Any predictions on the Oregon/Tennessee game?

[THE HCP]

I'm not impressed with the Ducks' defense. I've never been an Alliotti fan.

Take that brother!

 

[MickZagger]

College football fans are louder, but the principle is the same in any sport. If "crowd" trumps "talent" (by making a game between very unequally talented teams close), your team is mentally weak.

Ask an O-lineman or a QB (particularly a young QB) how much a crowd of 100,000 can effect their play.

There is a big money playmaker Cliff Harris making another great play.

 

[MickZagger]

I'm not impressed with the Ducks' defense. I've never been an Alliotti fan.

UO's defense was the best in the Pac-10 last year. His defense is a gamble defense, relying on athleticism.

 

[Minstrel]

Ask an O-lineman or a QB (particularly a young QB) how much a crowd of 100,000 can effect their play.

Young quarterbacks get rattled, I agree. Sure there's a disadvantage to hearing the snap count when it's loud, for an offensive lineman, but it should never be sufficient to almost neutralize a huge talent edge.

But as I figured, it was just a bad half of play (or almost a bad half...the final minutes of the first half were strong). In the second half, Oregon is separating itself.

 

[THE HCP]

D is steppin' up!

 

[tlongII]

UO's defense was the best in the Pac-10 last year. His defense is a gamble defense, relying on athleticism.

His defenses get gashed by power running teams. Tennessee's coach screwed up by not staying with the run in the 2nd half.

 

[Minstrel]

His defenses get gashed by power running teams. Tennessee's coach screwed up by not staying with the run in the 2nd half.

You can counter that by loading up against the run...the opposing offense has to throw the ball at that point. But UO's athleticism helps there.

 

[MickZagger]

His defenses get gashed by power running teams. Tennessee's coach screwed up by not staying with the run in the 2nd half.

They really haven't had a chance to run on them as much in 2nd half and Oregon has adjusted to the Tennessee game plan to power the ball through with Poole.

The 2nd half has been dominated by Oregon because they've controlled the ball in the second half. I'd like to see time of possession in this half.

Thats definitely the key to beating Oregon is controlling the ball and wearing out the defense with power running. It helps if you have 2 RB's to rely on, not just 1 like the Vols.

 

[THE HCP]

Defense is taking this game over!

 

[MickZagger]

Cliff Harris is a stud. Best corner we've had since Rashad Bauman and Steve Smith.

 

[THE HCP]

Who's # 16 that returned 2 punts last week? What's his story?

 

[MickZagger]

Who's # 16 that returned 2 punts last week? What's his story?

That was #13 that returned those punts. Its Cliff Harris, a shutdown corner. #6 best corner in the nation as a Senior.

 

[THE HCP]

Same guy? Damn, he is good! What year is he?

 

[THE HCP]

That pass was sick!!!!! Akili Smith style!

 

[THE HCP]

BARNER IS A FUCKING BEAST!

 

[THE HCP]

We are squared away at our skilled positions!!!!

 

[Minstrel]

Oregon needs to blow the doors off Tennessee in the second half.

They listened to me. Chip Kelly probably played some role as well.

 

[MickZagger]

Same guy? Damn, he is good! What year is he?

Same guy. He's a Sophmore.

 

[espn_hall_of_famer]

Here's where the tide will turn in Oregon's favor. Mark it down, Oregon's going on a huge run starting now.

Good call. Not sure of the exact moment you posted it, but man did they go on a huge run ever since that last minute of the first half.

 

[espn_hall_of_famer]

I suppose it should be in OT forum, but I'm directing this at Blazer fans and don't think anyone would find it there.

So any thoughts on the game?

Might sound pretty simple from someone who usually overthinks these things, but I really think if Oregon scores in muliples of 7's and gets 3-4 breakaway TDs (including kickoff returns, punt returns, breakaway runs or catches over 50 yards) then I think that should be enough for Tennessee to get so far behind that they're slow 10-minute drive offensive simply will get pulled out of their style of play and they'll be making mistakes and the game will get ugly and Oregon will pull away by 20+ after that.

But if Tennessee holds them to no long TD's over 50 yards, then this could be a nail-biter for Duck fans.

Not going to say I hit the nail on the head exactly, but the difference between the two halves was what I was getting at. You stall and kick 3 pt field goals, and you're going to get yourself in trouble against a physical team playing in front of 105K people. But when you have some break-away TDs (like James 70 yard run and the pick 6 that followed) Tennessee was suddenly down so many points that you knew, they knew and the fans in the stadium all knew they were never going to make it back from that deficit.

Gotta admit, another nice. If they put another 72-0 on PSU next week, gonna have to be getting some national attention in the top 5.

 

[Natebishop3]

Props to Tennessee though. I think they're going to be good. They just didn't have the experience to close it out. They rode the crowd and young exuberance to an early lead, but the Ducks had too much experience and too much overall talent.

It was really enjoyable to see all those loud mouthed Vols fans looking down and out at the end of the game.

 

[espn_hall_of_famer]

I suppose it should be in OT forum.

I think you would get more feedback where this actual belongs, College Football... here.

No offense, but I just looked and that entire thread hasn't been responded on since yesterday and the entire "College Football" messageboard has 6 threads in the last 24 hours. So I think the fact that this thread (even in the OT forum) is getting 80+ posts proves my point.

 

[THE HCP]

No offense, but I just looked and that entire thread hasn't been responded on since yesterday and the entire "College Football" messageboard has 6 threads in the last 24 hours. So I think the fact that this thread (even in the OT forum) is getting 80+ posts proves my point.

Don't listen to that cat, keep it here where we will see it!

 

[VanillaGorilla]

I'm a Tennessee fan and I was very impressed with their first half. They are all young and inexperienced, their number one playmaker on offense was out with an injury, and they have a bunch of players transfer after Kiffin left. The whole time they were up or tied I could just feel that Oregon would take off at any moment. Simms has potential, I think.

 

[Natebishop3]

I'm a Tennessee fan and I was very impressed with their first half. They are all young and inexperienced, their number one playmaker on offense was out with an injury, and they have a bunch of players transfer after Kiffin left. The whole time they were up or tied I could just feel that Oregon would take off at any moment. Simms has potential, I think.

Like I said, I was very impressed with the Vols. That stadium is a huge advantage when the crowd is going, but once the momentum turned, the crowd was pretty much a nonfactor. Poole was pretty solid in the first half, but the Ducks adjusted and he couldn't keep it going. The guy is a beast though.

 

[MickZagger]

I'm a Tennessee fan and I was very impressed with their first half. They are all young and inexperienced, their number one playmaker on offense was out with an injury, and they have a bunch of players transfer after Kiffin left. The whole time they were up or tied I could just feel that Oregon would take off at any moment. Simms has potential, I think.

Why are you a Tennessee fan?

 

[Natebishop3]

Why are you a Tennessee fan?

He loves those Simms boys.

 

[Entity]

Bent... them... over in front of their own fans. I wouldn't want to be Portland State right now. I've never seen 100 points before.

 

[Natebishop3]

Bent... them... over in front of their own fans. I wouldn't want to be Portland State right now. I've never seen 100 points before.

Yeah, I go to PSU, but I've been a Duck fan all my life. I thought PSU was cutting their football program.... maybe they will after the Ducks are done with them.

 

[TehChad]

Portland State is gonna be Oregon's stiffest challenge yet