Oregon played well and they deserve big props for handling a power 5, upper echelon team. But speaking as a PAC12 guy, the problem hasn't been handling the out of conference games. It's been running the gauntlet of the PAC12 schedule. Look at those great USC team that would get nicked playing a night game in Corvalis. And even Oregon or Stanford when they've made runs. You'll get everyone's best shot and most time these best shots are offensive with tons of skilled player especially QBs and WRs.
Agreed.............There are so many high scoring up-and-down the field games these days (all over College and NFL) that it is refreshing to see two highly ranked and respected teams such as Southern California and Stanford go toe-to-toe.............Even in the the SEC with A&M, Auburn, and Mississippi State their games turn into a track meet at times (even our Atlanta Falcons yesterday in the NFL where it felt like whoever had the football last wins).....What I'm saying is we already got plenty of shootouts (more than enough to keep everyone entertained) so it is great to see a different, physical and defensive style game..
As far as the Oregon-Michigan State game the momentum changed once Oregon started to play defense.........That has to be a huge psychological lift for an offense like Oregon when their defense turns it up like that............One guy on the Oregon defense looks NFL ready right now (Arik Armstead) as the natural talent and potential stands out ........They have another player that is a lockdown corner as well.........
WS,
You are referring to Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, the DB who made the highlight play, the athletic pick he hauled in as he laid out horizontally to end all hope for MSU. As far as Arik Armstead goes, better late than never I guess... I say this because I have mentioned him a few times this year in my Pac-12 thread. He IS NFL ready right now. Things like that HAVE to be VERY significant to make it through your SEC information filters, what little of it that manages to do that. If it's not something that registers on the Richter scale, it's probably not going to make it into your craw of CFB data.. or on the whole even worth mentioning. After all, what could possibly be relevant or important outside the SEC conference? (...or at least the Southeast.)
I probably should also remind you of that piece I liberally quoted from about both of Oregon's lines... how they bulked up over the winter and gained roughly 100 lbs on both sides of the LOS. Their S&C was already finely tuned as it could be but their 40 speeds were such that they could still put on 20 lbs. per man without slowing down. The article also went on to mention that the only thing that was changed about their routine was the diet that the team's nutritionist had her big uglies eating. She did the same for Marcus Mariota last year when he added 20 lbs to his 6'4" frame. In spite of the extra weight, his 40 yard dash time actually improved. I mentioned at the time that growing kids can get away with things like that. But the difference on the LOS here was significant. No longer could Oregon's OL be pushed around. The same can be said for their DL.
So what took them so long to make it work for them in the game last week? I thought about that and I came up with a theory. The Ducks never had an opportunity to use their bulk against an opponent that had been winning games (including vs. Oregon) with their physical size for a long time. The main reason for this is because the Ducks simply didn't have that so-called "bulk." One would think that being beaten in the trenches by Auburn, LSU and twice by Stanford raised their awareness of how much "size matters" in the trenches -- and it did that. This is not rocket science. It's pretty simple. Bigger is better.
Now all of that has changed. However at the start, the Ducks played as if they didn't know what they had on the shelf ready to use for their own benefit. Putting what they learned through experience and how they had ramped up a couple of sizes... putting all of the above into practice against a competitive opponent represents the "cherry on the top" of their new-found physical game. This was actually the first time Oregon's bigger size up front was put into use in a physical game vs a physical opponent.
Everyone that watched the game witnessed the first "bigness" ever brought to the LOS just for its own sake in an Oregon game. One of their offensive linemen talked on opponents that had been physically imposing in an interview after the game. "It doesn't bother us because we can be physical too." It takes some getting used to if you are a Duck, but I think they will be just fine.
It's perception. I believe it was back in '04 when a middle of the pack Beaver team went into Baton Rouge at night and lost in OT to LSU 22-21. What everyone forgets is that Beavs missed like 2 chipshot FG, 3XP including the most critical one in OT that would have sent the game into a second OT. That was a really good LSU team with J'Marcus Russell and Marcus Randall. Granted, it was a rainy night in Baton Rouge but that Beaver team deserved better that night.
The Pac-12 is perceived high these days nationally despite some West Coasters trying to play the "we don't get no respect" card again.........That just isn't true..........Are they perceived to be the best conference? No, but they are 2nd and that is very high considering all the conferences out there...........The two games I wanted to see the most last week both involved
Pac-12 teams........(USC vs Stanford along with Oregon vs Michigan State)..............You can tell a lot about a conference by their coaches and the Pac-12 is loaded with them which only leads to a more superb product on the field..............Yeah, we give Oregon crap for slipping up at times (although still respected), but that is only because Stanford plays more like a SEC style.....Southern California is a great team as well and when they were winning titles they were dominating in all parts of the game and were extremely respected by everyone which they earned.......But going back to the main point which is people want to see the best football, teams, and coaches and the Pac-12 is right up there these days and perceived to be the 2nd best conference in the land overall which is an extremely high perception.
Completely agree. Although we think we're #1...(LOL)
And it's not nationally, its really just in this forum. Lots of SEC fans and that's a good thing. It's a good rivalry between conferences. PAC12 is building and it's one of the offshoots of the PAC12 network. All the teams are building new facilities or expanding facilities, etc. And they are able to pay their coaches and get better coaches and staffs.
And last year there was Florida State who won the title and they earned it, but let's be honest........Oregon would have won every game on the same schedule and at least been in the National Title Game.......This is a great reason why I thought a playoff was needed (so teams can't get in the final game with weaker schedules).........Can you imagine Oregon playing Duke in the ACC Title Game with a chance to play for the National Title? I'm going to go out on the limb and say they would have won that game
