The BCS computers may have Oregon at No. 8, but the eyes tell a different story.
The Ducks absolutely dismantled UCLA Thursday night with a 60-13 victory. Sure, the Bruins aren’t exactly Pac-10 royalty, but what made Oregon so impressive was their execution. From the first interception to the final kneel down, Oregon executed their game plan brilliantly. At times, the yellow-clad team looked more like mutant robots from Mars than kids.
The Ducks were crisp, but aggressive. They finished every play until the whistle blew. That’s why they are the No. 1 team in the country in the polls that really matter.
Alabama has the most NFL potential. Ohio State has veterans and talent. Boise State is well-coached. None of them, though, execute like Oregon.
Any time the camera pans over to Chip Kelly, he never looks satisfied; there’s always a scowl on his face. Perhaps it his constant discontent that drives him, and his players, to perfection.
If Oregon can get past USC next Saturday in week nine, the road to the Pac-10, and the National Championship, becomes a little easier. But looking ahead can be the death knell for any team. To maintain focus, Kelly preaches “win the day” to his players.
With each half, quarter, possession and play, the Ducks found something at which to win. If the Ducks stay the course, they might win more than just the day.
BCS ranked Oregon No. 8? Try No. 2.
What about OKLAHOMA? You talk all around them but fail to mention the #1 team in the BCS poll and #3 in the AP, USA and ESPN polls. The Quacks look awesome but lets not crown them just ye!
Check out the Ducks schedule vs. Sooners
Ducks play 1 top 25 team
OU plays 4 top 25 teams
Don’t get me wrong I was amazed with what I saw last night vs. UCLA. But you have to play teams harder than my local high school team to make a strong claim to #1
Oklahoma is a No. 2 team. Oregon is definitely No. 1
I don’t see Oregon getting past USC. USC has 2 weeks to prepare for them and has the best defensive coach in all of football. USC’s offense is capable of sustaining drives through the air or over the ground.
All the quacking will stop when they visit USC
UCLA would beat your local high school team by at least a hundred points. Well, before they called it off at halftime, that is. In fact, they would beat EVERYBODY’S local high school team like that. I hate when people say ignorant things.
Like when the Lions went 0-16. They still would have clobbered every college team, even though some said they’d lose. Grown-arse men that are pros vs college kids, even if they are studs? Not really a contest.
Peace,
The reason they do not discuss Choklahoma in this article is because it is about the Ducks beating UCLA.
@playdough
I should clarify. The computers have Oregon at 8 even though the bcs overall has them at 2. I can see where that can be confusing and ill fix it. Thanks
Why do people seem so surprised by this? UCLA is a marginal team to start with, and with injuries and suspensions a below average team that will struggle to get to a bowl.
Oregon will run up the score when they can like all teams with classless coaches do.
As long as the humans reserve the right to take into account margin of victory, the computers will only work with what they have. Sagarin, for example has two computer polls: (BCS Top 5) Oklahoma, Oregon, Michigan State, Auburn and Stanford (non-BCS Top 5) Oregon, Stanford, Oklahoma, TCU and Boise State. I would venture to guess that his non-BCS, which takes margin of victory into account would be even more controversial, don’t you think?
SoFlaTrojan,
Read the article again and don’ t skip the fourth paragraph this time.
HandsofWeed (oops)
Check the teams OU and Ducks have played against and still have yet to play. That was my point. The Ducks Have a MUCH weaker schedule. Before you jump on this remember I am saying overall not ALL the teams! I also hate when people say ignorant things.
Oregon teams have one large problem which causes these fireballs to burn out later in the season – the lack of depth. As the season goes on they get worn down, and the teams from the South second- and third-strings prevail.
The link from the previous page reads, “Ducks making BCS computers look silly”. MAKING? Seriously? Since when have the BCS computers NOT BEEN silly? Last night the best team in college football played. Period. And no, I’m not a Ducks fan.
peace says:
Check out the Ducks schedule vs. Sooners
****************
It’s my belief that the Sooners have HAD a tougher schedule up to this point but your use of the #25 is a little arbitrary. Let’s not forget that while OU has or will have played 4 teams in the Top 25, Oregon has played or will play 2 AND 2 of their opponents WERE in the Top 25 but have since dropped out and there’s a good chance that one of them will make it back by the time that they play them. Also, Texas dropped out of the Top 25 after losing to Oklahoma but they have moved back in AND that same RANKED Texas team was taken out behind the woodshed 34-12 by the UCLA team that Oregon pistol whipped 60-13 last night.
