The official Oregon Ducks thread (merged)

[Nightowl]

It's not just you.

Before this season, my brother in law (a died in the wool Cal fan) told me that Oregon was far better off with Thomas then Masoli. I told him, at best, we would break even but no way we were better off... I am very glad that I was totally wrong.

I'm even hearing "Who is better... Thomas or Dixon" talk on Oregon boards. Which is really saying something.

 

[FREE EARL]

Negative Nancy

1. Special teams, special teams, special teams... Terrible performance last night on kick and punt return coverage. Put the defense in terrible positions all night, giving the Trojans numerous opportunities for easy scores. The Ducks need to improve upon this aspect otherwise it'll cost em somewhere down the road.

2. There were far too many drops in yesterday nights game. David Paulson, I'm looking at you.

3. Two receivers stepped up last night. Jeff Maehl and Lavasier Tuinei. Every other receiver in the corps was a no show. Well, Josh Huff did have a big catch, but that was his one and only catch.

Positive Pete

1. LaMichael James very well may be the best back in the country. I'm not sure his game will transfer over to the next level, but I expect him to declare for the draft at seasons end.

2. Jeff Maehl is a stud. Period.

3. The defense played pretty well. If it weren't for the special teams unit putting them in poor positions, I doubt USC scores more than 24.

4. Darron Thomas is continuing to progress. He seemed a little rattled early, but he composed himself and finished strong. I have em as the 3rd or 4th best QB in the Pac-10.

5. Oregon has the best jerseys in football. Yes, everyone here hates them, but the demographic that composes collegiate football programs loves them. The Stormtrooper look was dope.

6. De'Anthony Thomas, George Farmer, Marqise Lee, and Jason Gibson all witnessed USC get ran at home last night. The latter three will be visiting Oregon next week. It'll be Oregon's biggest recruiting weekend in the history of the program.

7. Lane Kiffin is a joke. What the hell was up with his play calling? A toss sweep out of gun on 3rd and long? There were some head scratchers.

8. I hate Pac-10 officials.

9. 4 more wins and the Ducks are in the national title game. They'll roll Washington and Cal, but Arizona and OSu worry me. I'm glad the Arizona game will be played at Autzen.

 

[Nightowl]

Negative Nancy

1. Special teams, special teams, special teams... Terrible performance last night on kick and punt return coverage. Put the defense in terrible positions all night, giving the Trojans numerous opportunities for easy scores. The Ducks need to improve upon this aspect otherwise it'll cost em somewhere down the road.

2. There were far too many drops in yesterday nights game. David Paulson, I'm looking at you.

3. Two receivers stepped up last night. Jeff Maehl and Lavasier Tuinei. Every other receiver in the corps was a no show. Well, Josh Huff did have a big catch, but that was his one and only catch.

Oregon is normally solid in both these areas (hands and special teams coverage) but I think part of the problems in Area #1 was the talent of USC's return teams. Their return guy is a stud and a lot of those plays were also some great blocking. Beard, our kicker, made two great, tough, hard hit tackles... both saved TD's

As for 2 and 3... Agreed. I don't know why we had such a bad hands night but drops were plaguing us on every drive.

Positive Pete

1. LaMichael James very well may be the best back in the country. I'm not sure his game will transfer over to the next level, but I expect him to declare for the draft at seasons end.

2. Jeff Maehl is a stud. Period.

3. The defense played pretty well. If it weren't for the special teams unit putting them in poor positions, I doubt USC scores more than 24.

4. Darron Thomas is continuing to progress. He seemed a little rattled early, but he composed himself and finished strong. I have em as the 3rd or 4th best QB in the Pac-10.

5. Oregon has the best jerseys in football. Yes, everyone here hates them, but the demographic that composes collegiate football programs loves them. The Stormtrooper look was dope.

6. De'Anthony Thomas, George Farmer, Marqise Lee, and Jason Gibson all witnessed USC get ran at home last night. The latter three will be visiting Oregon next week. It'll be Oregon's biggest recruiting weekend in the history of the program.

7. Lane Kiffin is a joke. What the hell was up with his play calling? A toss sweep out of gun on 3rd and long? There were some head scratchers.

8. I hate Pac-10 officials.

9. 4 more wins and the Ducks are in the national title game. They'll roll Washington and Cal, but Arizona and OSu worry me. I'm glad the Arizona game will be played at Autzen.

