Charles Fischer

I love how we are returning to proven cool uniforms!

It is that time of the week again to have fun with our game prediction contest. Guesses on other threads don't count--only those here, and only those completely filled out like last year. Let's have fun with it as we have so many years in the past... Let me know: --Which team wins: --Score: --How many turnovers created by Oregon? --How many sacks of the opponent by Oregon? --How many passing yards by Oregon? My prediction of Oregon vs. Oklahoma State: Oregon 38-13 2 3 232

David, an element that could help unleash the vertical passing game is what Scott Reed brought up in his analysis today. Once Jordon Davison got going in the ground game, the Broncos had to defend the box better, which left one on one coverage by the Boise State defensive backs. So getting Davison involved earlier might actually open up the vertical game as you suggest. And I completely agree with you!

Solar! We did not even need tiebreakers, as his 34-24 prediction was only three points off of the final 34-27 score. Whew! Congrats to Solar, and thanks to all for playing! Solar Made it Look Easy... cat GIF - Find & Share on GIPHYDiscover & share this cat GIF with everyone you know. GIPHY is how you search, share, discover, and create GIFs.

Note I wrote Specialists, and not Special Teams. Why Perich is not the return guy is a mystery to me...

Oh, boo-hoo. Everybody is this way until they finally break through...and every SEC team can nearly blow a game without any bias against them. This is a writer who was looking for something to write about, and found a topic that would go viral. Meanwhile....in the 3.1 seasons, Dan Lanning is now 39-0 against teams who were not in the National Championship game. That doesn't suck... We'll get there!

Like most of you...I was crossing my fingers thinking about our new kicker and punter. But the opening kickoff by Gage Hurych revealed a leg I've never seen so strong, as he did not just put it deep in the end zone; it was not lofted, but nearly a line drive. Huge leg. The real test is kicking to the other end zone, on the side of the Mo Center, yet his KOs went deep in the end zone as well. His KOs were superb, and even the novice fans around me noticed as well. He was perfect yesterday; he did not start his season the way Atticus did last year. He nailed both FGs, (one a 44 yarder) and his PATs in a close game. And he's an Oregon-Boy from West Linn! The punter, Bailey Ettridge, was clutch, as he hit huge punts deep when we needed it, and even with a short field to punt to on occasion...his average was 48 yards a punt! I cannot remember a better first game for new specialists!

Agreed. That is why at first I was flustered, but after seeing the performance....I wrote about the high upside. They have talent, and with more games and coaching--will be great by the end of the season.

P.S. I don't have FishDuck.com anymore, and don't have an official platform to write articles on, but as you see above....I can't stay away from a keyboard for long. So glad I have this forum to share thoughts, and learn from so many of you. Great to have you all back!

We have a mess on the offensive line that will take three or four games to get figured out--I believe. Yet even with upcoming observations and concerns...this offense scored 34 points, which is two TDs less than I predicted going into this game. Have a flea-flicker with a pass thrown a little higher, (TD) and a punt-return "Bubble" penalty that should have been called, and it could have come close to what I hoped for on offense. Which is a miracle considering the offensive line combinations I saw. Why was OC Mehringer throwing so many short passes? Because he had NO confidence in this group holding off the pass rush for a longer drop-back pass, IMHO. People around me at the game were blustering about the short passes, and I reminded them that this is not only an inexperienced group working together....they are FLAT-OUT INEXPERIENCED as players. When I saw the starting offensive line....I turned into a muttering-mass-of-protoplasm, as I could not believe my eyes. At left tackle was not Fox Crader, but Ziyare Addison? After Crader looked so good against USC last year at LT? Addison has hardly played at all, and HE has Dante's blind side? Next to him at left guard was another sophomore who has barely played at all in Douglas Utu. So our left side starters were barely a notch above freshmen in terms of game experience? I was moaning to myself..."we're doomed!" Until I looked at the right side. Over at right guard was Yale transfer Michael Bennett who had played three years at offensive TACKLE, not guard. What? Then at right tackle was Fox Crader...when I never saw him play that side before? WTH? This starting group was not what I expected at all, and three starters had either no experience, or almost no experience playing for Oregon in real games. I admit to not watching much of the game for a while as I was trying to process what I just saw, and trying to figure WHY they were doing it? Because they were throwing mud on the wall to see what stuck, and perhaps that combo in practice worked the best recently? All the talk about Nacho, Tofi, and Gernorris was wasted as I did not notice them in the game for any length of time. I am assuming that Addison and Crader competed for LT, and whoever lost that battle was automatically at RT? In the second half....I was sputtering at a Duck fan about how they just brought in little-played junior Trent Ferguson, who is 6-5 and 322 from West Salem. He has been groomed as a tackle his entire career, and came in to play left GUARD! I was spit-sputtering to the fan about this and then the long play for 50 yards was run by Davison...right behind Trent Ferguson. I then awkwardly admitted to the fan that, "well, that shows what I know!" So bizarre, but it worked. He played quite a bit in the second half, and again--how we scored as much as we did with these Rubix-Cube movements on the offense line might be the greatest example of how much better Drew Mehringer might be than many give him credit for. In the crunch drive to get the lead, and to run out the clock...who was in at right guard? NOW they brought in the veteran Dave Iuli at the end? He must have been more banged-up than they wanted to admit in the coaches offices. We got ground yards when needed most... I swear the most under-appreciated entertainment in that game was watching for who is playing on the offensive line, where they were playing, and when. I was in my Duck-Heaven sitting on the 34 yard line and nearly halfway up behind the team. So great after six years, but I noted some real "vibe" differences from prior years of watching Our Beloved Ducks in person. There was no air of anticipation like when Chip was here, and frankly was kind of a flat air about them. In some respects it might resemble the 2001 team that won a bunch of close games....but won them and went on to be No. 2 in the nation. In the end....I think that considering they were playing offensive line-Scrabble and scored 34 points, while our defense was healthy and loaded and gave up 27? By comparison we got a lot more over-achievement from the offense, while the defense under-achieved quite a bit. While we are fortunate to survive this game, I like how we did not win it on a fluke, or miracle, or bonehead mistake by our opponent. We won it at crunch-time, and yet have MILES of upside left that will be developed over the season. So fun to be back in Autzen, and it reminded me again of how I am truly a crazed Duck fan....who fortunately has similar company in this forum! Charles Pretty good passing game--even with the short passes....

