Morning Quack Fix: 1.15.09

by JConant on Jan 15, 2009 8:23 AM PST in Morning Quack Fix

I love the smell of quack in the morning. Here's your morning fix. It's game day in the Pac-10, so we see a predictable focus on hoops this morning. Jump in with your own additions, comments and links of interest to the ATQ community.

Jeremiah Masoli for Heisman! Come on, you knew this was coming. Check out Andy McNamara's GoDucks.com post - that's right, the Masoli for Heisman campaign is officially on. Andy compares some statistics, and the argument for Masoli may be more compelling than you'd expect. Read on.
Getting ready for UW... Bob Clark suggests the Ducks are in for a physical matchup in tonight's game versus John Brockman and the Huskies. See his preview.
Mike Tokito of The Oregonian also takes a look at gameday around the Pac-10. John Hunt looks at how the Ducks have gone from the Big Dance to the Pac-10 cellar. Bob Candotta of the Seattle Times weighs in with his keys to the game.
The R-G's Rob Moseley posted a late piece about the Ducks putting a blitz on some of the top-100 football recruits...again. The program is continuing its trend of being in the mix for some of the nation's very best. See Rob's notes.
Ken Goe of the Oregonian thinks Mark Sanchez bolting for the NFL is a plus for Oregon and other potential 2009 Pac-10 football contenders. Just a hunch here, but I'm guessing Pete Carroll disagrees.
Of course today is the deadline for NFL-eligible juniors and RS sophomores to declare for the draft. No word yet on the status of Jairus Byrd. We'll post something as soon as the news breaks.

UPDATE: Thanks MarineCorpsDuck for the assist...The Oregonian is now reporting that Byrd will go to the NFL.
Bumped into this from a few days ago...you might find it interesting. Seems University of Oregon President Dave Frohnmayer didn't like a professor's assertion the school puts athletics before academics. This is Ducky Dave at his brilliant best.

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Rickert provides some good info on the offensive recruits this year. Most of it we’ve discussed, but it sounds like we could be getting some good receivers, which has been a serious recruiting weakness the last few years, as the coaching staff has missed on some of their targets.

--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog

by jtlight on Jan 15, 2009 9:21 AM PST reply actions

Spring Game

Will be May 2, in case anyone is marking their calendar.

At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

by JConant on Jan 15, 2009 10:24 AM PST reply actions

what?

that is not the same day as the NFL draft, I don’t understand.
finally I can watch both.

Ducks Go!
694, bam!

by trumpetduck on Jan 15, 2009 10:41 AM PST up reply actions

is it really? YES! now i can go drunk to the spring game AND watch the draft!

It's spelled "M-A-R-C-H-I-N-G-B-A-N-D."

I support inroywetrust in his support of The VD Special in his support of me supporting Roger Kieschnick in his quest to becoming the best Kieschnick ever to play professional baseball.

by Takimoto on Jan 15, 2009 10:57 AM PST up reply actions

Byrd is going to the NFL

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindducksbeat/2009/01/byrd_decides_to_turn_pro.html

"When Bellotti attempted to shake the hand of Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson after the game, Robinson offered his left hand. His right was swollen and battered from the Ducks' defense."

by MarineCorpsDuck on Jan 15, 2009 2:09 PM PST reply actions

Another key position to fill.

Assuming Byrd’s decision is confirmed and he sticks to it – he has three days to change his mind – Oregon will be looking at a new starter at cornerback next season. The R-G’s Rob Mosley addressed that question in a blog response this morning, “…from the group of Talmadge Jackson III, Willie Glasper and Anthony Gildon, a capable starter could emerge.”

A recap of Byrd’s 2008 stats: He was fourth on the team with 83 total tackles, and led the Ducks with five interceptions, 14 passes broken up and 19 passes defended. Byrd also returned 26 punts for 12.3-yard average, including an one for an 87-yard touchdown versus Purdue. He was first-team All Pac-10.

So what do we think? Is Byrd making the right decision?

by JConant on Jan 15, 2009 2:28 PM PST up reply actions

First team All-Pac-10 is good, but I just don’t think he’s high/first day draft material.

Plus, the CB scene is fairly crowded, and top heavy.

It's spelled ""S-H-U-Y-O-U-V-E-D-O-N-E-S-O-M-E-N-I-C-E-T-H-I-N-G-S-W-I-T-H-T-H-E-P-L-A-C-E"

by JShufelt on Jan 15, 2009 2:33 PM PST up reply actions

Recruits

Maybe this will push Cliff Harris our way since his chance at getting immediate playing time will go up.

"When Bellotti attempted to shake the hand of Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson after the game, Robinson offered his left hand. His right was swollen and battered from the Ducks' defense."

by MarineCorpsDuck on Jan 15, 2009 2:57 PM PST up reply actions

“My mom still talks with USC a little but I haven’t talked to anyone but Oregon in a long time. I like their defense and if I went there, I think I could play early if I worked my butt off in the offseason. I don’t mind redshirting though but I definitely want to play as a true freshman.”

Those are his words. His chance of playing early are looking very bright right now.

It's spelled ""S-H-U-Y-O-U-V-E-D-O-N-E-S-O-M-E-N-I-C-E-T-H-I-N-G-S-W-I-T-H-T-H-E-P-L-A-C-E"

by JShufelt on Jan 15, 2009 3:00 PM PST up reply actions

Also...

as of three days ago…

Oregon is looking good now and I can’t see myself going anywhere else.

--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog

by jtlight on Jan 15, 2009 3:09 PM PST up reply actions

Lame-a-tosis!

It's spelled ""S-H-U-Y-O-U-V-E-D-O-N-E-S-O-M-E-N-I-C-E-T-H-I-N-G-S-W-I-T-H-T-H-E-P-L-A-C-E"

by JShufelt on Jan 15, 2009 2:29 PM PST up reply actions

PTI Love

The fine folks at PTI have a cut out of Haloti Ngata behind Willbon. Cool stuff

Ducks Go!
694, bam!

by trumpetduck on Jan 15, 2009 2:40 PM PST reply actions

Haloti is a badass...

and has been key in the resurgence of that defense…

--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog

by jtlight on Jan 15, 2009 2:41 PM PST up reply actions

Tajh Boyd making a visit to Clemson, but already picked Oregon?

From this recent quote, it sounds as if he already knows where he’s going….

--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog

by jtlight on Jan 15, 2009 3:08 PM PST reply actions

I’m not that worried about Boyd. It would be great to have him, don’t get me wrong, but Masoli for the next 2 years, then DT for the 2 years after that sounds just fine to me. Of course, if Boyd comes in and is as good or better than DT, he’d have 3 years assuming he redshirts next year and is #2 the year after (Masoli’s Sr year). We’ll see….

"When Bellotti attempted to shake the hand of Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson after the game, Robinson offered his left hand. His right was swollen and battered from the Ducks' defense."

by MarineCorpsDuck on Jan 15, 2009 3:14 PM PST up reply actions