#15 Oregon State @ #6 Oregon (Nov. 24, Fri 5:30 PM Fox)

[ducks5ever]

I'm actually not feeling that great about our run defense. We gave up an average of 5 yards per attempt against UW and USC(I stripped out QB runs/sacks). I'm assuming OSU is similar to UW/USC in that they have a good QB (I could be wrong here) who can beat you through the air. If we let OSU sustain drives by pounding it out on the ground, this won't be pretty.

Now of course, I'm sure some will say that USC was behind so covering the pass was more important than covering the run. That said, the run defense actually has felt shaky.

The things that do work in our favor are 1. it's a home game, and 2. OSU is coming off a tough game against UW while our starters only played a half this past weekend coming into this shortened week.

Interesting take given Crepea's article of last Thursday, the first two paragraphs of which read:

Oregon’s ability to stop the run was a strength on an otherwise challenged defense last season. This season, the No. 6 Ducks are performing at an elite level and could end up as the best in program history.

Oregon (9-1, 6-1 Pac-12) enters Saturday’s game (1 p.m., Fox) at Arizona State No. 11 nationally in rushing yards allowed per game (95.1) and tied for 17th in yards allowed per carry (3.22), up from 31st and 74th, respectively, last season. Since 1952, the oldest program records that exist, UO’s season-best was in 1989 (101.8 rush ypg.).

James is just a journalist. I think the context matters too. People aren't going to enjoy hearing this but our SOS is pretty weak at this point. That factors into the statistics too. We have faced probably only 3 good offenses so far this season - UW, USC, and maybe Cal (but they're breaking in a freshman QB).

OSU is probably our 2nd or 3rd toughest opponent this season so I think it makes more sense to look at how we did against UW/USC than to look at how we did against Utah/Stanford, etc.

I don't follow OSU football closely, but based on my recollection, they don't have as much talent as we do but they are well coached and have good fundamentals.

[pezsez1]

I expect us to win big, and I think we bottle up their rushing attack. I've watched enough of Oregon State this season to conclude they're a legit good football team but not really great at anything. They hung in against UW and had a chance to win at the end, but needed two or three big fourth-down conversions just to have a shot at having a shot (kind of the opposite of our game against UW, where we lost because we went for it unnecessarily).

I think Utah is a great comparison to OSU. Big up front, built to run tough. We stuffed 'em.

I'm not sold on our schedule being completely weak. It's unfortunate that most teams we've played have also had to face UW, OSU, and Utah, and, oh yeah, Oregon is also so good this year that we tend to beat people by like 3-5 scores. Hard to suffer those kinds of losses and stay in the rankings. I think Oregon is just that good, and the Pac-12 still doesn't get the overall respect that it deserves (see UW being ranked as the worst undefeated team until now).

Our defense is good and has improved throughout the season. We're neither breaking nor bending. That wouldn't be possible without a stout run defense, and other teams with significantly worse defenses have managed to bottle up OSU this year.

We're going to be fine. I like us by three scores.

[Duck07]

James is just a journalist. I think the context matters too. People aren't going to enjoy hearing this but our SOS is pretty weak at this point. That factors into the statistics too. We have faced probably only 3 good offenses so far this season - UW, USC, and maybe Cal (but they're breaking in a freshman QB).

OSU is probably our 2nd or 3rd toughest opponent this season so I think it makes more sense to look at how we did against UW/USC than to look at how we did against Utah/Stanford, etc.

I don't follow OSU football closely, but based on my recollection, they don't have as much talent as we do but they are well coached and have good fundamentals.

by SP+, UW is the 9th ranked team with the 4th best offense, 44th defense (we're 4th and we've got the #1 SP+ Offense, #17 Defense)
OSU is 12th with the 16th best offense, 26th defense
USC is 30th with the 3rd best offense, 113th defense
Utah is 37th (57 offense, 31 defense)
Texas Tech is 44th (48 Offense, 52 defense)
WSU is 50th (32 offense, 81 defense)
Cal is 71 (39 offense, 97 defense)
Colorado is 84 (40 offense, 123 defense)
ASU is 106 (they dropped 15 places from 91 by playing us)
Stanford is 108
Hawaii is 123

If you do SP+ by Conference (it includes SEC Cupcake Saturday which obv helps and explains Michigan at #1)
1 - SEC with 9.7
2 - PAC with 5.4
3 - B1G with 5.2
4 - Big 12 with 4.6
5 - ACC with 3.4

[lmduck]

I'm actually not feeling that great about our run defense. We gave up an average of 5 yards per attempt against UW and USC(I stripped out QB runs/sacks). I'm assuming OSU is similar to UW/USC in that they have a good QB (I could be wrong here) who can beat you through the air. If we let OSU sustain drives by pounding it out on the ground, this won't be pretty.

Now of course, I'm sure some will say that USC was behind so covering the pass was more important than covering the run. That said, the run defense actually has felt shaky.

The things that do work in our favor are 1. it's a home game, and 2. OSU is coming off a tough game against UW while our starters only played a half this past weekend coming into this shortened week.

Interesting take given Crepea's article of last Thursday, the first two paragraphs of which read:

Oregon’s ability to stop the run was a strength on an otherwise challenged defense last season. This season, the No. 6 Ducks are performing at an elite level and could end up as the best in program history.

