Sometimes, a game is greater than the sum of two team’s parts. Such is the 2010 Rose Bowl. How else do you explain the fact that both participants will be fielding one measly first team all-conference performer as voted on by conference coaches?

For Oregon, it’s tight end Ed Dickson. The Buckeyes can boast only of safety Kurt Coleman. That’s it. Five Big 10 and five Pac-10 teams have more all-conference representatives than these two league champions.

Forget all-Americans, Doak Walkers, Bronco Nagurskis or any other individual honors. These guys are fighting just to get recognition within their own conference.

The Rose Bowl isn’t a game so often lacking in star power. We’re talking hallowed grounds where the legends have walked. Vince Young, Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart are just the recent headliners.

Okay, sure, some of this is dramatic effect playing on (flawed?) conference voting that basically ignored the individual accomplishments of two champions. And I’m sure coaches Chip Kelly and Jim Tressel spent all of one minute caring about such perceived slights.

But it is odd, isn’t it?

Perhaps the matchup we were supposed to get was Oregon State vs. Iowa. After all, both conference runner-ups placed seven players on their respective first teams. That game would have featured 14 first team players. The one we are getting has two.

And with that said, would anyone choose that over Oregon and Ohio State? Okay, perhaps this audience is a highly biased sample, but I’m guessing there’s not a lot of clamoring for a Hawkeyes-Beavers matchup beyond these digital walls of Duck fandom.

Whatever slight fans, players and coaches may have at first felt can be safely buried beneath a rug of rose petals. These teams should carry the all-conference voting as a badge of honor where “team” matters and “individual” is a passing thought.

On January 1, it’ll be Ducks ‘n’ Bucks and that’s all you need to know. The pieces within those two team names are simply an afterthought.

Note: The Pac-10 includes three more special teams players on its all-conference teams. The Big Ten features both a media and coaches team. The Pac-10 uses only coaches’ selections. For a straight up comparison, the Big Ten’s media vote was not considered.

With reference to the headline, hey, I didn’t say it. That acclaim goes to John Canzano of The Oregonian in what now looks like a gigantic whiff.  We all had our doubts after Boise State, but missing out on bowl eligibility? Quite a reach. Now, 6-1 Oregon goes looking for win number 7. Here’s my Sunday thoughts as we move on.

1. Why is it that every time a national analyst or reporter talks about Oregon, they always preface it with, “Oregon has really turned it around since Boise State.”? At what point do we get to move on from that game? Is it permanently attached to the Ducks reputation or can it possibly be wiped clean by a win over USC? Either way, it’s a virtual guarantee to pop up about 2,837 times this week as the four letter hype machine that is ESPN descends on Eugene (GameDay all but certain to visit).
2. Speaking of everyone’s favorite sports network, if Kirk Herbstreit picks Oregon, I encourage everyone to loudly boo him. I’m pretty sure he has us at 1-3 in conference play so far with his predictions. Thanks Kirk and be sure to bring your tanning lotion. I hear it’s going to be rainy and overcast.
3. I can’t believe how easy the win was against Washington. The Huskies had played everyone competitive including USC and LSU. And who would have expected negative rushing yards from Jake Locker? They didn’t even try anything with him. The only conclusion I can reach is that this team is seriously good.
4. Number of seniors on Oregon’s two-deep against UW: 5. That’s five seniors out of 44 players. A total of three started. Wow.
5. Look for Oregon to request a waiver this week to play 2010 defensive back recruits against USC. There’s hardly anyone left now that Talmadge Jackson is, uh, day to day. Then again, true freshman Cliff Harris looks like he can do it all himself. Alongside fellow freshman John Boyett and sophomores Javes Lewis and Anthony Gildon, boy, the Duck’s future in the defensive backfield is good.
6. Oregon has the best two yard line defense in the nation. I’m sure of it.
7. I’m writing this before the rankings are released, but the Ducks feel undervalued to me. One team that is especially bugging me is Iowa. Good for them for winning every game, but I’m having a hard time accepting the Hawkeyes as a top ten team.
8. A quick, crack analysis of USC… Lot of opportunities passing the football over the middle. Watching the OSU game, the tight end was often open for big gains, but I would expect USC to scheme more for Ed Dickson. The Beavers also had a lot of successful runs straight up the gut. On plays to the outside, USC’s speed advantage was obvious. Matt Barkley is not yet as great as everyone keeps saying. As a true freshman, he stands out, but if you weren’t analyzing him with that disclaimer, he wouldn’t be as celebrated. I know he won at Ohio State and Notre Dame, but, with no offense to tradition, big deal. Autzen Stadium will be a whole different beast. The Trojans are athletic and their talent is relentless. You have to play hard from start to finish to beat them and mistakes must be kept to a minimum. More as the week goes on.

