It's good of you to pick up some of the slack while i am having some medical things done that have been preoccupying my attention. I've got plenty to say about the way things have been shaping up out this way. It seems like all of the power has concentrated itself in Zona and Utah with a squirt of production out of UCLA... There have been some rumblings going on beneath the surface at USC... so we'll see how that shakes itself out when the title for LA is settled soon. I still believe that Haden made a big mistake when he passed on Petersen and opted for Sarkisian instead. Sark is some deluxe and very expensive mediocrity.
And has anyone noticed that Oregon appears to be peaking at just the right time? Thomas Tyner has been toting his own weight while that exceptional example of a superior athlete in Royce Freeman has just begun to come into his own at the right time? Meanwhile, Mariota is casually accounting for between 4 and 7 TD's in every game. I don't get why he seems to be page 2 material every week, especially on TV. How easily people tend to overlook Oregon and all of their new talent at several key skill positions on the field. IMHO, the Ducks may not lose again until 2015 and I'm not sure if that will happen, even in the post Mariota era all too soon.
I realize that these are especially tall words for me or anyone else to utter at this stage of things. It's just that so little has been said about them (or their QB) for some time compared to all of the hubbub I've been reading up on around the SEC etc. But that true freshman RB of theirs, Royce Freeman is something else. What a total beast of a manchild he is turning into.
Between Tyner and Freeman, that right there could easily be regarded as the best 1-2 punch in anyone's backfield next season. They are 2 athletes with completely opposite skill sets between themselves. Don't forget that their HC Mark Helfrich has been personally responsible for all of their QB development since Kelly was their head coach. The Ducks won't be going away all too soon. I also like the way Don Pellum has transitioned their defense away from Alliotti when he retired. Their new-found aggressiveness on the defensive side and their added size is a welcome sight for Duck fans. Apparently they've learned a thing or two from the whuppings they took from a couple of their recent SEC opponents.
From my own recollection, the Ducks have performed at their best when words about them and expectations are obscure or at a low point, then they break out playing their best football.
And has anyone noticed that Oregon appears to be peaking at just the right time? Thomas Tyner has been toting his own weight while that exceptional example of a superior athlete in Royce Freeman has just begun to come into his own at the right time? Meanwhile, Mariota is casually accounting for between 4 and 7 TD's in every game. I don't get why he seems to be page 2 material every week, especially on TV. How easily people tend to overlook Oregon and all of their new talent at several key skill positions on the field. IMHO, the Ducks may not lose again until 2015 and I'm not sure if that will happen, even in the post Mariota era all too soon.
I realize that these are especially tall words for me or anyone else to utter at this stage of things. It's just that so little has been said about them (or their QB) for some time compared to all of the hubbub I've been reading up on around the SEC etc. But that true freshman RB of theirs, Royce Freeman is something else. What a total beast of a manchild he is turning into.
Between Tyner and Freeman, that right there could easily be regarded as the best 1-2 punch in anyone's backfield next season. They are 2 athletes with completely opposite skill sets between themselves. Don't forget that their HC Mark Helfrich has been personally responsible for all of their QB development since Kelly was their head coach. The Ducks won't be going away all too soon. I also like the way Don Pellum has transitioned their defense away from Alliotti when he retired. Their new-found aggressiveness on the defensive side and their added size is a welcome sight for Duck fans. Apparently they've learned a thing or two from the whuppings they took from a couple of their recent SEC opponents.
From my own recollection, the Ducks have performed at their best when words about them and expectations are obscure or at a low point, then they break out playing their best football.
LOL. Nice of you to stop by. Hope you get better soon. Did not not you were having problems. I think I speak for most of us in saying that we miss having you around at the very least as a sounding board to see if our ideas on some of these west coast teams make sense.
As for myself, I've been quietly playing less games in college and pro but I feel am more controlled and doing alright this season. I claim no allegiance to any schools in particular but watch mostly games from the midwest to the west coast and some SEC.
I haven't been following the small schools as much this year. As for the Pac 12, there are some surprises at the halfway point which shouldn't be surprises but the following are my observations.
Stanford has lost a lot on defense and doesn't have the prototypical back that Shaw likes to carry the load. Sanders is good but not nearly big enough on his own to make the Shaw model work. On defense, they lost A LOT. They have some good young guys but experience counts for a lot. Bowl game for sure but not a top team in the Pac 12. Hogan will provide just enough stability to keep things together this year.
Oregon surprisingly seems to be the team to beat this year. I say this only because I feel they lose a lot to the NFL every year also including coaching recently. However they continue to recruit top talent at the skill positions and if their lines stay healthy should compete for the Pac 12 title and who knows...Pac 12 in general is down this year.
Wasington: Nice to see Peterse there. I think it is a match made in heaven going forward. I agree that Hayden missed out but somehow I don't see Petersen succeeding in the bright lights of a usc or ucla team with all the media attention, the attitudes, and the boosters plus the expectations. Washington suits him just fine. Love that kid Shaq Thompson. They didn't drop off too much at the rb position feom Sankey. Wow! They should be competitive the rest of the way and I think will be Oregons competition in future years for the Pac 12 north.
WSU. Can score but no defense. Great QB.
Cal: See WSU. Improving though.
Utah can make some noise. Good coaching, veteran leadership and QB that knows how to win in clutch situations. I don't think they'll survive this three game stret h coming up.
OSU: What happened??? Riley is one of my favorite Pac 12 coaches. He quietly produces NFL talent there but this year seems like he just doesn't have the talent to compete. I feel like Mannion should have opted for NFL last year. I feel like sometimes this team has given up for the year.
Colorado is making strides and competing under McYntire as expected. He's turning the ship in the right direction. They will be extremely competitive at home the rest of the year. I sense the confidence growing in this team as well as the Cal team.
UCLA is a clusterfuck this year. Hundley has always been inconsistent. His defense had always bailed him out though. Somehow I find myself rooting against them this year even though I was rooting for them when they picked up Mora. They need a real QB.
USC giving teams hell this year but are not a top team in the Pac 12. RB allen has carried the load which has helped the entire team. They may compete for the south but woule get crushed by the likes of Oregon.
UofA is surprising. Can't believe what RichRod has put together. They should compete for the south. I like their QB Anu. If he keeps healthy, then they will be in the mix. Defense will be their downfall.
ASU I expected to maybe be undefeated but they are young at some positions. ASU Oregon would be fun to watch.
Well, that's the way I see the Pac 12.
