Currently, the Oregon Ducks are ranked #4 in the BCS behind #3 Alabama, #2 Oklahoma State, and #1 LSU. Directly behind Oregon is Oklahoma at #5 and Arkansas at #6. The following is basically a few notes to consider when voting on this poll:Oregon lost to #1 LSU TigersThe best game left on Oregon's schedule is in this week's game of the week versus #18 USC Trojans.Bama plays an FCS opponent this week, which should hurt them some in the BCS computer rankings.Bama will most likely not play in the SEC Championship Game, and hence, they most likely won't win the SEC Title.Oklahoma will play Oklahoma State in the last game of the seasonArkansas will travel to Baton Rouge to play LSU in the last weekend of the regular seasonIf Arkansas beats LSU, then there will be a tie between three one-loss SEC West teams. The SEC decides chooses a divisional representative in this scenario by checking the BCS rankings. If any of the three teams are within five spots of each other, then the SEC Western Title is given to the winner of the heads up match between the two highest ranked teams.As you can see, there is a great possibility of total anarchy occurring this season. The question is, however...Can the Oregon Ducks get to the BCS National Championship Game?
In week 12 of the 2011 college football season, the #18 USC Trojans travel to Eugene, OR to play the #4 Oregon Ducks in Autzen Stadium. The Ducks are coming off their biggest win of the season over the #9 Stanford Cardinal. The difference in that game was Stanford was unable, once again, to keep up with Oregon's speed.This week, the Ducks face a depleted USC team currently battling through NCAA Probation and Sanctions. The Trojans may not have depth, but they are highly talented at most positions. A key distinction between Stanford and USC is the Trojans have deep threats at the wide receiver positions with Robert Woods and Marqise Lee, and the Cardinal didn't. Like the Cardinal, USC also has a prototype NFL quarterback in Matt Barkely. The Ducks will have to contain and stop the Trojans passing game if they want to win this game. Woods and Lee are as good as they get, and both are a threat to score touchdowns whether they catch short passes and have to make plays with their legs or catching the deep ball. The Trojans are 23rd in the nation in passing offense, 28th in total offense, and 4th in sacks allowed. Basically, they have a great offensive line and they like to and are good at throwing the football.USC's offense is great, however, this game will decided by whether the Trojans defense can handle the speed and play-making ability of Oregon's offense. In particular, for the Trojans to upset the Ducks at home, they will have to stop the Ducks run game. Statistically, the Trojans are great at stopping the run and are ranked 8th in the nation giving up only 100.40 yards on the ground per game. However, upon deeper scrutiny, the statistics are misleading. If you glance over USC's schedule, they have only faced one great running back in Chris Polk of the Washington Huskies. I expect the first half to be a good game with the Trojans keeping it close. However, in the second half, Oregon's Heisman Trophy Hopeful, LaMichael James, and crew will take over by wearing out the thin USC defense.Once the Trojans start getting tired, their defense won't be able to handle Oregon's speed. The Ducks are favored by 14.5 points for a reason. For USC to win this game, they have to contain Oregon's team speed on offense. I don't think the Trojans have a chance!USC vs Oregon: Can the Trojans handle the speed of the Ducks?
Following the game versus Arizona State, Chip Kelly was being interviewed by Erin Andrews. In the middle of the interview, he turns towards loud fans behind him celebrating the win and tell them to "shut up" for disrupting the interview. Was he wrong to do that?