I would love to see an Oregon and Oklahoma match up in the National Championship game…if I wanted to see Oklahoma once again get beat by another conference team on the national stage. Oklahoma is a very good team but they would not match up well against an even better Oregon team. The game would be very similar to the Ducks vs Cardinals game. Oregon’s offense would begin to overwhelm Oklahoma as the game wore on. All the Ducks have to do is lock down the Sooners Murray and game over.
I can not buy the argument that since the Ducks look to have a weaker schedule than OK, that makes the Sooners better. The same thing keeps being said about other weaker conference teams…like Utah and Boise State. But unlike Oklahoma, they fare much better when they play other conference power teams.
Last, let’s see if OK can get by Oklahoma State first and the Sooners are a home field dominate team. But BSC games are not going to be played in Norman.
Hey ccalhoun……The Ducks have no depth???
The 2nd half was played almost exclusively by the 2nd, and 3rd string team. All the way from the O line, the D line QB, RB’s Receivers, etc. NO Depth??? Guess again ya maroon!!
why does everyone forget ucla ran all over texas. this was a good win for the ducks. You okl. fans always think your team is better than it is. didn’t you lose to boise st.in abowl game. didn’t you say that when you played washington in the orange (many years ago wiyh bozworth that the huskies had no right to be on the same feild as you. you got crushed remember. you always talk it up but very seldom back it up.
The thing with the computer rankings is that they are designed to get the rankings correct at the end of the season, not the middle of it. Scoffing at them at this point of the season is itself silly. Thus far oregon’s strength of schedule has hurt it in the computers; that will not be the case at the end of next month when they are likely to still be undefeated. The human polls have them solidly at #1; they will move up the computer rankings as the season goes on. If they don’t slip up in one of their conference games, they’re a lock to go to Glendale.
@Peace
Those 2 sentences were enough to get you going? Oklahoma is a lot like Ohio State people don’t respect them because they get their ass handed to them in BCS games. I know both schools have won BCS championships.
Also, if you haven’t noticed Ben is an Ohio State homer so he has to mention them.
WingT says:
October 22, 2010 8:46 AM ET
I don’t see Oregon getting past USC. USC has 2 weeks to prepare for them and has the best defensive coach in all of football. USC’s offense is capable of sustaining drives through the air or over the ground.
All the quacking will stop when they visit USC
******************************************
What am I missing here?
Best D-coach in all of football?
Let’s just look and see……
USC is ranked per the NCAA
#62/120 in scoring def
#90/120 in TOTAL def
#111/120 in pass def
What part of being 90th best in the nation makes you the best def coach in america?
Monte Kiffen WAS one of the best but his best days have passed him by literally………
UCLA has a way better D than USC
Oregon beats USC 56 – 21
@SoFlaTrojan:
OSU homer?
Huh … News to me…
# Ben Kercheval says:
Huh … News to me…
***************
He meant Oklahoma State.
Before you trot out the “Ohio State gets their ass handed to them in BCS games” you might want to check last years Rose Bowl.
And Ben is from Texas, I believe
Blitz,
I don’t know if you can blame all the defensive rankings on Monte. The defense was horrible last year under PC and they have the same players. Coach O has the dline playing great and moving Galippo to OLB seems to have helped. The secondary is very young but has some quality players and should improve. They did put it all together last week for the first time this season so we will see if they have improved or if it was an aberration .
On the other hand the younger Kiffin has the offense rolling!
I could see USC beating Oregon but I wouldn’t bet on it.
The next 3 weeks are the most crucial for the BCS Busters. Air Force can end the dreams of TCU and Utah in back to back games and if that doesn’t happen, TCU and Utah have a showdown on Nov 6 in Salt Lake City. Boise State has to impress the humans because the computers are going to catch up to them (TCU has already passed them and they’re only 4 spots ahead of Utah). TCU has to win and pull for Missouri because a loss by Oklahoma and that might be enough to move TCU past Boise on Sunday.
Buckeye044,
I like OSU and the Big 10 for that matter but the fact is OSU has been a dissapointment in the BCS games the past few years. Yes they beat Oregon last year who has a reputation of being incredible at home and average on the road.
WHAT RANK were the Bruins
talk is cheap
Hey Peace…… Oregon’s coach Chip Kelly publically stated that he would be happy to schedule home and home with any power house teams that are willing. However no one is clamoring at the door to step up to the plate and take them on. How are you supposed to play ranked teams when the only chance you get to do so is in bowl games? If you count on the computers to give you that shot then the Ducks will miss out again. I recall being #2 in the nation and being jumped over some time in the past.
Rick Neuheisel called Oregon’s Offense a gimmick and stated that someone will figure it out. Coach Rick Even stated prior to the game that he thought he had. 60-13 against a team that beat Texas earlier this year. I think Coach Kelly will continue to make his point with the play on the field.
