• otp rating (Google Search in Zagreb)

OTP was recently rated a “Best Bang For Your Buck” among sports blogs devoted to public institutions.

• vote for the duck (Google Search in Keizer, OR)

This is what I’ve been saying all along! Thank you. Now go vote! He’s winning again, but we cannot lose this.

• unrich (AOL Search in New York, NY)

I hardly think you need to rub that in. Click an ad you snob.

• is mike stoops a jerk (Ask Search in Palm Desert, CA)

Does a bear shit in the woods? Hey-oh! He’s probably not a jerk. But watching him on the sidelines doesn’t exactly argue otherwise. Are you not entertained, though? We’re all better for it.

• washington state cougar football wheel of fortune (Google Search in Seattle, WA)

• jes side by side pictures (Google Search in St. Paul, MN)

Hey, that’s my wife you’re talking about! WOTB may say some crazy things, but she is not for your viewing pleasure, you sicko.

• websites dedicated to hating huskies (Google Search in Pullman, WA)

Who’s got a dot net domain and hates the Huskies? THIS GUY.

• i’d rather get my o from a beaver than a duck (Google Search in Portland, OR)

Well, uh, haha, um, hmmm. You know, I’m very uncomfortable right now and I’m blushing like crazy.

• matt barkley virgin until marriage (Google Search in Camarillo, CA)

Whew, is it hot in here or is it me? Talk to Portland up above. He can probably give you some pointers.

• have the mythbusters come to oregon (Google Search in Turner, OR)

Absolutely. Before this year, everyone thought Oregon State was some kind of Rose Bowl contender. They pretty much had it figured out after one game, but just to be sure, ran the study on all 11. Results were pretty conclusive. MYTH!

• i’m so sad boise state lost (Google Search in Meredian, ID)

This actually seems sad. Think about it for a moment. This person went onto Google and typed their sadness into the search engine. And for what? The first result is my post tearing apart that student newspaper sports editor. Now I just feel like a jerk.

• anti duck football (Google Search in Portland, OR)

What’s your problem bro’? You got a problem? Ain’t no problem, here. We can do somethin’ about it. Wanna’ step outside? Let’s go bro’. Yeah, I didn’t think so. Anti Duck football, my ass.

• gameday sign ideas for oregon at oregon state (Google Search in Seattle, WA)

I’m looking forward to this during GameDay tomorrow. I didn’t come up with any this time around. Off the top of my head, it’s weak, but here:

Enjoy
Spending holidays
Playing
Nowhere

• developing offensive game plan (Google Search in Kennewick, WA)

Hey, look everyone! Rick Neuheisel’s using Google. I always took him for an AOL guy myself.

• chip kelly actual play call (Google Search in Wichita, KS)

Oh hi Chris Harper. Not enjoying your offensive role at Kansas State?

• contenders for alamo bowl (Google Search in Marion, WI)

This is gonna’ hurt you. Leader in the clubhouse is Washington so long as they win on Saturday. Oregon State’s in the mix, too, though I think we all know that’s about as likely as Corso donning the Beaver headgear.

• anti oregon state beaver pics (Google Search in Portland, OR)

Don’t remember where I originally saw this so I can’t credit appropriately, but this was a good one from a few years back.

• oregon duck hugging oregon state beaver (Google Search in Portland, OR)

Ah, see we can be Civil. Except, I couldn’t actually find a picture of a Duck and Beaver hugging. Maybe there is no love, after all.

I’m sorry, but for anyone that wasted half their year following this nonsense, NCAA investigation and Bryce Brown were as natural a fit as peanut butter and jelly. I’m just surprised he was actually cleared. Someone should run a probe into the NCAA’s decision making on that one.

Going to Need a Quarterback
It’s no surprise that Oregon has been inconsistent on offense given the injuries at the position. There is probably not an offense at any level that can be at its most efficient with the lack of experience and continuity that Oregon has had. You would like to see the much-hyped defense carry the load, but that’s not going to happen. If Oregon wants to finish in the top three of this conference, they need to play better at quarterback, plain and simple.

