SB Nation User Blog: 071903

Cupcake Detection!

071903 — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 05:02:41 -0000

Cupcake Detection!

ESPN's Mark Schlabach tackles a Top-10 of toughest OOC Schedules and those who prefer a more "Hostess" way to the BCS title

Best Duck Highlight of 2008? You Decide!

071903 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:09:14 -0000

Check out the highlight links below and vote in to the poll. If there is one you don't see here, but should, add it in the "Other Play" vote and leave the link in the comments.

I picked one from each game (my favorites), except the Civil War...there were too many to choose!

Oregon vs. Washingon - Terence Scott

Oregon vs. Utah St. - LeGarrette Blount (His first of many!)

Oregon vs. Purdue - Jairus Byrd (only 'cause it got us back into the game)

Oregon vs. Boise St. - LeGarrette Blount (no brainer here!)

Oregon vs. WSU - Jaison Williams (nice stiff arm!)

Oregon vs. USC - Jeremiah Johnson (I had to use this one, cause it was about the only highlight on a game that I am pretty sure never happened. I think that this video is CGI...)

Oregon vs. UCLA - LeGarrette Blount

Oregon vs. ASU - LeGarrette Blount

Oregon vs. Cal - TJ Ward

Oregon vs. Stanfurd - Jeremiah Johnson

Oregon vs. Arizona - Patrick Chung

Oregon vs. OSU - Ed Dickson and Jeremiah Johnson

Oregon vs. OK State - LeGarrette Blount

Poll

What is the best Highlight for 2008?

Scott vs. Washington

0 votes

Blount vs Utah St.

0 votes

Byrd vs. Purdue

0 votes

Blount vs. Boise St.

10 votes

J-Will vs. WSU

0 votes

JJ vs. USC

0 votes

Blount vs. UCLA

1 votes

Blount vs. ASU

0 votes

Ward vs. Cal

3 votes

JJ vs. Stanfurd

0 votes

Chung vs. Arizona

1 votes

Dickson vs. OSU

3 votes

JJ vs. OSU

38 votes

Blount vs. OK St.

47 votes

Other (add your pick in the comments)

10 votes

113 votes | Poll has closed

Holiday Bowl Predictions

071903 — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 05:42:26 -0000

Editor's Note: Well, you got my cop-out preview, but it's gameday, so let's hear all your predictions. Reader 071903 posted his thoughts in a fanpost, and he'll start us out!

I have my own thoughts and Mosely has his own...

I think this game is going to be one of the more exciting games of the Bowl season and really have to congratulate the Holiday Bowl committee for choosing both teams. It has all of the characteristics of a bonafide shootout, and in my eyes, will not disappoint.

I feel that the scoreboard at the end of the game will show that the Ducks will win 58-45. I see JJ and Blount both over 100 yards rushing, two TD's a piece, Masoli will have a decent amount of rushing yards as well and throws for over 300 and a couple of scores. I see a Defense or Special Teams TD somewhere. Toss in three Morgan Flint FG and there you have it.

I think our Defense will perform better than expected (in some regards), meaning they will show up when they need to. I see Nick Reed, TJ Ward and Patrick Chung having impact plays for the Ducks. Reed and Chung could help their draft prospect with a good game here. The Offense will hurt the Defense like they have in the past few games by being efficient and keeping them on the field longer than they should. They will have their hands full, as everyone has said, with very good players at QB and WR. The OK St. RB has also run for over 1500 yards. There is a definite amount of firepower in the OK St. arsenal.

Over 80% of the people who voted on the winner according to ESPN's website have picked OK St. But Kirk Herbstreit has picked Oregon, and we know that we have had decent results in the past when Herbie is in our corner. (Editor's Note, Bruce Feldman, Todd McShay, and Scouts Inc. have all picked Oregon also)

Whatever the results, I am pretty happy with the results of the season. Obviously there are a few hiccups along the road, but we lost to two Top-10 teams, and another team who put up a good performance this season. We also know we are in good hands for the future and I am happy that we have locked up Chip Kelly and will also have Bellotti keeping his experience in the program.

GO DUCKS!

Why is the Pac-10 down this year? Read this!

071903 — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 21:42:55 -0000

Ted Miller has this to say...

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/pac10/0-3-135/Pac-10-needs-to-rethink-its-ambitious-scheduling.html?post=true

Pretty basic facts when you think about it.

I am against changing the scheduling though. I think that the caliber of teams we have now will get better as time goes on. I think recruiting will get stronger as teams show incoming athletes they aren't afraid to play against the tough schools.

There are a bunch of comments left by other ESPN readers at the end of the article. Pretty good conversation fodder.

HOMER ALERT!! Make fun of me if you want to...

