If you are anything like me, you are steamed about the lack of TV for this game. I wrote about it for this week’s ODE GameDay supplement – along with a feature on one of my favorite Ducks, Nick Reed. I don’t say favorite because he’s such a friendly guy, he’s really not, (which is a good trait in any defensive player) I just love to watch him play. Our editor at ODE sports and my wingman on the football beat, Andrew Greif, wrote a game preview and a piece about the Duck linebackers. Our first guy off the bench on the football beat, Robert Husseman, took a look at the Sun Devils. Finally, our “Behind enemy Lines” column from a sports reporter for the opposing school’s newspaper.
My prediction -
I think we see (or hear, given the lack of TV) Masoli at quarterback for most of the game. I do think Roper will get a series in the second quarter and possibly one in the third, (depending on the outcome of his first series) as has been Bellotti’s MO in quarterback rotation situations past. I think he will have some rust though, and Masoli will be more effective this week. In the future? Who knows, not even the coaches are venturing a guess at that.
We’ll see big days from Blount and Johnson on the ground, as the Ducks once again outgain the aerial attack with the run game. These two will rush for about 100 yards each, with a touchdown each to boot. Masoli grabs another 50 on the ground, and throws a touchdown. To who? Your guess is as good as mine. I do think the receivers will go to greater lengths to bring the ball in this week, as their drops have caught them alot of grief as a unit these past couple weeks. You have to think their focus will be better for this game. Hopefully, they feel a little challenged, the Ducks as a whole always perform better with something to prove.
On defense, the Ducks will rely on their front line to contain the Sun Devils’ anemic run game and use some LB blitzes to get to Carpenter like they did against UCLA. They sacked him nine times last year at Autzen, and I don’t think a similar number is too far fetched. I’m going to say seven, two each for Reed and Tukuafu, one each for Boyd and Matthews and one for a DT, either Harris or Linehan. We’ll see Carpenter throw two picks as well, and Byrd will get one of them. The Duck D will get burned a couple of times deep (not really going out on a limb there, am I?) leading to the close score, but will make a late stand to seal the win, maybe the second pick is what ends it.
Final score – Oregon 27, Arizona State 24
some links -
As I’m perusing for Duck analysis on the web, I always go to the Register-Guard’s Ken Woody (former college player and coach) who does an incredible job of answering reader questions in an educated and forthright manner. Amazing stuff.
Here’s a piece from the RGs Rob Moseley (undisputed top football blogger on the beat) about the recovery of 6-7, 215 lb. freshman wide receiver Dion Jordan. He won’t factor in down the stretch this season, but will be a big part of replacing JWill and TScott next year.
John Hunt is Oregon’s only AP poll vote, and this week he wrote about the secondary and the receivers, as well as a piece on the quarterbacks.
Wednesday, Oct. 22 was the 14th anniversary of The Pick - Funnier version
Here is a random article from the Tucson Citizen about why Arizona Basketball might become Oregon basketball with the retirement of Lute Olsen this week.