Speaking of Quarterbacks…
Seeing Dennis Dixon on the sidelines during the UCLA game just brought pain. I can’t look at him and not get depressed. I think it’s what Nick Lachey must feel like when he sees Jessica Simpson. He had it all but now realizes all he has to show for it is a friendship with Matt Leinart and a crappy singing career.

The Running Game is Good
I really am all about positivity, I swear. And just to prove it, I have something nice to say. Oregon’s running game is very good. It struggled against USC, but otherwise has been dominant. There’s no reason that shouldn’t continue through the end of the season.

Chris Harper Will Be a Star
It doesn’t matter that Harper’s future isn’t at quarterback. I never thought it would be and am glad he’s transitioning into a more suitable role. He’ll be making plays for four years and could infuse some serious passion and energy into the stagnant wide receiver corps.

Much Appreciation For Those On the End
The play of Nick Reed and Will Tukuafu is going to get somewhat lost while the defense struggles. This is as good a pair of defensive ends as Oregon has had in its history (at least the history I know about).

The Season is Heading…
…toward complete disaster. Oregon’s 5-2 record and 3-1 standing in the Pac-10 comes at the expense of the easiest part of the schedule. The defense is breaking down and the offense can’t get any consistent play at quarterback. With games at Cal, home with Arizona and at Oregon State, things could get ugly down the stretch.

…toward no worse than the Holiday Bowl. At 3-1 in conference play, only one team (USC) has the Rose Bowl tiebreaker over the Ducks. The Pac-10 is down in a big way and there’s not one team left on the schedule that isn’t beatable. The defense is talented and will use the bye week to get back on track. The quarterback position will strengthen as more experience is gained.

Perhaps the truth is somewhere in the middle. I’ll put it all on the line and predict the rest the season in my next post.

I still think Darron Thomas offers a lot in the long term, but I don’t yet trust him on the road at USC, Cal and ASU. I also don’t think Justin Roper is a good fit for this game. Masoli should be the guy and here’s why:
Note: Future wideout and/or running back Chris Harper is omitted from consideration. I’m also assuming for the sake of this discussion that Roper is an option this week. If he’s not, this is all pretty much pointless.

Continuity
Wouldn’t it be nice to see the same starter at quarterback play two games in a row? The offense had a chance to build something last week with Masoli. To throw Roper back in – if he’s healthy enough – would disrupt the offense’s momentum and likely throw off whatever timing has been developed. And even if Roper is healthy enough, would he last the game. He’s been knocked out in two of three games this year. The last thing Oregon needs is a switch halfway through the game to a different quarterback.

Competitive Advantage
The thing I thought was the difference against USC a year ago was the ability of the quarterback position – in this case, Dennis Dixon – to make something out of nothing. In other words, it was really hard to get the Duck offense off the field when a 3rd and 7 was as easy to convert as 2nd and inches. Masoli is no Dixon and won’t be as dynamic, but he’s more mobile than Roper and if a play breaks down, he offers an extra element to the offense. Additionally, the read-option would actually be, uh, an option. No one believes Roper is keeping the ball and, yeah, he might get one nice play out of it, but he’s not a consistent threat. Thomas doesn’t really have the entire concept down and would likely make too many poor decisions. Against a team like USC, you need all your options available and you need them working correctly.

Experience?
Uh huh. Experience. Well, everything’s relative, I suppose. We can remove Thomas from this part of the discussion. He’s got less experience than Sarah Palin. Whoops, I mean he’s got less experience than Barack Obama. You see how I worked that? Yeah, you like it when I stay apolitical, don’t you?). That leaves Roper or Masoli and while the edge goes to Roper, it’s by such a narrow margin that Masoli’s other positives give him the nod.

Because I Said So
Listen, if I’ve proven anything this season, it’s that I’m awesome at knowing what the coaches should do. My ability to declare three quarterbacks the best option in a three week span is unparalleled. Just trust my gut, coach. You’ll be glad you did.

