Readers: “Yep, Nick, psychiatry is your only hope. ”

Time for linkage…

• Heisman Pundit does a pretty good job of describing the rise of Oregon. It will be interesting to look back 20 years from now and see where the football program fits historically.
• If the blog had a link of the month club like Oprah does with books, this link would be required reading (and get you 30% off at Border’s). Spencer Hall of SBNation and EDSBS did everyone a favor with some mythbusting on the Oregon offense. The next time someone says “gimmick,” just forward this link. There’s also a little more on the topic here and a comment from an Addicted to Quack contributor makes a good point about practice.
• I’m a couple days late to this link, but Dr. Saturday put Oregon up against other recent offensive juggernauts and they dominate the statistics. Granted, its a comparison to teams with completed seasons so we’ll have to revisit this at the end of the year.
• I don’t mind people thinking Oregon is beatable. It’s patently false, but you’re entitled to your opinion. For the love of God, though, leave last year out of it! Similar players, very different results. Ok, to be fair, that’s not really the point of the article. Moreso, it’s about the fact that a moral victory is a worthy goal for Washington. And that’s what the rivalry has become. Ugh.
• But you sure gotta’ admire the spunk coming out of Seattle, right? Knowing full well the massacre that awaits them, someone is still lighting the Morrison Bridge in purple and gold. The Willamette Light Brigade is calling it Husky Heritage Week and defines the lights as lovely, which I’m sure they are.
• Now I just feel bad. Ken Goe’s headline yesterday references the color purple making your blood boil. I wrote something similar later in the day. It weren’t a rip-off cross my heart hope to die.
• Even though Chip Kelly hasn’t committed to playing Kenyon Kenjon Barner this week (spell much?), you gotta’ think it’ll happen. LaMichael James could use a few less carries because he’s all out of power-up mushrooms.
• Just in case you wanted to know how the whole Jeremiah Masoli and Ole’ Miss thing is going, well, go here.
• Oh, what is he doing with this temptation of fate? UOSportsDude, I sentence you to dig up archived footage of years 1965-1988. And then, for good measure, study 1998 and 2007.

Matt Barkley as, duh, Brock Lesnar

I know, I know, it's low-hanging fruit, but it gets us started.

Pat Forde as a Boise State Bus Driver

I'd like to think if Pat Forde really were a bus driver, he'd have a sweet arm tattoo.

Cameron Newton as Jeremiah Masoli, Masoli as Newton

In a Halloween primetime special called Figure it Out!, ABC asks Masoli and Newton to dress up as each other, gives them one laptop, an open window and a backpack and says Figure it Out!.

Figure it Out!

Lou Holtz as 1988 Lou Holtz

Lou thinks if he goes as his 1988 self, people will find him less crazy when he says something like, “Notre Dame can beat Navy.”

Is this a picture of Lou in 1988? I don't know. Probably.

Mike Singletary and Alex Smith as Jim Harbaugh and Andrew Luck

At the request of 49ers fans, coach and quarterback will dress up on Sunday as the more popular Bay Area duo. It’s questionable that people in London will understand.

A 2011 sneak peak.

Les Miles as Mad Hatter

I know it's an easy choice, but some respect for the Photoshop effort, please.

Boise State as…Themselves?

The Broncos are just going to go as themselves. If Halloween likes it, so be it. If not, well, to hell with the holiday.

The number 3 is brought to you by...GLASS CEILINGS AND THE BCS

Tennessee coach Derek Dooley as Erwin Rommel teaching his first love: SHOWER DISCIPLINE!

I'll just say, searching for PG-rated shower pictures is always best done with Google safe search ON

You don't even know what you're missing.

Did you get your blog-sponsored 3-D glasses in the mail? No? Too bad, because these links are in 3-D and are totally awesome!

• Leading off with a nifty stat today. Since 2005, Oregon is tied with the Beavers for most wins (9) nationally against teams with a higher ranking. The Ducks also have the third highest winning percentage (60%) in such games.
• Don’t tell Chip, but he’s got a few guys listed on SI’s midseason All-America teams.
• Why the UCLA Bruins Will Humiliate the Oregon Ducks in 3-D could also be titled 17 Reasons Why That’s Not Enough Reasons to Avoid Anything on the Bleacher Report.
• “I went ‘Wooo!’ and I said ‘Hey honey, we’re No. 1!’ and she went ‘Wooo!’…” That quote from Mark Asper comes at the end of an article talking about Oregon’s rise to prominence. By the way, Asper is an underrated quote machine.
• You wouldn’t have predicted it before the season, but five-star recruit Lache Seastrunk continues to work on the scout team while unheralded Josh Huff is making big plays as a slot receiver. Seastrunk’s time will come, perhaps as early as 2011 if LaMichael James chooses to enter the NFL Draft.
• George Schroeder wrote about the beauty contest Oregon is now in. Sadly, he’s right, but I still think an undefeated Oregon has little to worry about. Only Oklahoma and Auburn/LSU are serious competition in my eyes.
• “Anyone is beatable,” says UCLA’s Rahim Moore. While he’s right, there are percentages involved. In this case, the Bruins chances are somewhere in the neighborhood of 2010 Tiger Woods.
• Gotta’ hand it to Lane Kiffin. His decision to practice early and do so at a high tempo is a smart preparation tactic for Oregon. Will it make a difference? Hard to imagine two weeks is enough, but still a good coaching move.
• The LA Daily News profiles Oregon’s recruiting in southern California, particularly the San Fernando Valley, which has been good for the Ducks.
• In case you wanted a Jeremiah Masoli update, here you go. His numbers are similar to what he did at Oregon but the 3-3 record isn’t looking so good. Personally, I hope he does well and finishes strong.

