Looking Ahead To Oregon
by John Berkowitz on Oct 20, 2009 6:42 AM PDT
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The Mighty Ducks arrive in Seattle this weekend with a Pac 10 championship on their mind. Oregon has been playing the best football in the conference over the past month, including Southern California. What has been getting it done for the Ducks most part isn't the always potent offense, but a surprisingly stingy defense. They shut down and dominated one of the nation's top offenses in the Cal Bears, and beat UCLA with a blend of great defense and special teams play. It seems the Ducks are putting it all together at the right time this season.
The big question this week is who is going to start for Oregon at QB? Will it be Nate Costa, who did a decent job directing the offense against UCLA, or Jeremiah Masoli, who is trying to return from a sprained MCL? Masoli practiced last week and seemed to become more mobile every day.
If it is indeed Masoli, he will not be the same mobile QB who led the Ducks to a 4-1 record before being injured. His knee still is unstable, so expect him to wear a brace and run only when necessary, as it takes up to six weeks for a sprained MCL to heal completely. Costa, a veteran of several knee surgeries himself, is the more mobile of the two at this point. As is the Oregon custom, we won't know who will start until kickoff. Kelly wants UW to prepare for both QB's.
Running back LeGarrette Blount won't be suiting up, but the Ducks have found someone maybe even more dangerous in LaMichael James. Washington must keep James in check to have any chance of winning Saturday's game.
Taking a quick look at that Oregon defense, the Ducks are the only FBS team with the highest scoring offense (39.3 points) and lowest scoring defense (6.3) in its conference, though those averages were compiled against Cal, WSU, and UCLA. The Ducks have put together 16 scoring drives of 40 or more yards against league competition. Their opponents have one - and it took a 52-yard field goal by UCLA's Kai Forbath to get that one.
In these three conference games, the Ducks have yet to give up an honest touchdown drive. Now having outscored California, Washington State and UCLA by a combined 118-19 score, the two opponents' touchdowns have come on drives totaling one yard.
The loss of CB's Walter Thurmond and Willie Glasper is a concern. However, Anthony Gildon and Cliff Harris have filled in well against WSU and UCLA. This week the challenge is much greater because they are going up against a QB on the road who can really hurt them in Jake Locker.
Oregon will probably throw a defensive game plan at Washington allowing Jake Locker to throw underneath and keep the ball in front of the young Oregon DB's. Expect some pressure and blitzing from the Ducks, who obviously will watch last Saturday's game film and realize Locker didn't handle it well against ASU.
Special teams is another way the Ducks have won games this season. They broke apart a close UCLA contest with excellent plays on defense and special teams. The Ducks have scored five non offensive touchdowns so far this season. Washington has been attrocious special teams wise the last couple of weeks. They need to get that handled or they simply won't beat the Ducks.
Husky fans are beside themselves this week about the lost opportunity in Tempe. I have heard considerable comments that Washington will only win one more game this season, that being against WSU. The fans forget that this team has been in every single game this season. In six of those games the Huskies either won or had a very good chance of winning late in the fourth quarter. This team isn't going to quit on themselves. They are going to play hard every single week and continue to battle to the end of games.
This weeks game against Oregon isn't any different. The Ducks are a good team but so were USC, LSU, Notre Dame, and Arizona. All the aforementioned teams are capable of beating the Ducks. So if they are capable Washington is certainly capable. There isn't a single game left on the schedule that Washington is not capable of winning.
So keep your heads up Husky fans!
Game Notes
Oregon’s win last season was its fifth in a row over Washington, its longest win streak in a series that started in 1900. The Ducks have outscored the Huskies 209-85 during the streak.
The Ducks sit atop the Pac-10 standings as the conference's only unbeaten team in league play.
Washington has utilized a total of 10 true freshmen this season as TB Demitrius Bronson, DE Talia Crichton, S Nate Fellner, CB Anthony Gobern, WR James Johnson, DE Andru Pulu, TB Cole Sager, DT Semisi Tokolahi, CB Desmond Trufant and LB Jordan Wallace have all seen action this year. Among that group, Crichton, Johnson, Trufant and Fellner have all started at least one game.
