Yesterday was completely expected and completely unexpected at the same time. Boise State has our number, and their isn't a high enough ceiling in the world for us to blow them out.

But here are my takeaways.

At a high level:

Despite our returning production there is still a world where we are this year's Penn State. Not that I expect a complete implosion, but that sometimes returning production isn't enough to overcome a few key losses and a different slate of competitors.

But the most likely scenario is we just played the G6 representative for this years playoff, and will probably experience the most improvement from game 1 to the end of the regular season than any other top 15 team.

Positive takeaways from the game:

The OL has a higher ceiling than last year's team

Davon Benjamin is a stud only a half notch down from Finney who will give us an all American DB for years that can play nickel and any other position in the secondary

Dante Moore will be improved in being an on-field OC. There was one audible he made that game us a 50 yard play. Expect more of that.

Mathew Johnson may be better than Amauri Washington on the DL before the end of the season.

Kicking was excellent. Kickoffs never resulted in anything past the 25, punts were effective despite lack of hang time, and field goal kicking was good, every PAT split the uprights and contact on the field goal was solid even if the direction wasn't perfect.

Negative takeaways from the game:

The most annoying traits of our offense and defense are Dan Lanning's not the coordinators and they aren't going away- A DL that plays containment over disruption, with an overall defense that bends through 3rd downs and breaks in the red zone, and an offense that prefers high completion ratio passes to players in space, even thoough Bo Nix and Tez Johnson are long gone. 7 passes behind the line of scrimmage for a loss and Dan Lanning said after the game, the play calling was good, it was just a player execution issue. News flash, bubble screens, reverses and passes to the flat to RBs don't work against experienced and determined DBs which Boise State's portal DBs showed.

Making Hill RB1 when Davison is our most effective runner is not an improvement.

We seriously are going to miss Bryce Boetcher -Jerry Mixon just doesn't have the hyper aggressive physical mindset needed to dominate between the tackles. If the RBs aren't stuffed by the DL or a nickel in run support it's 4-10 yards before they are brought down.

Things I Don't Think are long term issues:

Run blocking wasn't good but will get cleaned up. Stupid penalties will get cleaned up. Muffed punts will get cleaned up

How we compare against fellow National Championship hopeful Peers:

Having watched USC, Miami, Indiana and even some other not top 10 teams play, I can say

We aren't going to win a natty. Why? Our QB is not an instinctual baller, our strategic coaching philosophy DNA on offense is not aligned to the players on our roster, and is destined to fail against elite experienced (ie smart and disciplined) teams and our LBs aren't able to keep a strong rushing attack off schedule consistently.

Let's just enjoy the wins this season, but an NC or bust mentality is a guaranteed recipe for disappointment.

Edited 6 hours ago6 hr by Solar

“Our strategic coaching philosophy DNA on offense is not aligned to the players on our roster, and is destined to fail against elite experienced (ie smart and disciplined) teams.”

This is what I keep coming back to on my end. McLaughlin pointed out on his podcast the difference between Oregon and Indiana when they run RPOs. Most of the time, when Indiana pulls the ball, that throw goes out in front of a receiver that is running downfield. Frequently, a quick slant. They put their talented skill position players in a much better position to make a big play because their back is not to the defense when they catch the ball.

When Oregon runs an RPO, frequently the ball this thrown sideways into the flat to a receiver or running back that has his back to the defense. This requires that player to try to turn first before attempting to make a defensive player miss that is running downhill towards the play. As you might guess, this has a low success rate of significant yards after the catch. The end result, as the poster above noted, is 7 negative yard pass plays and two failed 4th down conversions against an G6 school.

Why is Oregon so scared of the middle of the field? And how do you not take a deep shot almost every time when you have 1:1 man coverage with these receivers?

And more importantly, does anyone think this kind of playcalling will work against USC?

Oregon needed complete mismanagement of the clock by Boise at the end of the first half and an incredible play by D. Moore to win that game.

Honestly, I’ll go 9-3 as my prediction for this year. I don’t have confidence that Oregon can call winning, aggressive plays on offense.

I do think the defense will get cleaned up, so I am not focusing as much on that.

Edited 5 hours ago5 hr by GeotechDuck

I project 11-1…some traditions with Duck fans seem to live on 😆

I think I can’t take this format anymore, was a good run y’all!

Edited 5 hours ago5 hr by JabbaNoBargain

Terrific observations, Solar, but the team will improve; the O-line, in particular, will improve.

Dante was poised and efficient, and his 378 passing yards and 3 TDs, with no interceptions, would have been better if 5* WRs, other than for the last TD by Dak, when two Boise DBs collided, had put up more RAC yards.

The kicking game? Thanks for pointing out one of the highlights of the game. But the return game? I thought Perich would bring his return skills with him. I'm particularly interested in seeing Perich's PFF grades.

I believe we will see an improved team next Saturday in Stillwater, even with a 9 AM body-time KO.

For this Duck grey beard it is way to early to make an assessment.

Solar, i agree with JJ that your observations were very good. However, there will be solid improvement going forward.

Boise State could very well make the playoffs. Thats a darn good, well coached football team. Time will tell.

Also, the Offense kept the scheme very simple. No reason to reveal anything for USC to plan for, at this point.

The Ducks started slow and allowed the Broncos to gain MO and quiet the Duck crowd. Don't see that happening again.

Also, starting with the last drive of the first half, the Duck O scored points on 5 straight possessions. They were trying to run out the clock on the 6th possession. Thats pretty darn good.

If the Ducks improve in your areas of concern, then this will be a season to remember.

Go Ducks...beat OSU.

1 hour ago, Solar said:

Making Hill RB1 when Davison is our most effective runner is not an improvement.

I remember some stuff coming out of fall camp that Davison was a little dinged up. The rumor was that be broke something but that turned out false ... But dinged up for sure.

So I think the plan may have been to play Davison sparringly. He was more effective on his carries though as it kind feels like Hill, a back who thrives in space, is being used between the tackles that game ... Can't have him exclusively be the edges guy or the defense will ignore the middle but I feel he wasn't being used to his full potential.

I also think the line is a bit dinged up as well. Iuli was also supposedly injured (minor) in camp and didn't participate as much as you would have wanted .... Again I think the goal was to keep him out for the game but they did end up putting him in later.

The offensive line wasn't bad but it wasn't good either.

I totally agree with your take on the linebackers. Jackson had five tackles and Mixon had four. Good enough for seventh and eighth for the game. The top six tacklers were DB’s and DL. Don’t even get me started on Mixon’s effort on the Sire Gaines TD after the fumbled punt return. I trust that Dan Lanning reminded him that the armless tackle is a very low percentage defensive play.

1. Too many passes behind the line of scrimmage. Opponents know they are coming. There has to be other ways to get the WRs in space.

2. OL needs to jell quickly.

3. REALLY disappointed in the defense. With the talent returning, I expected the defense to throttle the BSU offense. Alas no.

My projection for the season? We are 1-0.

Past that, I can't say anything because of the craziness of college football. Boise State has our number and plays us tough every time....and sometimes they get the better of us (2009 still lives in my brain).

Boise State is a good team. They will probably be looking to be in a playoff spot. We always are gonna look good against a Nichols State or Arkansas State, or even Portland State. We played a potential playoff team. We are 1-0 and have a LOT of improvement to make.

Saddle up for the ride folks, it's gonna be a good one!!