Ducks Attack Message Board Forum

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First scrimmages can be raw with a ton of mistakes, but this one showed us some attractive potential and some impressive athleticism by many players. Yes, we had a lot of messed up center snaps along with flawed extra points/field goals, but overall it hinted at superb things to come for a first scrimmage.

Forget Los Angeles…..because during the football season OREGON will be “LA-LA LAND” with LaGarrett Blount and LaMichael James at Running Back.

Late in the scrimmage we saw LaMichael get the handoff and go up the left tackle hole in LBer land. From there we saw some amazing acceleration to the outside and surprised all by clearing the corner past a safety who was waiting to make the tackle. As LJ turned upfield he made a few more yards before momentum and backside pursuit forced him out of bounds. Later we saw him get an inside handoff to finish off a TD drive with only two yards to go, yet he went inside, then exploded outside and was headed at a corner angle to the touchdown boxes. When it looked like he was going to score..he was clipped by two defenders at once both high and low. It appeared he was going to fall down just six inches short until we saw him twist and turn away in a blink…and then stretch over the goal line! Wow…I love the looks of the speed and toughness of this smaller back.

I’m feeling better about punting! Taylor put up a bunch of 35 yarders, and an occasional 40 yarder, while new freshman Jackson Rice hit a bunch of 40 yarders and TWO over FIFTY yards….with no return! One bounced up 10-12 feet after impact and then bounced back…and THAT was the 55 yarder!

Duck fans…..there are two words that we have hated over the years during fall camp….and they have surfaced AGAIN. They are, “quarterback controversy” and it really IS a good thing... Masoli is named as everyone’s best QB in the Pac-10 for this next year…a sleeper Heisman candidate, and had his picture on Sports Illustrated for crying out loud! JM is not playing badly….but Nate Costa just wowed us at times today with his grit, speed, decisions, and accuracy.

I was thrilled with the emerging receiver corps. Standouts were Maehl, Cavaile, and Lavasier Tuinei.

Lots more info on the link...

What link?

doh! Look at the posting... It's at the top of the article, where I always post links... Now

Thanks. I was wondering when FishDuck was going to post something. He usually has some really good analysis of scrimmages.

Wow. I just posted my own analysis in another thread, but I have nowhere near the depth and attention to detail FishDuck contributes (though I think I got a little more spelling skills than him). I like his optimism, even though I don't share it on everything.

I disagree on the QB controversy thing though. There's none. That being said, what if Masoli has an awful first half against BSU. Do we pull him? I really think Costa MIGHT be the better QB, but Masoli has definitely earned the spot.

Lots of good things in there. But, bad snaps and missed PATs this late concern me big time. Those things cost close games.

wheaton4prez wrote:Lots of good things in there. But, bad snaps and missed PATs this late concern me big time. Those things cost close games.

The missed PATs due to poor blocking and bad snaps doesn't worry me because they usually don't work on special teams all that much with the full team so they'll probably work on that more as Sept. 3rd nears. This was only the first scrimmage so things like these are going to show up because they haven't gone full-speed in near-game situations in full-pads since the Spring Game. Bad snaps on offense is a little worrisome but I have a feeling they'll get in handled by game time. The centers have to get used to the QBs cadences and their different aimpoints for the snap. In HS, I used to hate snapping when we changed QBs since the littlest things on how they ran the offense would throw off your snapping.

Tray Dub wrote:Wow. I just posted my own analysis in another thread, but I have nowhere near the depth and attention to detail FishDuck contributes (though I think I got a little more spelling skills than him). I like his optimism, even though I don't share it on everything.

I disagree on the QB controversy thing though. There's none. That being said, what if Masoli has an awful first half against BSU. Do we pull him? I really think Costa MIGHT be the better QB, but Masoli has definitely earned the spot.

The QB situation will create an interesting debate. If Masoli plays how he did in the 2nd half of the season last year, then he's easily our guy. But I still believe it's premature to call Masoli a heisman candidate and the #4 player in the country, when we still lost to Cal, USC, and Boise State with him as the starter (I know he got hurt against BSU, but he wasn't overly impressive when he was in).

Masoli should be our starter and will be our starter. He's clearly earned it. But if he starts to struggle early on, I hope the coaches don't hesitate to bring Costa in, because I have nearly equal confidence in both players running this team.

greenyellow wrote:

wheaton4prez wrote:Lots of good things in there. But, bad snaps and missed PATs this late concern me big time. Those things cost close games.

The missed PATs due to poor blocking and bad snaps doesn't worry me because they usually don't work on special teams all that much with the full team so they'll probably work on that more as Sept. 3rd nears. This was only the first scrimmage so things like these are going to show up because they haven't gone full-speed in near-game situations in full-pads since the Spring Game. Bad snaps on offense is a little worrisome but I have a feeling they'll get in handled by game time. The centers have to get used to the QBs cadences and their different aimpoints for the snap. In HS, I used to hate snapping when we changed QBs since the littlest things on how they ran the offense would throw off your snapping.

I hope you're right.

If I recall didn't he only play the first drive of the Boise game? I was at the game, but don't remember every detail, but could have sworn that's when he got hurt, and they even scored on that drive before he left the game. If that's the case, it's hard to critique his play in that game...

He played 1 and 1/2 series the first series ended with LGB's leaping TD run and the second he drove us 50 yards quickly before we stalled and then stayed stagnant for the next 3 quarters after. We were about to go up 14-0 with him in. If he's healthy I say we win that game.

droop10 wrote:If I recall didn't he only play the first drive of the Boise game? I was at the game, but don't remember every detail, but could have sworn that's when he got hurt, and they even scored on that drive before he left the game. If that's the case, it's hard to critique his play in that game...

And the Cal game also...That game could easily have qualified as a Water Polo Match......After watching JM finish the season the way he did, it seems a bit rediculous to think he is going to have to start all over again, from square one...Heisman candidate? Who knows...Damn good QB? You bet....

Less than 19 days, Duck Fans...And we are ALL way past ready.....
GOOOOOOO DUCKS

lukeyrid13 wrote:He played 1 and 1/2 series the first series ended with LGB's leaping TD run and the second he drove us 50 yards quickly before we stalled and then stayed stagnant for the next 3 quarters after. We were about to go up 14-0 with him in. If he's healthy I say we win that game.

I say you are Right On.......It will be interesting to see the BSU defense TRY to keep up with LJ and TRY to stop LB, all the time having to watch out for JM running the ball and trying to defend our pass game...


Good Luck with these tasks....Broncos....This is not Lousiana Tech that you are opening your season with....This is arguable one of, if not the best opponent that you have faced at your field (i think in order to be called a stadium, seating must exceed 33,000 or so)

BSU will no doubt score points...Problem is...Not enough to outscore the Ducks.....I told any number of Beaver fans the same thing last year before the Civil War.."We average 42 points a game..U R gonna have to score more than 42 points to win" ....Funny thing is, they couldnt do that..and even if they had been able to and had scored 43 points, we still would have won the game by 22 points....lol

I just dont see BSU being able to adequately defend us..I really dont....But then again, this is JUST my opinion...