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.

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?

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.)