SB Nation - Javes Lewis

Stanford offense pummels ducks by taking a page out of the Chip Kelly playbook

jtlight — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:45:32 -0000

So, Oregon's offense has been pretty stellar over the past few years. But in the games where it has been most successful, as opposing defenses keyed on the Oregon rushing attack, Oregon went to the air to take other teams off balance. This was seen most markedly in last years Civil War beatdown. And, it was seen yesterday. Unfortunately, in a cruel twist, this strategy undid the Ducks defense yesterday against Stanford.

In the first couple drives of the game, the Oregon defense held Gerhart in check, forcing Stanford into a number of 3rd and long situations. On Gerhart's first 7 carries, he managed a mere 18 yards (one was a one yard touchdown run).

During that same stretch, Andrew Luck went back to pass 9 times, was 4/7 for 65 yards, and there were two penalties on Javes Lewis during that stretch (though one of which was just an atrocious, horrible call that was a big momentum swing in the game).

From this point on, in the middle of Stanford's 3rd drive, Toby Gerhart and the rest of the Stanford offense had their way with the Ducks defense. Luck had only 20 pass attempts on the day, but 8 of those attempts were in the first quarter.

Much like we have seen Oregon do over and over again with Kelly at the helm, Stanford used the pass to set up the run, and when they proved that they could move the ball through the air, the Oregon defenders had no answer. Luck had all day to throw, and he was hitting his receivers that were getting open much too quickly.

And that was pretty much that. The defense didn't get any breaks, and Stanford had it's way. There has been a lot of gnashing of teeth about getting outcoached and all this, but these things happen. An offense that is on, and is executing in all phases of the game is almost unstoppable.

Stanford's execution put the Ducks into react mode early, and if your defense is reacting rather than going out there and playing their own game, your will not often be very successful. Oregon was taken off their gameplan early, was forced to respect the pass, and could not generate pressure with their front 4. A defense that has to deal with a diverse offense that can throw or run will typically not be able to stop either.

So where does this leave us moving forward? Is this like the 2002 loss to ASU, or the 2001 loss to Stanford? Was this a fluke, or did Stanford expose something that other teams will be able to?

I'm still very optimistic about how this season will turn out. This game seemed to be a perfect storm on the defensive side of the ball. Stanford made few mistakes and has an offense that it set up to pound the Ducks speedy but undersized front 7. I think that the Ducks match up very well with the teams left on their schedule, though Arizona is looking mighty scary, and if Oregon wants to win the conference, it's margin of error just dropped significantly.

We still have a great offense, and I still feel that our defense is very good, though not world beating as we had originally hoped. The race for the roses still runs through Eugene, and with 3 games to play, that's about all we could have hoped for.

Q&A With the Enemy - Oregon

John Berkowitz — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 01:08:53 -0000

More photos » by John Froschauer - AP

2 months ago: Washington quarterback Jake Locker drops back to pass against Arizona during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in Seattle, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Browse more photos »

We try to do a Q&A with the opposing teams SBN blog before games during the season. This week with the Oregon Ducks on tap we are pleased to have the gang from Addicted to Quack with us. ATQ is probably the greatest name for a blog in the history of sports blogdom. The ATQ guys do a great job and are very hospitable to visiting fans just like we are.

Like our friends from the Oregon blog I think this game will be a lot closer than Oregon fans think. Once again I want to thank all the great Duck fans who came over here for some friendly banter.

John: Lets start this off with the usual Jake Locker question. What is the Oregon DC Nick Alioti's probable plan to contain Jake Locker?

jtlight: I covered this more in depth on ATQ on Wednesday, but the simple answer is pressure. Oregon has done a very good job the last few games in creating pressure. Not only has the D-line stepped up, but the versatility in Oregon's front 7 allows the Ducks to mix and match schemes, and Nick Aliotti, after years of being berated by the Duck fan base, is now a hero.

I would expect the Ducks to blitz frequently, but also drop into coverage at times. With all the linebackers possessing the ability to bring good pressure, and DE Kenny Rowe able to drop into coverage, I expect the Ducks to have a varied game plan to keep Locker flustered and (hopefully) confused throughout much of the game.

dvieira: I agree with JT. The gameplan should be to give Locker a ton of different looks, possibly even keeping a spy on him. One of the keys will be how often the D-line will be able to get to the QB with just 4. If that happens a lot, especially early in the game, the secondary will start taking more chances at turnovers.

John: The Oregon defense has exceeded expectations this year. Give us a rundown on the Duck front seven and what they have been doing to shut down opponents over the last three games?

jtlight: The first thing they've done is increased their penetration. In the first few games, pressure on opposing QBs was sparse, but as the games have progressed, all of the players on the D-line have really stepped up, and have brought consistent pressure. This has eased a large strain that was originally on the linebacking corp. With the D-line creating consistent backfield pressure, it was freed up the linebacker to not only bring pressure themselves, but to drop into coverage. And the speed and strength of the linebacking corp has been a delightful surprise to Duck fans. I am not exaggerating when I say that this is the best linebacking group the Ducks have had in 15 years. It is talented, fast, and goes 6 players deep. This has allowed the front 7 to be incredibly versatile, which has led to the overall defensive success.

dvieira: I think we've also been fortunate to have gone up against relatively inexperienced quarterbacks. UCLA's offensive production isn't that great, Washington State is... well... Washington State and Cal had opportunities to make plays from the quarterback position and just didn't make them. When one aspect of the game isn't working so well the team has been able to belly up to the bar and shutdown the other aspect in convincing fashion. With some injuries hitting our secondary, facing a dual threat QB with the caliber of Jake Locker might make for some interesting battles defensively.

John: Who is going to start at QB for Oregon? What is the main difference between Costa and Masoli?

jtlight: My feeling is that Masoli will start. He's been taking snaps, his knee seems to be getting better, and he's getting used to his custom brace. I'd imagine that his mobility will be down, but I'm guessing he still has more mobility than Costa. At this point, the main difference with Costa and Masoli seems to be confidence. Costa still looks a bit tentative out there, which should be a surprise. After some intial problems, Masoli got on track in the Cal game, and became his decisive self again. While there is the worry he could revert, it sounds like he has been doing very well in practice.

