re: Oregon vs Michigan State selected for ABC game of the week (2)

I'm just saying that line play is a major factor in college for every team. It's not just exclusive to Oregon.

This should be a good game, especially with Michigan State with redemption on their minds and are at home with a Senior QB and a stout D. That usually spells trouble for Oregon.

We'll see, it will be fun though.

I am an Oregon fan. I live it.

The good news for us is that coach Frost is determined to play physical up front. The DL is already there. We need better linebackers.

If Jimmie Swain continues his trajectory at ILB and we get another gear from Christian French, the front seven will be great.

However, I am not holding my breath. Hopefully Pellum at DC gets that bump in production as a playcaller going from 1st to 2nd year.

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BOOM............. But they always are....

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We played in a meaningful bowl and didn't lose to Notre Dame in the post season.

I have seen Oregon ahead and Msu in others. It's pretty even.

Unless your linebacker play improves it's going to be the same old same old at the end of the season. The Oregon linebackers were atrocious in the National Championship game and the interior defensive linemen weren't much better. I liked the ends but they were undisciplined at times which lead to gashes in the running game and running lanes when Jones chose to tuck it and run.

Here's the rub. Every year we hear from Oregon fans that this year the team is different. Maybe this is the year they prove it but until then I'm skeptical.

It's been well publicized, but Ohio State killed Oregon on the boundary counter trey pulling the back side guard and TE across the flow of the jet sweep(which forced Oregon to keep a high safety and numbers to the field). The only thing in a 3-4 front (which Oregon almost primarily runs) that can stop that is either:

A) Superb defensive line play, shedding blockers and beating the back to the hole

or

B) Linebackers actually doing their job in a 3-4 defense and not reading the flow, but reading their keys and playing assignment football.

Oregon was unable to do either. Sure, maybe their DL graded out ok but they didn't do enough to make a difference and their LBs were pathetic.

This wasn't a game where Ohio State just got luck a few times, it was a total systematic break-down over the course of 60 minutes.

Our coaches emphasize pursuit above all. You countered that. However, this is the same front that held MSU to it's second lowest total. If you can get our linebackers zigging instead of zagging, you win. MSU won't do that. Their bread and butter is the OZ and stretch, which runs right into the teeth of our defense. Likewise, you had three options with the jet sweep, counter trey with your RB, and the qb run with mr shotgun.

However, the linebackrs aren't pathetic. They do have a weakness and tOSU was one of the few if not the only team that could expose it. Sonny Dykes did to an extent but he had to put in a whole new package with a running qb and Jones could hit us deep.

Kudos to you guys. You have a school with 60k enrollment in a state with a lot of local talent. Be happy that you can go get the best of the best and be grateful without being a dick. It's a good life lesson.

In the meantime, I am going to enjoy the success my local school is enjoying.

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Don't act like you're in the poor house with Uncle Phil backing you.

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It's what has brought us success, for sure. However, we are a geographic oddity when it comes to high school football. We get 8 D1 players that are all going to Wyoming.