Well, the PANIC(!!!) has begun. Matt Daddy kicked things off last night with his fanpost, and it seems that everyone has jumped on the bandwagon.
- Ken Woody, who always turns out great posts, has one on the offensive formations that Stanford used to topple Oregon two weeks ago. He finds a lot of similarity between those plays and the plays Arizona used to smash the ducks in 2006. While Arizona does not have the personnel of Stanford, they are still dangerous running the ball. The Duck defense was able to defend these plays against ASU, but then again, ASU is terrible. I'm optimistic that the Ducks will be able to handle what the Arizona offense throws at it, and I'll be posting on that in the next couple days.
- As usual, the defensive line will be key in stopping the opponent running game, and the Oregonian has an article on Jerry Azzinaro and the d-line prep for the upcoming game. The success of the defensive line has really opened up the defense, and allows it to attack the opposing offense, which has taken a lot of pressure off of the injury ravaged secondary. If the front 7 can handle the UA offense, the Ducks should be in great shape.
- The Oregon players are also preparing for what Rob Moseley describes as the 'Tucson Triangle.' While much of the Oregon team is very different than the 2007 team, many of the Ducks still remember that Thursday night in Tucson. However, Chip Kelly sets the tone for the team: "Every year’s a different team, every year’s a different chapter, so it doesn’t stir anything for us. I know I won’t mention it or talk about it." The players know that Arizona will fight hard, and so they are preparing as normal, which is pretty much all you can ask of them.
- In recruiting news, Oregon has a firm commitment from Dontae Williams, according to DuckSportsAuthority. Williams recruiting has been quite bizarre, and many thought that he would not end up Oregon after meeting with coaches after the USC game. However, he's now a Duck, and will make an excellent addition to the team, especially with his size and strength.
- The top RB recruit in the country, Marcus Lattimore out of South Carolina, has also been a top prospect for the Ducks, and has set his visit date to January 15th. Also, TE Christian Thomas has the Ducks rising after his visit during the ASU game.
- In basketball alumni news, Lost Letterman has an interview with former UO guard Terrell Brandon.
- Lastly, the Statesman Journal has a piece on the return of T.J. Ward, who has been producing at an incredibly high rate since his return. However, despite his successes, I am still wary of Ward and how he's a liability in the secondary.
After the jump, we have two videos, one on the defensive preparations for Arizona, and another Matthew Knight Arena Construction update. GO DUCKS!
Duck defenders talking about Arizona preparations
Matthew Knight Arena Construction Update