While the Masoli/Costa angle has been talked about to great length over the past week, the Duck game plan will not change at all with Costa in the game. However, I don't think that we'll have to worry about that.

dvieira: To quote Jeremiah Masoli, "we'll all find out Saturday". He has been working with the first team all week in practice so I'm willing to bet we'll see Masoli in the game at some point. I think Costa is serviceable and if he has to go on Saturday, he should be able to move the ball and give the rock to the playmakers on offense. Masoli is much more aggressive in his play than Nate has been.

John: What type of impact will the loss of your starting corners Thurmond and Glasper have on the game now that you are facing probably the best QB team will see this season?

jtlight: Luckily for the Ducks, Glasper was Thurmond's backup, so 3 of the 4 members of the secondary have been playing together for almost the entire season. Glasper's injury, while unfortunate, is not all that significant for the Ducks, who have a lot of talent in the secondary. That said, the loss of Thurmond is definitely rough. He had been the best player on the football team, and had been making big plays all over the field.

Last week against UCLA, his backups did an admirable job. Anthony Gildon (redshirt sophomore) started the game, and didn't give up many big plays, but was flagged twice. He split time with true freshman Cliff Harris, who was the top player in the Ducks 2009 recruiting class, and he played a very strong game, was never out of position, and had good coverage every time the ball went his way. He definitely seems to be one of those players that has a feel for coverage. However, he lacks the bulk that many other CBs have (he's listed at 160 on the roster), and that can be attacked. I have confidence that either Gildon or Harris will give us competent play, but not up to Thurmond's level. They will definitely be tested by Locker and the UW receivers, so this will be a great test for the secondary. In the end, I think that UW will make some plays, but that the young UO secondary will also.

Thus far, young Oregon players have stepped up in the secondary, and I'm hopeful that will continue.

dvieira: I don't like the loss of both Glasper and Thurmond. Even though we have experience in the secondary, we would have a true freshman (who was late getting into camp) getting a lot of reps at that corner position. UCLA's offense is just not that good so having a pocket passer delivering balls to that side might be a weakness until Cliff Harris / Anthony Gildon can get more reps. If Oregon can get pressure on Locker with the front four, I would expect the defense to provide help on that side of the field to offset the weakness.

John: If you were the Washington offensive coordinator how would you attack the Oregon defense?

jtlight: I would steer clear of going off-tackle or trying to get into the flats, and instead try to pound the ball up the middle. While Oregon's front 7 does have great quickness, it is also undersized, and while the overall defensive effort has been a massive progression from last season, the rushing defense has regressed slightly. At times, Oregon has had issues with running the ball up the middle. Chris Polk has done an excellent job when he's gotten a hole, and I would look to continue that.

In the passing game, I would continue to throw a good number of quick passes, including the slants that have been so successful, though I would steer clear of WR screens, because the speed of the linebackers has kept these in check for most of the season. Lastly, I would take a number of shots down the edges of the field, in an attempt to get the UW wide receivers one-on-one with the Oregon cornerbacks. The play of John Boyett and Javes Lewis has been excellent this year, and has improved the Oregon pass defense greatly. They have done an excellent job partrolling the middle of the field, so keeping the UW receivers our of their vicinity will be key.

dvieira: I agree with JT. Running side to side just doesn't seem to work against Oregon. What Boise State did so effectively was mix up looks offensively, getting the matchups they wanted. I know the pro-style offense is relatively new but any sort of wrinkle that helps to throw off Oregon's reads should open things up. The other thing I would say is to stop forcing Locker into a certain mold and allow him to use his talent more. I understand that Sark has been trying to get him to stay in the pocket but he is the best weapon you have. Roll him out, get him on the move, allow him to make plays with his legs. That should keep Oregon's D off balance.

John: What is your prediction for the game? Let me guess...you think Oregon is going to win?

jtlight: Of course I think Oregon is going to win! I really think that this years Oregon team is one of the most balanced Duck fans have seen in some time. The offense is just itching to break out as it did against Cal, and the defense has been excellent. I just don't see UW having an answer for Oregon's offense. While there's been a lot of talk about the Huskies red zone defense, I don't think they'll be able to rely on that against the Ducks. Oregon has the best red zone threat in the conference in Ed Dickson, and are the 2nd best red zone offense in the Pac-10. And while UW's offense is a strong threat, I don't think it's consistent enough to keep up with the Oregon offense while going against a very good defense. If the turnover margin in even, Oregon wins by two scores.

dvieira: I think Oregon will win but I think it will be a lot closer than other people are predicting. Jake Locker is a special talent and the receiver corp at Washington is really coming into his own with him throwing the rock. Oregon's defense has been getting better but that has come in dealing with very average quarterbacks. Washington is going to score, no doubt about it and I think they can move the ball against Oregon's defense. As long as Oregon's offense continues to make good decisions and not turnover the ball, talent should win out. In big games however, it seems like UW is really good at getting that key turnover or causing a mistake by the offense. Oregon has been turnover prone, especially on special teams which could allow the Huskies to get some cheap scores. Oregon should win by keeping mistakes at a minimum and moving the ball offensively.

ATQ: Jake Locker has improved tremendously under Sark. In what area has this been seen the most, and what is his biggest weakness?

john: He has improved tremendously under Sark. Obviously the mechanics of simply throwing the ball accurately has been the biggest improvement. He has a cannon for an arm but the mechanics never improved under Willingham. He is a completely different QB this season who runs first and passes second. His biggest weakness has been decision making. It could be just learning a new offense but the facet of the game is still a work in progress. Jake makes great plays and other times you just have to shake your head. The more defensive pressure you can put on him the better it will be for Oregon on Saturday.

ATQ: The Huskies have typified "bend but don't break" on defense this year. What has been the key for their success in the red zone?

john: When the Huskies are in the red zone they don't have to worry about the long pass and that allows the defense to play with the front seven a lot more. We have problems in space in the secondary but when that space is limited we seem to do pretty well. Between the 20's we are rushing three or four against five or six to prevent the big play. Once a team gets down toward the end zone the schemes change and that works to UW's advantage. When our LB's aren't helping out with pass coverage they can really cause some havoc.

