Jon Joseph

Great list. I think Kyle Long finished at but did not start his college career at Oregon?

Pollock's opinion came ALSUBF - After LSU - Before Fresno. Chip's revolution seems not to be gaining traction among the masses? Few Powder Blue rebels are showing up to watch the battles. Considering when the revolution kicked off, by this point in the game I would have expected Chip's revolution to have run out of support, money and time? The revolution did draw national attention when an SEC team visited LA. Other than that this seems to be more of an unreported bloodless coup? Enjoyed the take. I believe David Pollack looks like Lloyd Christmas for a reason?

He did admit disappointment in how badly Justin Herbert was coached down. If a leader is disappointed in the results of his efforts he has to change or be replaced as a leader. A CEO who is disappointed and will not or cannot do something to change is out of a job. I'm sorry but I don't feel the least bit sorry for Mario. Wasn't he the captain of the ship that sailed into a sea of disappointment as the result of the captain's errors in seamanship. He is in a sea of disappointment he roiled up. And folks who think highly of him try to throw him a life jacket he refuses to catch. "But he has to move on ..." What evidence have you seen of the man's ability to 'move on?' He has to get the team to the playoff by 2023 or be fired. Fired earlier than that if attendance and enthusiasm at Autzen further disappear along with the brand. Mario's "culture" is killing the "brand." Why all of this 'sympathy' for a guy who is supposed to be a top drawer HC? My sympathy lies with the players who are not being coached up. Being taught to play for a W instead of being taught how to play not to get an L. I do hasten to add that your tolerance is commendable.

Terrific, nuanced, balanced article. Thanks again Joshua. I do see two camps of Ducks football fans. And I am judging neither one. The first group sees college football as it was prior to the BCS and the Playoff. A regional game where the only thing that truly matters is winning the Pac-12 against old foes and playing in the Rose Bowl on January 1st, preferably versus a Big 10 opponent. Who cares what people outside the Pac-12 conference think about the level of football being played out west? This is the Conference of Champions and football is only one of but many sports played in the Pac-12. Mario is a very good man who is trying his best. What else more can any sane person ask for? The second group sees college football since the advent of the BCS/Playoff to be a national, big time, big money sport. The sport that nationally stirs the national drink, both reputation and money-wise. The Ducks should roll through a milk-toast Pac-12 season after season, make it to the Playoff and win Playoff games against the best competition in the nation. When the Rose Bowl is not a Playoff semi-final site, it is a hyped-up exhibition game between non-elite college teams. Mario can recruit but is way over his head as a head coach and will never produce the results on the field that equal the quality of the roster he has assembled. Mario Cristobal has been a head football coach for 70+ football games. Over this period of time he has an average record as a HC. The first group believes Mario is learning and growing as a head coach. He will soon be at the top of his game and have the team ready to play every game. This is only his 4th season. The team is young and injured. What until next year! Or, the year after that? With a young team close games are to be expected. A W is a W, what do you want? The 2nd group believes that Mario has no potential for growth. That he is a good person who can recruit but does not have the chops to be a successful P5 coach; a playoff winning coach. He is a micromanager playing not to lose instead of playing to win. With the NFL Rookie of the Year playing QB he could not make the Playoff and won the Rose Bowl versus a 3L opponent by 1 point. And Mullens gave him an extension and a $9M buyout? We're stuck with him we might as well try to make the best of it? But its a grind and it ain't easy. What side of your bread do you butter? It's sports! So I am not the least bit surprised to see the dissidents making more noise than those who are satisfied with Mario's performance to date. Personally, FWIW, which is not much, I think Mario's coaching zenith is playing in the Rose Bowl in the year when the RB is not a semi-final site. He will not take Oregon to the Final 4 and will not win a national title. If you are OK with paying @5M a year for THIS? That's fine, eh?