Heisman Trophy Hopeful, LaMichael James, has been the Oregon Ducks most explosive weapon this season accounting for over 30% of the total offense. James leads the nation in rushing with an average of 170.4 yards per game and is tied in second place for punt returns with an average of 19.33 yards per return. He has already accounted for 1,148 yards and touchdowns. This weekend against the Arizona State Sun Devils, however, the Ducks will have to play without James after he suffered an elbow injury in Oregon's last game versus Cal. The injury is not season ending, but we do know he can't play against ASU Saturday. The Ducks have great depth at the running back position with Kenjon Barner and De'Anthony Thomas, who are both already major contributors to the Ducks offense. They will need them and quarterback Darron Thomas to fill James shoes. ASU's defense is not terrible, but hasn't been great either this season:Arizona State Defensive StatisticsTotal Defense: 41; 349.00 yards given up per gameRush Defense: ranked 40; 119.67 yards rushing given up per gamePass Defense: ranked 75; 229.33 yards passing given up per gameScoring Defense: ranked 24; 19.50 points given up per gameVontaze Burfict is a player the Ducks will need to know where he is located on the field at all times...and I would say AVOID HIM! The guy has been a beast so far this season with 29 tackles, 4 sacks, and an interception. The linebacker will be looking to wreck havoc in the Ducks backfield, and is capable of doing so if not accounted for by the offensive line. The Sun Devils offense is led by six foot eight quarterback Brock Osweiler. For the season, Osweiler has completed 142/213 passes (66.7 CMP%) for 1,677 yards, thirteen touchdowns, and six interceptions. He also scored two more touchdowns on the ground. The leading rusher for ASU is Cameron Marshall with 102 carries for 420 yards and eight touchdowns. Their leading receivers are Gerell Robinson and Aaron Pflugrad with 26 catches each. The Ducks defense has been shaky after losing so many players from last year:Oregon Ducks Defensive StatisticsTotal Defense: 83; 404.60 yards given up per gameRush Defense: ranked 86; 173.80 yards rushing given up per gamePass Defense: ranked 76; 230.80 yards passing given up per gameScoring Defense: ranked 45; 22.60 points given up per gameASU's offense can score points and are averaging 35.33 a game. The Ducks defense will have to step up and get off the field. They can't just expect the offense to be able to outscore the Sun Devils. The offense is going to be great, but without James they won't be as explosive. Barner and Thomas are absolutely great players, but they neither have the experience nor can they carry the leadership role of James. Autzen Stadium in Eugene, OR at night - Thomas Boyd/The OregonianCurrently, the Ducks are favored to win by sixteen points. The game is in Autzen Stadium at night and I feel confident Barner and Thomas will fill in the void just fine in this game, but I don't think the Ducks can cover the spread without James. He means to much to this team. Can the Ducks win without LaMichael James?
Last season, the California Golden Bears held the Oregon Ducks offense to its fewest points (15) and fewest total yards (317) in Strawberry Canyon, CA. This year, the Bears will try to do it again, but this time they must travel to Autzen Stadium in Eugene, OR. The Ducks offense is once again putting up ridiculous numbers. Since the LSU game, LaMichael James has been on a roll. He currently has the fifth most rushing yards with 613, but is first in yards rushing per game at 153 yards. However, last year against Cal, James was only able to gain 91 yards on 29 carries for an average of only 3.1 yards per carry. If it weren't for a 64 yard punt return by Cliff Harris, the Ducks may have lost the game. Hopefully this time the Golden Bears don't play sissy football and fake injuries like soccer players. That still leaves a sour taste in my mouth. THIS IS FOOTBALL, A MAN'S SPORT!Ducks Retro Uniform vs CalStat Comparison of Both TeamsCalifornia Golden Bears Season Statistics Through Week FiveRushing Offense - ranked 50; 161.00 rushing yards per gamePassing Offense - ranked 22; 295.25 passing yards per gameTotal Offense - ranked 25; 456.25 total yards per gameScoring Offense - ranked 15; 39.50 points per gameRushing Defense - ranked 9; 78.25 rushing yards given up per gamePass Defense - ranked 79; 236.00 passing yards given up per gameTotal Defense - ranked 27; 314.25 total yards given up per gameScoring Defense - ranked 55; 24.25 points given up per game Oregon Ducks Statistics Through Week FiveRushing Offense - ranked 6; 299.50 rushing yards per gamePassing Offense - ranked 59; 234.25 passing yards per gameTotal Offense - ranked 6; 533.75 total yards per gameScoring Offense - ranked 1; 52.00 points per gameRushing Defense - ranked 93; 181.25 rushing yards given up per gamePass Defense - ranked 44; 208.25 passing yards given up per gameTotal Defense - ranked 77; 389.50 total yards given up per gameScoring Defense - ranked 59; 24.50 points given up per gameAutzen Stadium in Eugene, ORThe Bears seem to have the rushing defense to slow the Ducks uptempo spread offense like it did last year. If they can take away the Ducks rush game, then they can pull off the upset. However, this is unlikely to happen in Autzen at night. The Ducks are favored by 24 points, and though I think they will win, I doubt they will be able to cover that spread. The Bears should be able to slow James down enough to keep the game close, but it won't be enough!Go Ducks!
