Ducks and Trojans - This Should Be Fun!

Hello sports fans!

Today I was reflecting on this upcoming matchup between the high powered offense of the Oregon Ducks versus the supposed high powered offense of the USC Trojans. Has anyone actually looked at the comparisons?

Total Offense National Ranks:

Rank Team Total Yards Yds Per Gm Pass Yds Pass Per Gm Rush Yds Rush Per Gm Total Pts Pts Per Gm

2

Oregon

3984

569.1

1843

263.3

2159

308.4

386

55.1

14

USC

3458

494.0

2019

288.4

1491

213.0

262

37.4

So those are the actual statistics of how they stack up. Oregon #2 in the country versus USC #14. Hmm and which defense has only given up a total of 23 points in the 2nd half all season? Of yah, that would be the Ducks as well.

As a coach who is constantly looking at stats and analyzing them, these certainly are huge numbers on paper in favor of another fright night for the Trojans, or if you prefer, another Trojan masacre by the Ducks. But, that is why they play the games.

I still think that the Ducks will prevail but here are a couple of things that I think must happen for the Ducks to win and win convincingly on Saturday in the Coliseum.

1) The Ducks must win the turnover battle. If the Ducks don't turn it over and can get 1 or more turnovers from the Trojans, which I believe they will, then our Quackers will blow out these Trojans. The Duck steamroller of an offense can't be stopped if they don't stop themselves.

2) The old mantra by the Trojans was "There is NO hole in our defense" - This year it is not so true! The "mighty" Trojans rank 60th in FBS this season while the Ducks rank 12th in points against defense. To say that the #1 offense in the country will have problems with the #60 defense is absolutely absurd. It just won't happen if the Ducks maintain ball possession.

3) Defense, just do what you do! If the defense does what it has done all year and that's tease opposing offenses that they are getting somewhere just to slam the door in their face once they near the goal line, especially in the 2nd half, then again, all points towards a big Duck victory. The defense is not getting much praise because of how amazing this offense is, but this defense is ranked 12th in points and has helped the Ducks to be top 5 in the nation in turnover margin. Again, Duck D, do what you do and you will allow your offense to win this game.

Well Duck fans, I know where I will be on Saturday evening, how about you? Should be a fun ride no matter what as our Ducks play another tough Pac-10 team on their way to the National Championship Game!

Go DUCKS!

What is it about the fall?

Hello sports fans, wherever you may be. Love that old line from the Schonz! Every October I start getting that itch and I'm sure glad that I have the ointment to make it go away...lol ;0)

It's late october again and the weather has turned to remind us all it truly is fall. If the Ducks, Beavers and High School Football wasn't enough of a reminder already. But now the time is drawing near to open up another NBA and college basketball season. I absolutely love this time of year. There is just so much great excitement around the Blazers and the possibilities of this season and what could be. What are your thoughts on the matter?

Personally, I feel that the Blazers are poised to have a breakout year. One that this old Coach has waited for, for many many years. Is that an NBA Championship year? NO! I don't think so this year. But, I do think this is the year that the Blazers prove they are an elite team in this league are ready to start dominating teams and win a couple playoff series. This is the year they realize who they are and who we all have believed that they are as well. The Blazers have a nucleus that has grown, matured and is primed to make a big splash.

Here are my 5 Keys to Success This Season:

1) Brandon Roy - B Roy is a proven All-Star now and needs to become a vocal leader to spur the rest of this team to new heights. His leadership on the floor has to be more than just taking the big shot. It has to be getting all of these guys around him to trust him, rely upon him, and look to him as the stabilizing force when they face adversity night in and night out along this marathon that is the NBA regular season.

2) The coaching staff - moves in the off-season brought in true basketball minds with enormous amounts of experience and expertise on how to make a young group win. Coach Bickerstaff alone has more playoff experience than the Blazers entire roster. I think they have to work on discovering a consistent offense and one that has much more movement in it. How do you beat teams like Miami and LA that have stacked rosters? Make them play defense every possession and make them uncomfortable on the offensive end with your unrelenting pressure defense.