No way LaMichael goes to the draft after just 2 years of playing time. He'll go after his Junior Year I think (sadly) but I'm not too worried. Barner is very good and Seastrunk is a stud. Even Hawkins, down there in #4 on the depth chart will be a standout. Ducks are LOADED at Running Back.

Maehl's always been one of my favorite Ducks, he is vastly under rated and any body that follows Oregon football closely knows it. I loved the D's performance this week too, and DT is coming along nicely but I gotta disagree on the uniforms... I hate the all white look. I'm a fan of white tops/black bottoms with black or green helmets (either/or.)

Pac-10 officials are terrible. Worst officiating in CFB.

The only game left that scares me is @ OSU. They are always feisty and if we're 11-0 and they have won out up until that point, the Civil War would be for the NCG if your a Duck and for Roses if your a Beaver... Reser would be R-O-C-K-I-N-G. :unsure:

Arizona doesn't scare me. ESPECIALLY in Autzen. I've actually watched several of their games this year, including the one today, and they seem to be good (but not much more) at home and mediocre, if not bad, on the road. Oregon rolls in that one.

 

[punkcat]

Ducks, just beat the snot out of SC.

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:rock:

 

[WoodsmanVol]

But people have stopped it every year up until this one. Boise State has done it twice. Bottom line, they are a good team this year that has been recruited to run this style. Teams like USC, Miami, etc, have built dynastys on pro-style...USC owned the Pac 10 for a decade. I don't think Oregon can win 10 conference championships in a row.

The real strength of Oregon is their conditioning. They can run and run and run without sucking wind the way other teams on the field do. They're like Bushmen running a kudu into the ground before spearing it to death at close range.

 

[wheaton4prez]

This might have been covered before but why don't more teams play Oregon's style of offense? By style I mean their hurry up approach. It causes tons of problems for any defense.

Thoughts?

See below:

While it is effective, it is still gimmicky. Just like with the option and veer's of the 70's and 80's, D coordinators will figure this out. The only true consistent style of offense that stands the test of time is pro-style. If you can get the right athletes it is impossible to stop.

I disagree with this. But, I think that it does answer the OP's question in a way. There are still many coaches and staffs that are sold hook line and sinker that anything other than the quickly aging pro-style approach is a gimmick. There is job security built into this belief and thousands of people with resumes trying to get jobs as pro-style co-ordinators.

However, it has been well covered that there is a ton of interest from the NFL down in what Oregon is doing. The coach visits are there to prove it and I imagine that will only increase this off-season with the way the Ducks have been playing.

Bottom line, I expect many more programs to adopt an Oregon-esque approach to tempo and preparation. Just like many programs have adopted more spread sets into their offense over the last few years.

But people have stopped it every year up until this one. Boise State has done it twice. Bottom line, they are a good team this year that has been recruited to run this style. Teams like USC, Miami, etc, have built dynastys on pro-style...USC owned the Pac 10 for a decade. I don't think Oregon can win 10 conference championships in a row.

An offense doesn't have to be completely unstoppable to be effective relative to other schemes.

Programs doing well with one scheme doesn't mean that they are better than all other schemes to come. If defenses supposedly will "solve" what Oregon is doing, why isn't that same logic used to say that the spread-option "solved" the pro-style by regularly outscoring it?

Oklahoma's been running this offense for years. Since at least 08.

Have you watched these two teams play?

Most teams don't run it because most teams o-linemen can't keep up the pace. To run the flash offense you're entire offense. Most teams would exhaust themselves trying to run it.

Good point. Line play, imo, is the difference between a passable spread-option team and a good one. It demands different traits from linemen than pro-style. So, it can take a while to recruit the right players.

"Gimmicky" That is the same thing people said about Boise States offense for years.....and they still say that..BUT the past 3 years Boise has played a straight up pro style offense mixed with the Spread..they still do trick plays but nothing like what made them famous.
The Ducks are great to watch...fun to watch..Just like Boise. all these "scared of change" right coasters just don't understand how fun it is to watch.

I've been trying to tell people this since the Dixon days as well. It's a lot of fun to watch.

 

[VolsFan4Ever-11]

dude..BSU was doing this a few years before the duck were.

And teams were doing it before BSU

 

[wheaton4prez]

Is it just me or is Thomas better than Masoli?

Considerably. And he's only a Sophomore.

To be fair, I think that a lot of it is sheer height. Thomas can see over the line, check down, etc.

I think you have to hand it to Masoli for making things work when he has to run around looking for lanes to see down. He's a great athlete.

