The Wines Family

Duck Stuff: Morning Mud

2009-11-10T04:13:00.000-08:00

• Ted Miller has his Pac-10 power ranking posted for week 10. He has Oregon in the top spot.

The reason media sorts talk about "let-down" games is because they happen so often. Give Stanford credit. That was an impressive offensive display against a team that knows a thing or two about impressive offensive displays. But it's not that difficult to conclude again this week that Oregon, still alone in first place, should remain atop the conference pecking order.

Miller also tries to break down the Pac-10 race here.

• What happens when you pit the Pac-10's number one offense against the number one defense? Mike Tokito sorts it out in this article. Here is a sample:

The Sun Devils (4-5, 2-4) are so good defensively, they’re usually in games. The problem is, the offense doesn’t score many points, and as a result, the ASU is mired in a three-game losing streak as it heads to Eugene.

• Rob Moseley covered practice yesterday and you can catch the story here.

“I thought they practiced pretty well today,” Kelly said. “We didn’t execute on Saturday. The effort was there, we just didn’t execute.”

Defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti, whose unit is coming off its worst game of the season, also thought the Ducks bounced back well today.

Moseley also reports on the Arizona game time.

Oregon’s game at Arizona on Nov. 21 will kick off at either 12:30 p.m. or 5 p.m. for broadcast on ABC, UO officials said. The game will be subject to a six-day selection window under the conference’s media agreement, the second UO game in a row to be finalized on such short notice.

Which means we won't find out until this next Sunday.

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Jeremiah Masoli on Blount - Video

2009-11-10T03:36:00.000-08:00

Ducks QB Jeremiah Masoli on LeGarrette Blount's return

Video courtesy of Molly Blue and the Oregonian.

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Running back coach Gary Campbell on Blount - Video

2009-11-10T03:33:00.000-08:00

Gary Campbell talks LeGarrette Blount

Video courtesy of Molly Blue and the Oregonian.

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Chip Kelly on the Blount Decision - Video

2009-11-09T17:41:00.000-08:00

Chip Kelly on LeGarrette Blount's reinstatement

Video courtesy of Molly Blue and the Oregonian.

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LeGarrette Blount Reinstated

2009-11-09T15:42:00.000-08:00

As you have probably heard, it was announced this morning by head coach Chip Kelly that LeGarrette Blount has been reinstated.

Ted Miller probably describes the impact better than anyone in this story.

Basically, it gives LeGarrette another chance to prove that he has learned and grown from his mistake without disrupting what the team has accomplished without him. Another positive move by coach Kelly.

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Duck Stuff: Morning Mud

2009-11-09T05:19:00.001-08:00

• John Hunt reports on the rankings and Chip Kelly's weekly Sunday afternoon teleconference.

The Ducks fell from eighth to 13th in the BCS standings (now fairly meaningless for Oregon). They slipped seven spots in The Associated Press Top 25 to 14th and eight spots in the USA Today coaches' poll to No. 16.

And in each, the Ducks were ranked behind USC, a team they beat 47-20 eight days earlier.

"We didn't do a real good job of tackling," Kelly said. "We had guys there with a chance to wrap him up and take him down. He's a real good running back, and it's going to take a couple guys get to the ball, and we didn't have enough people around the football. I think our guys were there to make plays, but we just didn't make them."

• Rob Moseley sets the stage for the ASU - Oregon game. Rob lays out the NCAA stats between the two teams and notes it will be a 7:20 pm kick-off which is being carried live by ESPN.

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Player Interviews after Stanford game - Video

2009-11-09T04:22:00.000-08:00

Stanford 51-Oregon 42 postgame: Players talk about the loss

Spencer Paysinger, Jeremiah Masoli and Mark Asper talk with reporters after the game. Video courtesy of Molly Blue and the Oregonian.

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Casey Matthews after the game - Video

2009-11-08T16:28:00.000-08:00

Casey Matthews talks with reporters after the Stanford game. Courtesy of GoDucks.com.

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Oregon vs Stanford Highlights - Video

2009-11-08T10:54:00.000-08:00

Here are the highlights from the game. I didn't make this video (I don't do losses) but thought you might like to see what happened.

This time next week we will be back to our winning ways.

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Duck Stuff: Morning Mud

2009-11-08T05:17:00.000-08:00

• Not a lot went right on defense yesterday. Stanford seemed to score every time they had the ball. Our offense put up enough points to win the game but we just couldn't stop Luck or Gerhart.