Thanks to friend of the blog Andy for the reminder about Canzano’s “Six Wins” quote. The Ducks got there in record time.

Seeing as how I reported Ed Dickson missing a couple weeks ago, figured I'd let Oregon know I found him.

Sunday is so much nicer after a win.

1. I’m young. I always operate under the assumption that football started in 1994. So when I say that was the best all-around performance in a regular season game by Oregon, it’s without a lot of perspective. Still, it’s hard to imagine the Ducks ever being more abusive to a top ten team.
2. Chin up Cal, you’re not the first to see dreams die at the hands of Autzen. Now, do you understand?
3. As one text I got during the game said, “anything you can do, we can do worser!” Every time Oregon made a mistake, Cal returned the favor whether it was a fumble or a five yard punt.
4. For those of you watching the game on TV, how excited are you for ABC’s new comedy lineup? Kelsey Grammer is a businessman turned family man in Hank! It’s hilarious!
5. Can we hire someone to permanently follow Jeremiah Masoli and berate him? I figure the more we heckle this guy, the better chance we have of willing him to a Heisman Trophy. Most of us need food and water to subsist. He apparently feeds only on your doubts.
6. Jahvid Best, you may formally transfer your Heisman Trophy application to LaMichael James. If you need the address, let me know.
7. Note: The previous two Heisman statements are jokes. Let’s not get carried away here.
8. Andy Ludwig should be forever banned from Autzen Stadium. Well, he’s welcome anytime as far as I’m concerned, but I would just leave him at home if I’m Tedford.
9. For those of you wanting some Nate Costa against Cal, wish granted.
10. Someone send John Canzano a schedule and ask him if he can find six wins for Oregon. Just sayin’.
11. Speaking of which, how good does the schedule look all of a sudden?
12. Uh, Washington fans, consider this our response to the loud barking you’ve been doing in the wake of your USC win. We’ll be ready.

For two teams having only dipped its toes into the season’s waters, Saturday might as well be considered the big plunge. Utah has struggled with lesser opponents while Oregon put on one of its worst performances of the decade in Boise. The winner gets to put some of the early doubts behind them and move forward with the confidence to meet high expectations.

Of course, the stakes may be higher for Oregon which actually has a loss on its record. Another misstep and it’s 1-2 with highly ranked Cal waiting to make it 1-3. Many are comparing it to 1994 (the birth of football) when the team started 1-2 and lost to Utah at home. I don’t see it. Different era, different teams, different scenarios. This game feels critical if you still harbor hopes for the type of season that results in Rose-filled  holidays (whether that should be your expectation or not is another matter). Sure, win or lose, it’s still 0-0 in the Pac-10, but it’s time to make a statement.

Stopping Utah won’t be easy. This is a team that has, in the last five years, proven itself worthy of competing on a bigger stage than the Mountain West Conference usually provides. One could argue for the inclusion of the Utes as a Pac-10 team. After all, like the Pac, they’re an SEC killer (11-8 this decade SEC, deal with the inferiority however you must). They are also tenants of the nation’s longest winning streak at 16 games. Say what you will about Mountain West Conference competition, but it’s at least as good as the Big East and its top three teams are as good as any.

FOTB's Uni Pick

The Ducks could be getting a huge break if Utah running back Matt Asiata can’t go. He’s been listed this week as questionable with a shoulder injury. That usually means out. And for Oregon, that’s a good thing. At 230 lbs., Asiata has already carried the ball 56 times for 250 yards and is the kind of guy that could wear an unheralded defensive line down as the game goes on.