Trojan,
Agree with you on SoCal’s O looking good but the D will get schooled by the super fast tempo of the game. The SoCal young secondary will be out of their element in this game. I will bet that game because the only thing that will slow the Ducks is if the Trojans can keep the ball for 10+ play drives. I honestly believe if the Ducks get the ball 12 times they will score at least 7-8 of those 12 times. I think the Ducks are good enough to give SoCal one of their worst home beatings in the last 20 yrs. What’s incredible is I think the spread will be around 18 to open and be bet up. If it is, when has SoCal ever been an 18 pt dog at home?
Will stick with the Ducks 56 – SoCal 21
@blitz4848
There are several reasons why I believe that USC can beat Oregon and chief among them is that Monte Kiffin has 2 weeks to get his defense ready to stop the Ducks.
The Ducks are a much better team playing at home than away – this game is at USC.
I don’t think the game has passed Monte by. His defenses are very complex and it takes time to get the players up to speed on all the nuances of it. Each week of practice brings a much improved defense and when you have an extra week of preparation ( 2 weeks total) against a specific opponent then I would expect that USC will not allow the Ducks to embarrass them like they did UCLA.
Tennessee held the Ducks in check for almost 3 quarters and Tennessee has a terrible offense.
USC has a superb coaching staff and they will have their team ready to play.
# kupski says:
WHAT RANK were the Bruins
talk is cheap
*****************************
Not if you’re seeing a $250 an hour shrink.
@WingedT
Nice to be able to discuss and disagree without insults, innuendos etc…..
You make a lot of good points, but even though Monte can scheme really well I just don’t think they can react to the relentless machine gun style play running of the Ducks. There will be zero time for subbing and that initself will quickly overwhelm and befuddle SoCal’s very young D.
The Ducks have overwhelming stats in all 7 games in the 2nd half primarily because they wear down, frustrate and confuse teams and by the 2nd half the writing is on the wall.
The Ducks have taken up tempo to an all new record pace and that along with their speed everywhere will be too much to overcome.
Blitz,
I agree with you that the USC D is going to have their hands full. Based on the performance of the D the past two years I do not expect great things to happen. I do like the fact that the game is at USC and on grass they looked incredibly fast last night on offense.
I do think our offense will be able to put together long drives and run the ball effectively. Barkley is having a big year and the offense is loaded with weapons.
In recent years they have been very tough in Autzen but definitely beatable on the road. I don’t expect SC to win but I do think the elements are there for an upset.
Blitz,
Imagine how fast this Ducks team would be if they used those stop watches in Gainesville?
blitz4848 says:
******************
You’re way off about Kiffin. Seriously, the worst part about this team is its tackling and that’s from the defensive line, all the way to the secondary, which lost some damn good talent. Last week was the first time all year that they tackled like they should and they also didn’t make as many mental mistakes as they have (5 of their 8 penalties came on ONE drive and they got a FG out of it to make it 45-0 but that last penalty allowed Cal to have a short field that they turned into a TD) — which has NOTHING to do with Monte. The more that they limit their mistakes, the more that they can stay with Oregon and let’s not forget that unlike UCLA, they HAVE a passer. USC could do themselves a lot of good by grinding it out and not going 3 and out like UCLA did. I’m not saying that they will win but that you’ve underestimated how much he can do with two weeks off, right Alabama?
@Edgy
I guess you are calling me Alabama? Then yes, don’t under estimate 2 weeks of prep – that’s the key thing here – especially when a defensive master mind ( kiffin) is involved.
And please understand that I am truly amazed at Oregon’s offense – it was just unstoppable by UCLA. Their fast pace is amazing. They may not be able to be stopped but if anyone can do it it is Kiffin and USC with the extra 2 weeks of prep. USC still has tremendous talent on their team and they have outstanding coaches.
And if USC fails in the attempt to beat Oregon, then get prepared for a Boise State / Oregon Duck championship game – that game would be fun to watch also.
One final note about Oregon’s explosive offense. I continue to ask myself why this type of offense is not run in the NFL
Oregon crushed USC last year. Ducks are better this year, and USC is far worse on defense. Hawaii put 36 on them. They only beat Virginia by 3. Minn was a close game.They lost to Washington and Stanford.
Ducks crushed Stanford.
Why do Trojans think Kiffin’s dad is so great? He was good at pro level but not in college. He actually is pretty bad so far.
Smart money will be on the Ducks to win by more than 10.
@Blitz
I agree with you regarding disagreeing without all the BS.
The Ducks tempo is amazing. The QB is executing the zone read to perfection and the guy can actually throw the ball. When you add in their overall team speed then the Ducks look formidable. And, even the Ducks backup QB came in and executed without missing a beat – says alot for the overall coaching and discipline of the team.