This quote from Aliotti pretty much sums it up.

"You would never know it, but we prepared for everything we saw," Oregon defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti said. "They made plays. We didn't make many plays. We didn't make them one-dimensional. We didn't make them any dimensional. They were able to run it. They were able to throw it. They were pretty much able to do whatever they wanted to do."

• We came back after our first loss this season and we will come back again. Time to prepare for Arizona St. in the welcome confines of Autzen Stadium.

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Chip Kelly is interviewed after the game - Video

2009-11-08T04:44:00.000-08:00

Stanford 51-Oregon 42 postgame: Chip Kelly

Chip Kelly says there was no letdown, we got beat by a better team. Video courtesy of Molly Blue and the Oregonian.

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Nick Aliotti talks about the loss - Video

2009-11-08T04:39:00.000-08:00

Ducks-Cardinal postgame: Nick Aliotti

Oregon defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti on what went wrong. Video courtesy of Molly Blue and the Oregonian.

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Duck Stuff: Morning Mud

2009-11-07T05:47:00.001-08:00

• Gameday has arrived and the excitement is building by the hour. Figure that the Ducks will come out with extra intensity today just to prove the "letdown" folks wrong.

• The pundits have chimed in with their predictions. Those predicting a Duck victory are John Hunt, Rob Moseley, Ted Miller, Buster Sports, Bob Condotta, Stewart Mandel, Fox Sports, Jason Vondersmith, Matt Hayes and Bruce Feldman.

Jon Wilner and Bud Withers are going with Stanford.

• Stanford will be without LB Clinton Snyder as he was lost for the season due to a knee injury suffered during practice this week.

• Finally today we will take a look at Duck Voodoo, one fans dedication to provide the team with that little something extra. Pay homage to the juju.

My prediction:

Oregon 48
Stanford 17

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Canzano & Goe Discuss Oregon - Stanford, BCS & Blount - Video

2009-11-06T15:50:00.000-08:00

College Football Insiders, Week 10

John Canzano and Ken Goe discuss where the Ducks should be in the BCS, how the Ducks will do against Stanford and LeGarrette Blount. Video courtesy of the Oregonian. The first 9:30 is the Duck stuff.

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OREGON V STANFORD

2009-11-06T13:06:00.000-08:00

Courtesy of As Seen By Dave

Guilty. I’m guilty of being emotional. I’m guilty of overarching statements, predictions, and theories. I’m guilty of being a homer. Why change now?

Letdown? Gimme a break! I know Stanford has some running ability. I know Stanford has a young, effective quarterback. But the notion that Stanford stands a chance against us is laughable to me. I’m afforded the luxury of a few readers, so maybe I can be more honest, more brash. But really, does anybody predict this one to be close? Are the writers just trying to avoid a jinx here? I don’t get it.

Yeah, Stanford has a bruiser. He can run downhill. And yeah, Stanford has an effective passing game. But Stanford hasn’t played Oregon’s defense. USC had some running stats, until last week. Cal had a potent offense, until they came into Autzen. Stanford has lost to Wake Forest, Oregon State, and Arizona. Sure, they are good programs, but they didn’t have the firepower Oregon has on either side of the ball. We’ve already beaten teams better than Stanford handily, and I don’t see how they can stop that.

If we can’t stop Stanford’s offense, like we’ve stopped every offense we’ve played, it doesn’t even matter. Stanford has zero—zero—zero chance of stopping our offense. We are clicking. Masoli is as effective as any player in college football right now. LaMichael James has all of the confidence of a senior. Stanford has a defense that has already been vulnerable against everybody they’ve played, and their hardest games are still on their schedule. To me, Oregon not putting 50 on the board, will be a disappointment. Really? Does anybody think Stanford has a chance?

Of course, Oregon also has the grudge. Stanford took a national championship from us in 2001, eight years ago. Do you think that the coaches haven’t harped on that all week? Do you think they haven’t seen that muffed kickoff on that fateful day? Do you think they haven’t stressed that we overlooked them then, and there isn’t any chance they’ll do it again? To me, that game, created a 25-year grudge. Sadly for Stanford, the 25-years hasn’t expired.