The Washington-Oregon game will air live to a regional audience on ABC.
Washington has a 58-38-5 edge in the overall series.
Oregon has won 10 of the last 14.
The Huskies have a 31-18-4 advantage against Oregon at home.
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ABC Game
Can someone please attach a copy of the Regional Broadcast map? ESPN isn’t loading the page for me. I am curious if the game will be shown in Philly or will I have to bar it up. Thanks.
Thanks
I got lucky with the USC game…maybe I can get lucky again
Looking for 6 in a row!
Ducks should be able to handle the Huskies this year while your team is still trying to wash off the stink of 0-12. They are much improved from last year, but still need much work on defense and a spotty offense. The Oregon D has flat out dominated Pac-10 teams so far(I know, the weak ones) and they do have the speed do contain Locker. I see the Ducks going up early with a few big plays, then UW being forced to go to the air for the rest of the game and having little success. I am hoping Masoli will play, but we should do just fine if Costa gets the start. Time to go Mike Vick up in Seattle!
I wouldn't be quite so cocky
I wouldn’t predicate anything that happens on Saturday based on the Cal, WSU, and UCLA games. Oregon is 5-1 but they haven’t been as consistent as you would like either. Cal obviously was the high water mark of the season…they haven’t played at anything close to that level before or since.
Honestly it will be interesting to see which Duck team shows up on Saturday.
Duck fans need to realize that UW has played toe to toe with everyone while playing the nations toughest schedule in 2009.
by John Berkowitz on Oct 20, 2009 9:38 AM PDT up reply actions
Which team shows up?
The same team that has won 5 in a row. We’ve had one near (defense was good in the second half and the offense had a pulse) meltdown (BSU) and one complete game of domination (Cal). Otherwise, it been lots of good defense and a capable of offense. I would expect the latter. My guess is we hold you to 17 points and probably more like 14. I think we score somewhere in the ballpark of 24-28 points. So, I am predicting a 7-14 point victory. With the line at -7.5 Oregon and based on past performance (16 against USC, 17 against ASU), it’s hard to argue with the reasoning. Of course, I don’t think this is too cocky.
Here is what I am thinking...
The team that lost to Boise and struggled against Purdue and Utah?
The team that gave California the worst beating of Jeff Tedford’s tenure?
Beating up on WSU is something even Hawaii did…so I wouldn’t really get excited about that one.
The team that struggled against UCLA for 3/4’s of the game? I mean take out the UCLA self destruction at the start of the third quarter and what do you have? A real possibility of an upset. If you ask me the Ducks fell back to earth that day.
The way I look at it is the Ducks are 5-1 and they have struggled against four of their opponents. That doesn’t really paint a picture of domination for me going into this one. Oregon deserves to be favord going into this one but the folks who think UW is going to be steamrolled aren’t being very realistic.
by John Berkowitz on Oct 20, 2009 10:41 AM PDT up reply actions
I agree with most of what you said
The only thing I will argue with is the UCLA game. We definitely let chances slip us by. Prime example, LMJ’s 49 yard run out of our endzone (I had BSU flashbacks) to get us to mid-field. Costa was starting for the first time ever in his career and struggled with consistency. With Masoli back at the helm I’m much more confident. And for thatbpguy, Masoli is not even wearing a brace in practice today.
If we can score in the red zone and not commit a stupid TO (or 4) I really like our chances in Seattle.
by SeattleDucks on Oct 20, 2009 10:54 AM PDT up reply actions
Chances slip by in almost every game for every team.
I think Cal was one of those rare days when the Ducks could do no wrong and the Bears can do no right.
Turnover ratio is huge in every game…!
by John Berkowitz on Oct 20, 2009 11:14 AM PDT up reply actions
No one is calling for domination here...
We struggled against BSU?
We killed Cal…
Purdue – we were not lucky to win because they were making the late game comeback.