Still, if he can’t play, Oregon has to deal with Terrance Cain. The junior college transfer quarterback has quickly put up big numbers, albeit against, well, terrible competition. He’s the kind of guy that you think Autzen Stadium will eat up, and the next thing you know, he’s torched your secondary for 300 yards.

The stat that sticks out so far, though, is Utah’s five turnovers while taking the ball from opponents just twice. Oregon has been opportunistic this season grabbing six takeaways and scoring on two of them. Is two games enough to declare those stats the definitive decider? Not a chance, but it’s alarming for Utah, especially playing on the road in a venue as difficult as Autzen Stadium.

Ultimately, it comes down to that which we’ve left alone to this point, Oregon’s offense. It usually does with the Ducks. When they’re clicking, winning is a virtual certainty. When they’re not, the results can be ugly. Ed Dickson figures to be a central figure in Oregon’s game plan and you would imagine Masoli will be used in a variety of ways to open up opportunities in the running game while the offensive line finds its identity. Don’t expect the usual Oregon offense yet, but expect enough progress to knock off Utah and set the stage for next week’s Pac-10 opener.

Oregon’s vaunted offense started to come alive in the second half of the Purdue game. It “flashed” as coach Chip Kelly would say, but it’s still missing something. You don’t get the sense that every third down play is a conversion waiting to happen. Well, fortunately, despite a lack of any relevant coaching or playing experience, I know what needs to be done.

Get some experience
Hey, I didn’t say my ideas were actionable. I noted yesterday that only 1 of the 22 players on Oregon’s two deep is a senior. Remember a year ago what it was like watching the engine run as it tried to find a quarterback? Well, right now, it’s trying to find an entire offensive line, the right receiver options and at least one consistent running back. It’s just going to take time, whether we like it or not. With that said, can we hurry it up just a bit? Utah and Cal are on the schedule. I just thought you’d like to know coach. Don’t shoot the messenger.

If you've seen this 6'-5" tight end, please alert Jeremiah Masoli. He'd like to know where to look.

Use your tight end. You know, that Ed Dickson guy?
I went to one practice in August. That makes me an expert. No really, it does. I was most impressed with Ed Dickson that day. I know, what a revelation, huh? The senior and potential All-American tight end stood out. With apologies for stating the obvious here, this guy needs the ball. It doesn’t have to be complicated, either. Put him in the game plan early and get him some easy catches. Get Jeremiah Masoli used to finding the guy again.

Get creative and artificially make the offensive line look better than it is
Let’s be real. The offensive line is the biggest problem. A year ago, Oregon had a veteran line that could dominate. Half of Masoli’s hair was grown in the time he had to sit back and make decisions. But that was last year and the young line just isn’t ready to dominate yet.

Still, there are ways. We saw it against Purdue. Masoli running the ball opens up holes for the running backs because the defense has to protect sideline to sideline. It spreads them out. I like having two tight ends at the same time with David Paulson and Dickson. The extra protection will help. It would be nice to try some deep balls every once in awhile, too (uh, I swear those last three sentences were completely clean when I wrote them). There is a world-class speedster in Jamere Holland on the outside (catching the ball is optional). He would help stretch the defense vertically which should keep defenses from stacking the box.

Have your receivers catch the ball
Remember how I said I went to that one practice and became an expert? Well, it’s true. I was a bit alarmed that day by the number of drops receivers had. I thought it was just the volume of drills or one bad day of catching the ball, but turns out, there really is a problem with the fundamental nature of receiving with this group of wideouts.

Please, please use LaMichael James more often
I do not care that he fumbles. Every time he gets the ball, something big could happen. Same with Kenjon Barner. I like the commitment of Andre Crenshaw to this program, but he should not be the leading ball carrier in any game. I will live with the fumbles and the other freshman mistakes. It’s just the reality of the running game now that, ahem, you-know-who will not be playing this season. Please, just give James the ball. I swear I will not lose my mind the next time he puts one on the turf. I think.

I dug deep for the most optimistic headline possible. That’s the best I could do. Congratulations Jackson Rice, you are good. Now, for the rest of the story.

