Now, I’m as big a Duck fan as there is and I hope I end up eating crow for writing this. While this is how I feel, I hope this can generate discussion of the Ducks chances on January 2nd.

1. Chip Kelly can’t win the big games

As much as we want to make excuses for each game, Kelly has been unable to win a big game against a non-Pac opponent. Sure he has led the Ducks to big in-conference wins over Stanford and USC, but an alarming trend has emerged. The Ducks have lost to Boise State, Ohio State, Auburn and LSU over the last 3 years. Of course, all of those teams were great teams with great quarterbacks and good to great defenses. But you cannot ignore 0-4 against highly ranked OOC opponents or the 0-2 in BCS bowl appearances. Maybe these losses can be explained away by the time the other team has to prepare, Kelly’s inexperience on a big stage in bowl games, poor play by the Ducks offense, etc. Until the Ducks win a big game though, doubts will remain.

2. Darron Thomas

This is not going to be a Bryan Bennett should be our quarterback discussion. DT is and should be our QB. But DT has looked poor at times this season, particularly in the beginning of games. Whether his struggles are injury related or mechanical, his inability to start games well gets us in trouble against quality opponents. How many times has he overthrown a wide open WR? How many times have his throws been behind a WR? Fortunately, he generally takes care of the ball and doesn’t turn it over to the other team.

3. The Dropsies

Our weakest point on offense this year is the receiving corp. Will Murphy. Justin Hoffman. Huh? One of the most infuriating things about this WR corp is that they are prone to dropping the ball. Our best WR is a freshman RB and he only has 571 yards receiving. That’s half of what Jeff Maehl had last year. Not only do our WRs drop balls, but they have trouble getting into space.

4. The O-Line

Our O-Line has played poorly in each one of those 4 losses. It is not a big O-line. And you never know what you’re going to get with them. Either they show up and play really well or they just don’t show up, get pushed back and LMJ/KB are making cuts 5 yards in the backfield.

5. Fumbles

After handing the ball to LSU so many times I lost count, Oregon didn’t put the ball on the ground much in the following 7 games. But lately, Oregon has been fumbling the ball at an alarming rate. The Ducks have fumbled the ball away 8 times in the last 5 games. Not good. We can’t afford to fumble the ball away and put our defense on its heels.

6. Time of Possession

I have been very pleased with our defense all year with the exception of the USC game. But even in the USC game, the offense did nothing to help the defense through the first three quarters. I am not a fan of TOP as an indicator of football success. Obviously, the Ducks have disproved this indicator over the last three years. But when you’re facing a Wisconsin team that has a power running game who eats up clock and keeps you’re defense on the field for a long time, it is imperative for the offense to either score or move the ball successfully. This year, the offense has been stymied on three and outs, turnovers and other “drives” that harm the field position and gives our defense little rest.

7. Russell Wilson

I personally think Wilson is overrated, but that doesn’t mean he’s not very good. Wilson is perfect for the Badger offense. He doesn’t have an ego and doesn’t mind handing the ball off as long as it is working. Not only can he make plays with his arms, he can keep plays alive with his legs ala Terrelle Pryor and we all remember the fits that Pryor gave our defense.

10 years ago, I woke up to the horrific news of planes being hijacked and crashing into the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania.  I was only a junior in high school and since I was in Albany, Oregon, I was far removed from the carnage of that day.  That, in no way diminished the tragedy of those events, but it was hard for me to truly comprehend the ramifications of that day.  As the years have gone by, I have come to understand the devastation that resulted and now live in New York where I have met countless individuals who were directly affected by the loss of a loved one or a friend or a co-worker.

My heart goes out to all those families affected by those attacks.  Thanks to all the first responders who braved the elements and those who ultimately lost their lives trying to save others.  Thanks to the brave men and women of Flight 93 who sacrificed themselves to prevent the terrorists from flying the plane into another landmark and killing others.  Thanks to the men and women who answered the call to service and served our country in Afghanistan; thanks to all those who continue to serve.  To those who lost their lives 10 years ago.  Never forget. 

Adversity is defined as a state of continued difficulty.  To run the table and have an undefeated season, teams face challenges from the expected and the unexpected, from other teams and its own players.  Alabama survived the Tennessee game with a blocked field goal last season.  Boise State could not overcome the adversity they faced in Reno this weekend.  Auburn came back from a 24 point deficit in Tuscaloosa. 

Here’s a look back on the season and the adversity the Ducks faced every week, including what they did to compensate for the difficulty.

Continue reading this post »

Looks like something finally caught up with USC....

USC has imposed sanctions on its men's basketball program for NCAA rules violations, including a ban on postseason competition at the end of this season, a reduction of scholarships and vacating all of its wins from 2007-08.

The university said the self-imposed sanctions resulted from an internal investigation that found NCAA rules violations related to O.J. Mayo, who played for the Trojans during the 2007-2008 season under former coach Tim Floyd. Mayo is now with the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies.

The sanctions are connected to Mayo's involvement with Rodney Guillory, who under NCAA rules became a USC booster due to his role in Mayo's recruitment.

For the full article, use the link above.

Well, I figured I would create a threat for this as some of our recruits are playing in this game, including Dominique Easley who's supposed to announce today and has now reportedly narrowed his choices to the Ducks and the Hurricanes!

According to Bob Rickert:

Not good news if you're a Nittany Lions fan. He's also saying his final two schools now are Miami and Oregon. Interesting, because he hasn't visited Miami yet that I can find information on anywhere. Hmmm....Stay tuned. Looks like he's visited Oregon, Penn State, and Boston College, and that's it.

I'm out here in upstate New York and watching Duck football games is very hard to do unless I want to shell out money for Gameplan or go to a sportsbar (my usual choice and preferred choice).  But for anyone who has access to MSGHD (channel 1847) out here, they will be playing the Oregon v Stanford game at 3:30 this Saturday.  Thought anyone living out here in the Northeast may want to know.

http://www.tsn.ca/columnists/darren_dreger/?id=284300

Jiri Hudler remains property of the Detroit Red Wings and therefore the recent contract he signed in the KHL is being contested.

The National Hockey League has approached both the IIHF and KHL, seeking their intervention. 

According to the NHL, Hudler is contractually obligated to the Red Wings for next season.

Hudler, a restricted free agent filed for salary arbitration, which in the eyes of the league is acknowledgement of his intent to play in the NHL next year.

Szymon Szemberg, Communications Director for the International Ice Hockey Federation tells TSN the IIHF is fully involved in the dispute. 

"The IIHF has been informed by the NHL about the Jiri Hudler case. Upon, this the IIHF has informed the Russian Ice Hockey Federation about the NHL's position and the case is under investigation. As this is a transfer to an IIHF member league the player will be needing an International Transfer Card (ITC), approved by the IIHF, to complete the transfer. Only upon the IIHF's signing the ITC, the transfer would be finalized and approved," Szemberg said.

Hudler signed a two-year contract with Dynamo Moscow on July 8.

Malik Hairston is logging some minutes right now as a San Antonio Spur.  He scored on LeBron James.  A nice little inside move that rolled around the cylinder and dropped in.  He's also been playing some tough defense on James.  With the injury to Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobilli, Malik could be seeing some good minutes over the next week.  Good to see a Duck other than Brooks doing something in the NBA.  Anybody who wants to watch, its on ESPN.