ATQ: The Huskies haven't yet faced a spread attack like Oregon's this season. How will the Huskies attempt to slow down the Ducks?

john: I don't think we will slow the Ducks down much between the twenties. Oregon is going to get its yards on Saturday. The key for Washington all season is having a plus turn over ratio and turning probable 7's in the red zone into 3's. Masoli if he starts won't be nearly as mobile as he was early in the season. Washington needs to take some chances to take advantage of that. When the Oregon spread is working I don't think there is a better offense in college football. The last time the Ducks were in Seattle the Dixon led offense just blew me away. Your offense of course has only worked that efficiently once this season if you take WSU out of the equation.

ATQ: There is a lot of heat on the Oregon side of the rivalry when the Husky game comes up, so much so that many Duck fans view Washington as a bigger rival than Oregon State. How does Husky Nation view the rivalry, especially in terms of Washington State?

john: It is a big game for Washington but not as big as Washington State for some reason for most Husky fans. I personally think it is a big game and I consider Oregon to be the more important rival. I would much rather go to a game in Eugene than in Pullman. I think what really bothers Oregon fans is that the Washington program and its fan base has historically looked down on Oregon. That old Washington arrogance that Duck fans complained about for so many years is very real. Oregon on the other hand cares a lot more about Washington than Washington cares about Oregon.

Washington cares...but they are never going to give Duck fans the satisfaction of it being more important than any other Pac 10 game. I found it amusing when the Pac 10 went without a round robin schedule and Oregon wanted to schedule the Huskies as an OOC game in years when they were not scheduled to play. The tradition was more important to Oregon than it was to Washington who said we would rather take the year off. That rubbed a lot of Ducks the wrong way. Of course everything we do does that. Part of the charm of the rivalry.

ATQ: What is your take on Jake Locker going pro? If he does decide to go out this year, what can we expect out of Washington in 2010?

john: Jake needs another year under Sark to refine his craft. That is complicated by the fact that this is a very weak year for QB prospects. Jake has the most potential of any college QB out there but if he was drafted he would have to sit on the bench a couple of years. He is not close to being ready for the next level. That being said since there isn't a draft eligible QB this season that is ready his value has increased in the eyes of NFL scouts.

ATQ: Lastly, while UW isn't favored to win, they definitely have a shot. Who (outside of Locker) is going to need to have a big game for the Huskies to win?

john: Chris Polk needs to run the ball well on Saturday. Polk is an excellent running back but the key will be how well the offensive line clears room for him. Washington or any team for that matter plays better when they have a balanced offense. In Washington's pro-set offense the run sets up a lot of play action which is really the key to making Washington's offense a lot more productive. Washington is deep and talented at the wide receiver position. Keep an eye on James Johnson, Jermaine Kearse, and Devin Aguilar. All three have been very solid this season. Aguilar is coming off a career game against ASU.

Young Ducks Emerge As New Stars

JConant — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:00:30 -0000

by Chris Carlson - AP

Oregon sophomore safety John Boyett intercepts a pass intended for UCLA wide receiver Taylor Embree during the second half of Oregon's 24-10 win in Pasadena. Boyett's play following the opening game injury to veteran T.J. Ward symbolizes the depth and talent that should help Oregon remain a prominent football program for years to come. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

View full size photo »

It's halftime. A good time to relax, regroup and reflect.

Oregon's 2009 football season is rich with story lines. Chip Kelly's first season as a head coach. All the pre-season hype. The disaster that was Boise, compounded by LeGarrette Blount's post-game MMA display and subsequent suspension. A skin-of-the-teeth win over a Purdue team that clearly isn't very good. A better win over Utah, where the Ducks overcame adversity created mostly by themselves. More off-field news as The Blount Plan continues to evolve amid mixed support and criticism. Three conference wins later, it's game on.

No story, however, is more compelling than the play of Ducks youngsters, back-ups and first-year starters. Oregon's post-Boise success has been led by many of the guys we expected would play well: Masoli, Dickson, Maehl, Thurmond, Matthews and Paysinger. It also is the result of hard work put in by a whole new group of Ducks who are becoming household names among even casual Duck fans. With some time to kill during the bye week, now seems the perfect time to contemplate how these players have stepped up to lead the Ducks back to prominence.

LaMichael James (RB, Freshman) - Is anyone else as jacked as I am that we still get three more years of this kid? He's the lightning all right, and he's helping Oregon thrive without much thunder. James has 581 net yards on 92 carries - 6.3 yards per carry. He's punched in four TDs. LaMichael is a threat from anywhere on the field. His spin move is quickly becoming a "signature", and I thought he was just one cut away from going about 95 yards against UCLA.

Javes Lewis (ROV, Sophomore) - Lewis had big shoes to fill this season. In fact, clown shoes big. So far so good. One INT, one huge fumble recovery and return for a TD against Purdue, two forced fumbles, and he's tied for second on the team with 37 tackles. And that blow-up of UCLA QB Richard Brehaut...I thought the kid might not get up.

Kenny Rowe (DE, Junior) - Be honest. Did you really expect this kind of production from Kenny Rowe? He's crushing opposing QBs, with 6.5 sacks, tied for second in the Pac-10. He had seven tackles against UCLA. Rowe has forced three fumbles. How will the Ducks replace Nick Reed? We have our answer, and he's a game changer.

Kenjon Barner (RB, Freshman) - Maybe Barner will be a cornerback again at some point. Right now, he's doing a fantastic job of being ball carrier. Barner ranks second on the team with 467 all-purpose yards: 178 rushing, 46 punt return, 236 kick return, and a handful of receiving yards. He's found the end zone twice. There have been many big plays in Oregon's six games. Few more timely or more important than Barner's 100-yard kick return to open the second half of a must-win road game against UCLA.

John Boyett (FS, Freshman) - If it weren't for Blount's blow-up after the loss to Boise St., the injury to T.J. Ward would've been THE source of post-game pain for Duck fans. Now we wonder out loud whether we're eager to see Boyett come off the field when Ward is ready to go. Let me remind you why... Boyett trails only Casey Matthews for tackles. His two interceptions have come late in games, effectively sealing the deal both times. He appears to be a heady player with veteran smarts, good cover skills and the ability to make open field tackles. Boyett's reaction and subsequent play on a Purdue receiver sealed a much needed win and provided the team with the momentum and confidence they needed to rise above the slow start.