Sports will humble you fast. It’s a constant roller coaster and there are moments like Boise State, 2009. You can doubt what you saw a year ago, but there is no getting around what happened tonight. Boise State dominated Oregon. The argument will be left on the table for a later date whether or not that makes the Broncos a BCS-worthy team. Tonight, duck fans, you’ve got to take it on the chin like a blow from LeGarrette Blount. The team from the WAC controlled the line of scrimmage limiting Oregon to 31 yards rushing while racking up 164 of their own.

That was quite possibly the worst-played game by an Oregon team that I can remember (for young’uns like me, it all started in 1994). I’m staring right now at these stats: 8 points, 152 total yards, 17:28 time of possession and six first downs. Only the 2007 UCLA game featured a more inept offense, but that made sense following the loss of Dennis Dixon.

The worst part of it is how woefully unprepared the team looked. You listen to Kelly and you are impressed with his organization, his expectations and his cry for accountability. And then you see the results of game one under his watch and you can’t marry the two together. It doesn’t make sense. The defense was lost as they were constantly out of position. So much was made of Boise’s shifting and motion and being accountable for that, so what happened from paper to reality?

As for the offense, on exactly one drive, they used all the offensive weapons they are purported to have. LaMichael James, Ed Dickson and Jamere Holland all made plays. The result? Touchdown. Otherwise, it was run left, run right, force a throw to Jeff Maehl, punt the ball. It was an endless night of bad play calls and poor execution.

And then there’s the biggest story that doesn’t involve an idiotic fit of rage: Jeremiah Masoli. I said it a month ago somewhat tongue-in-cheek that Jeremiah Masoli had gone from underdog to overrated. His three game run to end the season perhaps created more hype than was deserved. After one game in 2009, there may be a legitimate quarterback controversy. He couldn’t make the right decisions on the read-option, his throws were terrible and on one play that resulted in an interception, he was so frozen, you were sure he’d been struck by Mr. Freeze (lame Batman reference, just go with it). He’s not done yet, but you can’t say it’s unequivocally his job to keep.

I don’t regret hyping Chip Kelly. I get a good feel from the way he talks about running a program. I think he gets it, but it’s become clear there’s a lot more to it than just having a plan. At the end of the day, it’s just 0-1, but it might be so much more. Being a head coach just go real, Chip. What do you do?

Boise State has made the goal clear; it’s BCS or bust. And who can blame them? They have a marquee game at home on national TV to sell voters on the legitimacy of their BCS campaign. After Thursday, they get to disappear for the next 3 months and rack up wins against the likes of Louisiana Tech, Idaho and – yikes – UC Davis. There’s nary a top 25 team to be found for the rest of the year. They have a potential hazard in late November against Nevada if the Wolfpack hold up to expectations but we’re not exactly talking a make-or-break game against Cal or USC here.

What it all adds up to for Boise on Thursday is a mountain-sized load of pressure settling in Treasure Valley. The Broncos have just one early September night to complete an unplayed season and everyone knows it. After all, it’s the first ranked team to play a regular season game on “The Blue.” Ever. The hype is everywhere:

• Fans have been camping out for tickets.
• It seems like there is a daily police update on how to enjoy football and avoid injuring others at the same time.
• The local media has been covering it like The Beatles just discovered the U.S.
• Lawsuits have been filed against companies daring to sell unlicensed T-shirts.
• Reportedly, press will be filing in from ESPN, Sports Illustrated, the New York Times and other national media outlets.

So, yeah, they’re going a little nuts in the land famous for potatoes.

Add to the fact that the Broncos have Oregon’s full attention (to quote Ed Dickson from The Oregonian, “Ready’s not the word.”) and I’m guessing there’s a few knees shaking under cubicles in Idaho today.

While it’s not those knees that matter at kickoff, it’s impossible for the Boise players and coaches to not be feeling the immense pressure being put on them by its fans and media. Some teams implode when the light shines too bright. Others rise up to a level of greatness they may not have otherwise achieved. Which will it be for Boise? Pressure’s on.

I played nice for a day. I pondered the reasons Boise State might win this football game on Thursday. Turns out, I probably should risk everything and put all I have on an Oregon win. It’s a lock. Here’s why.