OTP also raided ESPN’s sponsors to make sure each midseason award has a nice corporate shine to it.

He’s the guru. Now on to the 2010 Coaches’ Awards.

The Rick Neuheisel award for “Tell Your Men They Work For Me Now. This is My City.”

And the winner is: No, not The Joker. New Pac-10 Commissioner Larry Scott. Like a man possessed, he is quickly remaking the Pac-10 into the brand he foresees.

The Dennis Erickson award for “Most Jokes About Me are Played Out Because I’m So Old Now. What Else Can You Really Say?”

And the winner is: Erickson’s entire Arizona State Sun Devils team. We’ve been saying the same thing about these guys for a long time now. Sleeping giant. Perfect weather, party school, what more can a kid with talent want in a college? It’s just a matter of time and ASU will dominate. And so it goes. 9th place ASU. That’s where you’re headed this year. Again.

The Steve Sarkisian award for “No Matter What, I’ll Always Look Good Because I’m Not Lane Kiffin”

And the winner is: Cal’s 2011 quarterback. Joe Ayoob to Nate Longshore to Kevin Riley? What happened to Tedford’s magical touch?

The Chip Kelly award for “Is There Anyone On This Team That didn’t Get In Trouble This Year? Seriously, One Guy is All I Need.”

And the winner is: Brandon Bair, Oregon defensive tackle. Nice move by the Ducks sending a Mormon to Pac-10 media day. Can’t go wrong there.

The Jim Harbaugh award for “What’s Your Deal?“

And the winner is: Coaches’ poll voters. Ok, we get that USC is ineligible, but still, just two teams in the top 25? Here’s hoping the AP can do a little better.

The Mike Stoops award for “Is it Me or Am I Less Crazy Than I Used to Be? It’s Just Me, Isn’t It?”

And the winner is: Vontaze Burfict, ASU linebacker. He plays crazy. He acts crazy. And he won’t think twice about destroying you.

The Lane Kiffin award for “If I Fail at Just One More Job, I May Get Promoted to President of The Whole Damn World”

And the winner is: Jake Locker, UW quarterback. Results and stats matter little to NFL teams that just can’t wait to reach high and overpay a quarterback that has accomplished….what?

The Pete Carroll award for “No, We Did Nothing Wrong. Everything Was by The Book. We Were Just the Victims of Circumstance. Now, Excuse Me, I Have a Practice to Attend to With My New Team”

And the winner is: Jeremiah Masoli, former UO quarterback. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Three times.

OTP Infractions Committee

Whoa, timeout people. The OTP Infractions Committee has just discovered a major USC violation. Use of an ineligible coach for an award! All past awards are to be vacated and they’re now banned from receiving any awards for two years (pending appeal, of course). Now let’s get back to it with the teams that don’t cheat.

The Mike Riley award for “2+2=4, The Sky is Blue, Water is Wet and September Will Be a Bad Month”

And the winner is: UCLA, a team that could get demoralized in September with away games at Kansas State and Texas sandwiching two home games against Stanford and Houston.

The Paul Wulff award for “Can I Please Leave? It’s Not Me, It’s the Job”

And the winner is: USC players Jordan Campbell, Malik Jackson, Byron Moore, DJ Shoemate, Seantrel Henderson, Jarvis Jones, and Travon Patterson. All have left USC. Other than Henderson, no one will be greatly missed.

The Jeff Tedford award for “Andy Ludwig is My Offensive Coordinator. This is Not a Good Thing”

And the winner is: In a retroactively awarded landslide, former Oregon coach Mike Bellotti and Utah coach Kyle Wittingham take home the hardware.

Jeremiah Masoli suspended for 2010 season. LaMichael James gets one game suspension.

