This is how I'm looking at this season: it's a rebuilding year. We're young. Against Cal, we started zero (!!!) seniors on D, and only two on O.
I'm looking for effort and gradual improvement, particularly on defense.
DL: Our DT's continued to get reached by zone blocking, but we also saw some good things. Manu and Maloata made plays. Youngsters like Baker and Kirby flashed potential. Out DE's didn't always help out in the run game (getting too far up field on run plays or being fooled by Cal's wrinkle in the run game--the zone read), but Jelks showed again he's a budding playmaker and Mondoux and Daniel showed some physicality on a few plays.
LBs: Many of you will remember Joe Walker's play in his first year at Oregon. It was bad, as he missed tackle after tackle. Several DSA members ridiculed him in post after post. By his senior year he was a very good backer and this year he was on his way to making the Eagle's two-deep if not for a knee injury. I see the same sort of potential with some of our current LBs, Hotchkins, Moi, and Swain, in particular (I have no idea what is going on with Mattingly). Unfortunately, they are not there yet and we're relying on two undersized walk-ons. While I have some sympathy for our LBs because the DL isn't always doing their job, the LB's could do more to force OL off of double teams (which would help the DL) and when the LBs are in the right spot, they need to make plays. Once the more physically talented guys get up to speed (which probably won't be in 2016), this could be a solid unit.
DBs: Ugo Amadi showed flashes last night and Lovette seemed to be in better position. Right now, the biggest disappointment is Springs, who missed several tackles in space, blew a coverage on a fake bubble screen, and got beat on a fade. It's critical as our most veteran CB that he becomes a leader and steps up his play. I was encouraged by the play of our safeties. Schooler is becoming a sure tackler. Multiple times he prevented 15-20 yard gains from becoming TDs. Oliver is doing a much better job playing with leverage against passes to the flat and against the run game.
There isn't any quit in these Ducks despite failing to reach the program's soaring expectations and the negativity in the fan base. The effort was there. We saw flashes of potential. We should keep this in mind, too: this young team is three plays away from being 5-2.
I now surrender myself to DSA's firing squad (pun intended).
I'm looking for effort and gradual improvement, particularly on defense.
DL: Our DT's continued to get reached by zone blocking, but we also saw some good things. Manu and Maloata made plays. Youngsters like Baker and Kirby flashed potential. Out DE's didn't always help out in the run game (getting too far up field on run plays or being fooled by Cal's wrinkle in the run game--the zone read), but Jelks showed again he's a budding playmaker and Mondoux and Daniel showed some physicality on a few plays.
LBs: Many of you will remember Joe Walker's play in his first year at Oregon. It was bad, as he missed tackle after tackle. Several DSA members ridiculed him in post after post. By his senior year he was a very good backer and this year he was on his way to making the Eagle's two-deep if not for a knee injury. I see the same sort of potential with some of our current LBs, Hotchkins, Moi, and Swain, in particular (I have no idea what is going on with Mattingly). Unfortunately, they are not there yet and we're relying on two undersized walk-ons. While I have some sympathy for our LBs because the DL isn't always doing their job, the LB's could do more to force OL off of double teams (which would help the DL) and when the LBs are in the right spot, they need to make plays. Once the more physically talented guys get up to speed (which probably won't be in 2016), this could be a solid unit.
DBs: Ugo Amadi showed flashes last night and Lovette seemed to be in better position. Right now, the biggest disappointment is Springs, who missed several tackles in space, blew a coverage on a fake bubble screen, and got beat on a fade. It's critical as our most veteran CB that he becomes a leader and steps up his play. I was encouraged by the play of our safeties. Schooler is becoming a sure tackler. Multiple times he prevented 15-20 yard gains from becoming TDs. Oliver is doing a much better job playing with leverage against passes to the flat and against the run game.
There isn't any quit in these Ducks despite failing to reach the program's soaring expectations and the negativity in the fan base. The effort was there. We saw flashes of potential. We should keep this in mind, too: this young team is three plays away from being 5-2.
I now surrender myself to DSA's firing squad (pun intended).
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