3) LaMarcus Aldridge - No longer just a young, talented player, LaMarcus must now become a dominate force inside and out on the floor. With his overall skills, I ask myself: Where is the passion, toughness, tenacity to become an elite player in this league? If he can add that to his game this year and go after rebounds, take the ball strong to the hole, impose his will on players, he will be an All-Star this year. (Big plus having players like Amare move to the Eastern conference as well as Carlos Boozer)

4) POINT GUARD - The Blazers must find a true point guard to add to this mix. I know a lot of people are saying that Greg and Joel being hurt are the Blazers biggest limiting factor, but I don't believe that is true. No offense to Andre Miller, but he is NOT the PG of the future for this franchise. He is a band-aide PG. We need a point guard like the guy in New Orleans to come to Portland. If we get a PG of that caliber on the roster I believe that this team is easily a 50-win team and can easily make the Western Conference Finals this year.

5) The Fans! - A winning team to go along with the best fans in all of sports. Blazer fans, now is your turn to celebrate, get excited and continue to support your team in only the way that YOU CAN! As President Obama said in his campaign two years ago..."YES WE CAN!" We can be the best team in the league and the best fans in the league. Together we get better and together we will exceed all expectations.

GO BLAZERS!

Seth Tarver gets ejected

Yea, just fathom that one for a second. But you know what they say: It’s hard being Seth not getting thrown out playing for OSU. What’s he going to do? Who’s he running into?

So, Seth Tarver is hard after all. Real hard.

This last weekend the Beaver basketball team took part in the Top of the World tournament – or whatever it’s called. Not that it matters. It had teams like Colorado State, Alaska, and USC – Upstate. Of course the Beavers could only beat USC – Upstate but that’s another story.

The best part of the weekend came in the second half of the game against Alaska. When, during an odd couple of circumstantial plays, Seth Tarver was ejected.

Let me repeat that: Seth Tarver was ejected from a game. Here’s a guy who couldn’t be nicer. He’s a guy who would help old ladies with their groceries, cub scouts with their can food drive and a blind person with brail. He probably never even killed a fly, and if he did, he probably apologized – to the fly.

He was ejected from the game after the referee’s had spent the game, according to a source close to Tarver, hassling him for no reason. The source said that the play in question Tarver was standing still, holding his position and the opposing player fell into him. Tarver was called for the foul. It was his fifth.

That’s when Tarver, in the referee’s perspective, got furious. He pled his case and was tossed for his unruly behavior. Tossed. Kicked out. Not to return. Seth Tarver. A game in Alaska. A game that meant nothing. A game where the Beavers should have won. Seth Tarver was ejected for pleading his case to a referee on an apparent bad call.

So apparently, Seth Tarver is hard. He has a bad side. He was thrown out of a game for pleading his case. Well, here’s to a great season of Beaver basketball. Including Seth Tarver’s new bad-itude.

And by the way, the opening paragraph was my remix to Tarver’s very own rap song. That’s right, he raps too.

Good Glayven

This just in Pac-10 replay officials still suck. Like a vacuum in a black hole. It’s hard to call play-by-play for a game that is so poorly officiated that my color commentator is nearly falling over the balcony in front of me.

He could have died. Really.

For those of you who don’t follow what I am talking about -- get this. The Oregon State Beaver football game on Saturday was quite possible the most worthlessly officiated game in the history of officiating. The first referee to use the penalty flag back on September 17, 1948 is probably rolling in his grave.

The OSU vs. UW game went down to the wire, 29-23, no thanks to the teams on the field.

The officiating was bad, but acceptable, until Yvenson Bernard had a touchdown run taken from him like gust of wind on a bad toupee. The Beavers drove down the field and Bernard did score on a short rush with about 2:38 left. He cut through the middle of he UW defense and was caught at the two-yard line. Falling forward, Bernard held the ball out, reaching for the goal line.

He reached the ball across, hit the ground, and the ball popped loose. That’s when the hysteria ensued. Not from Yvenson Bernard, though.

He stood, motionless, in protest at the one yard line. He lay on the ground after the ball crossed the plane of the goal line. He was still while the ball rolled on the ground. Stationary while it was picked up by Washington's Roy Lewis. He stood, but remained motionless while the ball was returned 40 yards up the field. Not moving an inch until the Oregon State defense took the field.

That’s when the call was really blown. In college football, referees are informed to let the play ride. If the ball comes out, let the play continue and let the booth overturn a play. If a team has a timeout, they can call timeout, and politely ask the booth to take another look. It’s supposed to be a “checks and balance” system.