071903 — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 05:46:13 -0000

It’s Spring in the Fall…

The leaves are getting green and full on the tree. The grass is growing strong after a solid dormant period of rest and rebuilding. We are re-born. This is part of why my favorite season is Fall. It’s simply the best time of year. While the earth is literally doing the opposite as I previously described, we get simply the apex of the Sports Calendar. We get MLB Baseball playoffs, NFL Football starts (and Fantasy Football if you’re into that kinda thing) and NCAA Football.

College Football is re-born: The standings all say 0-0 in the win loss column, and that is just fine. We have filled our heads with every ounce of football knowledge, in every conference and every team. We listened to the Talking Heads give their expert opinions. We are ready for kickoff.

I couldn’t be more ready. I have been on this site religiously reading about what kind of success I will witness this year. This past weekend, I attended the State Fair on what happened to be “OSU Day” and purposely (with all of my family) donned head-to-toe in Duck gear, just to spite them. We get our chances to be fans again. We have missed that for months and I, for one, welcome that chance once again.

To be honest, I try not to get too tied up in the hype of QB controversies, recruiting or depth charts. I read and discuss as fodder for daily conversation, but when it comes down to it, if they are wearing any number of the combinations of colors that represent the Ducks, I will support them. I am a fan. That is what we do. That is our job. Its less than four days away, and I can’t wait!

So, let’s fill Autzen past capacity. Let’s tailgate with all the zeal of a lunatic and the liver of an alcoholic. Let’s do push-ups with every score. Let’s yell until we have no voice. Let’s glue ourselves to the TV or listen to Jerry Allen’s every word as if it’s the last noise we will hear. Let’s forget the BCS (until its time to worry about it! J). Let’s defend our team, its players and coaches, no matter what. Let’s put on our Duck gear and be proud! Let’s be DUCK FANS!

Plans for Dixon

071903 — Fri, 02 May 2008 20:12:34 -0000

I want to know where I can get a Jersey!!

Read this link:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_564939.html

Or see below:

Dynamic Dixon intrigues Steelers
By Scott Brown
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Buzz up!

He piled up 368 yards of total offense and accounted for four touchdowns. He led Oregon to a 39-7 shellacking of Michigan in front of more than 100,000 fans as well as a national TV audience.
Dennis Dixon thrust himself into the Heisman Trophy race with that performance last September -- and into the consciousness of Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert.

"The first thing I thought about was Vince Young," said Colbert, who saw Dixon play extensively for the first time against Michigan. "He was winning that game by himself."

The Steelers, who took Dixon in the fifth round of the NFL Draft on Sunday, won't ask the 23-year-old quarterback to win any games in the near future. They are optimistic that eventually he can back up Ben Roethlisberger, a role the 33-year-old Charlie Batch has filled so capably, and get on the field in select situations.

story continues below

It is, however, too early for the Steelers to know if they uncovered a late-round gem in Dixon -- or whether they stumbled onto another Omar Jacobs (the fifth-round pick in 2006 never made the team).
Making it all the more difficult for the Steelers to assess what they have in Dixon: He is still recovering from the major knee injury that ended his senior season.

The 6-3 1/2, 206-pounder will be limited in the minicamp practices that start Friday and run through Sunday. But Dixon, who had surgery on his left knee in December, said he is "ahead of schedule" in his rehabilitation.

The Steelers, meanwhile, felt good enough about the reports they got from their medical personnel regarding Dixon that they didn't hesitate to take him with the 156th pick of the draft.

Had Dixon not torn his ACL, he would have been selected much earlier.

He is a gifted athlete and polished passer -- Dixon completed almost 68 percent of his passes last season -- and he had been one of the frontrunners for the Heisman before going down late in the season.

"He has great physical talent," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "He can run, he has a strong arm, and he is coming to a great situation where he can grow behind two people like Ben and Charlie."

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Draft picks by the numbers
Here are the jersey numbers for the seven players the Steelers drafted last weekend:

2 -- QB Dennis Dixon

14 -- WR Limas Sweed

29 -- S Ryan Mundy

34 -- RB Rashard Mendenhall

53 -- LB Bruce Davis

55 -- LB Mike Humpal

66 -- OT Tony Hills

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The Steelers have made it clear that they drafted Dixon as a quarterback and have no plans to move him to wide receiver, something they did with Antwaan Randle-El earlier this decade.
If Dixon does turn out to be the dual threat the Steelers think he is, they could design some packages that would get him on the field and throw a change-up to the opposition.

"He can really be a headache for a defense," Colbert said of Dixon, who threw 20 touchdown passes in 2007 (and just four interceptions) and had nine rushing touchdowns. "He played in a spread offense, but, boy, is he a patient guy in the pocket, finds open receivers. This kid, he is a passer first."

His sights are clearly set on playing quarterback in the NFL.

Dixon spent last summer playing baseball in the Atlanta Braves' minor-league system, but he said he is finished with that sport.

"I know I have a lot of work (ahead in football), and I'm willing and able with open arms," Dixon said. "I just want to be a sponge and soak everything in."