Your visit will take some extreme patience and willingness to say, “no, these opinions are crazy.”

When you see things like, “why weren’t we prepared for losing Masoli,” quietly vomit in your mouth and then  understand that trying to have your 4th and 5th string true freshman quarterbacks ready to win football games by week 4 is slightly unreasonable.

When you read that “heads should roll, coaches should be fired, we lost a football game!!!” go ahead and spit out your 60 oz refillable Dr. Pepper as you realize that losing one game is an unreasonable occasion to make personnel decisions.

When you observe numerous mentions that Mike Bellotti simply isn’t a good enough coach, that he’s past his prime and he can’t get the job done, feel free to gag on your quarter pounder with cheese and try to remember that the same man was on his way to a national title game all of 11 months ago. While his coaching of 4th and 5th string freshman quarterbacks is clearly sub-par, you can probably forgive him.

When you read all the actual ways Oregon should prepare for and play football games as opposed to what the coaches and players are doing, go ahead and ask your neighbor to resuscitate you back to consciousness. You probably realize that sometimes other teams win football games and that there are actually other people capable of succeeding at what they do for a living.

When you read that Nate Costa is the future, but that Justin Roper can do it too, but that Jeremiah Masoli is pretty versatile, but that Chris Harper is a freakish athlete, but that Darron Thomas is like Dennis Dixon (guilty!), go ahead and and fall flat on your face from the complete dizziness in your brain. I actually don’t have a point here other than I am tired of trying to find the positive aspects in five different quarterbacks every season.

I guess what I’m trying to say here is, please, be careful out there. People say some really dumb things.

On Saturday, Thomas went 13-25, netting 210 yards with 3 touchdowns and 1 interception. All in one quarter. He’s young. He doesn’t know the offense that well. He likely has a long way to go in understanding the zone read-option. He’ll even make mistakes. Dumb ones. And we’ll live with it, because he’s young, filled with potential and gives Oregon the best chance to win both now and tomorrow.

I know how dangerous it is to look at one quarter of play and extraploate an entire future from it, but what is the better option right now? The redshirt is off. There’s no getting it back this year. Ride the guy as far as he’ll take you and don’t look back, coach. Don’t second guess the decision, don’t play around and mix your options, simply make him the starter.

In today’s Register-Guard, coach, this is what you said. “We should have made the call sooner,” and “We just didn’t get him in soon enough.” You’re also quoted as saying those dreaded words, “open competition.” Coach, you waited too long on Saturday and you admitted as much. Don’t do it again. Thomas is your guy. Right now.

In most respects, Saturday’s game against Boise State was nothing short of a nightmare. It conjured up the horrifying memories of the year 2004 and a team named Indiana. The first three quarters were awful. There was nothing to be happy about. Some lowlights:

• Jeremiah Johnson using his running back position as an audition tape for “So You Think You Can Dance and/or a remake of the movie “Sideways.”
• The defense’s staunch refusal to believe that the tight end is actually an eligible receiver.
• The coaching staff’s belief that throwing the football is one of those crazy new age offensive ideas.
• Watching Chris Harper throw and discovering the reason for all the running plays.
• Finding out that Jeremiah Masoli was injured on a dirty cheap shot

It was ugly. I closed the OZone player, disconnected the connection to the TV and pouted, all the while watching the bottom line on ESPN waiting for some good news. And then it came.

Glad…

Fire up the laptop, the future is on display. Freshman Darron Thomas took off the redshirt and put on his cape, He tossed three fourth quarter touchdown passes and was an onside kick from becoming an instant legend. All of a sudden, the game went from pointless, devastating blowout to exciting, promising future. All in one quarter. From the time he was recruited, Thomas has been getting casual mentions as the next Dixon, an absurd, unfair label. Yet, there he was, a true freshman showing poise and leading the Ducks from a certain loss to a near comeback. He may be the fifth quarterback, but no one has looked the part better than Thomas at any time this season.

