The UO Sports Dude » oregon rose bowl http://uosportsdude.com Where Sports and College Humor Collide Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:58:51 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Breaking Down the Rose Bowl: Battle of the Offensive Lines http://uosportsdude.com/2009/12/21/breaking-down-the-rose-bowl-battle-of-the-offensive-lines/ http://uosportsdude.com/2009/12/21/breaking-down-the-rose-bowl-battle-of-the-offensive-lines/#comments Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:29:09 +0000 Keith Becker http://uosportsdude.com/?p=736

Analyzing skill positions is easy. Those guys hog the cameras, do flashy celebration dances and attract the affection of all the coeds (and sometimes even faculty) on campus.
Everyone knows about them.
But the guys who go unnoticed, the guys who allow for the skill players to do what they do, those are the guys in the trenches. Those are the guys who win games.
They may not be the sexiest or most attractive, they might even have unsightly facial hair or excessive back hair, you would probably even let own a loud grown if you were forced to sit between them on a cross-country flight, but dammit, they win games.
How often do you hear someone say, “Dad, all I want for Christmas is a game-worn Jordan Holmes jersey.”
Welcome to the life of an offensive lineman.
I don’t like that. No, not because I feel bad for them, but because now I have to do actual research in evaluating which team boasts the better collection of 300+ pound beasts.
And there is nothing lazier than a college student on winter break. Trust me.
But I toughed it out. I’m sure you will thank me later.
Coming into the season, Scout.com ranked both Ohio State and Oregon among the best in the country, with the Buckeyes at 11 and the Ducks at 16, respectively.
Up until last year, tOSU was known for its physical, unimaginative, run the ball down your throat style of play. Just push your guy harder than he pushed you – offensive lineman loved it.
But once Jim Tressel decided to change to the spread-option for Terrelle Pryor, it’s taken a while for everyone to get on the same page.
You can’t expect to completely change your style of play and have it work right away. You have to recruit different players and coaches have to learn what they’re doing. (You’ve almost got it Jimmy, just keep watching the film)
Look at Michigan, they were trying to run the spread with Steven Threet and Nick Sheridan. At least Ohio State had Pryor.
If you look deeper, the Buckeyes have fallen all the way from second in the Big Ten in yards per game in 2006 all the way to eighth in both 2008 and 2009.
You can’t teach agility to those big, hulking farm boys over night.
Oregon, meanwhile, is all speed, even on the line.
Only one Duck checks in at over 300 pounds, while all five of the Buckeyes tip the scale.
After losing two starters to the draft and two to graduation last season, it took Oregon all three non-conference games for the newbies to get into rhythm.
Jeremiah Masoli was sacked five times in the first three games and just three times since then.
As well as protecting Masoli, the line has opened endless holes for running back LaMichael James, who leads the nation in yards per carry at a tick under seven.
Bo Thran and Jordan Holmes have admirably replaced Max Unger and Fenuki Tupou, while C.E. Kaiser, Mark Asper and freshman Carson York fill out the rest of the line.
If Thran and Co. can give Masoli time in the pocket and open lanes for LMJ, this game is as good as over. If Oregon can make it a shootout, Ohio State doesn’t stand a chance.
Since total offensive production is the easiest way to evaluate the position, I have to give Oregon the edge.
Rating:
Oregon 8, Ohio State 7.
Total: Oregon 41.5, Ohio State 35.
How could the ladies ever say no to these guys?

How could the ladies ever say no to these guys?

Continuing with position breakdowns, today I’ll go over the offensive lines. If you missed yesterday’s, you can read about the tight ends here.

Analyzing skill positions is easy. Those guys hog the cameras, do flashy celebration dances and attract the affection of all the coeds (and sometimes even faculty) on campus.

Everyone knows about them.

But the guys who go unnoticed, the guys who allow for the skill players to do what they do, those are the guys in the trenches. Those are the guys who win games.

They may not be the sexiest or most attractive, they might even have unsightly facial hair or excessive back hair, you would probably even let own a loud grown if you were forced to sit between them on a cross-country flight, but dammit, they win games.

How often do you hear someone say, “Dad, all I want for Christmas is a game-worn Jordan Holmes jersey.”