UTAH – we put in a very impressive defense effort and we were capable on offense in the running game but stuggled in the passing game. The 31-24 win was not indicative of the game. We let UTAH back in the game on turnovers.
WSU – frankly, we made them look like a high school team – they’ve managed to play some okay ball against ASU and USC. Still, not a lot of stock in this game but the apple cup should be interesting.
UCLA – our offensive struggles due a lot to game management. It was painfully obvious that UCLA was not going to score a point on our defense and CK ran a very vanilla offense to get us the heck out of dodge and perserve the health of our quarterback. We did not want to blow DT’s redshirt status. However, why would take away the 4 minutes of pure enjoyment from us? We did that and CK went into salt the game away mode.
We have clearly been improving and took a step back in the UCLA game to adjust to Costa. BSU bad, Purdue okay, UTAH better, Cal WOW, WAZZU continue the momentum, and UCLA was a step back on offense but for obvious reasons.
You forgot Purdue ... a game UO was lucky to win.
… regardless, Oregon SHOULD win. And, they SHOULD dominate. But the Huskies are better than UCLA, Purdue and WSU right now. They are probably on par with Utah and probably a step below BSU and Cal when talent, scheme and “intangibles” are all measured together. If Oregon walks into Husky Stadium, with the crowd going crazy and a motivated bunch of Dawgs coming of a heartbreaking loss waiting for them, and they come thinking that they are getting WSU part deux, they will be surprised. And, as we know, momentum can be a funny thing in college football.
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
It should go to the wire...
One problem for Washington under Willingham was simply getting motivated for Oregon. I can’t tell you how many times we simply came out flat for the game. I don’t think motivation will be a problem come Saturday.
by John Berkowitz on Oct 20, 2009 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions
That's What...
…I was thinking. Cal obviously had a game where they couldn’t do anything right and if you take away the mistakes by ucla that game is 10-10. The ducks still need to be given credit for winning those games and making the plays that they needed to win but if the crowd gets into it this could be a nightmare for oregon!
Washington Husky Football-Undefeated 1991 National Champions 12-0!
Nobody is dominant in the Pac 10 this year
Every single game is up for grabs.
You can’t ignore what the Ducks did to Cal but they only have had one game like this all year…once again exclude WSU because they don’t count.
by John Berkowitz on Oct 20, 2009 10:44 AM PDT up reply actions
UCLA
Take away the mistakes? If you take away the Oregon mistakes, the score is 10-3. You can’t take away mistakes, that is part of the game. But if we could take away mistakes, the Huskies wouldn’t have had a football team the last 5 years.
I guess the point is 77
The focal point isn’t the last five years. The focal point is what is going to happen on the playing field this Saturday.
by John Berkowitz on Oct 20, 2009 1:32 PM PDT up reply actions
This Saturday
My bad for getting off track, but I feel the Huskies are still a couple years out. You are a feel good story, but that’s just because the past few years were so bad. As for Saturday, Ducks are going to do what they should do as the current leader of the Pac, beat a bottom half team that still has much work to do.
A couple of years from going 12-0
In the meantime we can play toe to toe with anyone while we are rebuilding.
by John Berkowitz on Oct 20, 2009 3:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Don't get all Don James on me...
While you guys have had a flair for the dramatic as of late would you consider the fact that your opposition has been over-rated thus far.
1)LSU: a far over-rated team who struggled mightily against MSU, and thats Mississippi St. And who failed to get a TD playing Florida at home.
2)Idaho: A surprising 6 – 1 team. Maybe those Erickson recruits are paying off. Probably a better win, especially considering the margin of victory, than what you get credit for, but they still aren’t “big six”
3)USC: a great win for a rebuilding program, some would say defining. But it was with Aaron Corp who looked like Jonathon Crompton
4)Stanford: They have shown to have plenty of issues on the defensive side of the ball and were outplayed physically by Wake Forest sans Aaron Curry
5)Notre Dame: A suspect team that is outside the top-25 for many reasons. Should have been a W for UW.