Of course any OC is aided by having a McSorly at QB and a Barkley at RB. How different would the Ducks 2021 O look with Marcus at QB, Freeman at RB and JM having the freedom to use them as he so desired? The WRs and TEs on the team are comparable to the guys JM had at Penn State. It is about the Jimmies and the Joes. But you have to allow for error and put the best J and J's on the football field.

And being 'A Baller' is what matters. Great observations Chico. Thank you. Of course it's not just the recruiting. Kids who were great in HS will not ipso facto be great in college unless they are coached up. Another of the many impressive things about Saban, the top drawer recruits he brings in improve and matriculate to the NFL.

Instead of using his natural talent, arm strength, and ability shown to date to go to the NFL? Even as a 3rd round draft pick? I'd love for the conference to get this back home and playing in the Pac-12 but I don't see it happening?

5-1 this season and the 'best' OOC win of the year at Ohio State? I do not think his value has decreased and I do think that most CFB folk know that he does not have a free hand?

David, this is one Marsh-Fellow who is most definitely in your camp. You have to get your top drawer recruits on the field of play. If you are lucky you have 'these guys' for 3 years. If the players you recruited are 'all that,' and recruiting services are getting better and better with their analysis, you are wasting productivity by handing these guys a RS season.

Annie, 2022 opening up in the ATL vs Georgia. Big OOC game in 2023? At Texas Tech. I am with you in regards to 2023. But in this day and age of CFB is it not better to play young guys Sooner rather (Rattler) than later?

Good call. I came close to going with OK to cover but unlike Barry Switzer I'm not certain that Riley is that sadistic? I think Riley empties the bench after half time and we find out about the guy who is the Sooners 3rd string QB? Far bigger games are coming for the Sooners. Why play anyone who is important after the 1st half? Then again, you are likely spot on.

"For how can a man die better Then facing fearful odds For the ashes of his fathers And the temples of his gods." There is a difference between righteous IPAs and devastating martinis. My martini glass is half+ filled. At least until come Saturday evening.

12-1, 32, 30. A whole bunch of 1 score differential games vs the best and the worst opponents. OT loss to UGA in the PO semi-final Orange Bowl game. Revenge the following season?

That's the game plan. Emphasis on "in his role." His role is not to screw up. Kid is a gamer and a competitor who also has the respect of his teammates. But his game is contrary to what the Ducks will need to do in the Rose Bowl this Saturday. These Bruins play poorly against the mid-range pass and the deep ball. Like at Ohio State, Moorhead needs to get the TEs involved with underneath drag routes and back in the ball game. And please, perhaps run some hurry up O and on occasion spread the field and line up other than in a phone booth? Running the ball directly at the UCLA D will be playing right into Chip's hands. OT: Moorhead is among the leading candidates for the WAZZU job. But he may want to wait until seeing what PSU's James Franklin will, if anything, do? He would also be a viable candidate for the Penn State job.

I deservedly took it in the shorts last week going 1-2. Betting an Over on a Ducks game? Go to your room! Bama gave me an easy cover over the Pirate. Mark Stoops Kentucky boys would not quit in Athens and scored late to keep Georgia within 22.5 points. I'm 10-7 on the season. Not great but decent. I find the oddsmakers are having an easier time in 2021 coming up with more accurate spreads than was the case in COVID 2020. Here goes. 6-0 Oklahoma State, #8 in this week's AP poll heads into Ames, Iowa, Saturday with 7 points in its pocket. 2L Iowa State is -7. But I'm not taking OK ST +7. With a +210 potential payday I'm taking OK ST Straight Up. Come on Gundy, Be A Man! 5-1 Notre Dame, #13 in the AP, is -7 playing in South Bend against the USC Trojans. No one likes the Irish most favored nation playoff status than moi. Get thee to a conference! But as erratic as the Domers have played this season I still like the Irish by more than a TD at home vs the dysfunctional Trojans. Oregon St +3 vs Utah. The Beavers was idle last week while a lot of emotion went into Utah's pre-game honoring of 2 deceased teammates (so very sad) and into the Utes coming back from a 2 TD deficit to defeat a ranked Sun Devils team. This W puts the Utes squarely in control of the Pac-12 South. But I like what J Smith is cooking up in Corvallis. I cannot help but think that Utah is ready for a let down? I'm taking the home team plus the points. Never bet more than your significant other can ignore.