 

[FREE EARL]

Have you watched these two teams play

Yes, have you? Oklahoma has been running a no huddle scheme since 08, when they broke the NCAA scoring record averaging 58 ppg. On average, they snap the ball faster than any team in the country.

 

[wheaton4prez]

Yes, have you? Oklahoma has been running a no huddle scheme since 08, when they broke the NCAA scoring record averaging 58 ppg. On average, they snap the ball faster than any team in the country.

Weird. Because what you wrote was "Oklahoma has been running this offense" in a thread titled "Oregon's Offense".

Are you saying that the only characteristic of the Oregon offense is that they snap the ball quickly?

 

[FREE EARL]

Weird. Because what you wrote was "Oklahoma has been running this offense" in a thread titled "Oregon's Offense".

Are you saying that the only characteristic of the Oregon offense is that they snap the ball quickly?

Perhaps you missed the opening post, which, in your case, doesn't seem to be too uncommon. Skipping over and or missing the specifics of post.

This might have been covered before but why don't more teams play Oregon's style of offense? By style I mean their hurry up approach. It causes tons of problems for any defense.

Thoughts?

Your energies would be better served reading the thread as opposed to being contrary. :yes:

 

[Zenitram]

Masoli had an amazing ability to improvise, and was a better runner (built like a runningback).

I was firmly on the Nate Costa bandwagon before the season, and was surprised Darron Thomas got the starting job. Now it's easy to see why, the kid is absolutely amazing and is actually challenging Andrew Luck stats-wise for 1st Team All-Pac-10. For a sophomore he shows three things that are hard to coach: touch on the ball, poise in the pocket, and the ability to shrug off a mistake immediately.

I don't think we'd be undefeated right now with Masoli, he had way too many off games.

 

[Zenitram]

Yes, have you? Oklahoma has been running a no huddle scheme since 08, when they broke the NCAA scoring record averaging 58 ppg. On average, they snap the ball faster than any team in the country.

Oregon's been doing it since '07 with the arrival of Chip Kelly. It's one of those things that OC's see and it happens concurrently, the person who invented it is probably a Texas high school coach in his 60s.

And when Oregon goes fast, nobody gets off more snaps per minute than the Ducks. I've seen many Oklahoma games and they just aren't as fast. They have the best average, I think that has something to do with Oregon being so far ahead that they just start killing the clock in the 4th quarter. The only blowout games OU has are FSU, Iowa St. and Colorado.

 

[FREE EARL]

Oregon's been doing it since '07 with the arrival of Chip Kelly. It's one of those things that OC's see and it happens concurrently, the person who invented it is probably a Texas high school coach in his 60s.

And when Oregon goes fast, nobody gets off more snaps per minute than the Ducks. I've seen many Oklahoma games and they just aren't as fast. They have the best average, I think that has something to do with Oregon being so far ahead that they just start killing the clock in the 4th quarter. The only blowout games OU has are FSU, Iowa St. and Colorado.

Kelly's offense this season isn't the same as it was in 07, 08, or even 09. Hence the massive increase in production.

Oklahoma mastered this offense in 08, and largely Nationalized it.

 

[milohimself]

Masoli played like the best qb Oregon has ever had when he was on.

But he wasn't always on. Thomas is good, but He hasn't been challenged.
Posted via VolNation Mobile

 

[rjd970]

Bottom line, Oregon has some really, really good players to fit the system.

...Do that, no matter the system, and it is going to look impressive.

 

[Nightowl]

Plus another thing we need to consider is the potential for growth Thomas has. He has clearly gotten better as this season progressed and still has 2 years at Oregon at the end of this season. He's already a better thrower (IMO) then Masoli ever was. He doesn't have the running ability and he'll never replicate Masoli just because of size but I keep hearing from Oregon coaches and players that they think he has "only scratched the surface of his potential." Maybe that's just bluster but if it's even a little true... it will be interesting and exciting to see DT operating at his "peak" level.

 

[wheaton4prez]

Perhaps you missed the opening post, which, in your case, doesn't seem to be too uncommon. Skipping over and or missing the specifics of post.

Can you point to an example of this happening? Or, is this another example of you making an assertion that you can't support?

I realize that the OP was referring to a hurry-up offense because he clarified that point. You, on the other hand, just referred to "this offense". An offense is comprised of more than the rate that they snap the ball. Don't blame me for your ambiguous statements.

If your intention is to communicate to others, your energies would be best served by simply clarifying yourself and moving on.

Bottom line, Oregon has some really, really good players to fit the system.

...Do that, no matter the system, and it is going to look impressive.