No one told that to the booth upstairs. After the fumble return, the UW offense ran onto the field like the sidelines were on fire. Their only safe haven was in a huddle on the 33 yard line.

They got a play off. UW called a play, walked to the line, ran a cadence, and got the snap off before the booth got done picking their noses and flicking their bugars. I’d bet they never even turned to the replay screen.

Disgusting? I know! To think that Washington could get a play called after such a monumental error on the field is flooring.

Something needs to be done. Something, anything. Save the Pac-10. The officials right now couldn’t call Bert on a Sesame Street phone. If the Ducks have a chance to make it to the national championship, even as a Beaver, I’d hate to see it ruined by a similar situation.

More to come… I promise.

The Door Is Open

Hey all of you Duck fans!

With THE Ohio State University loss, the Ducks now have their first legitimate shot at the National Championship. The Ducks are, in my opinion, the most exciting and fun team to watch in all of college football. They deserve to be playing in the title game and now it appears they will get just that. But, before you start buying your plane tickets you might take a little step back and start saying some prayers that the BCS gods don't do what they did in 2001...mess up the whole party like your parents returning early before the party even gets started. The Ducks may be the most deserving, most exciting and best one loss team in the nation. BUT, and I do mean a big but, K-U is still undeafeated and could possibly jump the Ducks if they win out. They are faced with a much more difficult schedule than our feathered friends which may lead to their demise. But, if they win out, I have this sinking feeling that they will get the shot against LSU, not the Ducks. Say it ain't so!

By they way, guess who else benefited from the Buckeyes stumble? If you answered D.D., Dennis Dixon, you are right. All the pundits now are looking at the Oregon Senior not only as a viable candidate but reall the only truly proven candidate that is not only deserving of the Heisman but has earned it every game on the field.

Now Duck fans, the only thing that needs to be done now is to not let this new found fame and fortune go to your heads before this season is over. Just three more wins and this baby is as golden as it can get.

Go DUCKS!

Oregon State Blogger Starting

Some people think you should just start to blog. Just start writing, no introduction. That is what my college newspaper once told me. Well, phooey to that. Like people aren’t going to know? Yea, I’m the guy who has been here the whole time, you just haven’t noticed.

I’ll give you a little bit of information that will help you when you read me.

I love the Beavers. I am a die-hard Beaver fan. There is nothing more exciting to me than a Beaver victory and after a loss I spend 5 minutes collecting myself before I can move on. On the other hand, though, I am not a Beaver freak. I am a balanced fan, I understand when the Beavers have a shot and when they are probably going to lose. I’ll say it, too.

I think Mike Riley is a good fit for Corvallis, but he will never win 11 games. Coach Riley will win 8 games (nearly) every year and the fans will love it for the next decade. He’s a hometown boy and you can’t hate him.

His offensive system leaves very little to smile about when Riley doesn’t have talent. His complicated offense isn’t complicated when there are playmakers involved. It’s as much about understanding as it is implementing. It’s a passing offense predicated on the 15 yard box. All pass routes are shorter than 15 yards (except the streak) and try to get the ball in the hands of the play makers as fast as possible.

That is why this year has been unsuccessful, no play makers at WR.

The running game is smash mouth. The offensive line has to be big and physical and this year they have been hurt, it happens. But that is why Bernard is not rushing for 2000 yards like some people thought he might.

I like Jay John, but not for the reasons you might think. I don’t like that he doesn’t recruit talent, I don’t like that he scares away talent and I don’t like that he is a bad coach. But he is a nice guy. If Oregon State ever wants to contend again in the Pac-10 they need to find someone who can find guys, keep guys, and develop guys. Jay John has shown he can do none of those.

I keep Oregon State Women’s sports as a high a priority as the Men’s sports. I hate it when fans say women’s sports are boring. They aren’t as physical. They aren’t as athletic.

True, but, there is an aspect to women’s sports that men’s sports lack. Tact, efficiency and patience. Go see LaVonda Wagner coach the women’s basketball team, cruise to a softball game or check out a swim meet.

Now that you have reasons to disagree with me, I hope we can both make this reader to writer relationship a healthy one. Full of arguments, late night tantrums, and perhaps a little resolve.

Let's talk sports!

Hey everybody!

Let's chat about them Beavs, those Blazers and of course something near and dear to my heart....J-high and them being named the #1 High School Athletic Program in the country!

What are your thoughts?