the other team's fans (which is unlikely).

But taking his damn foot off the gas in the 2nd quarter cost me the over last night.

I'm not completely sold on Oregon's defense, but a lot of the scores that the Ducks have given up this year have been in the second half when the team was coasting.

I think that Oregon's D is pretty solid, at least when the first team is in there. The offense, while it can be stopped by a fast, quality D can still strike at any moment for a big play. Just look at how many 70-80 TD plays they have over the past two years. I'd like to see them have to play a whole game, so far from mid 2nd quarter on it's been all mop-up-run out the clock. The first quarter and a half of their games are fun to watch though.

 

[DubCoffman62]

Curb stomping a team in the first half and then coasting in the second half is going to bite them in the ass sooner or later. Their players are going to get too comfortable with a lead, no matter how big. When the opposing team comes back to take the lead, they'll run around like chickens with their heads cut off.

Well we'll see if that ever happens. I think that if a team comes back to within two TD the first team will be back in.

 

[TooTall]

Well we'll see if that ever happens. I think that if a team comes back to within two TD the first team will be back in.

This year's edition of the Civil War should be VERY interesting, especially considering it's in Corvallis. Strange things happen there.

The other two games I can see Oregon slipping up.. @USC and at home against Stanford.

IMO, they put Stanford away in the third and win by 17. The USC game is too tricky to call.

 

[DubCoffman62]

This year's edition of the Civil War should be VERY interesting, especially considering it's in Corvallis. Strange things happen there.

The other two games I can see Oregon slipping up.. @USC and at home against Stanford.

IMO, they put Stanford away in the third and win by 17. The USC game is too tricky to call.

Yes, the civil war will be interesting. I think they'll put away Stanford early but USC could be tricky depending on how well their O-line progresses.

 

[buckeyesin07]

This year's edition of the Civil War should be VERY interesting, especially considering it's in Corvallis. Strange things happen there.

Eh, Oregon State hasn't done anything to impress me yet. And with games at Washington, at Stanford and home against Oregon, ASU and Cal, they could very easily be a 4-loss team when it's all said and done. But back to Oregon. I expect them to do what they do every year--beat up on their Pac-12 conference mates and then lose a big bowl game.

 

[DubCoffman62]

Eh, Oregon State hasn't done anything to impress me yet. And with games at Washington, at Stanford and home against Oregon, ASU and Cal, they could very easily be a 4-loss team when it's all said and done. But back to Oregon. I expect them to do what they do every year--beat up on their Pac-12 conference mates and then lose a big bowl game.

They broke through last year against a decent Wisky team.

 

[Buckeneye]

They broke through last year against a decent Wisky team.

They faced a team that was, defensively speaking- their worst nightmare.
While at the exact same time, offensively speaking - the matchup they wanted.

Wisky was big up front and slow/undisciplined in the back end. They didn't
Have anything close to the athletes tOSU or even Auburn had.

All Oregon had to do was make one...maybe two defensive stops.
Or just not fuck up as much as Wisky. That game was over the second
The matchup was announced.

JJ Watt was a significant difference and loss from 2010.