Welcome to the life of an offensive lineman.

I don’t like that. No, not because I feel bad for them, but because now I have to do actual research in evaluating which team boasts the better collection of 300+ pound beasts.

And there is nothing lazier than a college student on winter break. Trust me.

But I toughed it out. I’m sure you will thank me later.

Coming into the season, Scout.com ranked both Ohio State and Oregon among the best in the country, with the Buckeyes at 11 and the Ducks at 16.

Up until last year, tOSU was known for its physical, unimaginative, run the ball down your throat style of play. Just push your guy harder than he pushed you – offensive lineman loved it.

But once Jim Tressel decided to change to the spread-option for Terrelle Pryor, it’s taken a while for everyone to get on the same page.

You can’t expect to completely change your style of play and have it work right away. You have to recruit different players and coaches have to learn what they’re doing. (You’ve almost got it Jimmy, just keep watching the film)

Look at Michigan, they were trying to run the spread with Steven Threet and Nick Sheridan. At least Ohio State had Pryor.

If you look deeper, the Buckeyes have fallen all the way from second in the Big Ten in yards per game in 2006 all the way to eighth in both 2008 and 2009.

You can’t teach agility to those big, hulking farm boys over night.

Oregon, meanwhile, is all speed, even on the line.

Only one Duck checks in at over 300 pounds, while all five of the Buckeyes tip the scale.

After losing two starters to the draft and two to graduation last season, it took Oregon all three non-conference games for the newbies to get into rhythm.

Jeremiah Masoli was sacked five times in the first three games and just three times since then.

As well as protecting Masoli, the line has opened endless holes for running back LaMichael James, who leads the nation in yards per carry at a tick under seven.

Bo Thran and Jordan Holmes have admirably replaced Max Unger and Fenuki Tupou, while C.E. Kaiser, Mark Asper and freshman Carson York fill out the rest of the line.

If Thran and Co. can give Masoli time in the pocket and open lanes for LMJ, this game is as good as over. Oregon wants to make it a shootout, and if they can, Ohio State doesn’t stand a chance.

Since total offensive production is the easiest way to evaluate the position, I have to give Oregon the edge.

Rating:

Oregon 8, Ohio State 7.

Total: Oregon 41.5, Ohio State 35.

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]]> http://uosportsdude.com/2009/12/21/breaking-down-the-rose-bowl-battle-of-the-offensive-lines/feed/ 1 Breaking Down the Rose Bowl: Battle of the TEs http://uosportsdude.com/2009/12/17/breaking-down-the-rose-bowl-battle-of-the-tes/ http://uosportsdude.com/2009/12/17/breaking-down-the-rose-bowl-battle-of-the-tes/#comments Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:39:41 +0000 Keith Becker http://uosportsdude.com/?p=727

Continuing with position breakdowns, today I’ll go over the tight ends. If you missed yesterday’s, you can read about the wide receivers here.

That catch still gives me the jitters. Wow. Silly Arizona students on the field behind Dickson makes this even sweeter.

That catch still gives me the jitters. Wow. Silly Arizona students on the field behind Dickson makes this even sweeter.

Every fall, stories in Columbus start sprouting about how Jim Tressel will start featuring the tight ends more in the offense. It’s blind faith, fanciful optimism.

This matchup is a about as close as any Pac-10 game involving Washington State since 2007, a sprint between LaMichael James and Tressel, or the I Love My Ducks video compared to what Oregon State and Iowa pathetically attempted. You get the point.