6)Arizona: A surprising Arizona team lead by a pretty darn good QB in Foles. I imagine a 2nd half surge for this team
7)ASU: Inexplicable loss to a team who cannot move the ball and kills itself with penalties (see Burfict’s 3 personal foul calls)
Which leads you to a 3 – 4 record. Basically what I’m trying to say is that yes, you have played some teams close (see Arizona & ND) and got a marquee win, BUT I think saying: “In the meantime we can play toe to toe with anyone while we are rebuilding.” is a little too much of a reach for me.
Broken record time: You guys are playing with heart and a lot of fire, but are still a few years from contending. Let alone playing toe-to-toe with anyone. I believe Miami, Alabama, Georgia Tech, VT, Texas (well maybe not the way they’ve been playing), Florida, etc. would have no problem with you on a neutral field.
by SeattleDucks on Oct 20, 2009 4:07 PM PDT up reply actions
You guys take a major step back...
when locker leaves. Look at how true frosh quarterbacks fair and no one on the depth chart is near Locker’s capabilities.
That’s the million-dollar question isn’t it? Especially if Locker leaves after this year. We’re excited about Keith Price, the QB we signed in the 2009 class, but he’d have huge shoes to fill. And while the talent around him will improve and be better than Jake had, I suspect it will probably be 2011 or 2012 before this program makes the next step from fringe bowl contender to being in the mix for the conference title.
There are too many good coaches...
that are established to make that prediction. USC, Cal, Oregon, and Oregon State are pretty entrenched at the top of the league. Carroll, Tedford, and Riley are the deans at the moment. The jury is out on CK if he can take our program to the next level. I certainly think with the talent he is getting that we’ll get there.
Sark has already made a significant difference in less than a season, both on the field and in recruiting.
Carroll is great obviously, and as long as he’s at USC, they’ll be the team to beat.
Tedford has done well, but can’t ever get over the hump.
Riley obviously does very well given the limitations of Oregon State. He deserves the benefit of the doubt. But he hasn’t yet been able to win the conference with the UW down; what happens when the UW starts winning again?
Kelly has made a strong turnaround from the beginning of the season. And the 8 commits he has so far look pretty good. Still pretty early to tell on how he’ll do long term in replacing Bellotti – maybe he keeps it going, maybe he slips some.
And let’s not forget the job Harbaugh is doing at Stanford – fantastic recruiting, program pointed in a good direction in year 3.
Stoops might just have gotten Arizona over the hump.
Erickson needs to develop a good QB, but his defense is salty, and he’s got the pedigree to succeed.
Neuheisel has recruited very well at UCLA. If he can keep a good coaching staff intact there, they will improve.
The Pac-10 is a tough conference, no doubt. But I see no reason that Sark can’t get this program back to playing games in November that mean something with regards to the Rose Bowl race.
Sark...
has brought you back to respectability. It’s not like the cupboards were completely bare either. Locker is worth 5 wins on his own. However, going from respectability to PAC-10 champ is going to be a serious undertaking. If Locker leaves, expect some regression next year.
As far as our recruiting, we have 9 with the addition today of Isaac Dixon, a Floridian OLB. Dontae Williams is all but sewn up but has to visit, per CK’s policy; he is slated for the ’SC game. Dontae is a 4* Texan runningback. The interesting thing about our recruiting: (2) Florida, (2) North Carolina, (1) AZ, (2) California, (1) Oregon, (1) Texas. We are hitting the recruiting trail hard throughout the country to fill our needs.
Masoli likely to start
According to multiple reports he looked his old self at practice today and was NOT wearing a brace.
"Good evening Blazer fans, wherever you may be!"-Bill Schonely
The lack of a brace is a big deal
I want to temper the enthusiasm by saying he is off limits in practice as far as taking hits goes. I would imagine if he starts they are going to take some precautions to protect that knee.
by John Berkowitz on Oct 20, 2009 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions
the SI jinx is not a "partial season" deal ...
… it keeps biting and biting throughout the season.