Eddie Pleasant & Josh Kaddu (SLB, Sophomore x 2) - These two bring speed and intensity to Oregon's defense, and will do so for two more seasons. Pleasant has 22 tackles, an interception and a nose for fumble recoveries - three so far. Kaddu has 18 tackles, including three for losses. When you talk about the sudden emergence of a defense at Oregon and Nick Aliotti having the flexibility to run multiple fronts, the discussion has to include these two up-and-coming stars.

Jackson Rice (P, Freshman) - He's the punter. Not a lot of glory there, but Rice has been solid and then some. Sure, he's shanked a couple. He's one year removed from high school football. Through six games, Rice is averaging 39.3 yards a punt. He has the look of a guy who may be averaging 45 yards a couple seasons down the road. More than one-third of Rice's punts land inside the opponent's 20, and yet he's had just one touchback. He has five punts over 50 yards.

Mark Asper (RG, So.), Carson York (LG, Fr.), Nick Cody (OL, Fr.), Darrion Weems (OL, So.) - The rapid maturation of Oregon's offensive line would not be happening without these underclassmen stepping up. Asper and York are solid starters. Cody and Weems are seeing considerable playing time and look like future starters. Oregon's offensive machine sputters if this group isn't on top of their game. The growth we've seen along Oregon's offensive line since the opening game is nothing short of remarkable.

There are others worth mentioning, but I'll leave those for the group to comment on. Stop. Think about it for a moment. Relish it. We're in the midst of what could be a special season. At the same time, the future of Oregon football appears to be as bright as those crazy yellow jerseys.

The Oregon Ducks Elevator - Jibe Shinaba, Ed Dickson and Jackson Rice

dvieira — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:01:07 -0000

The elevator returns after a week off for repairs. When you have a big win against California, everyone wants to party in the elevator. Unfortunately, JShufelt brought TOO much beer and chips causing a mad rush at the buffet table. We have reinforced the doors and expanded capacity. We apologize for any issues this may have caused. Now that the dust has settled, let's check where people lie after they passed out.

Ed Dickson: If back to back games with over a hundred yards wasn't enough, how about breaking Justin Wilcox's record for most receptions by a tightend for a career with 104? Although he didn't complete it, how about big Ed throwing a pass towards the endzone? He's had a great couple of weeks after being relatively quiet in the opening weeks of the season. Elevator: Up 1 Floor

Javes Lewis: Nabbed his first career interception by picking off Marshall Lobbestael in the second quarter. He has stepped up to provide a solid force in the secondary. Elevator: Up 1 Floor

Jamere Holland: Has anyone seen Jamere Holland lately? He played significant time during the Washington State game with the second string but DJ Davis appears to have taken the starting job away. For a guy who looked to finally have a breakout year, this is a major setback. His body language looked good on the field but this can't sit well. If you aren't getting looks against Washington State with the second string, when are you going to get some looks? Elevator: Down 2 Floors

Jackson Rice: This guy will be playing on Sundays, hands down. For one of our main concerns coming into the season, Jackson continues to deliver week in and week out. Great punt to pin Washington State on their 5. Elevator: Up 1 Floor

LeGarrette Blount: People have questioned his motives, his character, called him a thug and a felon, say he should be jailed, and all he's done is try to get his life together and be a good a teammate. He wrote an apology letter in the Oregon Daily Emerald. What else can the guy do? Critics seem to insist that he become the poster child for "bad character" and that he should pay for anyone that even thought about doing something bad. In the face of all those things and having his name continously sullied in local media, he keeps on doing what he needs to do to recover his image. When LGB graduates and moves on to the NFL, we'll see if the local media continues their grudge, especially when the national media has almost universally praised the decision. Elevator: sporting a nice new shiny tie for his elevator security job

Jide Shinaba: who knew Jibe before the Washington State game? Not even Don Essig as he tried to figure out who #31 was when he was busy running the ball in the 4th quarter. 4 carries for 16 yards as a walkon. Elevator: Up 1 Floor

Morning Quack Fix: Masoli and Kaiser day to day, Ducks back Blount while staying focused

jtlight — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:31:23 -0000

After a great win over the weekend, Oregon sits at 4-1 (2-0 Pac-10), but our first big test comes this weekend. Oregon has flourished at home, but it's time to head back on the road. And while the Rose Bowl isn't Bronco Stadium, how Oregon plays at UCLA will hopefully let us see if this team is for real. On to the quack!

In the news that everyone is talking about, Jeremiah Masoli and C.E. Kaiser are listed as day to day. While this can really mean anything, I am really not concerned about either injury. My guess is that Masoli will play versus UCLA, while Kaiser is more iffy, but our team should be in near perfect health after the BYE week.
While I'm tired of talking about LeGarrette Blount, this piece makes me smile when thinking of prepping for Stanford. Meanwhile, if you've been reading terrible columns on the situation, cut it out. Instead, take a look at what the other players have to say about Blount possibly coming back. But what should be most encouraging, is that despite all the hoopla surrounding the program, it has not affected the players, who showed focus despite the numerous distractions.
Ken Woody files his usual post-game recap. The Ducks dominated the game because of speed, which Wazzu just doesn't have.
Oregonlive has a report on how future Ducks fared over the weekend in their high school games.

Make sure check out a number of videos after the jump, including highlights from Chip Kelly's press conference, and a number of player interviews. GO DUCKS!

Chip Kelly Press Conference Highlights

Inside the Pac from KVAL, with guest Ken Woody

Nate Costa

Kenjon Barner

Javes Lewis

Jeremiah Masoli

Ed Dickson

Mr. Masoli, or How We Learned to Stop Sucking and Demolish the Golden Bears

Addicted to Quack — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 07:09:38 -0000

There are wins. There are blowouts. And then there are games where you so thoroughly destroy the opponent that you take every ounce of dignity and self respect that the opponent has and tear them to shreds. This was one of those games. Jared remarked after the game that it was the best all-around game he'd ever seen the Ducks play. Ever. And in my fifteen years of being a Duck fan, I'd have to agree with him. I watched it at Autzen and was amazed. Then I watched the replay and it looked even better. No team has ever played a perfect game, but this was as close as I have ever seen. By anyone. We haven't written a lot about the Ducks' wins this season because we didn't know what to make of them. We aren't going to be this good every week. But even if we are half this good, then we've fixed most of the problems that plagued us during the first three games of the season. My thoughts after the jump.