USC’s defense will not stop this offense completely. But I do expect them to stop a few drives. If USC’s offense can grind it out and chew up the clock , then USC has an excellent chance to beat these guys.
We will see on Oct 30th – should be a heck of a game – I’m really looking forward to watching it.
@WingedT
Nice to be able to discuss and disagree without insults, innuendos etc…..
You make a lot of good points, but even though Monte can scheme really well I just don’t think they can react to the relentless machine gun style play running of the Ducks. There will be zero time for subbing and that initself will quickly overwhelm and befuddle SoCal’s very young D.
The Ducks have overwhelming stats in all 7 games in the 2nd half primarily because they wear down, frustrate and confuse teams and by the 2nd half the writing is on the wall.
The Ducks have taken up tempo to an all new record pace and that along with their speed everywhere will be too much to overcome.
@WingT
BCS Ch game final Could be:
Oregon 77 – Boise St 63
They would net 2 complete sets of game official so they could swap them out at half time due to exhaustion.
@SoFlaTrojan
I’ve been wrong before but I think Monte is having trouble at the college level implementing his schemes and that will become more evident as the season progresses.
I’ll give you they haven’t played as well IN THE PAST on the road but this is a different team. This a well coached team that is #3 in the nation in TO margin which is amazing with the fast pace they play at.
I think TO margin plus another dominating 2nd half will help cement Oregon as #1 in all facets of the BCS formula.
WingT says: October 22, 2010 4:13 PM ET
@Edgy
I guess you are calling me Alabama?
****************
No, I was talking about the university in general.
Oregon’s competition makes their offense more viable for them because their competition’s lack of offense allows them to rotate in more players in the first half than they could if they were playing a better offensive team. If you get off the field quickly, your defense had better get a turnover or two or else you risk running them down.
The talent level in the NFL is much closer than it is in college and while you can have a smattering of success like the Patriots did a few years ago, it would still be a detriment to your defense.
beans5 says:
October 22, 2010 12:02 PM ET
why does everyone forget ucla ran all over texas. this was a good win for the ducks. You okl. fans always think your team is better than it is. didn’t you lose to boise st.in abowl game. didn’t you say that when you played washington in the orange (many years ago wiyh bozworth that the huskies had no right to be on the same feild as you. you got crushed remember. you always talk it up but very seldom back it up.
****************************************** Umm didn’t Bosie State also beat Oregon in 2009 i think the score was 19-8? i can be wrong not really good with numbers.
But OK’s 7 Football national Championships Vs Oregon’s ummm… crickets…crickets…(you did win 16 in track though)
Seems to me Oklahoma has backed it up 7 times, just saying…
I dont know by how many points the Ducks will beat the Trojans.. but I do know this much, this will be the ducks toughest game of the year and the Trojans will not allow them to embarras them on their home field like they would like to do.
@beans5 says:
….why does everyone forget ucla ran all over texas..
—————————————————-
Good point. IMO, UCLA stuck with the run when they played Texas because they didn’t have a 21 point, then 31, 41, etc point deficit to make up.
Not only is Oregon’s offense spectacular but it also makes the Ducks defense much better as well – why? mainly because their defense starts playing against a 1 dimensional team – a passing team..makes it easier to defend the field if your opposition is limited in what it is going to do and hence, the Ducks sit back and pick off passes.
Texas never got going on offense so UCLA could stick with the run – and they have a good running team.
Ucla’s first drive against the Ducks was going well until they threw an interception – game over. When UCLA woke up thy realized they were down by a gazillion points and became 1 dimentional.
Oregon is a force to be dealt with, no question. I just think USC will bring a lot of offense to the game, and hopefully their defense will get a few stops on Oregon – we will see – should be a great game.
Didn’t Stanford play the Ducks close for about 3 quarters? I wish I had of watched that game.
This will be a tough game for Oregon and there’s no doubt Chip Kelly will have his team ready to play.
But consider this scary thought: It’s possible the Ducks are morphing into some other-worldly juggernaut. Think about it — Kelly is in just his second year as HC and we have seen a program that is steadily improving, going from good to very good to … #1. Why? Maybe because a certain mad scientist coach is brewing up something that has not yet reached it full potency. Maybe the potion is still cooking over the bunsen burner, not yet at full strength.
The key is at quarterback. Already plenty confident, Darron Thomas is gaining more confidence with each game and the sophomore is on track for an outstanding college career. Then there’s LaMichael James.
We’ll know a lot more after the game against USC, whether this is really something new or just another experiment with a short shelf life. But so far there are some strange happenings taking place in Eugene.
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