Damn, my eyeball tastes good.
Let Us Not Forget
that the Huskies could easily be 5-1 and have beaten USC. While I think UO will wim, this is going to be a tough game.
All Ducks, all the time.
Gosh I'm Glad...
…you didn’t say win! We’ll give you guys the wim, we’ll take the victory! ;O)
Washington Husky Football-Undefeated 1991 National Champions 12-0!
Or 4-3...
…if we pull out the ASU game or ND or LSU. We didn’t and we can accept that but those were all very close winnable games. And really for us at this point that’s probably a blessing in disguise. It teaches you to win and to compete hard for four full quarters. GO DAWGS!! Duck…it’s what’s for dinner!!!!!!!!
Washington Husky Football-Undefeated 1991 National Champions 12-0!
At no point...
were you in control of the ASU/LSU game. You got jobbed in the ND game but got lucky in the AZ game. I think your record is a fair reflection of how you’ve played.
GD DUCKS!
Being a life long Duck fan, I am always scared every saturday that the wheels are going to fall off. Oregon looks like a sure “wim” (you like that dawgfan, don’t you), but nothing is for sure, that definitely holds true in the pac this year… I mean, UW did beat USC right?
That said, “Go DUCKS!!! One game at a time and lets increase the streak to six years of Oregon victories over the pups up north!”
By the way, to comment it said I have to be a part of the UW Dawg Pound… I am in no way a part of the UW Dawg Pound. Haha, Thanks for letting me comment, lets see a good game this weekend, and by good, I mean OU 38 – UW 3
GO DAWGS!!
Are you guys serious about the black and white?! You need to go back to school and figure out what you want your colors to be. I mean really, it gets a bit ludicrous!
Washington Husky Football-Undefeated 1991 National Champions 12-0!
Oregon's Men's Golf Coach, Casey Martin
Is the official selector of the uniforms. Blame him.
May we hand you your taints on a silver platter...
This is the big game
This is a much, much bigger game than ASU or UA. If the Huskies can pull this one out, the ASU blunders are forgotten and Sark and Holt are heroes again. For the Huskies to get back to where we belong, we need start winning the NW again. We need to ascert ourselves as the dominant NW team. That is the formula for success. I don’t think we are good enough to sweep the NW teams, but I think we can win 2 of the 3.
Hoping for a good game.
Okay, I lied, I hope the Ducks win big.
However, I hope, most of all, for a very clean game. This game can get pretty heated, especially with such a clash of programs on the rise. It’s a huge game, and the players know it. I hope we don’t see classless or unnecessary violence from either side. Let’s have a fair game, hopefully with each side playing its best players. I would rather Locker play and Washington be at their Saturday best than without Locker and excuses to be made; I hope your fans feel the same way about Oregon and, say, Masoli.
Addicted To Quack [dot] com; Six-hundred and ninety-four yards of total offense.
I'll second the clean/fair angle
Especially the “fair” portion, as we can all agree that you never know what you’re going to get when Pac-10 refs get involved.
Qrsouther
I second most of that with the exception of a Washington victory.
There is no need of course for violence on either side. That is something that has really got out of hand over th eyears and is just stupid. It started at Autzen of course but I have seen some appalling behavior by Husky fans in Seattle.
by John Berkowitz on Oct 21, 2009 7:27 AM PDT up reply actions
"I hope we don’t see classless or unnecessary violence from either side."
Kinda chuckled at that. The only classless or unnecessary violence I have seen lately has come from Oregon on the field and it’s fans at Autzen Stadium. That’s a fact.
by bigdawgdaddy999 on Oct 21, 2009 10:36 AM PDT reply actions
I was at Husky Stadium one time...
I was at Husky Stadium the last time we beat Oregon. I was leaving the stadium at the horseshoe when a young Husky fan ran up and slugged a 60 plus year old lady in the face who was walking out of the stadium wearing an Oregon sweatshirt and ran away like the pathetic coward he was. So if you think Autzen is the only place it happens you are sadly mistaken.
