1. Chip’s message gets through so well, even I stay composed. In the past, Oregon’s start to the 2nd half would have ended with me in a court-appointed anger management class. Instead, I just smiled, kicked back and waited for the inevitable. The point I’m trying to make isn’t about me, but that there’s literally nothing to worry about with this team. Give ‘em four quarters and eventually, it’s game over.

2. Missing: large male of African American descent. Approximately 18-22 years old. Last seen wandering streets near USC campus in a deranged state. Appeared exhausted. Was overheard muttering “Only two players, only two players, only two players, only two players, only two players.” Call 1 (800) WEARESC if you see him. Do not approach. He does not respect you.

3. Question: If LaMichael James goes for 236 yards against a top 40 rush defense, what does that mean going forward against a sub-100 unit? Answer: They’re probably going to have to put it down. Sad, but this day comes for every Dawg eventually.

Oh, and Heisman voters, please save room on your ballot that’s NOT DUE UNTIL AFTER ALL GAMES ARE PLAYED. Here me Bo Jackson?

4. Oregon won’t face a more spirited effort the rest of the season. USC sold out to win this game. Players called it their Super Bowl and desperately wanted to defend what was left of the Trojans alpha dog status. If there was a game Oregon could lose on the sheer desire and motivation of its opponent, this was it.

That’s not to denigrate the effort of any future opponent but just to say beating Oregon meant A TON to USC.

5. Does the trash-talking team ever win? I would like to present no evidence whatsoever but make the claim the more you talk before a game, the less likely you are to win. It’s not because it provides extra motivation, but because the better team tends to keep its mouth shut. Oregon has been on the other side of this so I’m not coming down on USC here.

6. Save some space for Talmadge Jackson III praise. Jackson seemed to have a great game. It’s easy to miss some things watching on TV, but my general impression was positive. Like you, I’ve made a joke or two about Jackson’s coverage before and I think it’s only fair to point out when he does well. Chip Kelly seems to confirm this having said it was Jackson’s best game of the year.

7. Teams are going to have to stop keying on James. Darron Thomas is lighting up defenses. In a conference with Andrew Luck, Matt Barkley, Jake Locker and Nick Foles, Thomas currently is the second highest-rated QB. So what’s the result when teams devote more resources to stopping the pass? No idea. What could possibly happen? Are there actually more points and yards available in the course of a game?

Week 3 Predictions

PreNicktion: Oregon 73, Portland State 0. And that may actually be realistic.

FOTB Prediction: Black helmet, yellow jersey, black pants, black socks,black with yellow shoes.

Like a worker punching the clock at 9 and 5 every day, sometimes I do a post simply because I have to.

And so it is that I present the Oregon vs. Portland State preview and prediction post.

I’m bored already… and getting more arrogant by the word. Sorry PSU, it’s not you, it’s us. We’re just really good (we?).

The blog isn’t going to try and fool you. It did no research on the Vikings. Didn’t read a word about their team. Never even tried to find a fan site.

But that doesn’t mean I’m not businesslike about this game. And I hope the team is, too. In case no one is taking this game seriously, I sent a few mandates to Leo Harris Parkway.

Offense
1. Score 73 points. No safeties, field goals, extra points or two point conversions. How you do that, I don’t know, but Chip will figure it out.

2. LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner play for the right to first string duties. Whoever gets to six touchdowns first wins. Loser has to spend a week not winning a national award.

3. Three quarterbacks (Darron Thomas, Nate Costa and Daryle Hawkins) are required to score points. All must do it differently than the other. If one of them has to kick at some point, so be it. Taking a safety doesn’t count. That’s just silly.

WOTB says: Flight of the bumblebees

Defense (Note: A shutout is assumed)
1. Cliff Harris must score a touchdown on a fumble recovery or interception. The return must receive a score of at least 5.87 or higher by a panel of Olympic gymnastics judges.

2. For every down Brandon Bair plays, he must stand still, raise his hands and motion them in windmill-like fashion. This will create a putt-putt golf-like effect for the quarterback who must perfectly time the throw when Bair’s hands are down.

3. Talmadge Jackson III must turn his head and defend a pass. I’m just sayin’… it’d be nice.

Special Teams
1. Jackson Rice may punt once, but that’s it. It has to be on first down of the opening drive. Ya’ know, just to mess with them.

2. Return no kicks for touchdowns. In fact, score 0 points. That would be a far harder accomplishment.

1. There’s a reason LaMichael James is running back 1A. I’m not even going to back that up. James already did the talking. And that’s no offense to 1B, Kenjon Barner, who had his own electric moment.

2. Speaking of Barner, this team will probably set an Oregon record for special teams touchdowns. Maybe this isn’t a “fact” from the game, but Barner’s return gives Oregon three touchdowns on returns in two games. Every return seems to be a candidate for a big play and whatever the record is, it has to be within reach.

3. Oregon beat Tennessee pretty much the way I expected. Home team comes out with an electric crowd, adrenaline rushing and puts everything they have on the table early in the game. As the game wears on, the more talented and experienced team flexes its muscle and outclasses the upstart. At halftime, I tweeted about this mentioning Oregon vs. USC in 2005. It was a game Oregon led 13-10 at the break and ended up losing 45-13. Sound familiar?

4. Darron Thomas is cool as the other side of the… how does that go? Pillow? Oh, yeah. Thanks Stu Scott. My biggest worry for this season is road games and a young QB. Getting down early to Tennessee on the road is as good of a challenge as Thomas could face early on and he responded well. Sure, he looks a little slow on making reads in the running game and is showing a tendency to overthrow receivers, but that’s all fixable. The poise he showed is what really matters and all of a sudden, @USC, @Cal and @OSU doesn’t seem so daunting.

5. Really liked the adjustment Oregon made on offense to start the second half. They basically abandoned the read option and said LaMichael James is getting the ball no matter what. Tennessee was keying on James in the first half and forcing Thomas to run. Great strategy. The Ducks countered nicely by lining up and running right at them with direct handoffs to James. The first drive ended in a punt, but as James showed on the 72 yard run, getting the ball in his hands is sometimes all you need to do.

6. Cliff Harris needs to start. Chip Kelly say Harris isn’t in the dog house. Even calls him “his boy.” But something ain’t right if Harris is listed third on the depth chart. Maybe he doesn’t give it 100% in practice. Maybe he freelances outside the system too much. I don’t know what it is, but I do know he is a playmaker. His interception for a touchdown wasn’t even his best play. Later, he had an impressive breakup on a ball thrown his way that had an NFL-caliber look to it. Contrast that with entrenched starter Talmadge Jackson III who has a hell of a time making plays when the ball arrives.

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.