There is absolutely no indication that Stanford can count on Oregon looking past them. We haven’t looked past a single game this year, and it won’t start when the games mean the most. So enjoy the game. Enjoy a few drinks. Enjoy a complete romp of the Cardinal.

Oregon 59

Stanford 17

Quack yo.

If you like Dave's post give him a shout at As Seen By Dave

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Quack yo.

ESPN's Todd McShay on Oregon vs Standford - Video

2009-11-06T08:40:00.000-08:00

ESPN's Todd McShay breaks down why Oregon should win at Stanford.

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Duck Stuff: Morning Mud

2009-11-06T04:38:00.001-08:00

• Ted Miller has his "What to watch in the Pac-10" story up for this week. Concerning Oregon:

Will Oregon be flat at Stanford? Chip Kelly has done an outstanding job of keeping his team focused on their "national championship" games every Saturday. But the thorough whipping of USC last weekend will be hard to contain with the proverbial "24-hour rule." Moreover, the Ducks won't have the Autzen Stadium crowd there to fire them up. The Ducks won't have to be as sharp as they were against the Trojans, but if they are flat and can't get in sync, Stanford will have a more than remote shot to pull the upset.

• Thursday practice update from Rob Moseley who asked coach Kelly if he was worried about the team being set up for a letdown.

“This team’s really focused, and they understand what’s at stake. We can’t approach Stanford any different than we approached USC or than we approached Cal or approached UCLA. Stanford’s a really good football team.”

Kelly also called the offense "really sharp" yesterday. Eddie Pleasant suited up for practice and should be a game time decision after he tweaked his ankle last week.

• John Hunt takes look at what the Ducks will face going up against the highly touted Stanford freshmen QB Andrew Luck.

Oregon secondary coach John Neal isn't overlooking Luck.

"He's unbelievable,'' Neal said. "I think he's the best quarterback since, I don't know, Brett Favre.''

Pretty lofty praise, but I think I remember similar accolades for a USC freshmen QB.

• Ken Goe has his weekly piece, "two-minute drill: An irreverent look at the week in Pac-10 football", posted for your reading pleasure. My favorite part?

Five things flashing through Pete Carroll's mind last Saturday in Autzen
1. What? Masoli is a junior? James is a freshman? Oh. My. God.
2. How does it go? Click your heels three times and say, what? Oh yeah. "There is no place like home. There's no place like home."
3. Damn, how could I forget earplugs?
4. Sure hope the Panthers' job opens. Tomorrow.
5. Where are O.J. and that white Bronco when you really need them?

• Going to end this post with a heart warming story by George Schroeder on a man who lost a souvenir last week while tailgating at Autzen. Be sure to check it out.

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Duck Stuff: Morning Mud

2009-11-05T04:44:00.001-08:00

•Rob Moseley reports on the practice yesterday that was in full pads inside the Moshofsky Center.

Eddie Pleasant remained sidelined by an ankle injury; and it was a high-energy, uptempo workout.

• John Hunt says that center Jordan Holmes has been doing a little extra work to limit the high snaps to Jeremiah Masoli.

“We’ve had a couple high snaps lately in games that could be costly for us if I don’t grab them,” Masoli said.

“It’s getting better,” Holmes said. “Had some high snaps early in the game but after that second series I was dead on.”

• Ted Miller has a nice feature on LaMichael James and how it didn't take long to become special to this team.

"Each week he keeps getting better and better and he hasn't stopped," (Chip)Kelly said. "He's a freshman. I don't think you've seen his best yet."

Kelly said he thought James had a chance to be special. Just not this special, this quickly.

"I thought he was going to be a really good player," Kelly said. "Did I think he was going to run for 180-something against USC? No."

• As I mentioned last week, there were a lot of recruits on hand for the USC game. Bob Rickert reports on how the visits went.

• Everyone is doing their best to figure out who to root for to help Oregon's chances move up in the polls. Addicted to Quack put together their scenario as did Bob Rickert.

• Another hot topic this week is the chance Oregon will be in letdown mode after the huge win against USC. Rob Moseley has this quote from Talmadge Jackson III after the USC game.

“We’re focused on not getting caught up in the hype in the media, staying true to ourselves and playing team ball,” Jackson said. “We’ve got to keep going at it. ... We’re busy throughout the week, so we don’t get a chance to watch TV and stuff like that, like most people think. We just focus on us.”