You hate to see stupid and unlawful crap like that happen but it all has its root at Autzen. This type of behavior never existed until Oregon started winning. The Oregon Athletic department hasn’t done squat to address violence toward opposing fans at home games. I always wear neutral colors there to avoid trouble.
by John Berkowitz on Oct 21, 2009 3:51 PM PDT up reply actions
The last 3 out 4 in Eugene...violence has taken place.
U of O students beating a Husky fan wearing purple (handicapped man) coming out of Autzen, this was last year. I was there observing it. Me other fans had to go protect him.
Windshields of Husky fans being broken in the parking lots of hotels (Red Lion Inn Hotel) on Coburg Rd. I observe it every year down in Eugene when the Huskies play. Now we see it on the field with Oregon with a Oregon player throwing punches and hand restrain by Police and Coaches. I guess this happens at Washington too? Don’t think so.
by bigdawgdaddy999 on Oct 21, 2009 4:36 PM PDT reply actions
I’m not so naive as to think that there are a few sick, twisted Husky fans that have done awful stuff to opposing fans. There are ugly fans associated with pretty much every school.
You can argue how much of it happens at each school, but it would be very naive to think that none of our fans have ever engaged in really bad behavior to the opposition.
I confess
A couple of months ago I found myself parked next to a large SUV that had a big Washington “W” and an Obama sticker plastered on its rear window and I, a 52 yr old man, was sorely tempted to let the air out of it’s tires.
If ya can't get your Dick Enright, get your Dick Harter!
I saw a Dubya '04 sticker on a rather large SUV the other day and I relieved myself on its windshield.
Addicted To Quack [dot] com; Six-hundred and ninety-four yards of total offense.
Ducker...
That is fricking hilarious…I love it!
by John Berkowitz on Oct 21, 2009 8:02 PM PDT up reply actions
I agree
but I tried of the crap of Oregon fans when I go to a game.
by bigdawgdaddy999 on Oct 21, 2009 5:03 PM PDT reply actions
ahh yes
fuskie fans, the paragon for innocence and virtue
Under winter skies
We stand glorious
And with Oden on our side
We are victorious
by WhiteRabbit on Oct 21, 2009 11:04 PM PDT up reply actions
paragon OF
damnit
Under winter skies
We stand glorious
And with Oden on our side
We are victorious
by WhiteRabbit on Oct 21, 2009 11:05 PM PDT up reply actions
If my cheerleader comment
offended you, I am deeply sorry.
May we hand you your taints on a silver platter...
True
But assuming the guys that are posting her are hooligans is unrealistic…overall a decent group for water fowl.
by John Berkowitz on Oct 21, 2009 10:28 PM PDT up reply actions
We do have a BS thread
Lets keep the BS over on that thread. That is what it there for. Folks need a place to banter which is fine but lets keep our serious threads focussed.
by John Berkowitz on Oct 21, 2009 10:26 PM PDT reply actions
the uncivil war
just seems to be getting worse.
was there in 2002 when neuweasel le tthe team dance on the zero. not a good move and was part of me finally souring on him as a person.
then was down ther again in ‘06 and we weren’t even wearing colors but since we weren’t in wearing those ridiculous duck bills we stood out. really thought there was going to fight before getting to our car. the dawg car next to ours was keyed.
no plans to go there again.
it’s just a friggin’ game and settling it on the field is where it belongs.
all i want this weekend in the end is for the duck team to respect the huskies and feel like they were in a football game.
Eugene
I alway wear neutral colors until we take our seats in Eugene. When you do that it works out pretty good.
by John Berkowitz on Oct 22, 2009 3:59 PM PDT up reply actions
yeah that’s what i said.
by process of elimination it was obvious we didn’t look like quackers.
just really uncomfortable and ultimately isn’t good for the sport.
in the ’80’s we were in the closed end by captain husky. had a lot of experience with keeping the locals classy.
when he would come up as a duck hunter and had passed out papaer bags of goose feathers it was quite a mess over there……..
but funny.
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