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| Told ya these T-shirts were a stupid idea. |
Some of you may already have your answer. I'll give mine in a moment.
There were many factors in this game. Stanford controlled most of them. Their offensive line could be the best in the nation. Their coaching is great. They were very VERY prepared for this game.
Their defense is good, but I won't say great because a key element of Oregon's attack was clearly missing. Marcus Mariota was sacked three times, and ran three times for only eight yards.
Was your house filled with the desperate screams of "RUN MARCUS RUN" when you saw a path open ahead of him? Were you pulling your hair out as he wouldn't take advantage of a hole in the line three times the size on anything he gained 50 yards through in the past?
Mariota didn't run, because Mariota couldn't run.
It all became clear when he fumbled during a sack and we saw him crumple to the ground. Super Mario was playing hurt. John Canzano's story talks about Mariota's pain inside and out.
"It is what it is," Mariota said after the game when asked about his knee.
Coach Helfrich was all class when he took the postgame mike and said that this loss was all on him. He took the blame and would not hear of any finger pointing at Mariota or anyone else.
I'm wondering whether Helfrich was just saying that to take the heat, or was he referring to something more specific? Mariota first wore his knee brace in the second half of the UCLA game. So they had a whole week to deal with his injury.
Woulda, Shoulda, Coulda:
Should Helfrich have declared Jeff Lockie or Jake Rodriguez the starter right away? Would either of them have netted better results with their running abilities even though Mariota is the more experienced passer? Could either of them have made a difference against a great Stanford team?
Perhaps, but we'll never know. And that brings me to the question of Alabama or any other National Champion foe. Could Oregon beat the other Natty contenders? Not with a hobbled QB they can't. Helfrich proved the hard way that a healthy and effective three-way dangerous QB is crucial for Oregon's system to work. With a more mobile Mariota, the Ducks beat Stanford, I truly believe that.
I still believe in the way the Ducks play. I think it is the future of football. I was looking forward to new math vs. old school had Oregon lined up against the Tide. I believe the Ducks can beat anyone when all their key players are healthy.
But if Oregon is a team from planet Krypton, an injury to the starting QB is it's Kryptonite (Remember Dennis Dixon crumpling to the carpet at Arizona?) If faced with a stout blitzing defense, Mariota could peel off 70, 80 or 100 yards on the day. That output, -- or even the threat of it -- is fully needed against a Stanford, or an Ohio State, or an Alabama.
Forget those guys. For the present, it will be needed against UTAH. If Oregon's QB, whoever he may be, cannot run, Utah could beat Oregon next week. Arizona could beat Oregon the following week. Oregon State could very much beat Oregon in the Civil War.
Monday's practice will tell us an interesting tale. Will Mariota be able to run? How many reps will he get with the ones compared to the backup QB's? I trust Helfrich is smart enough to know that health is more important than Heisman hype.
WANTED IT MORE? WHY DON'T YOU SHUT UP MORE.
Who were those clowns announcing the game? And who was that particularly ignorant clown who kept saying, "You see? Stanford just wants it more.", every time Stanford got the better of a play?
I don't know who it was and frankly don't care. But obviously it was someone who has never been around the Oregon locker room, someone who has never talked to the players or coaches.
What was he thinking, that the Ducks took a team vote moments before taking to the field at The Farm, "Hey guys, do we really want this?"
"Naaaaa, let's just go out there and tank it."
Say what you want about style, talent, game prep, injuries, etc. But don't watch the game and then -- like a casual beer chuggin', pork rind stuffin' Jabba-the-Hut in a Lazy Boy -- say, "Oh I guess they just don't want it."
SHUT THAT STUPID CRAP UP.
I mean how stupid is that, REALLY?
"And the Huskies go back to pass, and it is INTERCEPTED, INTERCEPTED. KENNY WHEATON. HE WANTED IT MORE . . . "
What?!?! SHUT UP!!!
"Swing and a high fly out to center. Willie Mays goes back to the warning track and it's going, going, OH WHAT A GREAT CATCH! Willie Mays clearly wanted it more!!!!
That doesn't even make any sense . . . . SHUT UP!!!!
"Swing and a high fly, and over the wall it goes just over Mays outstretched hand. Mays apparently didn't want that one as much as the batter, so . . . ."
SHUT UP!!!!
"Flash from Dallas. Shots rang out at the presidential motorcade. President Kennedy has been shot. Lee Harvey Oswald obviously wanted it more."
SHUT UP!!!
"The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor because they wanted it more."
SHUT UP!!!
IT'S NOT OVER YET.
There is still a lot of football left. Stanford has to travel to a resurgent USC next week. Could that be their trap game? Upsets can happen anywhere at anytime. Let's just hope Oregon got their's out of its system for the rest of the season.
At halftime, I threw this video up on Facebook. I'd like to show it again. We Duck fans are NOT going to be like SEC teams or the Huskies of the 90's who threw up their hands after the first loss and said, "That's it. The season is over" Don't let that be the Oregon way. We who have endured so many ugly games and seasons are going to appreciate each win with the team, suffer each loss with the team, and enjoy the drama that either brings to the season. It'll be exciting.
In the meantme, stay loose. Stay positive. Keep believin'. Don't worry 'bout a thing.
And as for those three little birds . . . Exactly what kind of birds are they?
Hmmmmmm?
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