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Duck Stuff: Morning Mud

2009-11-04T04:34:00.001-08:00

• Rob Moseley covered practice yesterday. It was held inside the Mo Center in full pads. LB Eddie Pleasant was on the sidelines with a sore ankle which meant that Bryson Littlejohn was taking the reps.

• Rob also has a feature story titled "High Performance - Oregon’s finely tuned run game meets Stanford’s diesel power."

Moseley looks at the contrasting styles each team, and their runners, bring to the game.

“We’re obviously a shotgun, zone- running operation, and they’re an I-formation, pound-it-at-you deal,” UO coach Chip Kelly said. “And they’re really good.”

• One last story from Moseley on the return men for Oregon and Stanford. The Ducks have Kenjon Barner and the Cardinal counter with Chris Owusu. They are ranked 1-2 in the Pc-10 and 5-6 nationally.

But there’s no guarantee either returner will find much room to run inside Stanford Stadium — the Cardinal lead the conference in kickoff coverage, as well, and the Ducks are second.

Should make for an interesting matchup and could be a deciding factor in the outcome of the game.

• I will finish today with a story by Ted Miller that I really liked on how difficult it can be for opposing defenses to find the ball.

"They out-executed us. We came out slow. We just really couldn't find the ball and they were doing everything right", said Trojan LB Chris Galippo.

Miller closes his story with this:

Chip Kelly schools his quarterbacks on ball fakes and misdirection maybe better than any coach in the nation. You often see defenders, their heads swiveling, spend one or two clicks scraping the wrong way.

In all the offenses I've watched in person, I don't know if I've seen one that consistently hides the true location of the ball as well as Oregon's. The gaps of nonrecognition from a defense -- and audience -- are palpable when the Ducks are clicking.

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Duck Stuff: Morning Mud

2009-11-03T04:43:00.001-08:00

• No surprise this week as Ted Miller has Oregon first in his Pac-10 Power Rankings.

The Ducks left no doubt against USC. None. Zero. Now, can they maintain the focus that got them here -- the Pac-10 title within sight -- or will they start to do most-muscular poses in their bathroom mirror? Because if they start to get impressed with themselves, a physical Stanford squad will give them a whipping Saturday.

• Miller also reports that LaMichael James was named the Pac-10 offensive player of the week.

James, a freshman from Texarkana, Texas, rushed 24 times for 183 yards (7.6-yard average) and a touchdown in the Ducks 47-20 win over USC. The 183 yards rushing is a school freshman record.

• Nick Daschel at Buster Sports says that Oregon deserves BCS Title shot. Here are a few of my favorite lines:

It’s too bad college football is decided by polls and geeky computer programmers. Because if the two best teams are truly supposed to play for the national title on Jan. 7, Oregon should be there.

Seriously. Florida/Alabama vs. Texas is on everyone’s short list for BCS title game. But wouldn’t you rather see a team try to shut down Oregon’s offense for all the marbles?

If the Ducks keep this up, they deserve only one destination, and that’s Pasadena on Jan. 7 for the BCS title.

How much fun would it be to watch Oregon run its spread offense against one of those high-falutin’ SEC defenses? Or the Ducks get in a shootout with Mack Brown and Texas with first prize on the line?

One thing you wouldn’t hear: that’s bad for college football. Because it would be great theater for college football.

Probably won't happen but it is a good read.

• Have you noticed how opposing teams seem to wear down in the second half? Rob Moseley noticed too and has a feature story about the conditioning of the Ducks.

“Conditioning is something we really rely on,” UO coach Chip Kelly said Sunday.

“We feel we’re the best-conditioned team every time we go out there. … How we practice and the pace of our practice allows us to really play at a high tempo on Saturdays.”

“We had to keep working at them,” defensive tackle Brandon Bair said. “There’s nothing like hard work; that will expose anybody. I’m not saying they weren’t working hard, but we outworked them. You could definitely see it. They hung their heads in the third quarter, second half, and we were able to come out and do what we were doing.”

• GoDucks.com has all the facts and figures for the upcoming Stanford game. Mike Tokito at the Oregonian takes a look at our opponent also.

• Rob Moseley reports on the scheduled start time for the Arizona St. game on Nov. 14th.

Oregon announced tonight that the Ducks and Sun Devils will play at either 4 p.m. on Versus or 7:20 p.m. on ESPN, with ESPN having first choice. Cal-Arizona will be slotted into the other window.

