Oregon/Washington Preview

Sunset Sail
Originally uploaded by pete4ducks.

Washington certainly has the best skill position players that Oregon has faced this season and I expect the Dawgs to put up a lot of yards and points. The key for Oregon I think is getting some points in the first half. The Ducks should eventually be able to wear down the Dawgs in the fourth quarter but if they find themselves down a few scores at half time that will be much harder to do. Keith Price is a very accurate passer and a dual threat guy with many options. In Chris Polk the Dawgs also have a potential All-American running threat - perhaps the best Montlake has seen since Corey Dillon. Washington has really improved the talent quotient on both sides of the ball but as was witnessed in their games versus Stanford and Nebraska the Huskies have major problems stopping the run.If you can't stop the run versus Oregon you are not going to beat them unless you score Td's virtually every drive (see Stanford game in 2009). I think the Ducks will let the reins loose on LMJ and Barner and the combo should put up 300 between them. In a high scoring battle Ducks win 55-43.

Oregon/WSU Review

Oregon vs Nevada
Originally uploaded by pete4ducks.

Oregon played likely its worst game of the season on offense and struggled against the passing game of the Cougars but all in all I am not seeing the need for alarm that some folks are. DT and LMJ did not look themselves but more importantly both got the chance to shake off some rust. Bryan Bennett was excellent in the second half and because of this I feel that Chip may decide to make a switch at QB early in the Washington game if DT isn’t feeling it for some reason. The lack of big plays on special teams and defense ended with the Ducks blocking an extra point and returning a pick six. Will DeAnthony Thomas be the best offensive player in the nation by 2013 – kid seems to have something very special and will be interesting to see how they use him when James and Barner move on. Kenjon Barner was again excellent and Chip has clearly been keeping is carries down in case they need to lean on him if LMJ just can’t be his normal self for the next three games. Sometimes a team needs a challenge to fight complacency and I am glad that the Ducks got pushed a bit before the meat of the schedule which will seem them face three straight top 25 teams with two of those games on the road. I look for a great week of practice from the players in anticipation of facing a hostile Husky crowd who’s year would be made by knocking off the Ducks (or “zeroes” for you leg humpers out there . . .) Big boo on the noon start time – I could avoid never have that again and be happy . . .