First off, fantastic tailgate before the game, and thanks to Jeremy for having us. It was the first time I had met anyone from the blog in "real" life, and it was just like hanging out with old friends. Jeremy, Jared, and Dominic were just the nicest people you could meet. Many readers stopped by, too, and it was a pleasure meeting Quinn, TrumpetDuck, Takimoto, and Arcadian Traverse, who flew in all the way from Calgary for his first Duck game. And, of course, Jshufelt, who did NOT forget the beer. Awesome, awesome experience meeting many fine people. A big thanks to my good friend Cody who hooked me up with tickets for this game. Also thanks to Boiler T-Mill for the fine Indiana brew. The Juju obviously approved.

As for the game itself, I have to admit, a little part of me thought that we were screwed after we fumbled the opening kickoff. Obviously, the Juju still had it out for us. But the defense responded magnificently, sending Cal backward eight yards in three plays. They pitched a shutout Saturday, Cal didn't earn the only score they got.

Keep in mind that Walter Thurmond didn't play after the first return. The defense did this without its two most prolific players in Thurmond and TJ Ward. But John Boyett has been nothing short of spectacular in Ward's absence, to the point where you wonder if TJ automatically gets his job back when he's healthy. We are going to have two outstanding players at that safety position this year. We were talking if Boyett should remain at safety and Ward, who plays the run well and hits a ton, though isn't particularly great in coverage should move to rover when he get back, though Javes Lewis has been fantastic there as well. And that's not to mention the job that Talmadge Jackson and Marvin Johnson did in place of Thurmond, albeit against terrible Cal receivers. The gameplan put these guys on an island all day, and they produced. I can't tell you how many deflections I saw, but it was a lot.

Of course, we were most worried about the Best running back in the nation. He got 55 yards. A tremendous job by our line, linebackers, and safeties on that one. And, as Jeremy noted at the tailgate, how fantastic it is to have good linebackers for a change. There was nowhere to go at all in the middle, and Best was forced on several occasions to cut back and try to get outside. He got a couple of decent runs but, for the most part, guys were able to close before he got a chance to turn the corner. It doesn't matter how fast you are if there are no holes, and if you have to cut back, the linebackers are then a step ahead of you. Other than the first wildcat play that I think caught us a bit off guard, he had no other runs of significant yardage.

And, of course, Riley was on the run all game, and got sacked five times. The pass rush was relentless. I've gotten on Aliotti a lot over the last few years, including a regrettable time last year where I openly called for his firing. But when the personnel is in place, his plans are very good, and this performance as perfect. The depth of the defense also stood out to me, are we finally getting the talent on that side of the ball to match our offense? The most amazing thing, though? Cal never even came close to scoring. Not a single possession in the red zone. It was a beautiful, beautiful sight.

Offensively, I thought the strategy was brilliant. We came out with a lot of short, west coast style passing stuff that made for easy completions and seemed to give Masoli confidence. The first potential deep ball was when Embry was wide open and Masoli got excited and overthrew it. However, the next deep ball to Dickson was money. After that, no problems with the passing game. Masoli was going through his reads well, though all he really needed to do was lock in on Dickson and get hm the ball (and he did that 11 times). Dickson was open on pretty much every play, as he has been all season, but we finally found him. They'll catch it on film and have a safety or linebacker spy him in the future, which will just serve to leave Maehl, Davis, and Holland open for big chunks of yardage. And speaking of Drew Davis--a wideout that can catch! Woohoo!

The offensive line really seems to be coming together well. Masoli was sacked once, didn't really face a whole lot of pressure other than that. Also opened up a lot of big holes for LMJ. Second straight hundred yard game for him, and you can see both his speed and his shiftyness. He is basically a carbon copy of Jacquizz Rodgers. And he will be our running back for a long, long time. However, I was equally excited about Remene Alston. He looked really good on his first runs of the season--hit the hole hard and was tough to bring down. He's not as big as Blount or Stewart, but he's much more of a power back than Barner and, if he can run like he did today, could be the thunder to LMJ's lightning.

Finally, I have to point out that, when backed up inside the five, we ran a couple of plays under center to give us some breathing room. Loved this. I think it was just two plays, and they weren't huge, but they moved us from our four to about our ten, and opened up the room needed for the spread to be successful. No more safeties on a sweep in the end zone. Just get one of those backs going full steam ahead.

Look , we're not going to look this good every game, and Cal basically gave up halfway through the second quarter. But our defense has been outstanding all season, and just keeps getting better. The offensive line is gelling. We've found our running back. And now Masoi has learned how to throw the ball again. We're not a perfect team, but all the Pac-10 contenders are flawed, and we already find ourselves with a one game lead on both. This could shape up to be a special year yet.

Lets hope we get some good news on WT3 tomorrow.

TJ Ward day-to-day, and other notes from Kelly

jtlight — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:29:52 -0000

We've all been wanting to know, and according to Moseley, T.J. Ward is day-to-day. He will likely be replaced by John Boyett, Marvin Johnson, Javes Lewis, or a combination of those players at the various safety positions.

At running back, depth will become a serious issue, especially as Moseley notes that Remene Alston is dealing with academic issues.

Kelly also held a team meeting at 4pm today, and the team mood was "somber." I have no doubt that this team still has a lot of talent, and can still put points on the board, but the effort and execution both must improve by leaps and bounds. How this team reacts emotionally and psychologically will be very important to how this season turns out.

In the BSU game, there was a very poor effort. I had really thought this team would know it would take a big effort to beat Boise State. I was very very wrong. Hopefully they've learned their lesson. This team cannot take any play off, and will have to work for whatever it gets.

ATQ 2009 Football Preseason Awards

JConant — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:00:16 -0000

A few of us ATQers got together and voted on a variety of preseason awards. All in good fun. At the end of the season we'll do it all over again and see how preseason predictions compare to post-season results. Thanks to jtlight, ntrebon, dvieira, PaulSF and Addicted to Quack.