In many ways, the game was a good thing. I can be released of the absurd notion that this team had any shot at a national title and retreat to a cozier expectation of Rose Bowl. Yeah, Rose Bowl. After all, it was a non-conference loss, so let’s just hop back on the wagon, point it to Pasadena and see if we can find our way there. The Rose Bowl has proven it doesn’t care if you’re the most worthy team, only that you belong to the Pac-10 or Big Ten and meet the minimum BCS standards. Are you convinced yet? Yeah, me niether, but remember, fan is short for fanatic.

Let’s move on, shall we?

I took last week off from the cool world of blogging and it’s probably a good thing. If I had managed to write something, it would have been about how much Oregon would clobber Purdue. I had bought all the way in. If the media’s interpretation of Oregon’s skill level last week was a time-share presentation, I’d have purchased every damn unit. I blame Purdue coach Joe Tiller as much as anybody. He spent the whole week telling me that the Ducks were faster than Team Jamaica. Oregon was the nation’s number one offense. The defense was impenetrable. Blah, blah, blah…I bought every last word of it, mostly because I’m a fan incapable of thinking logically.

The truth of Oregon’s situation is that while it’s not without fault, it can still expect to beat 11 of the 12 teams it plays (and it shouldn’t roll over for USC just because Ohio State did – that’s just what being a Buckeye is all about). Beating Purdue in the fashion it did is actually more impressive than it looks on the surface if you subscribe to the idea that winning is all that matters, which I usually do (at least when it fits the argument I need to make at any given moment). They played poorly with way too many mistakes and still pulled out a win on the road against a Big 10 team. Duck teams in the past have lost games like that in spectacular fashion including a home blowout to Washington State and the debacle that was Indiana. The game gives me a reason to believe the Rose Bowl is a possibility even if I know, deep down, that some twisted piece of fate will prevent that from ever happening. After all, there are only five quarterbacks on the roster and we’re scheduled to run out of them in week seven.

When Boise State rolls into town this week, I won’t make the same mistake of assuming a blowout. As much as everyone seemed to want Jeremiah Masoli and Chris Harper at quarterback, it’s going to be a step back from Justin Roper. Neither are as advanced and both will take some time to figure out what they’re doing out there. I think the defense can carry the load while the newbies get broken in. Boise State will be starting a redshirt freshman making his first ever road start. In Autzen Stadium. Somebody get him a towel to clean up that dribble running down his leg.

I’m playing it safe this week and keeping the expectations low. The offense probably won’t be the machine we all know and love, but the defense will be stout.

PreNicktion: Oregon 24, Boise State 14

But wait. Let’s think about this with a little more thought. Why are we all so sure Roper isn’t the guy?

He played well enough as a 5th string fill-in to get Oregon a Civil War win. He tied a Sun Bowl record for touchdown passes. He even ran for a score against OSU. One quarter into his start against Washington, the Ducks were up a quick 14 points. He was 7-11 passing. Yeah, he had a bad pick, but you try functioning with a concussion. He has unquestioned athleticism as a track and basketball star in high school. So what’s the problem?

It basically boils down to this: Dennis Dixon.

The former Heisman front-runner changed the way Duck fans view the quarterback position. You have to have escapability. You have to not just win, but electrify crowds from the 50 yard line of Autzen Stadium to people in the east still learning to say Or-eh-gun.

Unfortunately for Roper, when the infirmary filled up with quarterbacks in front of him, he became just another guy that couldn’t keep the magic of 2007 alive. He looked too much like Brady Leaf (tall and white). He couldn’t run the option with the same flare and effectiveness.

Masoli and Harper (and even Costa before his injury) are fresh faces. They had nothing to do with last season’s collapse. Therefore, they automatically are a better option going forward. After all, the next man up is always a fan’s best friend.

When I honestly look at what Roper’s done and put my biases aside, I can’t escape that fact that the sophomore has been pretty damn good. Perhaps Masoli does become the guy – and I’d be happy to see it – but I’m not ready to make that coronation.