True. But, don't tell Bumi. He's been telling us that Oregon doesn't have very good players due to their star ratings.

 

[FREE EARL]

Can you point to an example of this happening? Or, is this another example of you making an assertion that you can't support?

I realize that the OP was referring to a hurry-up offense because he clarified that point. You, on the other hand, just referred to "this offense". An offense is comprised of more than the rate that they snap the ball. Don't blame me for your ambiguous statements.

If your intention is to communicate to others, your energies would be best served by simply clarifying yourself and moving on.

Or I could continue as I have; posting my thoughts according to the content and questions of the OP. If the OP specifically questions why more programs outside of Oregon don't employ no huddle offenses, it's only natural that the contents of my post are directed toward... you guessed it! No huddle offenses.

True. But, don't tell Bumi. He's been telling us that Oregon doesn't have very good players due to their star ratings.

Oh Wheat, is this what you've reduced yourself to? If you wish to discuss this particular point, create a thread on it. Otherwise, stay on topic. :thumbsup:

Allow me to grant you a parting gift though.

"We're excited now with the momentum we've got because we're going to start beating these teams we're playing in recruiting," said Frost. "And if we start getting the types of players that we're starting to get, this thing is going to be hard to stop."I told him, "It looks like it already is hard to stop."
He responded, "It'll get better."

Take that as you will.

 

[BellottiBold]

Kelly's offense this season isn't the same as it was in 07, 08, or even 09. Hence the massive increase in production.

Oklahoma mastered this offense in 08, and largely Nationalized it.

I really don't think it makes sense to say that Oklahoma mastered "this" offense in relation to what Oregon does... but if we're really grouping the two together based on the similarities in tempo I'd have to say that we mastered "it" in 07, but couldn't finish the season because half of the QBs and skill players were out with injuries by week 7.

Oregon in 07 was fast. Oregon in 08/09 far less so. Oregon in '10 is warp speed.

 

[BellottiBold]

Masoli played like the best qb Oregon has ever had when he was on.

Beg to differ...

When he was "on" he was making clutch plays and making up for mistakes he and other players had made earlier in a game. Even in the one game when he was a dominant passer (last year against Cal) he looked like he couldn't make half of the throws asked of him.

Dixon was way better than Masoli as a Senior, that's for sure.

 

[FREE EARL]

I really don't think it makes sense to say that Oklahoma mastered "this" offense in relation to what Oregon does... but if we're really grouping the two together based on the similarities in tempo I'd have to say that we mastered "it" in 07, but couldn't finish the season because half of the QBs and skill players were out with injuries by week 7.

Oregon in 07 was fast. Oregon in 08/09 far less so. Oregon in '10 is warp speed.

Oklahoma broke the all time scoring record with their high temp offense in 08. Scored more than 50 9 times, and more than 60 5 times. Their QB had 4700 yards passing that season, they had two backs rush for over 1000 yards, and 5 receivers over 500 yard receiving, 3 above 700. They accomplished this while playing through one of the tougher schedules in the nation. I'd very much say they mastered their version of the "spread, no huddle" offense, or whatever people want to call it.

Oregon's 07 offense, even prior to Dixon going down, paled in comparison.

 

[milohimself]

That's what I'm saying he was inconsistent but his best was very, very good.

 

[wheaton4prez]

Or

In other words, no, you can't point to any instance where I have done what you claimed. Thank you.

I could continue as I have; posting my thoughts according to the content and questions of the OP. If the OP specifically questions why more programs outside of Oregon don't employ no huddle offenses, it's only natural that the contents of my post are directed toward... you guessed it! No huddle offenses.

Perhaps you are not aware of what a forum is. Threads are not question and answer sessions between the OP and the various posters. They are an open conversation amongst a group of people.

Your statement was not clear. Given your previous allusions to things that do not exist, I think it is reasonable for another poster to need clarification in order to know what your point was. In other words, the idea that Oregon and Oklahoma have "the" same offense is an idea that would fit right next to your other wild assertions.

Oh Wheat, is this what you've reduced yourself to? If you wish to discuss this particular point, create a thread on it. Otherwise, stay on topic. :thumbsup:

Is this not a thread about Oregon?

Take that as you will.

I take it that you think Oregon doesn't have good players and you disagree with rjd970 that having good players can make a system look good.

 

[wheaton4prez]

That's what I'm saying he was inconsistent but his best was very, very good.

I always found it curious that Masoli's unusually off games happened to occur around the same times that college students tend to party more (end of school year, end of summer break, etc.).