FishDuck's Spring Game Report

[woundedknees]

According to DSA, this is the last FishDuck report until the fall camp, so enjoy it while it's here...

http://oregon.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fi ... 65&style=2

"If Masoli had played the whole game like Roper….the White team would have scored 35 points."

"We will be much better this fall in rushing the ball, (compared to now) but not like the last two years of leading the Pac-10."

"We won’t be a fantastic running team…but if a defense goes into a zone defense to stop the passing game, then we have more than enough talent to rip off 5-10 yard gains against the eight man zone that is back off the LOS and waiting to go into coverage."

"Does anyone know the powers-that-be at Comcast? When watching the game again later I was VERY disappointed in much of what I saw. Joe G. has a man-crush…on himself and his voice. Worse yet they went on to show videos THROUGH THE PLAYS! There were at least five plays UNSHOWN before halftime, and one of them was a big passing game gain by Dickson that we never saw. It sucks."

"I was interested in what Coach/Athletic Director Bellotti had to say about LaMichael James. “He has the elusiveness and cutting skillset of JJ….with a step more speed. (!?!) He’s quicker, but he’s not as big or stout as JJ.”"

"I also felt that as usual the defense has a huge advantage each spring as they KNOW our plays and as soon as they see a formation and certain motion and then particular players move a direction….they know 90% of the time what the play is going to be. A play that I LOVE is when JM does the mesh, pulls it out and runs down the LOS…and if covered he passes to the outside WR. It is a form of option play where instead of a pitchout…we’ve stretched it wider to make it a pass and stretch the defense out that much further. One misstep…like against Arizona, and the WR is gone for six. Yet our defense can sniff that one out in a heartbeat; other teams would be worried about the other variations that can turn up and they might be hesitant to come up quick. Our defense KNOWS that we’re not practicing the other variations and can come up and stop it hard. An example multiplied by all the many plays, and you have a huge advantage on defense. The players on defense have even admitted it many times in the media over Spring Camp."

"Darron Thomas looked better than some of the spring practices I was at ….but he has a long way to go yet. He really does look like DD as a RS freshman, which is about where DT is in age."

"Twice I saw WRs COME BACK to help their QBs out. Once it was Rory Cavaille making a sliding feet-first catch to rescue Roper who was running for his life on 3rd down, and another time it was Maehl coming back and making a tough catch to the outside to help his QB and get a 1st down."

[karlhungis]

"We will be much better this fall in rushing the ball, (compared to now) but not like the last two years of leading the Pac-10."

Seems a tad premature to make such a statement based off of the spring game. We were missing one of our main RB's and we were dealing with a patchwork o-line.

I agree that we didn't look impressive in the game but we have a long ways to go before gameday.

[GoDucksIn09]

For the time being I would agree that we will not be as good running the ball next year as last couple years.The O Line right now is the big question. May this be a challenge to them that while yes was injuries and graduation that this is a challenge to step up and make the O line as good as past years. I believe they can and belive the injuries will not become a huge factor and come fall will pick it up. We defnitely need them to.

[dthomas=ddixon]

I doubt we will be #2 in the nation in rushing but we won't drop down that much. I would definitely expect us to the lead the Pac 10 in rushing again. But then again, not many expected our offense last year to be even close to what it was with Dixon & Stewart. Obviously they were wrong.

I enjoy FishDucks reports but I don't like how he makes statements like the ones above as if they were facts. With all the injuries at RB & on the Oline, theres no way you can 100% accuractly say how effective our Rushing offense will be. Get back to me a few weeks into fall camp when Blount is actually in shape, the rest of the backs are actually participating in contact drills, & our offensive line has more than 2 healthy starters participating.

[woundedknees]

FishDuck always has had opinions... SOme good, some bad.

He is not a reporter, just a Duck fan who writes decently and shares his observations, views and opinions with the rest of us.

[woundedknees]

You are correct, mon ami!

[buckmarkduck]

I thought Thomas got a series or two in the first half also, but I could be wrong.

[echo31]

I actually appreciated his honesty and willingness to point out some of our problem areas.

Obviously it's Spring, and a lot can happen before the first game, but as it stands we have serious concerns at O-Line and in our defensive backfield. Our run game was non-existent and our QBs threw for over 500 yards (partly during a monsoon!). If these problems aren't addressed and fixed, it could be an awfully long year.

[BisonDucks]

Do you guys remember last spring? We are miles ahead of last year's team. Let's wait until Fall to declare a problem area. We have Blount, LMJ, Alston, & Crenshaw at the running back position. Every single one of these guys was not 100% or held out all together. What I gleaned from the spring game is that we have depth. Barner is a viable option and the patchwork O-line on the first team kept the quarterbacks safe. We will be better next year overall. Running production should be helped out with a viable passing threat.

[dthomas=ddixon]

Ok guys repeat after me:

What two positions have a large amount of the projected starters not participating? The Oline & DB positions.

Now what two positions had the most questions & struggled this spring? The Oline & DB positions.

Hmmm, seems to me that it has everything to do with players being out. Am I the only one who sees that?

None of those players have major injuries & all of them will be back for fall. If we still struggle in fall, then we have reason for concern. Being worried about those positions when the majority of the projected starters aren't even participating is pointless.

[wheaton4prez]

I think that most Duck fans hope that you're right. That the guys sitting out will provide answers at those positions.

But, I don't think it's unreasonable to be worried about those things. Because we haven't seen the projected starters play, it remains a question mark. Also, it raises questions about our depth at those positions when there appears to be such a drop-off with our second team guys.

[jhopduck]

I too am concerned about the run game, I really worry about Blount carrying the full load as he is not nearly as explosive or quick as JJ or J-Stew have been. He's a big bruiser for sure, just not the home run threat the other two were IMO. Especially as mentioned with our inexperienced line.
HOWEVER, I am far less concerned about our passing game, the weapons we have at WR are insane, and JM is obviously far more developed throwing the ball in our offense. This will catch teams off guard. Tyrece Gaines, D. Jackson, and B.Lane aren't even here yet either. Oh boy!!

[Mops]

I don't think we will see as many dominate rushing games this upcoming year until later in the year due to the new faces on the OL and the RB depth chart.

Really, outside of Blount we have no proven back that strikes fear into any teams eyes. Even that said I think teams would rather face Blount on an every down basis then a healthy dose of JJ and a dash of big boy Blount.

Alston-unproven in 2 years of action
Crenshaw-Saw one big game against UW and after that he's not been very productive in his 3 years so far
James-Redshirt freshmen. No matter how well he practiced on the scout team we still gotta wait till live action against other teams.
Harper-He's shown flashes, but taken no snaps at RB.

[jhopduck]

Barner looked fantastic at RB, he better be a helluva DB or it's a waste of talent IMO(not a waste, but you get my point). His vision and cutback were VERY impressive to me, and I think he could help create that 1-2 that was so effective with Blount/JJ last year. Barner and James with Blount being the thunder could be a great 1-2-3. At least more effective.

[echo31]

Barner looked fantastic at RB, he better be a helluva DB or it's a waste of talent IMO(not a waste, but you get my point). His vision and cutback were VERY impressive to me, and I think he could help create that 1-2 that was so effective with Blount/JJ last year. Barner and James with Blount being the thunder could be a great 1-2-3. At least more effective.

The scary thing is that after this year, once Blount is gone, we will be left with LMJ, Alston and whatever recruits we pick up. It will be difficult to expect any new recruits to contribute right away right out of high school. For the sake of having experience and depth at the position, I hope the coaches think long and hard about keeping Barner at RB.