The Pac-10 will make their decision by Sunday.

With that announcement, the only game left with no firm TV commitment is the away game at Arizona on Nov. 21st.

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Players on Blount's Possible Return - Video

2009-11-03T03:45:00.000-08:00

Players on LeGarrette Blount

Mark Asper and Jeremiah Masoli talk about what Blount would bring to the team. Video courtesy of Molly Blue and the Oregonian.

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Chip Kelly on LeGarrette Blount - Video

2009-11-03T03:41:00.000-08:00

Chip Kelly on LeGarrette Blount

"There is no timetable." I like Kelly's attitude more each day. Video courtesy of Molly Blue and the Oregonian.

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Chip Kelly on Stanford - Video

2009-11-03T03:37:00.000-08:00

Video: Chip Kelly talks Stanford

Monday's press conference and coach Kelly talks about Stanford. Video courtesy of Molly Blue and the Oregonian.

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Duck Stuff: Morning Mud

2009-11-02T04:56:00.001-08:00

• Ted Miller has his "What we learned in the Pac-10: Week 9" pice ready for your consumption. Concerning Oregon:

Oregon is a national title contender: Sure, the national title game looks like it's going to be the SEC champ vs. Texas. Or maybe Iowa. Sure, the Ducks still have to answer for the loss at Boise State way, way, way back in the Paleolithic era. But no one is playing better all-around football right now than Oregon. No one. All the other national title contenders will watch highlights of the Ducks' 47-20 win over USC and go, "Thanks, Boise State, we sure don't want to play those Ducks!" Now, Stanford, which plays host to the Ducks on Saturday, might not be saying that.

• Ted also gives out his helmet stickers to a couple of our most prominent Ducks.

Jeremiah Masoli, QB, Oregon: Masoli masterfully ran Oregon's offense in the Ducks 47-20 dismantling of USC. He completed 19 of 31 passes or 222 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions and he also rushed for 164 yards on just 13 carries with a score.

LaMichael James, RB, Oregon: The redshirt freshman rushed for 183 yards on 24 carries in the win over USC, a school record for a freshman. He also scored a touchdown. It was his fifth 100-yard game this season.

• Andy Mac reports on this weeks Walter Camp national player of the week award. None other than Jeremiah Masoli.

Masoli ran for a season-high 164 yards and passed for 222 more, totaling 386 yards of offense in UO’s 47-20 victory over then-No. 4 USC. He also rushed for one score and threw another.

• Ken Goe looks at the antiquated method we use to crown a National Champion.

Imagine for a moment that college football was not still in the dark ages, and that the major schools had a playoff waiting at the end of the season.

Imagine what Oregon might do then.

It's a screwy system that leaves a national championship up to computer programs and the prejudices and whims of people filling out poll ballots.

I say it's time, past time, to throw out the opinions and the perceptions and settle this thing on the playing field, where opinions and perceptions give way to blocks and tackles.

It's a short read so check it out, and I have to agree with Ken on this one.

• Bob Rickert calls Oregon relentless in this short article.

The Ducks had the ball, knocking on the USC goal line door as the third quarter wound down. Most coaches let it run, go to the other end. Not Kelly.

Kelly and his staff frantically got the attention of Masoli and the offense and implored them to run the play. Don't wait. USC was on it's heels, he didn't want them to have the luxury of four minutes to regroup during the quarter timeout. Touchdown Oregon. Ballgame. USC never recovered.

Win the day? Win the moment. Oregon did that last night. By being relentless.

• Rob Moseley sets the stage for the game against Stanford coming up on Saturday. He compares the NCAA teams stats between the two.

• JConant at Addicted to Quack says that this last Saturday was his "Best (Football) Day Ever."

Here is a short sample.

I can't help but wonder if years from now, will we look back at this defeat of USC as a regime change in the Pac-10? Last night after the game I told friends and co-ATQers JShufelt and dvieira that I was dubbing this game a "Hostile Takeover". It was a coup. The current government was sacked, their leaders shamed, and Carroll The Smug exposed for all the public to see. All foreign eyes are now on the Pac-10 waiting to see what will happen next.

Be sure to read the complete story, it's worth your time.

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GameDay Recap Video

2009-11-02T03:32:00.000-08:00

ESPN's Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit talk with Oregon coach Chip Kelly after the game Saturday night. Video shot from the field inside Autzen.

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