Nominees and winners after the jump...

Most Valuable Player

LeGarrette Blount, Ed Dickson, Jeremiah Masoli, Walter Thurmond III, T.J. Ward

Winner: Jeremiah Masoli
Runner up: LeGarrette Blount

Offensive Player of the Year

LeGarrette Blount, Ed Dickson, Jamere Holland, Jeff Maehl, Jeremiah Masoli

Winner: LeGarrette Blount, Jeremiah Masoli (tie)

Defensive Player of the Year

Casey Matthews, Spencer Paysinger, Walter Thurmond III, Will Tukuafu, T.J. Ward

Winner: Walter Thurmond III
Runner up: Will Tukuafu, T.J. Ward

Offensive Newcomer of the Year (includes '08 red shirts)

Tyrece Gaines, LaMichael James, Diante Jackson, Carson York

Winner: LaMichael James (unanimous)

Defensive Newcomer of the Year (includes '08 red shirts)

Zac Clark, Scott Grady, Bryson Littlejohn, Terrance Montgomery

Winner: Bryson Littlejohn
Runner up: Terrance Montgomery

Freshman Player of the Year

Everett Benyard, Blake Cantu, Michael Clay, Diante Jackson, Jackson Rice

Winner: Jackson Rice
Runner up: Diante Jackson

Most Improved - Offense

Rory Cavaille, Andre Crenshaw, Garrett Embry, Jamere Holland, Jordan Holmes, David Paulson

Winner: Jamere Holland
Runner up: Jordan Holmes

Most Improved - Defense

Brandon Bair, Blake Ferras, Talmadge Jackson III, Casey Matthews, Eddie Pleasant, Kenny Rowe, Javes Lewis

Winner: Brandon Bair
Runner up: Jackson III, Matthews, Rowe, Lewis

Position Coach of the Year

Jerry Azzinaro, Steve Greatwood, Mark Helfrich, John Neal, Don Pellum, Nick Aliotti

Winner: Jerry Azzinaro
Runner up: Steve Greatwood

So, how did we do? If we blew it or nailed it, let us hear about it in the comments. Who are the players you're most looking forward to watch this season and why?

Opponent preview: Will Oregon stifle the Bronco ground game again?

Kevan Lee — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:08:22 -0000

The Duralog of Boise State good vibes that is still burning from last season's win over Oregon is just about finished. The warm fuzzies end Thursday night when a new chapter in the incredibly short, two-chapter book on Ducks vs. Broncos (tentatively titled: Quit hitting me: the Jeremiah Masoli story) is written.

Football is almost here, but it's not the same football that any other school in the country (except for maybe VaTech and Alabama) has been looking forward to. This game has huge ramifications for Boise State's BCS hopes. It has huge ramifications for LaGarrette Blount's MySpace friend requests. And there are about a billion different ways you can look at the matchup.

I've chosen one of the most overlooked, but one that I feel could become very important: Oregon's run defense. Let's talk about it, and feel free to add your most important factor in the comments.

No. 16 Oregon at No. 14 Boise State

Kickoff: 8:15MT, TV: ESPN, Radio: 580 KIDO

Weather forecast: Mostly sunny, high of 90 during the day

Spread: Boise State -5

Starting Offense

WR Jamere Holland
WR Jeff Maehl	Leading returning wide receiver (39 recs, 421 yards)
WR Garrett Embry
TE Ed Dickson	John Mackey Award watch list
LT Bo Thran
LG Carson York	Redshirt freshman
C Jordan Holmes
RG Mark Asper	6'7", 323 pounds
RT C.E. Kaiser	Most returning experience on offensive line
QB Jeremiah Masoli	The consensus best QB in the Pac-10
RB LeGarrette Blount	7.3 average, 17 TDs in 2008

The Oregon offense is Jeremiah Masoli, for better or for worse. There are loads of talented skill players around him and a green offensive line in front of him, but Masoli is the heart of the Duck attack. If he is on his game, he is one of the best in the country. If he is on his back, then Ryan Winterswyk WIN!

Starting defense

DE Will Tukuafu	Second-team PAC-10 in 2008
DT Brandon Bair
DT Blake Ferras	6'6", 290 pounds
DE Kenny Rowe
OLB Eddie Pleasant
MLB Casey Matthews	Took over from starter John Bacon six games into 2008 season
OLB Spencer Paysinger	95 tackles as redshirt freshman in 2008
CB Walter Thurmond III	Jim Thorpe Award watch list
CB Talmadge Jackson III
FS T.J. Ward	Preseason all-Pac-10
ROV Javes Lewis

There will be up to five first-timers on the Ducks' starting defense on Thursday, but that isn't to say that this unit is short on talent. A loaded linebacker corps is the meat, T.J. Ward is the special sauce, and veterans like Thurmond and Tukuafu are the bread that holds the whole thing together. Still, the sandwich seems to be missing something. Game experience, maybe?

Special teams

P Jackson Rice	true freshman, making his first college start
K Morgan Flint
KR Walter Thurmond III
KR LaMichael James	Really fast and quick
PR Kenjon Barner

This has nothing to do with special teams, but I thought I should mention Oregon's tazer players: LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner. The tazer is Oregon's answer to traditional football positions; it's an athlete who can make plays from anywhere. Get ready to hear this term about 20 times on the ESPN broadcast.

What happened last season

via media.idahostatesman.com

Boise State ran for 38 yards on 35 carries (1.1 average) with one touchdown and a long rush of eight.

Credit the Oregon defense for taking away the run and making Kellen Moore beat them. Credit Kellen Moore for beating them. Credit me for not injuring myself mid-fistpump. Credit Mike Bellotti for that immaculate goatee. And when you're done crediting people, know this: The Bronco offensive line really struggled moving Oregon defenders out of the way and creating holes for the backs. Was it a size/strength issue, similar TCU truck that hit the Broncos? Was it something wrong with the backs?

