perspective (ESPN)

Moderators: greenyellow, Autzenoise, UOducksTK1

Post Reply
User avatar
QuackininBama
All Pac-12
Posts: 5153
Joined: Sat Sep 10, 2011 8:55 am

perspective (ESPN)

Post by QuackininBama »

Didn't see this anywhere yet so I'll throw it in:
Braden writes: Given Oregon's struggles this year, it's got me wondering, are we beginning to see the results of Mark Helfrich-era recruiting? Or are we just seeing bad scheming by the coaches? Or something else completely? It's baffling to me to think that a QB hasn't been groomed knowing that someday Mariota would be gone. It's obvious the VA/Lockie experiment isn't producing the fruits we've become used to seeing. Who's next?

Ted Miller: Who's next?

I see a lake of burning sulfur and demons rising from its depths as the great seal is broken. I see four horsemen -- a Husky, a Trojan, a Ute and a Beaver. I see death awaits you all with nasty, big, pointy teeth. I see a horrific massacre of Ducks. I see Duck confit, roast duck. I see Peking duck and duck a l'orange. I see a grinding of duck bills and much gnashing of teeth. Oh, the horror.

But lo, there is a light! There's a very distinguished looking man... he looks familiar. He is beloved by all! He turns his head -- not unlike dramatic chipmunk! -- and says, "Thou shall chill out. Please."

Oregon is 2-2 having lost to a pair of very good, unbeaten teams. The Ducks are out of the national polls in September/October when national polls are OH SO DARN IMPORTANT, WHICH IS WHY THIS IS IN ALL CAPS! They got their rear ends pummeled by Utah, worst home defeat since falling 54-0 to Washington in 1977.

Cry me a river. (I suspect that a significant percentage of young Oregon fans who read the above paragraph and went, "Wait. We've lost to Washington before? That's weird.")

Let's start with this: Did Oregon fans believe that their Ducks would win at least 10 games every season in perpetuity? Would it really be a disaster if Oregon finished 8-4 this year? Would it spell the end of an era? And/or should that put Mark Helfrich on the hot seat?

Braden, you are "baffled" that a QB hasn't been groomed to replace Mariota, a QB, by the way, who attended Oregon only because he was discovered by Helfrich. Go ask an Alabama or Texas fan about QB bafflement. You should be more baffled that the Ducks have been so consistently good at the position this century.

Know what I think? I think Oregon, at the very least, would be 3-1 and highly ranked if Vernon Adams didn't break his finger. And I also think that overreacting to a grain of sand finding its way into one of college football's well-oiled machines -- while entirely predictable based on the irrational greed of an entitled fan base -- is, well, sort of funny.
It's probably unrealistic to expect Mark Helfrich and Oregon to win more than 10 games and be ranked in the top 10 every year. Mark J. Terrill/AP Photo

Last year, Helfrich and his staff turned in one of the great coaching jobs you will witness. Yes, it helped to have an all-time great behind center, but the Ducks -- a nontraditional power playing in a a 54,000-seat stadium -- played for a national title in the inaugural College Football Playoff despite near-catastrophic injuries throughout the season.

Oregon is 0-1 in conference play. This is not yet a Duck-ocalypse.

Oregon fans, be grateful, be hopeful. And stop whining.
pdxmallard
Two Star Recruit
Posts: 105
Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2009 2:26 pm

Re: perspective (ESPN)

Post by pdxmallard »

Yes! Thanks for posting! I get the feeling many of us Duck fans haven't been following college football for very long.
gofightingducks
All Pac-12
Posts: 5542
Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 11:08 pm
Location: Portland, OR

Re: perspective (ESPN)

Post by gofightingducks »

I think many of us, myself included, and this includes die hard old school fans not just new or band wagoners were so shocked at what was witnessed and could not believe it, we overreacted. I have noticed things have toned down a bit and I myself realize things are not likely as bad as they seem. The next 3 weeks beginning tonight will be telling on what these coaches and what this team is made of considering even in a down year the next 3 are teams the Ducks should beat. It's too early to declare the sky is falling, I'll wait and see and will continue to support the team.
User avatar
OregonFan4Life
All-American
Posts: 12362
Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2010 5:32 pm

Re: perspective (ESPN)

Post by OregonFan4Life »

That was kinda self righteous of Miller. I agree we should wait, but it's not like Oregon lost a game! If Oregon lost 31-24 then the reaction wouldn't be like that. That's what I can't figure out about people. I'm not expecting Oregon to win 10 games every season, 8-4 would be fine, but in what universe did Oregon look like an 8-4 team against Utah? If we witness that all season then 8-4 would have been a nice dream after going 4-8....
Image
User avatar
QuackininBama
All Pac-12
Posts: 5153
Joined: Sat Sep 10, 2011 8:55 am

Re: perspective (ESPN)

Post by QuackininBama »

The fact he brought up though is worth giving some thought to. BOTH losses came to undefeated teams so its not like were getting blown out by Washington or Colorado. These are quality football teams.
srsmiley007
Four Star Recruit
Posts: 745
Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2013 11:26 am

Re: perspective (ESPN)

Post by srsmiley007 »

In fairness, we got away from the point of the spread with Lockie. Allie brings back the threat of the QB gashing you. That changes the dynamic and once he starts hitting a few passes this could really be interesting. Our running game actually showed some diversity vs. Colorado which is nice to see. With Mariota, our game changed with passing and running being equal attributes we could count on. Now we're back to trying to make it happen again with a complex running game which only works if they are threatened by a running QB which Lockie isn't.

Nice to see them work Allie into the mix more. The offense seems to have hope when he's in the game.
Post Reply