You all ready for this?

So what's going to happen New Years Day at 2pm Pacific on ESPN? Will the Ducks be ready? I've read a few articles that make me feel good about their chances.

We all know about Ifo Ekpre Olomu. (Editor's note: I have NEVER been able to type his name without looking it up first.) He screwed up his knee in practice a few weeks ago and will not be playing. He was easily Oregon's best pass defender. The thought of replacing him is scary.

But replace him they must. Now here's the bright side. Ifo didn't get good by his senior season. He was good from the first time he took the field when he was a freshman. The player to step into the rotation to replace him, Chris Seisay, is already impactful as a redshirt freshman. He says he's excited, motivated, and ready to show what he can do. Never underestimate the freshman.

Kenny Wheaton? The Pick? Freshman.

According to his bio, Seisay is a little taller than Ifo. He's already been playing; recording tackles, pass break ups, forced fumbles. Although he was a three star recruit to Ifo's four, he still received tons of player-of-the year accolades from his high school and town. He's got great hands -- he played both sides of the ball as cornerback and receiver; he was even punter with a 41-yard average! He's an athlete. 


That's Seisay mixing it up at UCLA.

Seisay is every bit the next man up. But he won't be manning the secondary alone. Here is an overall view of Oregon's backfield post-Ifo.

LOVE TO HANG AROUND, FSU; BUT GOTTA RUN.
The winner of this game will have the better rushing stats. Simple fact: The first time Oregon played Arizona and lost? Didn't run well. The next time they scored 51 points, ran much better. (Look up the stats yourself if you don't believe me. I don't feel like digging them out.) 

 Here is an excellent article about how Oregon's philosophy on the run is successful and won't change for the playoffs. 

An excerpt from that article:
"When we run the ball well, we are hard to stop,'' offensive coordinator Scott Frost said. "One of the things Chip (Kelly) and Mark brought to this offense is balance. We want to make teams defend everything. We try to stay as close to 50-50 (run/pass) as we can while making teams defend sideline to sideline. For a defense, that's hard to do.''

The word is, as good as FSU's defensive players appear to be on paper, they are a little soft on the run, even straight up the middle. Oregon needs to test that.

It looks like Thomas Tyner will be in to help. He's had time to heal his shoulder and ankle and has been practicing. Starting center Hronis Grasu has been practicing too, after sitting out the last two games with a knee injury.

RECEIVERS
Oregon's receiving corps will be near full strength. Along with the great squadron of Charles Nelson, Darren Carrington, Devon Allen, Bryon Marshall, and tight ends Evan Baylis and Johnny "The Mundster" Mundt -- who are filling the shoes of the injured Pharoah Brown, Oregon is getting back veteran Keanon Lowe and 6'7" Dwayne Stanford from injuries.

All of these guys are playmakers. They are catching passes from Mr. Heisman, and they have the smartest group of fundamental X and O coaches anyone could ask for.

Here's an article that got me hard just reading it.

OK I've reached that moment before a game. I'm done talking about it. I'm done reading about it. It' GO time. Let's get it on.

So what's going to happen? How do I think the Ducks will do? I'm not a score prediction or points spread guy. I prefer imagery. Let me just show you in a picture.
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Ducks are gonna rip off their arms, and then their legs;
then beat them over the head with their own arms and legs!

--KB