congratulations ducklings

baal — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 04:22:20 -0000

All I can say is Oregon has a great team. ASU had it's opportunities, and I don't think that can be argued by reasonable people. They just didn't convert. The fumble by Tyreice Thompson, was a little sad--he made a great play but didn't secure the ball--score a TD there and things would have gotten interesting. He's a great kid--a former walk on and engineering student--he's made several sparkling plays this season.

I give credit to Bellotti for outcoaching Dennis Erickson. Opening the game Dixon and Williams shreaded the devils--totally unexpected. I called Williams a stiff and he did disappear in the last three quarters. But the damage was done.

To open the second half Bellotti made a great move puting Crenshaw in the backfield with stewart--that was a killer.

The stats are just silly in this game--ASU was sacked 8 times for about 50 yards deducted from the rushing totals. ASU gained about 550 yards, Carpenter averaged 10 yards per attempt riddling the ducks for 377 yards in the air. Even with the sacks ASU outgained the ducks by 87 yards of total offense---+10 minutes in TOP. I know these numbers don't tell the entire story (eg 8 sacks)but a team is not supposed to win when their defense gets schooled like this.

I can't say ASU layed an egg or anything--just saying it was our least efficient game this season. I give credit to Oregon for that--cause that's the way they roll. The scoreboard got unmanageable and that was that. It should have been close but it wasn't. Scoreboard--game over and congratulations Ducks.

ASU fan speculates on the game

baal — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:01:24 -0000

Lets get the inevitable homerism out of way. Autzen is a great venue and it will have an effect. But the fact is ASU has a winning record in your cozy little stadium (8-6 but don't quote me)and a two game win streak.

I'm definitely more concerned about your talented team. The Oregon offense is just scary Dixon is a magician that makes teams look silly with his ball handling (and other)skills. Stewart--is the best back in the league by far. Those two guys and your fine O line are enough to beat 90% of the teams out there. But hold on duckies--due to injuries this excellent unit is now just a little one dimensional--the passing game dosen't look like much of threat to me.

On defense--I know I'm gonna get static about this--the numbers say this unit is no better than middle of the PAC equally vulnerable to the pass and run.

An obvious strategy begins to emerge as the ASU 'o' has great balance. ASU will try to shorten this game with ball control--and at the same time will look for opportunities to unleash a dangerous vertical passing game when the UO 'd' overcommits to stopping the run.

All year the ASU 'd' has done the same thing. This is a different sun devil defense--no longer leading the PAC in air tackles and bonehead busted coverages it is fast and physical and rarely out of position. Somehow, from out of the blue Erickson has coached up a lot of depth. The personality of this unit is relentless getting stronger as the game goes on. It has stayed in a base alignment 90% of the time--but this UO unit probably requires a few new wrinkles. I expect ASU will dare Dixon to go downfield at times--and will "cheat and spy" as well.

Going into this game both teams are equally giddy and confident. Just as the USC win was a watershed event, so was the Cal win for ASU. The end of the cal game was particularly gratifying and confidence building as the devils pounded the bears into submission--running the ball down their throats for the final 7 minutes.

You might be thinking after all this that I will come out and predict an ASU upset---not gonna happen. But I do expect a very competitive games with both offenses capable scoring in the high 20s to mid 30s--I'm thinking 35pts will win this game.

SB Nation User Blog: baal

congratulations ducklings

ASU fan speculates on the game