The Kamikaze Kid

As if we didn't have enough motivation to root for the Ducks!

Excellent article. The commentary on this forum and the analysis and brake downs by Charles and many off the other writers makes FishDuck some of the best Duck content on the web. Here's my two cents. One of the things that makes it difficult to beat a good team twice is the team that lost needs to change something while the team that won does not. Indy will be Indy. That's what they do. That's who they are. In game one. OBD were still figuring themselves out. A bunch of youngsters were starting and playing significant roles along with a bunch of transfers doing the same. After blasting through an easy non conference schedule and rising to the challenge of the PSU white out game, The Ducks had a bye week then a home game against a lower ranked team much like the Illinois game last year. I feel like they felt they just needed to show up and do their thing and the rest would take care of itself. Except Indiana doesn't shoot themselves in the foot, is always doing the right thing, plays every snap with passion and has taken on the self confidence that pours from their coach. Google him. Oregon soon found that just doing their thing wasn't enough, every poor coaching decision or lack of execution could and would be used against them and finding that next gear to rise above it is easier said than done against competition of Indiana's caliber. Mike has pointed out an excellent game plan. The coaching staff all need to embrace the need for inner growth and not just preach it to the players. I feel that the entire program was humbled last time and a sense of humility will be required to allow themselves to grow from the experience. I feel this is the most significant game of Lanning's tenure as head coach for that very reason. I am sure that will be the primary focus this week and we see the team we've been waiting for all season on Friday. Man am I hyped for this one!

Great article. Here are my three things learned. Lanning still has a gambling problem. Situational awareness and risk/ reward need much more scrutiny. Up 13-0 near mid field going for it again on 4th down and fail. Why? Just pin them back deep. Let the D keep dominating and get the ball back around mid field. Poor decisions like this could become huge momentum swings for no reason. OBD can ride the D. Watching the team squander scoring opportunities with sloppy red zone plays and 4th down gambles instead of taking points was made much less stressful by a defense that absolutely controlled the game. Finney is the man! The Ducks have the highest remaining ceiling and the lowest floor. If the O and D put together two complete games, the Ducks will be national champions. If domination doesn’t match the scoreboard like the TT first half or the first 3 quarters against PSU, they won’t survive. This teams history will be determined by their growth in the next seven days.

And the game is over. Wait no it’s not. OK now it’s over. Wait no it’s not. Now it’s over. Wait there’s a penalty. Clown show ending to a great game that should have had a great ending.

Put that in your tortilla and smoke it!

It wouldn’t shock me if much of the work load has already been shifted to their replacements already on staff.

Can’t decide who to root for. On one hand it’s always fun to watch Mario blow it. On the other, it may be better for tOSU to go down now before building that playoff momentum we saw last year.

He’s the current favorite for the Bronny James award.

You can add TCU to SUC’s we’re not gonna play you anymore list.

OBD 21-17 2 TOs 3 Sacks 275 passing

What a fantastic article. Well researched and sourced. Inside info from V Mac II as a bonus. Bravo! I can’t wait for this game. To me this is the they either are or they ain’t game we’ve been waiting for. TT is no joke on either side of the ball and have strengths at every position group OBD usually can pencil in advantages at. Any advantage will need to be earned and every disadvantage will need to be compensated for or else. Pass this test and OBD is that team we hoped they were and a championship will be possible. Come up short then they ain’t that team yet but let’s just not go there. Man I can’t wait for the New Year

Great analysis. I think one thing being over looked is the stage factor. This is OBD’s third NY6 bowl in a row under Lanning. TT will be facing all the grandeur that comes with that for the first time. Also, the Ducks have gone on the road to Michigan last year as well as the PSU white out this year. TT has had nothing comparable. Throw in the tooth and nail scrap with Indiana and the car wash rock fight at Iowa and I think the Ducks will be more battle tested and that will be the difference.

Like when the drunk at the bar calls Mike Tyson shorty.

I wonder if Novo had gone somewhere else and played early if he would be a QB the Ducks would be thinking about portalling in next year. If this is how the future of the QB spot is selected it seems to me that the days of signing top level QBs is over. Am I missing something?

JMU probably beats them both.

If he's following Stein, why announce anything? Why not just playout the season maybe get in a playoff game, then follow him out the door? I don't understand these early announcements.

If he goes out and gets a young top level D coordinator like a next Lanning that gets groomed to take over in a few years, UM could be trouble.

This is great news. Not only for the run game but his pass blocking might make the difference against the TT pass rush.

I remember saying in the third quarter that I hope he takes starters out even if it costs us some beauty points. He did and it did. In the end the Ducks cruised to victory and many starters aren’t much worse for the wear. I really hope Davison is OK. With him there’s a lot of poison to pick from. At this point, OBD may have the best receiver room, running back room, tight end room, and O line in the country. Plus a high first round QB running the show. They will be a problem for any D they face.

I’m torn on what we all witnessed. On one hand they did exactly what I wanted. Build a big lead, put in back ups and rest starters. On the other I also realize that comes with less than stellar results which is the trade off. It’s hard not to be the spoiled fan disappointed that we didn’t both dominate AND play the backups. Like. I said in point six, I hope the less than satisfactory ending keeps the team humble and focused. I’m sure Lanning will be using it for this week’s motivation.

1. J Mac has arrived. Add in Benson and Dak Moore and that receiver group will be a problem for anybody. Dante has enough “it” to win a championship. Add that together with point number one along with Sadiq and the Ducks passing game will be a problem. JMU’s offense was better than expected and posed problems. The D did a great job of containing it to build a 34-3 lead. The momentum shift was startling/ concerning. About to go up 55-13, then a slip, an interception, a big return and a final score of 51-34. Ouch. I’m worried about the Davison injury. I want him back 100% against TT. Call me greedy. I’m not aware of any other injuries. For that I’m thankful. I’m hoping a dominant performance with a humbling ending sets up a confident and focused lead up to round two.

That collective gulp you just heard came from the Seattle area.

OBD 42-13 2 4 315

Great find and nice breakdown. If JMU wants to mimic the Husky game plan, that’s all right with me.