FYI, A+M defeated Bama 2 weeks ago. 2 A+M OL true frosh were both just named to the ESPN and the CBS all-frosh teams. How is true frosh Caleb Williams looking at Oklahoma? True frosh TE Bowers at Georgia? You have studs for 3 years in CFB before they head for the NFL. You do not have the luxury of waiting for youngsters to mature on their own. They have to be coached up and they have to have the opportunity to play. If these youngsters on both sides of the ball get no experience this season why do folks believe that 2022 will be a special season?

YES! 30, you have figured IT out, bless you. In order to play its best ball the Ducks has to kick off at 9 AM Pacific time! KIDDING! Not trying to be at all sarcastic. Dummy me figured the early KO time in Columbus would hurt the Ducks but Oregon played its best ball of the season. This was right up there with my prediction that Charlie Brewer transferring from Baylor to Utah would be the most impactful transfer of the season. And last Saturday? I played the Over in the CAL game. Nothing to see here, move right along.

Thanks Darren. Very timely as the D on Saturday is going to have to stand up and hold up against an excellent rushing attack. UCLA has rushed for 200+ yards in its last 13 games. The UCLA OL and running attack punished the LSU DL and LB corps. LSU obviously has coaching issues in 2021 but the guys playing for LSU are all top drawer recruits. Unfortunately UCLA's weakness, defending the mid-range and deep ball in pass coverage, is not likely to be oft exploited by this Oregon O? If DTR at QB is playing well, he is so streaky, the Bruins will be tough to stop. Between Kelly's and the Ducks desire to run the ball this game could be over in 3 hours? Will anyone be surprised if this tilt finishes as a 1 score differential W for one or the other team?

Donnie, you're out of your element.

FSU that was blown out by the Ducks in the first playoff game that was played in the Rose Bowl was lucky it played in the ACC. That FSU team was undefeated only due to the poor competition it faced. And Dabo Swinney never apologized for winning a weak ACC and going to the final 4.

I think this game like many the Ducks game will be tight into the 4th Q? FGs may well decide the ball game? Based on the Os both teams run, emphasis on the run, I think possessions will be at a premium? If I am right, you can't leave the field after any sustained drive without putting points on the board. This will not be Army vs Navy but I do think this game has a chance to finish in the allotted 3 and a half hours? PLEASE do not give us the crew that we saw at Stanford or the one that called holding last week late in the game on what should have been PI on the CAL WR.

For Blount's sake that was the best tackle Scott Frost ever made. If Blount had gotten into the stands?

Thank goodness Cam made a great comeback to date. Last season I don't think he had a prayer of making a 49 yard FG attempt.

I do not think Mario per se is being criticized. The system he is running on O is being criticized. You cannot allow inferior opponents to hang in and not expect to be criticized. You cannot mismanage the game clock in the end game and not be criticized. Unlike the recent situation at LSU I believe that the vast majority of Oregon fans want Mario to succeed + get to the playoff. I know that I for one want to see this happen. When you make $5M a year to coach a CFB team you will be criticized when the team does not perform up to the level of the talent on the roster. But the team is 5-1 and for that Mario deserves a pat on the back. IMO on Saturday it's on the D? Will the D be able to stand up to the UCLA run game? LSU could not do so.

Too bad. But state employees have to follow state rules and regulations. And Washington certainly abided by the state and federal constitution by allowing an exemption from vaccination for religious reasons. Rolo and the other fired guys will find gainful employment elsewhere. An after thought but this is good for Oregon. WAZZU was coming on and had not trailed an opponent in the 4th Q this season before the opponent made a comeback to win the game. I do feel bad for WSU players.