What to expect from Oregon this November

by jtlight on Nov 13, 2008 1:56 PM PST in Oregon Ducks Football

Ah, it's November again. The time of year where our seasons seem to go falling apart.

Two years ago at this time, Arizona came into town, and our team rolled over. It was a pathetic, disgraceful display, with little effort and many mistakes. We saw Dennis Dixon broken and at his worst. We saw poor offense, defense, and special teams. This may have been one of the uglier games at Autzen since the drubbing by Washington State in 2004.

It would have been one thing if Oregon had been beat, but they just didn't put out the necessary effort to even be competitive.

But this year, things seem to be different. Oregon has not played well in too many games this year, but it's not due to lack of effort. They have made a ridiculous number of mistakes. But they come back fighting. Unlike other teams that have fallen apart, this team will not give up.

On offense, Jeremiah Masoli has taken over. He has the faith of the coaching staff and the team, and is able to put his mistakes behind him. He has been frustrating as hell for much of the season. However, he doesn't let this get to him. He goes out and he does his best, and has his head on his shoulders. Few Oregon QBs have, this early in their career, been able to put their mistakes behind them and move ahead. It took Dixon a couple years to figure it out.

On the other side of the ball, the leader is Nick Reed, who has been so exciting to watch. He has recently been named to the Lott award semi-final list, an honor well deserved. He sets the tone, never giving up on any play. He doesn't have all the size or the talent, but he is leading the Pac-10 in sacks, and is a force to be reckoned with on every play.

So, while this team has been frustrating, and has made mistakes, and may not have met our expectations, I like this team. They fight hard, and do their best, and we can't ask for much more.

So, what can we expect the next two games? Two hard fought games, where our team may or may not come out on top. If the Ducks can play mistake-free football for eight quarters, they should come away with two victories. If not, well, they won't give up. Either way, it should be fun.

GO DUCKS!

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Comments

100% agree

We could go 0-2, 1-1, 2-0 in close ones, or 2-0 in blowouts. No freakin’ clue. But there’s still a buzz with this team, that the pieces are there to look absolutely dominant (ASU, the three D-II schools we played this year). New unis and the chance of spoiling the Beav’s season take it over the top. I’m giddy. Plus, “Bump and Grind” is on my iPod. I feel like it’s how Masoli feels when he drops back and there’s a shred of a running lane. Does he run?

My miiiiiiind’s tellin’ me noooooooo!
But my boooooooodyyyy….my booooodyyyy’s tellin’ me yeeeeee-hess!

I support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.

by Takimoto on Nov 13, 2008 4:14 PM PST reply actions 4 recs

hahahaha, that is awesome

perfect analogy for Masoli.

--www.AddictedToQuack.com, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog

by jtlight on Nov 13, 2008 4:38 PM PST up reply actions

Well played, sir, well played.

It's spelled "S-h-u-t-a-b-r-i-c-k".

by JShufelt on Nov 13, 2008 4:41 PM PST up reply actions

WOW

I haven’t laughed that hard in a while. Nice.

I like the yellow helmets!

by MarineCorpsDuck on Nov 13, 2008 6:32 PM PST up reply actions

Queue CV in 3... 2... 1...

I like my lineman with good footwork, good upper body strength, a nice wide base, and preferably not hungry.

by qrsouther on Nov 13, 2008 4:22 PM PST reply actions

The 5th place university of methamphetamine simply does not have the depth and talent to survive through November.
You wouldn’t know that from your university of nothing education though, because they don’t have the extensive research of OSU.

It's spelled "S-h-u-t-a-b-r-i-c-k".

by JShufelt on Nov 13, 2008 4:45 PM PST up reply actions 3 recs

FLYSWEEP.

I like my lineman with good footwork, good upper body strength, a nice wide base, and preferably not hungry.

by qrsouther on Nov 13, 2008 5:05 PM PST up reply actions

Psh. That was sooo last year. Welcome to land of Orange Jesus aka Jacquizz Rodgers

It's spelled "S-h-u-t-a-b-r-i-c-k".

by JShufelt on Nov 13, 2008 7:08 PM PST up reply actions

I was fairly amused during the Stanford game. VD Special and I were going back and forth about the fact that we were running the flysweep and had a chainsaw on the field. I was hoping they weren’t going to sue us for copyright infringement

--Dominic

Autzen Stadium is where great teams go to die." - J. Brady McCullough, The Michigan Daily.

by dvieira on Nov 13, 2008 8:36 PM PST up reply actions

no sheep to be found however.

I support Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.

by Takimoto on Nov 13, 2008 8:53 PM PST up reply actions

Next year, LaMichael James turns out to be some crazy ’quizz style back.

We’ll get sued for sure.

It's spelled "S-h-u-t-a-b-r-i-c-k".

by JShufelt on Nov 13, 2008 8:55 PM PST up reply actions

That exact thought actually did occur to me when Quizz emerged.

Shufelt on my foot and I wanna touch it...

by qrsouther on Nov 13, 2008 9:42 PM PST up reply actions

easy guys

It’s been nice around here as of late. Lets not temp fate.

(not that that wasn’t hilarious!)

by echris on Nov 13, 2008 5:06 PM PST reply actions

Temp fate or tempt hate?

I like my lineman with good footwork, good upper body strength, a nice wide base, and preferably not hungry.

by qrsouther on Nov 13, 2008 5:09 PM PST up reply actions

I just wanted to get it out of the way, so he didn’t have to! I’m being helpful! :-)

It's spelled "S-h-u-t-a-b-r-i-c-k".

by JShufelt on Nov 13, 2008 5:40 PM PST up reply actions

well written

I agree with that 100%. I like Masoli a lot. He seems like a tough kid. Although the losses have been dissapointing this year I have been able to except them and move on. You can never get mad at a team when they play hard and lose. I hope they can put together some great football and get at least one win, preferably being in Corvallis.

Icey

by ChicagoQuack503 on Nov 14, 2008 10:11 AM PST reply actions