I'm siding with size and strength (or am I siding against it?). Boise State's O-line looked just fine protecting Kellen Moore on passing plays. The issue wasn't form or technique. It was owning the line of scrimmage that really went Oregon's way. Nothing shows this more than the statistics from Oregons' defensive line. Typically, linebackers lead the team in tackles, or when prolific passing offenses take to the air, players in the secondary get big tackle totals. Rarely do you see it happen along the defensive line.

However, Oregon's D-line really filled the stat box, with one player tying for team lead in tackles and another racking up an inordinate amount of tackles for loss. Combined, four members of Oregon's defensive line - Ra'Shon Harris, Will Tukuafu, Nick Reed, and Cole Linehan - recorded 26 tackles, six TFLs, and one sack. Incredible.

What has changed over the past 12 months

Attrition has struck both the Oregon D-line and the Boise State O-line. The Broncos lost all-conference G/T Andrew Woodruff and his bearded buddy John Gott. The Ducks graduated Reed, Linehan, and Harris, in addition to linebackers Jerome Boyd and John Bacon.

Reed is the most notable absence along the Oregon defensive front. He was an All-American last year, recording 13 sacks, 7 TFLs, and five FR, but his departure might not be the most important hole up front for the Ducks. Both defensive tackles, Linehan and Harris, are gone, leaving a big void for a rotation of JCs and others to fill. Blake Ferras leads a merry-go-round at the position that will sub in as many as four at defensive tackle. The Ducks replace Reed with inexperienced junior Kenny Rowe.

Boise State's O-line has a new look again, just as it did in virtually every game last season. The Broncos will start the year with first-timers Michael Ames and Will Lawrence in the lineup. The other three positions return experience from last year, including center stud Thomas Byrd. Kevin Sapien and Matt Slater are the other two starters, and Nate Potter might see the field in optimal false start packages.

Spotlight on: DE Will Tukuafu

via image.cdnl3.xosnetwork.com

Reed wasn't the biggest terror against the Broncos last season. It was Tukuafu, the JC transfer who recorded six solo tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and one sack against Boise State. He was a handful, in part because the Broncos paid a lot of attention to Nick Reed, and in part because the guy is just a stud.

Coming out of Scottsdale CC, Tukuafu was ranked as one of the two best DL JCs in the nation and reached as high as No. 7 overall on Rivals list of JC players. He was originally recruited by BYU, going so far as to sign a letter of intent with the school. He chose to take a two-year mission instead, and found himself on the CC route when he returned. Thanks to his time away, he is now listed as the oldest player on the Oregon roster at age 25.

His old man strength serves him well. At least, that's what I attribute his being able to sack Jake Locker one-handed.

Tukuafu, a team captain this season and the only returning starter on the defensive line, could be lined up often against Ames, playing in his first actual game in two years. How will Ames handle the new guy? Is Tukuafu's presence the reason why Tommy Gallarda was picked to start at TE against the Ducks? What will the coaching staff do to handle this matchup? I'd like to know your thoughts because none of mine end well.

Can Boise State beat Oregon without an effective running game?

Ah, one of the cruxes.

Well, the obvious answer last year was yes. Boise State would have done just as well letting Kellen Moore fall forward every time they called a running play, and still the Broncos built a 24-point lead and hung on for a win in Eugene. The running game was not needed to win. It would have been nice to have around, especially when BSU needed to salt away some time late in the game. It also might have helped Ian Johnson get drafted, but oh well.

The Broncos proved time and again that they didn't need the running game to be successful last year. But was that a product of their easy schedule? How many times out of 100 would the Broncos beat the Ducks by only running for one yard per carry?

It's nice to dwell on the win from last year, but this is not last year's Bronco team (or Duck team, for that matter). One of the most disconcerting parts of this discussion is that we don't know how the Broncos will perform this year. What do you think? Is the 2009 BSU team built to win without the running game?

The signs seem to say yes. Kellen Moore should be improved over last year, which is just an impossibly crazy idea. The Oregon secondary might be the team's biggest weakness, and with the Boise State's passing game being their biggest strength, well, I'll let you draw your own conclusions. Where the running game really makes its money is if the Broncos get a lead late in the game. As my friends at Football Outsiders love to point out, "You run when you win, you don't win when you run." Let me let them explain.

The first article ever written for Football Outsiders was devoted to debunking the myth of "establishing the run." There is no correlation whatsoever between giving your running backs a lot of carries early in the game and winning the game. Just running the ball is not going to help a team score; it has to run successfully.

In general, winning teams have a lot of carries because their running backs are running out the clock at the end of wins, not because they are running wild early in games.

Thoughts on this?

How will Oregon defend the Broncos

Of course, Oregon's run defense is not just limited to the four guys up front. The Ducks have a deep and talented linebacker trio as well with Spencer Paysinger, Casey Matthews, and Eddie Pleasant. These three players could be the key to making up for the inexperience along the defensive line.

Also, Oregon has the luxury of bringing in rover person Javes Lewis (and sometimes Marvin Johnson) to support the run from his quasi-safety position. At times, Boise State could see eight in the box. But will they?

Given how coolly Kellen Moore shred the Oregon defense last season, you have to wonder if the Ducks won't try to take away the pass and make the Broncos beat them on the ground. This will be fascinating to watch. Seriously, watch it. In the first couple series of the game, strategies should be clear, and you should be able to tell which direction these teams are going. Does Boise State have what it takes to fashion a successful running game off of a traditional seven-man front?

How will Boise State come out against the Ducks

The Broncos could come out with guns a-blazing, using the pass to set up the run. We saw in previous games last year that BSU is not afraid to completely abandon the run in favor of chewing up yards through the air. If it's not working, coaches seem to think, then why hammer it down.

In scrimmages this fall, the passing offense seemed to be a step ahead of the rushing O, and potential starter Jeremy Avery was absent from it all. He even slipped a little on the depth chart into 1A status slightly above 1B D.J. Harper. Both backs are very talented. But you have to wonder how much faith the Broncos have in their running game at this point.

Also, there is more than one way to run the ball. Boise State loves its flare passes and bubble screens that work as basically extended hand-offs. These often get just as many, if not more yards than actually running the ball. Boise State could use this extensively.

How do you think the Bronco running game is feeling at this point?