It’s interesting that on Thursday John Canzano perfectly called the case results. Also interesting that he was so kind in his assessment of the punishments. Perhaps Chip and John made a deal…the scoop for leniency.

And while we’re throwing out theories, who’s excited for Jeremiah Masoli’s return to Autzen Stadium September 18 as the fearless leader of the Portland State Vikings? Anyone? Nah, probably won’t happen. Right?

Anyway, enough about quarterbacks that don’t play for Oregon. Let’s talk future!

Darron Thomas is now QB1.  The Texan has an impressive high school resume and has performed well in limited opportunities through his first two seasons on campus. After redshirting in 2009, he will be a sophomore in 2010 and in position to lock down the quarterback role for the future.

Obviously,  the company line is going to be that the job is wide open with Nate Costa in strong contention but anyone who’s being honest about the situation knows this is Thomas’ job to lose.

More on Thomas:

From ESPN.com Recruiting Profile:

“Thomas is a fantastic dual-threat quarterback who is perfect for the spread offense. He has nice size and a wiry frame to add bulk. He’s a sleek athlete who could easily play another position and could develop into a special wide out. He is an excellent athlete for the position. He can make plays on the move rolling right or left. He shows solid quickness getting to the throwing point and has a very good feel for front and backside pressure. He can make plays outside the pocket with his feet or with his arm. He is a “street-ball” type of quarterback –can make plays when everything around him breaks down and it looks like there is nothing there. He is a solid open-field runner — can make people miss.However, he will surprise you with his willingness to hang in the pocket prior to escaping. Shows decent patience and displays quality accuracy on a consistent basis.

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncf/recruiting/tracker/player?recruitId=49862

From Scout.com

“‘I’m a good athlete. At quarterback I can drop back and throw with a lot of power and accuracy. I can run the ball too and take it the distance. I’m a real dual-threat, but I’d like to improve the basics…my fundamentals and reading coverages.’”

Scout lists his 40 yard dash at 4.50 seconds which is some blazing speed at just about any position.

http://oregon.scout.com/a.z?s=128&p=8&c=1&nid=2956047

From GoDucks.com Player Bio

Thomas is listed at 6′-3″, 205 lbs. If you look at his high school listings, that would suggest he’s added somewhere between 10 and 20 lbs. in two years at Oregon suggesting he’s more physically ready for the role he’s about to take on.

The site also note that Thomas ran for 900 yards as a senior  and threw for 2,576.

http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1550474

From Rivals.com

Darron Thomas was ranked as the country’s sixth best dual-threat quarterback.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/oregon/football/recruiting/rankings/rank-1819

Right? Who’s with me? Still need some convincing? Just check out these side by side comparisons based on actual facts. Click on the projected stats link for Seastrunk. It’s mind-boggling how good he is going to be (and one has to wonder how long before ESPN sends a team of lawyers to my door step).

I think we can all agree that Oregon is in fine shape for the 2010 season and, in fact, may have just improved their standing with the criminal charges being brought against these supposed “superstars.”

There is no denying each team flashes greatness on those two sides of the ball. But what about the other story, the one you could supposedly call “completely resistible force meets entirely movable object?”

The Buckeyes offense doesn’t garner headlines nor does the Ducks defense. But does that really mean each unit is as flawed as perception allows?

Today, we’ll look at the Ohio State offense and see where the danger lurks. Tomorrow, we’ll probe the Oregon defense and find out what the opposition should fear.

Part I: Is it better than you think? The Ohio State Offense

The book on Ohio State’s offense says conservative, plodding and unimaginative. And if that’s not the book, it’s at least perception. Coach Jim Tressel was roundly criticized for shutting down his offense in the waning moments of regulation against Iowa when there was more than enough time to drive for a winning field goal. It would have made Chip Kelly gag.

But it proved to be a winning formula on that Saturday and guaranteed Ohio State’s Rose Bowl berth.

To gain some perspective on Ohio State’s offensive prowess, let’s look at the numbers in the chart displayed to the right.

The only thing that positively sticks out is Ohio State’s ability to run the football. This certainly fits the image of a conservative, plodding and unimaginative team, right?

The other thing that sticks out is decidedly negative. The passing offense is statistically bad. In fact, it’s among the worst in the nation. But then again, so is flashy, dynamic Oregon who ranks only slightly better in both yards per game and pass efficiency.

So flashy, dynamic Oregon is similar in style to plodding, conservative Ohio State? Well, not exactly. The Buckeyes score 8.4 fewer points per game and the curve of the season has shown Jeremiah Masoli’s numbers to dramatically improve while Terrelle Pryor has thrown fewer passes in the last three games than all but two others from the first nine contests.

But following that same curve, the Buckeyes have become far better at running the ball and, as such, have relied heavily on that part of the game. Since back-to-back midseason games in which it failed to reach 100 yards, Ohio State has rushed for at least 228 yards in the final five games.  They have dominated time of possession and were seriously threatened only once. The fewest rushing attempts in any of those games was 49.