Every fall, stories in Columbus start sprouting about how Tressel will start featuring the tight ends more in the offense. It’s blind faith, fanciful optimism.
Although I guess the keyword there is “more”.
It’s like saying you’ll take out the trash but you never do it. Passing to the tight end for Ohio State has become the equivalent of a defiant teenager who won’t do his chores.
When their tight ends combined for 11 catches last year – less than one per game – I guess “more” isn’t necessarily that far out of the question.
And hey, what do ya know, the Ohio State media nailed it – the Buckeyes jumped from their total of 11 all the way up to 15.
That’s about as impressive as predicting that the Love Guru or any movie with Larry the Cable Guy would strike out at the box office.
Somebody find their tarot cards!
Ok, so the Ohio State offense isn’t exactly built around throwing to the tight ends. But senior Jake Ballard and redshirt freshman Jake Stoneburner (what’s with the Buckeyes having players with the same name at the same position?) are both talented players.
Ballard is a great leader, a team spokesman and more importantly a terrific blocker – he even won the Jim Parker Award for best Ohio State offensive lineman.
Stoneburner brings a receiver’s athleticism to the position, even if he’s still learning how to block. The former four-star and No. 4 overall tight end recruit, has two catches for thirty yards on the season – but I bet they were both dandies.
If the Jakes can adequately pick up the blitz and give Pryor enough time to find DeVier Posey or Dane Sanzenbacher, and maybe sneak out for a first down catch or two, they will have done their job.
Gotta love high expectations.
Meanwhile, the Ducks have two legitimate pass-catching tight ends.
Everyone knows about Ed Dickson, but sophomore David Paulson has come out of nowhere to become an excellent complement the two-time all Pac-10 honoree.
Neither is used much for blocking, as Dickson usually lines up split out like a slot receiver, but why relegate them to blocking duty when they put up a combined 54 catches and 730 yards receiving?
And that’s even more impressive when you factor in that throwing the ball is Masoli’s third option.
But when Masoli focused on finding Dickson, the results were impressive. Against Cal and
Washington State, Dickson combined for 251 yards and four touchdowns on 18 catches. Not too shabby.
Dickson provides a matchup nightmare for any team, and even if he has to resort to playing decoy, it allows for James, Masoli or Maehl to beat the Buckeyes in other ways.
So let’s see, tOSU has 15 catches for 156 yards and zero touchdowns from the position and the Ducks have, well, a lot more than that.
I’ll take Oregon.
Rating:
Oregon 8.5, Ohio State 5.5.
Total: Oregon 33.5, Ohio State 27.5.

Although I guess the keyword there is “more”.

It’s like saying you’ll take out the trash but you never do it. Passing to the tight end for Ohio State has become the equivalent of a defiant teenager who won’t do his chores.

When their tight ends combined for 11 catches last year – less than one per game – I guess “more” isn’t necessarily that far out of the question.

And hey, what do ya know, the Ohio State media nailed it – the Buckeyes jumped from their total of 11 all the way up to 15.

That’s about as impressive as predicting that the Love Guru or any movie with Larry the Cable Guy would strike out at the box office.

Somebody find their tarot cards!

Ok, so the Ohio State offense isn’t exactly built around throwing to the tight ends. But senior Jake Ballard and redshirt freshman Jake Stoneburner (what’s with the Buckeyes having players with the same name at the same position?) are both talented players.

Ballard is a great leader, a team spokesman and more importantly a terrific blocker – he even won the Jim Parker Award for best Ohio State offensive lineman.

Stoneburner brings a receiver’s athleticism to the position, even if he’s still learning how to block. The former four-star and No. 4 overall tight end recruit, has two catches for thirty yards on the season – but I bet they were both dandies.

If the Jakes can adequately pick up the blitz and give Pryor enough time to find DeVier Posey or Dane Sanzenbacher, and maybe sneak out for a first down catch or two, they will have done their job.

Gotta love high expectations.

Meanwhile, the Ducks have two legitimate pass-catching tight ends.

Everyone knows about Ed Dickson, but sophomore David Paulson has come out of nowhere to become an excellent complement to the two-time all Pac-10 honoree. (Paulson’s catch at Washington: fast forward to the 2:35 mark)

Neither is used much for blocking, as Dickson usually lines up split out like a slot receiver, but why relegate them to blocking duty when they put up a combined 54 catches and 730 yards receiving?

And that’s even more impressive when you factor in that throwing the ball is Masoli’s third option.

But when Masoli focused on finding Dickson, the results were impressive. Against Cal and Washington State, Dickson combined for 251 yards and four touchdowns on 18 catches. Not too shabby.

Dickson provides a matchup nightmare for any team, and even if he has to resort to playing decoy, it allows for James, Masoli or Maehl to beat the Buckeyes in other ways.

So let’s see, tOSU has 15 catches for 156 yards and zero touchdowns from the position and the Ducks have, well, a lot more than that.