Oregon (9-1, 6-1 Pac-12) enters Saturday’s game (1 p.m., Fox) at Arizona State No. 11 nationally in rushing yards allowed per game (95.1) and tied for 17th in yards allowed per carry (3.22), up from 31st and 74th, respectively, last season. Since 1952, the oldest program records that exist, UO’s season-best was in 1989 (101.8 rush ypg.).

James is just a journalist. I think the context matters too. People aren't going to enjoy hearing this but our SOS is pretty weak at this point. That factors into the statistics too. We have faced probably only 3 good offenses so far this season - UW, USC, and maybe Cal (but they're breaking in a freshman QB).

OSU is probably our 2nd or 3rd toughest opponent this season so I think it makes more sense to look at how we did against UW/USC than to look at how we did against Utah/Stanford, etc.

I don't follow OSU football closely, but based on my recollection, they don't have as much talent as we do but they are well coached and have good fundamentals.

I don't disagree in some aspects here and context does matter. Yes, James is a journalist and I am not totally a fan but he does do his homework and the numbers don't lie.

[dd10snoop28]

On a neutral field against OSU/Washington, who would you rather play? IMO, I think OSU is the tougher opponent based on what I saw from last weekend.

However, we are home against OSU so that changes everything, but just wondering what others think...

[lmduck]

On a neutral field against OSU/Washington, who would you rather play? IMO, I think OSU is the tougher opponent based on what I saw from last weekend.

However, we are home against OSU so that changes everything, but just wondering what others think...

Interesting question.

One thing about this upcoming game that is a bit of a concern, OS will be looking to derail Oregon in anyway they can. Oregon has to be focused and laser sharp. Hopefully none of the players and coaches will be thinking ahead.

The upside is that it's in Autzen and that WILL make a difference. The crowd will be ready.

The other thing that will be interesting to observe in my opinion is how OS really plays. They had a lot to play for against UW and lost and I know everyone thinks Jonathan Smith walks on water (looking at you John Canzano) but he made some questionable coaching calls in that game.

So lots of interesting story lines here.

Totally separate question and more just my memory failing me here, does DJU have another year or is he a one and done?

[dd10snoop28]

On a neutral field against OSU/Washington, who would you rather play? IMO, I think OSU is the tougher opponent based on what I saw from last weekend.

However, we are home against OSU so that changes everything, but just wondering what others think...

Interesting question.

One thing about this upcoming game that is a bit of a concern, OS will be looking to derail Oregon in anyway they can. Oregon has to be focused and laser sharp. Hopefully none of the players and coaches will be thinking ahead.

The upside is that it's in Autzen and that WILL make a difference. The crowd will be ready.

The other thing that will be interesting to observe in my opinion is how OS really plays. They had a lot to play for against UW and lost and I know everyone thinks Jonathan Smith walks on water (looking at you John Canzano) but he made some questionable coaching calls in that game.

So lots of interesting story lines here.

Totally separate question and more just my memory failing me here, does DJU have another year or is he a one and done?

He has one more season per google.

DJU has his flaws, but also has some positive attributes that can boost OSU. He's a very strong runner (especially on short-yardage) and made some clutch plays in the air against UW.

Basically, if he limits his turnovers, OSU has a really good offense any given week.

[duckpoint]

Is there an updated injury report?

I don't recall seeing any injuries at ASU...

[lmduck]

Is there an updated injury report?

I don't recall seeing any injuries at ASU...

Based on everything I saw, there were no injuries and that was the beauty of being able to rest the starters the second half.

[gogreen55]

Is there an updated injury report?

I don't recall seeing any injuries at ASU...

Here is a link to an article that mentions some injury news on Evan Williams. Hopefully it is mainly precautionary and nothing that will limit him over the next couple weeks.

https://www.on3.com/college/oregon-duck ... th-injury/

[duckfan96]

Did anyone notice the announcer during the ASU game , refer to this weeks game as the civil war(which is what it is just thought people had stopped calling it that). Couldn’t tell if it was Helfrich or the other guy tho

[greenyellow]

Since they never came up with another name, everyone rightfully still calls it the Civil War.

[Phalanx]

Did Oregon State also stop calling it the Civil War, or was that just nonsense from the Oregon side? If they didn't stop, I don't see why outside announcers would. Heck, Jerry Allen slipped and called it the Civil War on the radio last Saturday.

[gogreen55]

Did Oregon State also stop calling it the Civil War, or was that just nonsense from the Oregon side? If they didn't stop, I don't see why outside announcers would. Heck, Jerry Allen slipped and called it the Civil War on the radio last Saturday.

Unfortunately, both schools made a major deal about officially dropping the name...

In a statement released by OSU, president Ed Ray said the universities agreed to drop the name as it has a connection to a war fought to preserve slavery.

“Changing this name is overdue,” Ray said. “While not intended as reference to the actual Civil War, OSU sports competition should not provide any misconstrued reference to this divisive episode in American history. That we did not act before to change the name was a mistake.”

https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/2020/ ... games.html

[pezsez1]

I honestly don't get why they haven't either gone back to Civil War or renamed it the Platypus Bowl. I think it would be cool each year to try to win the Platty.