And this five game stretch was not against the weaker part of the conference. The Buckeyes played both Penn State and Iowa during this run and finished against rival Michigan which regardless of current standings still means something.

Ohio State, over the last five weeks, has committed more to the run and less to the pass

It would be surprising to see Ohio State have much success through the air given Pryor’s lack of numbers on the season and the team’s overall lack of confidence in that part of the game. But one could easily imagine an undersized Oregon Duck defensive line getting pushed around allowing the Buckeyes to control the clock as they have done over their last five games.

UO’s defensive line features only two players on the two-deep heavier than 270 pounds. Every Buckeye starter on the offensive line is at least 296 pounds. Tressel is surely looking at those numbers and seeing a possible opportunity that he can exploit.

If he finds success and OSU is able to get to 50 carries, which has worked so well lately, the Ducks could find the Buckeye offense to be more formidable than previously thought.

Wow.

The game wasn’t always always clean, but it was one for the ages.

Ducks and Beavers traded blows for 60 minutes and as has been the case all season, Oregon wore its opponent down in the second half and asserted itself when the game entered the decisive stages.

Until then, it looked like the Beavers might take control and use a script laid out by the Ducks in 2008 to ruin the home team’s Rose Bowl dreams. But would you believe that when things were at their worst, Chip Kelly would turn to LeGarrette Blount for the first time since the season opener?

Putting Blount in the game while facing a nine point deficit seemed crazy. Turns out, it was brilliant as the big back came up with a huge touchdown to draw Oregon within two at 30-28.

From there, LaMichael James became dominant, turning in a 52 yard lead-taking touchdown run on the next offensive series. The defense began to shine after giving up scores on five consecutive drives between the second and third quarters.

When the game was on the line in the final six minutes, it was fitting to see Jeramiah Masoli, James and Blount all turning in huge plays to ultimately ensure the Beavers would never get another chance.

Oregon State played a great game. Sean Canfield looks like a bonafide pro. The Rodgers brothers are ridiculously talented. And they all deserve a much better bowl than what might be available after Saturday’s games. The Holiday had better think long and hard about the Beavers who would travel well and be an ideal representative for the Pac-10 in the league’s second best bowl.

But I’m sure opponent respect isn’t what the Beavers were after. Clearly, they wanted the spoils of the victor, but Thursday, those were reserved for Oregon.

As the final seconds ticked down and melted into a post game celebration where fans could not and would not leave, the scene at Autzen Stadium seemed surreal even through ESPN’s cameras a state away.

I sat and watched. And smiled. And kept smiling. And then I saw that first red rose, and Oh My God! The Ducks are in the Rose Bowl! That really just happened. How sweet it is.

FOTB Prediction: Green helmet, black jersey, green pants, black shoes. But rumors have Oregon in something a little more “retro meets modern,” so we’ll see. You can simulate this combination here.

It’s Thursday, December 3, 2009 and you know what that means.

This is no time to be timid. Oregon State is thine enemy and no mercy can be shown. Roses are on the line, winner take all and while flowers might seem like a silly thing to play for, to a collegiate man, there’s nothing more valuable.

But don’t mistake the Rose Bowl as the only thing on the line tonight. It’s not all these guys are playing for. Mike Bellotti would tell you it’s for the right to live in the state (well, if you actually live there). Co-workers, family and friends are just a tad more bearable when you have the W on your side.

I come into this game more nervous than a year ago. Perhaps it’s because Oregon’s stakes are higher, but I think it has more to do with knowing the Ducks aren’t dropping 65 on the Beavers two years in a row. By default, this game has to be more competitive.

FOTB Pick

But also, the Beavers have their full arsenal on offense with Jacquizz Rodgers healthy this year. Say what you will about the debate between him and LaMichael James running the football, but Rodgers is also the Pac-10′s second leading receiver. He’s dynamic and it’s something OSU didn’t have a year ago.

Still, Autzen Stadium is the security blanket. The defense is far better in front of the home fans and the offense’s worst output in Pac-10 play was 42 points against Cal. The Ducks have been more dominant at home this season than any in recent memory.

At some point, with the raucous energy of the crowd behind them, Oregon is going to have that opportunity to deliver a couple of haymakers. Chip Kelly will put the pedal to the metal and the Beavers won’t know what hit them. I can see this game turning over a 5-10 minute span of defensive and offensive playmaking that demoralizes the orange and black.

But enough already. It’s all words and there’s really nothing left to discuss. It’s been two weeks of rehashed stereotypes and storylines.

The only thing left unsaid is 60 minutes of football. We’re just hours away. Your travel agent is standing by.