I’ll take Oregon.

Rating:

Oregon 8.5, Ohio State 6.

Total: Oregon 33.5, Ohio State 28.

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]]> http://uosportsdude.com/2009/12/17/breaking-down-the-rose-bowl-battle-of-the-tes/feed/ 4 Remember, Remember The Third of December http://uosportsdude.com/2009/12/04/remember-remember-the-third-of-december/ http://uosportsdude.com/2009/12/04/remember-remember-the-third-of-december/#comments Sat, 05 Dec 2009 01:10:42 +0000 Keith Becker http://uosportsdude.com/?p=623

Who's that handsome man? Oh wait, that's me!

Who's that handsome man? Oh wait, that's me!

This morning, the Oregonian’s Bob Rickert posted a story about the top ten things most people won’t remember from Oregon’s win, but should. It’s a  really good list, great even, but he left out a couple of the most important ones. I’m here to help him fill in the blanks.

Jeff Maehl earned the nickname the Maehlman last night. Oregon’s only weakness on offense this season has been at wide receiver. In fact, no wide out caught a single touchdown pass before Maehl did, coincidentally, in the Rose Bowl against UCLA in the sixth game of the season. But recently, the junior has stepped up big time to become a legitimate second receiving threat alongside Ed Dickson. Averaging 95 YPG his past four. including five touchdowns, Maehl has come up with several big catches to help Oregon back to Pasadena.

His 73-yard TD last night gave the Ducks their first lead, but even more important than that was an eight-yard catch on fourth down in the third quarter to keep the comeback hopes alive. Maehl has really blossomed into another weapon for Jeremiah Masoli, and they will only be better next year. Add in the white receiver factor, and Maehl is even more likable.

Winning with the white pants. When the Ducks came out last night wearing white pants, I was shocked. Oregon has worn the white pants twice this season, and you guessed it, they picked up an L both times.  Does Casey Martin get off on almost giving  60,000 a collective heart attack? I guess this proved that Oregon is better than a jinx. But Casey, please don’t do that to me again on New Years’.

The Autzen Zoo lived up to its billing. Duck fans pride themselves on being the loudest and most intimidating fans in college football, and last night, they did just that. I don’t believe there is a decibel rating quite yet, but for what it’s worth, the crowd noise was audible from at least eight miles away. Imagine what it must have been like on the field.  Overall, last night might not have been as loud as the USC game on Halloween, but when OSU decided to go for it on fourth and 16 with just over six minute left, that was the loudest I have ever heard a stadium get. My ears are still ringing from being in the student section.

Coaching. Football is all about making changes and adapting to the game. In the first half, the Beavers were taking of advantage of the spacious Oregon front seven. James Rodgers was running the fly sweep and Jacquizz was catching screen passes underneath for big yards. Realizing that, Chip Kelly adjusted, and stuffed the box, halting the OSU offense. The Result?  The Beavs only got two first downs in the final 26 minutes.

Game. Set. Match. The Ducks are going to the Rose Bowl.

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]]> http://uosportsdude.com/2009/12/04/remember-remember-the-third-of-december/feed/ 2 One Step Closer to Roses: Oregon Tames Wildcats in Instant Classic http://uosportsdude.com/2009/11/22/one-step-closer-to-roses-oregon-tames-wildcats-in-instant-classic/ http://uosportsdude.com/2009/11/22/one-step-closer-to-roses-oregon-tames-wildcats-in-instant-classic/#comments Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:59:26 +0000 Keith Becker http://uosportsdude.com/?p=539

(singing from American Pie) How sweet it is to be loved by you!

(singing from American Pie) How sweet it is to be loved by you!

I’m usually a pretty confident guy, arrogant even, you could say. But coming into the Arizona game this weekend, I was more nervous than any other Saturday this season–and it had absolutely nothing to do with the players on the field.

It didn’t matter that we were playing on the road in front of a raucous red-out, or that our Rose Bowl hopes had crashed and burned in our last two trips to Tucson’s house of horrors, or even that Sunshine-look-alike Nick Foles had a ridiculous 69 percent completion and might tear up the depleted secondary.

You could throw that all out that window.

