SB Nation User Blog: JShufelt

ESPN: Pac-10 team recruiting needs

JShufelt — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 19:43:59 -0000

ESPN: Pac-10 team recruiting needs

Scouts/ESPN lists Oregon as needing Guards, Defensive Tackles, and Running Backs.

By the Numbers; Pac-10 Red Zone Defense

JShufelt — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 07:38:23 -0000

So to help with the down time, I figured I would crunch a few numbers on a rarely used, but extremely telling statistics. Many duck fans don't like Nick Allotti's defensive schemes. While Bellotti often calls it "Bend but don't break defense", apparently Allotti doesn't care for that title.

Call it whatever you want, it definitely doesn't match what old typical Big-12 teams would call a "Good Defense". Ted Miller touched in this a bit in his mail bag earlier this week. 7th in the Pac-10 isn't great, but I could care less if we were 10th in the Pac-10. In my opinion, the best gauge of defensive effectivity is when it gets cornered into their own Red Zone. Suddenly, Oregon doesn't look too bad.

As you can see, the two Oregon teams tied for giving up the least red zone TD, but our in-state bragging right friends enjoy the cake for the least points allowed overall.

While USC allowed less scoring opportunities than Oregon, Oregon still allowed 6 less total points on the year. Across the town, UCLA, despite giving a shutout, gave up 23 TDs in the red zone. Arizona State fared alright, more or less being the middle of the Pac-10, separating the great defensive red zone performances, from... the rest. California really got hurt in the red zone, and they'll be looking to make some improvements here as they almost gave up twice as many red zone points (255 not including PAT) as Oregon (138) and Oregon State (129) on the year.

But this still isn't a great gauge of defensive efficiency, for that, we'll have to compare these numbers to the number of times a defense had to make a stand in the Red Zone.

About the biggest anomaly that jumps out is that out of 37 Red Zone stands, Arizona State allowed a team to score 33 times. A few other things that are note worthy is how the Golden Bears had to take a defensive red zone stand nearly 20% more than any other team. Ouch! But there is one more thing that is a bit more subtle in there too. The Ducks had to make a defensive stand in their own twenty-yard line 42 times. When we relate these two statistics together, we get a very interesting story to tell.

As you can see, Oregon's defense had a pretty steller Red Zone Efficiency. Bend, but don't break indeed. OSU and even Stanford deserve some props for their efforts too. Considering how many times California got pushed back, I don't think they really did too bad. They have a few Red Zone kinks to iron out for '08, as does Arizona State, who statistically collapsed when they got in the red zone.

Washington State, Arizona, UCLA gave up a TD over 60% of the time as well.

As a Duck fan, I can't say I'm disappointed with this. Despite Allotti's protest over it, Oregon really demonstrated a Bend but Don't Break defense that works.

But the leader on the defensive side is wanting to quiet some of the people that like to point out Oregon's defense was 7th last year.

"We were bend but don't break," safety Patrick Chung said. "We're trying not to bend this year." - Rivals.com

I honestly don't think it matters if we give up a lot of yards. Preventing points is what matter the most.

I know that these numbers do not factor in all TD allowed, like big plays of 20+, but there is no good way I can do that without going into every box score of each Pac-10 game. That's something I don't feel like doing right now

ESPN Rates Oregon as Fastest Tempo Offense

JShufelt — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 23:37:05 -0000

ESPN Rates Oregon as Fastest Tempo Offense

Not a big shocker to anyone. But I find it interesting that people have started to notice this as a factor.

EA NCAA '09 - Fixing the Roster

JShufelt — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:02:50 -0000

In the latest version of NCAA '09, the Ducks get no love. Especially with the roster. The good news is that in this version, you can actually upload, and download rosters from other people - and I am working on fixing the roster.

[Note by JShufelt, 07/16/08 10:51 PM EDT ]

I should also let you guys know I got the roster names filled out too. My XBox Live account is: jshufelt

First, we'll start with the QBs, specifically Costa. Obviously his speed is way down, and probably his awareness too. I searched online for his 40-yard dash time, and I've seen everywhere from 4.6 to 4.83. By comparison, Tebow has a 40-yard dash time of 4.71, and the game rates him at 84. His short shuttle is 4.56, and the game rates Tebow at 84.

Name	Nate Costa
Position	QB
Overall Rating	74
Speed	65
Acceleration	70
Strength	59
Agility	65
Awareness	55
Catching	48
Carrying	65
Throwing Power	90
Throwing Accuracy	84
Kick Power	40
Kick Accuracy	40
Break Tackle	56
Run Blocking	40
Pass Blocking	40
Tackle	44
Jumping	65
Kick Return	60
Injury	82
Stamina	80
Trucking	55
Elusiveness	70
Ball Carrier Vision	64
Stiff Arm	58
Spin Move	70
Juke Move	67
Impact Blocking	30
Run Blocking Strength	35
Run Blocking Footwork	35
Pass Blocking Strength	36
Pass Blocking Footwork	36
Power Moves	15
Finesse Moves	17
Block Shedding	40
Pursuit	33
Play Recognition	37
Man Coverage	21
Zone Coverage	29
Spectacular Catch	42
Catch In Traffic	45
Route Running	48
Hit Power	35
Press	35
Release	27

My Independence Day

JShufelt — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 07:39:30 -0000

Yesterday, I drove from Gresham (East-side Portland) down to Lincoln City to meet with one of my brothers down there. We were going to meet up at Devil’s lake and just go fishing (aka drinking beer while drowning worms).

I wish I had a sharpie or something with me, because on the other side of the boat ramp there was Dennis Dixon, Jaison Williams, Garren Strong, and a couple others I couldn’t identify, but I think one was – Drew Davis. They were all out jet skiing (And crashing quite often) and having a great time.

I’m glad I had my Oregon shirt, jacket, and sticker on my car. But take my advice – You never know who you’ll see – always have a sharpie or other felt pen marker handy.

Autzen Stadium sets a new record.

JShufelt — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 20:50:17 -0000

So apparently we broke the record for the highest recorded decibel level at any sporting event in history against USC, breaking the previous record set by Clemson two years ago.

Source:
http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-21/119360762452500.xml&storyli st=orlocal

If you can still hear me, go us! Rawr!

Harper named Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Week

JShufelt — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:57:35 -0000

http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1291835

With his key moment interceptions, Harper earned the player of the week for the Pac-10.

Is it me, or does it seam that we've been able to take a Pac-10 player of the week most weeks this season?