1. Revenge. I normally don’t get too hyped on the revenge angle. It has failed to matter so many times before, but this is different. From everything I’ve read this preseason (and it’s a lot), I get the sense Oregon has been locked in on Boise for a long time. They’ve been a little loose with the lips which, given Oregon’s usual reserved nature, tells me this really means something to them.
2. Jeremiah Masoli. As much as Kellen Moore can be a catalyst to a Boise win, his Oregon counterpart at QB will have a bigger impact. Given Masoli’s rather well-mentioned absence from quarters 2-4 last year, he has a chance to be the biggest difference in this year’s game for the Ducks. The fact that Oregon is guaranteed to complete at least one pass in quarters 2 and 3 should help.
3. The home factor for Boise isn’t that big of a deal. Oregon has played in bigger, more intimidating venues and done fine. Sure, the Ducks may not face a more rabid set of fans per person, but there’s only so much 30,000 people can do.  You can’t tell me Reser Stadium in all its processed foods glory isn’t a tougher venue with a Rose Bowl on the line.
4. Oregon’s Offense. This offense is really going to click this year. I know that’s saying a lot after the previous two record-setting seasons, but the talent across the board is amazing. They have a vertical passing threat in Jamere Holland and multiple playmakers that will line up all over the field whether it’s LeGarrette Blount, Ed Dickson, LaMichael James or even Kenjon Barner. I’m not in the camp that is concerned about Oregon’s offensive line. Steve Greatwood is a proven coach that will have his big uglies operating at a high level.
5. Defensively capable (I think, but I probably shouldn’t have said so…I’m sure to regret this). I’m not going to say Oregon has a defense you can count on to win a game. There’s just no proof of that. However, if practice means anything, it’s possible the Ducks are bringing a defense that can get after it. It’ll be interesting to see if Boise State can tax the Oregon defense as efficiently as they did last year despite major losses at wide receiver and running back. (EDIT: Giving this some more thought, I’m not sure I trust Oregon’s defense to handle all the misdirection and motion of the Boise offense. I’m certainly not expecting Oregon’s defense to be the cause of victory. More likely, it will do just enough to let the offense take control.)

I was just reading Ken Goe’s Pac-10 football links at OregonLive.com and he mentions that the Ducks have been a little free with their words during camp while Boise has kept a lid on it.

Jeremiah Masoli has said he was “embarrassed” by the loss to Boise a year ago and Ed Dickson was quoted stating the Broncos rub him the wrong way. (EDIT: Can’t believe I originally forgot to add LeGarrette Blount’s overlooked take in Sports Illustrated when he said of Boise, “We owe that team an ass-whuppin’.” Nothing subtle about that.).

Now you have a few Ducks mentioning they’re not too pleased about the handshake idea (which is contrived absurdity by the way). It all adds up to a bunch of feathered football players that seem eager for this game. None of the words have been inflammatory, but I think the underlying meaning has been much deeper. It’s almost like they know they shouldn’t incite the Broncos but they just can’t stop an occasional sentence from slipping past the filter. You can almost see them pushing the words through clamped teeth as they try holding back.

Last year clearly didn’t sit well. It’s not just the loss, it’s the late hits, most notably the one that knocked QB Jeremiah Masoli out of the game. It’s been funny watching Boise and Oregon fans go back and forth on this for a year. You expect that from fans, but I get the feeling if the Duck players weren’t toeing the line and maintaining some pregame tact, they might jump right into the back-and-forth vitriol between the two fanbases.

It’s a different side of Oregon not usually seen in the Mike Bellotti years. The cool veneer may be getting replaced with a more aggressive temperament.

Okay kids, play nice and shake hands.

The American Football Coaches Association and NCAA are out to make sure everyone gets along this year.

During the first week of the season, teams are being ever-so-kindly told they should have all players shake hands prior to the game. Nothing is mandatory and the orange slices and Capri Suns are certainly optional.

It’s all well and nice but I’m left anticipating the Boise St.-Oregon meet and greet. Will Jeremiah Masoli and graduated senior Ellis Powers fondly reminisce over the UO quarterback’s concussion from a year ago? Do you think BSU cornerback Kyle Wilson and UO tight end Ed Dickson will compare notes about how to talk better trash? Perhaps Oregon fans and Bronco enthusiasts will create one big hands-across-Boise moment.

Yeah, I like where this is heading. Let’s all just shake hands and get along.