Why?

I had to watch this game with my girlfriend.

On the outside, that sounds like a nice Saturday evening. We go to different schools and live in different states, so any time I could spend with her sounds like a good thing, right?

Well, not when it comes to Oregon Ducks football.

I have watched two games with her this season, and guess which ones they are. You got it–Boise State and Stanford.

So the thought of watching my beloved Ducks’ Rose Bowl hopes vanish right before my eyes while cuddling with my almost-as beloved girlfriend would have been remarkably bittersweet.

I almost threw her out of the house after Oregon didn’t convert on the late fourth down conversion, but when I imagined the following month-long silent treatment punishment, I decided against it.

Fortunately, that never had to happen, as the Ducks emerged victorious in one of the greatest games I’ve ever seen, even though I was watching the entire game-tying drive and overtimes through the cracks in-between my fingers.

Hopefully my girlfriend doesn’t read this.

Here are my thoughts on the game:

  • Hands down, the best game of the year. It had every element you could want. College Game Day, tons of points, a fourth-quarter comeback, two overtimes and a Ducks victory. I’m still giddy.
  • What the hell got into Jeff Maehl? Was he drinking the “special stuff” that Bugs Bunny created in Space Jam? Seriously. I take back and apologize for everything bad I’ve ever said about Jeff Maehl (which is a lot).  He absolutely came to play today and we won because of it.
  • The end of the game couldn’t have been scripted better if it were a movie. The second those Arizona students started hopping onto the field, I knew we had a chance. The football Gods love irony.
  • Jeremiah Masoli’s reaction: “I saw it and I actually smirked,” Masoli said. “It was kind of funny. I wasn’t really worried about it.”
  • And when the cameras found Masoli smirking, I knew we were all about to witness greatness.
  • The only thing greater than that drive was watching the student section slink their way back up into the stands after Ed Dickson came down with the catch of the year. Absolutely priceless.
  • But then an Arizona student had to go and throw a water bottle at an Oregon cheerleader. Not cool, bro.
  • I’m pretty sure my heart stopped when Morgan Flint’s field goal attempt ricocheted off and through the goal posts.
  • Congrats to my ever-growing man crush, LaMichael James, for breaking Jaquizz Rodger’s Pac-10 freshman rushing record.
  • Sneakiest play of the night: the fourth-quarter draw to LMJ on a second and eleven. Big Balls Chip at his finest.
  • Speaking of Chip Kelly, I think the abilities of his half-time speeches might have become a little exaggerated, especially when the idiot kicker (the kicker!) decided to taunt Oregon’s sideline right before half. If that doesn’t fire you up, I don’t know what will.  Not too impressive the past couple weeks.
  • But then again, who needs coaching when you have Masoli’s six touchdowns?
  • I’ve said it before, but I have to say it again, Nick Foles is a dead ringer of Sunshine from Remember the Titans. I don’t think I have ever seen two people look more alike in my entire life.
  • Did anyone else see Brent Musberger’s suit last night? That image will be burned into my retinas forever.
  • Could there be a more perfect set-up for the 113th Civil War next Thursday?
  • Rose Bowl on the line, vengeance looming, rivalry game, ahhhh I’m excited.
  • One more reason to hate Oregon State: The Beavers were caught blasting Miley Cirus after the game. And there goes the man cards for the entire team.
  • And I’m obligated by every Oregon fan out there to end this column with “I Love My Ducks.” There I said it! Now let’s go get that Rose Bowl!!
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]]> http://uosportsdude.com/2009/11/22/one-step-closer-to-roses-oregon-tames-wildcats-in-instant-classic/feed/ 4 I Love My Ducks – Supwitchugirl http://uosportsdude.com/2009/11/17/i-love-my-ducks-supwitchugirl/ http://uosportsdude.com/2009/11/17/i-love-my-ducks-supwitchugirl/#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:53:56 +0000 Keith Becker http://uosportsdude.com/?p=500

This is why nothing compares to Oregon football. Nothing. Not even bacon, the Abraham Lincoln reference on Family Guy, or James Roday’s hair.

Great work guys, this is awesome! Enjoy!

UPDATE: Here is the working I Love My Ducks video!

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