P.S. This game is important on a personal basis for me. This is my 40th year as a season ticket holder, but for the past six years....I've bought them and either given them away or sold them due to my health issues with my back and hip. In the past year--I've spent thousands of dollars out-of-pocket for non-traditional treatments that have cut my pain walking by about 90%...thus for the first time in six years--I will be in Autzen! I've lost a ton of weight, with more to finish with yet, and the combination of all of it has brought me to my best health in a long time. I still have a ways to go to hit all my goals, but I am on my way with it, and been on this path for 15 months and believe they can all be achieved. Today marks a big indicator in my progress, and I am thrilled to be sitting on the 34 yard line once again. My first year with season tickets in 1986 had Chris Miller at quarterback!

Let' discuss the game before it begins, and during the game. When it is over--start new threads, as I will be locked in traffic coming home. Let's remember the rules..... --Do not take personal shots at fellow OBD members in your post, nor personal shots at the current players or coaches for Oregon. --Criticism of player performance and coaching decisions is what we do in a forum and is fine. Just nothing personal at them... --Keep it clean, and as before....no politics of any kind, anytime. --Howling about tough plays, or cheering great plays is always fine. With that...have the spirited discussions as we always do here; I want to see ALL opinions, as we learn from each other and become better fans. And this is the year to learn more from all the great OBD members in this community. Moderators....please help keep an eye on things, as I will be at the game. And as a first post to start things off....the weather report looks good. No rain, some sunshine and cloudy skies, with a mild 70 degrees projected....perfect!

Yep, Tionne Gray left to start somewhere....and if he was going to be a reserve...he could have been a valuable reserve here at Autzen. I just have remember that the reason they left is because a better player was starting ahead of them. Like A'Mauri Washington...

Yep, long story, but with the sale of FishDuck.com back in May....there are changes that I am behind with, in getting done. That is one of them, and thanks for the reminder. For those who want to send a check....use the address in the "Contact" area at the top of the site. I will be fixing this and running a capital campaign later during the season, as I currently receive NO revenue from the forum, and have a boatload of expenses. I will need some help to keep this Duck site afloat! My thanks to all, Charles

If this is what makes it work....to bend to something minor that the SEC wants....fine.

Mike...you checked all the boxes I had, although I would also love to see Freshman RB Brandon Smith play and show us what we have been hearing about! Well, him and another freshman in Gatlin Bair! Yeah, BABY!

Great to see so many people back, and have found the new web address!

A Prediction from Gary Breedlove: Oregon wins 45-14 3 Turnovers created 5 Sacks of Broncos 350 passing yards

A ton of happy memories in this uniform!

A very cool video!

The season's prediction contests begins! Guesses on other threads don't count--only those here, and only those completely filled out as before. Let's have fun with it as we have so many years in the past... Let me know: --Which team wins: --Score: --How many turnovers created by Oregon? --How many sacks by Oregon? --How many passing yards by Oregon? My prediction of Oregon vs. Boise State: Oregon 48-20 3 3 292

I am pulling for Genoris Williams to get his chance at tackle…

OUCH!

We knew this already....

Oh...GREAT memories, and gets you stoked for the season!