#15 Oregon vs #11 TCU (Alamo Bowl Jan 2, 3:45pm ESPN)

[rockthief]

Duval, it is a really good forum. Hardly any crap posters. Post away!

[DmoneyDuck]

Another team lucky that VA got injured ... We were on pace to up 65-70 on that defense. What a frustrating season! Way too reminiscent of 2007 ...

[thomas time]

Rob Romig (@RobRomig)
1/2/16, 9:22 PM
Oregon Ducks gave up 488 points this season, shattering a school record. Previous high: 377 in 1977.

At least tonight game wasn't a big six game, only slightly good thing for me. Sure hope Pellum is gone, seen way too many games like this.

[Kimber45]

I'll offer my post mortem to the game thread since it includes little that hasn't already been observed by others.

First of all, tip of the cap to TCU. They shouldn't have won the game but found a way to galvanize as a team and fight, scratch and claw their way back from a 31 point deficit. After Chuck's KO return fumble you could just see their esprit de corps beginning to congeal. The game certainly wasn't decided at that point but TCU smelled the faint scent of victory and came together as a team to scrap forward for a win. They earned it. Kudos to them.

The game I watched ended up was the under card of the game both fan bases actually wanted to watch. Both teams a full strength: TCU with Boykin, et al., and Oregon with VA & Co. Let's hope that sort of game happens between Oregon and TCU in the future. Had VA not gotten injured we win this game walking away. But VA does get injured, along with Hegarty, and with arguably the best offensive skill position roster in D1 football, Oregon is inexplicably unable to either snap the football or execute a meaningful forward pass. Complete offensive ineptitude.

And the defense came out of the locker room after halftime with the attitude they seem to have brought into Fall Camp. As the game gets longer the squad gets softer. You never sense that moment when the Oregon defense realizes they are in a cage match and their collective adrenal glands dump. Most of the time they just play the Alliotti/Pellum prevent defense and end up with a win after which the fans argue about whether giving up 28+ points is a satisfactory box column statistic. When we were down two scores and rushing just three with seven and a half minutes left in the fourth I felt the unfortunately common trepidation symptomatic of fourth quarter onset failure. Was not disappointed. Oregon's reputation for making average opposing quarterbacks look like superstars is well deserved.

But I'm not mad, . . . err, angry. For the first time in many years Oregon suffered the pangs of rebuilding a team instead of simply reloading.

As a final observation, our back five needs to get a lot better. Whenever I saw a good hit, I knew, without even looking at the number, that is was Chuck. Players like Chuck are what make the difference between being a good defense and a great defense. Watching A. Springs sort of 'Olay' Kohlhausen past himself into the end zone is the sort of stuff upon which average defenses are made.

[Tray Dub]

Rob Romig (@RobRomig)
1/2/16, 9:22 PM
Oregon Ducks gave up 488 points this season, shattering a school record. Previous high: 377 in 1977.

At least tonight game wasn't a big six game, only slightly good thing for me. Sure hope Pellum is gone, seen way too many games like this.

Most telling statistic for why Pellum needs to be gone.

[QuackininBama]

I tried to sleep and forget about it, so I just woke up. That really didn't happen did it? Please tell me we didn't give up 38 straight points, 47 in the second half. Someone please tell me that didn't really happen.

[chapelhillduck]

I started a 4 hour drive with the Ducks up by 31 and didn't look at my phone. the final result was....unexpected

[Duck24]

It kinda sickens me that Lockie and Brenner are the face of this meltdown and not Pellum. You were spotted a 31-0 lead and couldn't hang on. The O did you no favors in the second half, that is for sure, but they also gave you a 31 point cushion!

In two straight games, the D has been absolutely dominated in the second half by second string QB's. 35 points to the Beavs and 31 to TCU. That is almost inconceivable. Helf can't demote or outright fire Pellum quick enough. If we can't rely on the D to not blow four score second half leads, 9 wins might be a high water mark for the next few seasons.

Here is the second half drive chart for TCU:

10 plays 69 yards FG
11 plays 64 yards TD
7 plays 16 yards TD
11 plays 76 yards FG
7 plays 91 yards TD
8 plays 31 yards FG

Twice, TCU was pinned down inside their 10 yard line and twice they drove the length of the field and got points. The level of second half ineptness is comically pathetic. Helf has to change something if he wants to stay off the hot seat himself.

[buckmarkduck]

It kinda sickens me that Lockie and Brenner are the face of this meltdown and not Pellum. You were spotted a 31-0 lead and couldn't hang on. The O did you no favors in the second half, that is for sure, but they also gave you a 31 point cushion!

In two straight games, the D has been absolutely dominated in the second half by second string QB's. 35 points to the Beavs and 31 to TCU. That is almost inconceivable. Helf can't demote or outright fire Pellum quick enough. If we can't rely on the D to not blow four score second half leads, 9 wins might be a high water mark for the next few seasons.

Here is the second half drive chart for TCU:

10 plays 69 yards FG
11 plays 64 yards TD
7 plays 16 yards TD
11 plays 76 yards FG
7 plays 91 yards TD
8 plays 31 yards FG

Twice, TCU was pinned down inside their 10 yard line and twice they drove the length of the field and got points. The level of second half ineptness is comically pathetic. Helf has to change something if he wants to stay off the hot seat himself.

Oh Pellum, Hardrick and then Brenner and Lockie are the faces of this L. Although things would have been much differ t had Nelson held onto that 4th down pass, and not fumbled the kickoff. So I guess he deserves honorable mention.

[Zyme]

Absolute disgrace. Get a rail and drive pellum out upon it

[fpsduck]

Does anyone remember the 1993 game versus Cal?

Deja-vu.

[MFRDuckFan]

Why can't the Ducks ever get the cosmic break? Other teams (Alabama, Ohio State, etc) always seem to get the golden ray of sunshine when something happens to an opponent and they blow the doors off.

I thought with Boykin out it would even up their offense with our defense. Of course not! We're going to take out your starting QB plus a few other players so you get to make bowl history.

So tired of the other shoe dropping all of the time. UGH. It'd be nice to have a few balls really bounce our way on the big stage.

[wlduck]

Why can't the Ducks ever get the cosmic break? Other teams (Alabama, Ohio State, etc) always seem to get the golden ray of sunshine when something happens to an opponent and they blow the doors off.

I thought with Boykin out it would even up their offense with our defense. Of course not! We're going to take out your starting QB plus a few other players so you get to make bowl history.

So tired of the other shoe dropping all of the time. UGH. It'd be nice to have a few balls really bounce our way on the big stage.

You're only remembering the bad things. How about the win at ASU this year? Cliff Harris punt return against Cal in 2010 to save the appearance in the title game. The kid from Utah dropping the ball short of the goal line last year. We've had our share of balls bouncing our way over the years. The ones that don't just hurt more.

[pezsez1]

I tried to sleep and forget about it, so I just woke up. That really didn't happen did it? Please tell me we didn't give up 38 straight points, 47 in the second half. Someone please tell me that didn't really happen.

That didn't happen.

We only gave up 31 in the second half, and then 16 in the three overtimes.

Doubt that will make you feel any better though, lol.

[QuackininBama]

I tried to sleep and forget about it, so I just woke up. That really didn't happen did it? Please tell me we didn't give up 38 straight points, 47 in the second half. Someone please tell me that didn't really happen.

That didn't happen.

We only gave up 31 in the second half, and then 16 in the three overtimes.

Doubt that will make you feel any better though, lol.

Ohhh, thats not so bad then!!! haha