Other factors in the Oregon run defense debate

Crowd noise. Running games tend to struggle on the road because they cannot hear the snap count and therefore lose that advantage. This won't be the case on Thursday night, provided I can shut up the "Whose House" guy at appropriate times.
Backs that hit the hole. Not to say that Ian Johnson was a poor runner, but he definitely was better suited to run behind a line that allowed him to get up a head of steam. Avery and Harper can go from 0-60 in nothing flat, so that could be a factor in the run game.
Misdirection and gadget plays. Boise State can keep defenses honest with many different looks. If the line wins individual battles, this can lead to big plays.
Playing with a lead or coming from behind. Depending on which team is in which position, the running game could either be a huge focus or a superfluous afterthought.
Richie Brockel. He's really good, and he could be lined up at fullback a lot more than we're used to seeing.
Kellen Moore audibles. Will he be smart enough to check into a high-success running play? That was a stupid question. Forget I asked.

Are there some other factors that I overlooked or failed to mention?

The bazillion other factors that could determine the outcome of the game

The Oregon run defense is just one of a myriad of little battles that could mean win it or lose it for either team. Do you have a factor or matchup that you'll be watching? Here are some others I thought of off the top of my head.

Special teams, and in particular, Kyle Wilson returning punts
Oregon skill players LeGarrette Blount, LaMichael James - they're apparently fast and good
Jeremiah Masoli vs. Boise State secondary - Will the game be won or lost here?
Coaching - Advantage: the guy who has coached before

There are loads more. Which one are you looking at?

Conclusions

So many different things could happen on Thursday, rendering any one of these conclusions irrelevant or prophetic. I'm hoping for the latter.

Which of the following conclusions are you?

Boise State's offensive line will dominate an inexperienced Oregon defensive line, the Broncos will control the line of scrimmage, and the running game will be a solid option for the fourth quarter
Oregon's defensive line will overpower a young Boise State offensive line, the Ducks will control the line of scrimmage, and the Broncos will be forced to pass if they want to gain yards
The Broncos and Ducks will exchange good plays, canceling out the impact of the running game, and putting the focus onto another big matchup
Michael Ames will have a big game
Michael Ames will have a bad game
Will Tukuafu will have a big game
Will Tukuafu will have a bad game

I'm just getting warmed up with conclusions, but I should probably stop there. How do you guys see this matchup playing out? Where on the scale of importance does it fall? What factors did I miss? What players should I have mentioned? And most importantly ...

.. are you ready to finally get this thing over with?

Morning Quack Fix: Kelly press conference, Oregon's heightened speed and conditioning, Masoli stays focused

jtlight — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:51:54 -0000

First of all, I just want to thank all of you readers for making August the biggest month in ATQ history. The community here is what keeps this place going, so thanks for coming around and making your voice heard. Second of all, and more importantly, 3 DAYS! The final week is upon us, and we have a lot of quack to help you through the day. Make sure to check out the links after the jump (we got some great ones), as well as the full video from Coach Kelly's first pregame press conference.

With less than a week to go to the first game of the season, Coach Kelly gave his first pregame press conference (full video after the jump), and he covered a lot of ground. From the attitude of the team, to the atmosphere in Boise, to Kellen Moore, to the two-deep, it's well worth watching/listening to the whole thing.
Coach Kelly has released a two-deep for the upcoming game at Boise. In terms of the injury, the only that will hold a player out entirely is Rory Cavaille's shoulder injury. Of note at WR is the absence of Tyrece Gaines and Jackson. There will likely be a 5 WR rotation of Holland, Maehl, Embry, Tuinei, and Davis, while Gaines, Jackson, and Blake Cantu will not be rushed into action. Other notes: Jackson Rice will be the punter, Michael Clay long snapper, Javes Lewis will be playing rover, LaMichael James and Walter Thurmond will be returning kickoff, and Kenjon Barner will be returning punts.

One thing on both coaches mind heading into Thursday night is the attitude of the players. Coach Petersen has kept a very tight leash on his players (one of the reasons we haven't heard from them much, as they aren't allowed to speak to out of town media), and is doing his best to keep them grounded, saying, "we’re really just trying to take this thing and worry about ourselves." Meanwhile, Kelly, while ignoring opportunities to make excuses for last seasons loss, really seems to be embracing the same attitude of his players, and like the mindset of the players. While there has been some talk, the players seem to be focused and motivated, and ready to play. While Petersen is downplaying the importance of this game, Kelly is doing the opposite: "If your expectations aren't to be the best, then ... you know, nobody rises to low expectations."

Kelly is also preparing to life on the field, as opposed to in the box. Though, he seems ready for the challenge, stating, "sometimes, when you’re in the booth, you miss the momentum and the ebb and flow of the game. I think you can call the game better from the booth, but I think you can manage the game better from the field." I think this will be an interesting subplot to the season. Luckily, Kelly called plays from the sideline at New Hampshire, so he has experience in that situation.

While Duck fans have been up in arms for a year about the cheap shots on Oregon players during last years game, Chris Petersen wants his team to continue to be aggressive, though also cut down on penalties. This is definitely a fine line to walk, and Oregon has long had a mantra of playing "one inch out of control." Playing a physical, aggressive game can lead to penalties. Balancing aggression and discipline can be tough, but both traits are key to success.

John Hunt from the Oregonian also has another piece on the iincreased speed of the Oregon team, specifically the defense. And the Duck's quest for speed has led to a ridiculous practice pace, inspired in part by Bobby Knights old practices at Indiana, which strength coach Jim Radcliffe witnessed years ago. Kelly and Radcliffe are pushing the players, and having such fast-paced practices that extra conditioning isn't even being used. An example of just how successful the off-season conditioning has been is Spencer Paysinger, who has increased his 40 time to 4.57 despite gaining 18 pounds. I think that these changes will really surprise us fans. We've read countless articles on the speed of the defense, but I don't really think we're prepared for just what kind of impact this will have on the field.

Lastly, Jeremiah Masoli is preparing for the season, with a large amount of national attention directed his way. Masoli is handing it well, and has not even purchased a copy of his SI cover issue. I think he is an example of the attitude of the Duck team. The are focused, confident, and ready to play.

Got any concerns after Kelly's first conference, or how bout some hope? Leave it in the comments. GO DUCKS!