I sure hope the Ducks have spent last week and this week getting the team back to were they were during the Ohio State game. Watched Utah pound the Dante led Trojans (I'm sure he's looking for another job for next season). UCLA, Utah, OSU for starters are not going to be easy games, most likely Cal will be the easiest for the rest of the season. It looks like a lot of teams have improve as the season has progressed and obviously we have gone the other way.

I recorded the game. I have watched and rewatched the targeting call. If you watch it, notice that Thibs is actually pushed from behind by a Stanford player right before his head makes contact with McKee. If you are pushed the motion causes the body and head to go forward. It appears to me like his motion was involuntary. I do not agree with the targeting call.

Road to Northern division championship open again, BYU knocked off of Oregon's Tail.

Now, can Oregon take advantage?

The Duck Women's program is developing into a powerhouse across the board. Along with BB, golf, volleyball and softball, the Duck women's soccer team is undefeated, recently beating Cal and holding a highly ranked UCLA team to a draw. All of this, it seems, was part of a long range plan to jointly elevate all sports at Oregon to the highest levels of excellence and making it a truly elite and unique collegiate sports destination.

IMHO, it also seems apparent that it also markets, showcases, a wide variety of athletic gear from a certain Portland company directly into these multiple sports in a symbiotic and mutually profitable enterprise. Not too shabby, I'd say. Go Ducks! And Nike, too.

Link:https://goducks.com/news/2021/9/30/womens-soccer-win-at-cal-keeps-ducks-unbeaten.aspx

I'm going to go through the positions as the Ducks heal up this week starting with QB. We'll look at the PFF grades and then come up with a DSA letter grade for the positions.

Anybody hearing anything?

College athletes are one step closer to becoming professionals, courtesy of a recent memo from the National Labor Relations Board.

The NLRB has interpreted that college FB and BB players should be considered as employees of the schools. This would give them protections such as the right to unionize. This is an advisory, and not a ruling. It i also notable the agency criticises the use of the term "student atheletes".

Employees of the schools! What does this imply on the controls of the NIL money?

Got this from a private newsletter on politics and financis.

Sitting in Dallas Airport waiting for connection to Carolina. My yard needs a LOT of TLC!

This is a grade of their college performance this season rather than their pro potential:

46) Anthony Brown | Oregon​

Preseason ranking: 71st (+25)

Brown rises a bit, mainly due to the fact that he defeated Ohio State in Columbus earlier this season. Still, while Brown wasn’t the ultimate culprit in Oregon’s loss to Stanford in Week 5 (hello, refs), he did have his hand in the decision. Brown is a great game manager and gives the Ducks a chance to win more often than not.

Brown has been terrific on the ground (save for an ill-advised decision not to pitch it against Stanford), rushing for 198 yards already this season. He’s thrown for 6 touchdowns and just 1 interception, but just as he wore out his welcome at Boston College, another loss to inferior Pac-12 schools will likely see him do the same in Eugene.

I published a recruiting update on Johnathan Slack this morning. Oregon is a team that really stuck out during our conversation. It sounds like Coach Cristobal has taken the lead on his recruitment, and the two have developed a great relationship. Relationships are a big deal for Johnathan, so that should bode well for Oregon.

I have been following Johnathan since his freshman year, and the kid has developed into a really nice prospect. His HS coach has put out a number of big time players, and told me early on that Slack had major potential.


3 game Jr HL: Login to view embedded media

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I handle Duck losses waaaaaay better than I used to , but this one makes me sick to my stomach. This whole season was about one game. Ohio state. After Ohio state they have not been ready to play in any game. I could understand Stoneybrook and even Arizona, but this was the game of the year and as usual they were not prepared to play. Manhandled by a mediocre 2-2 team. The Ducks talk a good game , but they never back it up. They talk about "process" and "being physical", but year after year, Stanford 3 star players beat the hell out of Oregon' s 4 star players. If anyone thinks they still have a chance, forget it. There is no way in hell this team will win out. Even if they did, anyone who watched this knows that Oregon is not top 10 team, let alone a playoff team. Probably end up 9-4. One problem is the QB. He is a lifetime 55% completion guy. He just misses to many easy throws, and continues to overthrow every deep ball. Time to play Thompson and get him some experience. No chance for playoffs so why play a senior who is mediocre as hell, Build for the future

Now is the time if it is going to happen. Many think Mario is a very stubburn coach and not very flexible in his thinking, so if you had to put down a $1000 bucks on your answer, what say you?

Overall DSA grades are good for the interior DL.

Brandon Dorlus, Popo Aumavae: A-
Kristian Williams, Keyon Ware-Hudson: B+
Jayson Jones: B-

Sua'ava Poti and Keanu Williams need more snaps to get a grade.

Overall Interior DL grade through five games: B+

Here are the PFF grades through five games for the interior DL.

https://www.espn.com/college-footba...ch-karl-dorrell-shoves-tv-camera?platform=amp

Wondering if Mr. Gilmore might weigh in on this.

Some thoughts on the NIL. Although I think its right that players profit from their likeness, there are obviously going to be some programs who can take more advantage these rules. The Ducks could be right at the top, which is good, but overall I don't like that the playing field will be even less level. I'm sure they will change or add rules as it goes, but here one of my questions. What is going to stop a Nike or other companies from signing kids to large contracts that would allow them to walk-on rather than take up a scholarship? This would allow teams to sign top prospects to the walk on program and sign more players every year?

My son was a walk-on at Oregon so I think it would be great if companies hired walk-ons. Maybe even as a group. Of course they would not get the KT type money but it would be great to see these kids getting a couple grand a month, or whatever to help them out. Maybe doing group commercials for local companies or whatever. Would like to see this happen , but would not like to see it go the extreme of my question above. Even though the Ducks would be one of the haves, it would be really bad for at least half the college football programs