In week four, the Oregon Ducks will be chasing their 13th conference win in a row when they go to Tuscon, AZ to play the Arizona Wildcats. The Ducks recovered from their opening season loss against the LSU Tigers by blowing out two straight non-BCS opponents in Autzen Stadium in Eugene, OR. The Ducks uptempo offense is led by Darron Thomas at quarterback and LaMichael James as the feature back. After a slow start, James had 204 yards on only 12 rushing attempts and three touchdowns against the Missouri State Bears. Freshman De'Anthony Thomas has also developed into quite the play maker so far early in the season. He has 170 yards rushing and 153 yards receiving for three touchdowns. Stats Comparison for both teamsOregon Ducks Statistics through Week ThreeRushing Offense - ranked 8; 261.00 rushing yards per gamePassing Offense - ranked 31; 278.67 passing yards per gameTotal Offense - ranked 6; 539.67 total yards per gameScoring Offense - ranked 5; 50.67 points per gameRushing Defense - ranked 107; 214.33 rushing yards given up per gamePass Defense - ranked 10; 145.00 passing yards given up per gameTotal Defense - ranked 62; 359.33 total yards given up per gameScoring Defense - ranked 51; 22.33 points given up per game Arizona Wildcats Statistics through Week ThreeRushing Offense - ranked 116; 55.67 rushing yards per gamePassing Offense - ranked 5; 364.00 passing yards per gameTotal Offense - ranked 54; 419.67 total yards per gameScoring Offense - ranked 92; 21.67 points per gameRushing Defense - ranked 84; 173.00 rushing yards given up per gamePass Defense - ranked 111; 300.33 passing yards given up per gameTotal Defense - ranked 111; 473.33 total yards given up per gameScoring Defense - ranked 83; 28.00 points given up per game Arizona Stadium in Tuscon, AZThe Ducks are favored by 15.5 points on the road at night in Tuscon, AZ, and I think they are going to crush the Wildcats. Arizona is struggling on both sides of the ball, but what is most damning for them is they are ranked 111th in total defense. The Ducks are going to score a lot of points in this game and because Arizona's offense is inept; they probably will easily beat the spread. The atmosphere at night in Tuscon might cause some early miscues, but this Ducks team has too much for the Wildcats to handle. The only hope for the Wildcats is for senior quarterback, Nick Foles, to have a career game. On the season, Foles has completed 95 passes out of 126 pass attempts for 1,049 yards, seven touchdowns, and zero sacks. Foles has also been sacked seven times already this year. If his line can give him time to find open wide receivers, Foles can hit them. However, covering the pass is the strength of the Ducks defense, so I don't think Foles will be able to find his rhythm.The Ducks win big this week!
The Oregonian reports that on Saturday, September 17, 2011, Oregon officials announced that earlier in the week, the NCAA sent the university a notification of its inquiry into possible recruiting violations involving Willie Lyles, "a freelance talent scout," Oregon had hired. Rachel Bachman explains the Notice of Inquiry by the NCAA is "a step that typically falls late in an investigation and signals the NCAA soon will list its allegations against the school." She continues saying this "is significant for Oregon...because it marks the first concrete step toward an NCAA finding of wrongdoing." The inquiry into Oregon began following a report showing Oregon paid Lyles $25,000 three weeks after star running back, Lache Seastrunk, had signed in February 2010 to be a member of the Oregon Ducks 2010 football recruiting class. According to Bachman, this "payment raised eyebrows because of Lyles' role as a mentor to Seastrunk and because the fee, ostensibly for scouting reports of players in 22 states, exceeded the going rate for such reports." Ted Miller from ESPN.com, writes the Ducks claim they "paid $25,000 in 2010 for a 'national recruiting package.' When Oregon released what Lyles provided the Ducks for that payment, it was mostly worthless, outdated profiles and information."Jon Canzano reported in the Oregonian that Lyles himself alleges "he was not paid for his scouting services, as Oregon coach Chip Kelly [has] suggested, rather, for his access and influence with key recruits such as Lache Seastrunk...Lyles has also admitted that he aided Ducks Heisman candidate LaMichael James in gaining his college eligibility post-high school, and also, helped orchestrate Seastrunk’s signing of his national letter of intent with Oregon."Bachman explains "it is against the NCAA rules for someone who is not a school employee, but is a representative of its athletic interests, to help the school recruit athletes. The Ducks' payment to Lyles could prompt the NCAA to classify him as an Oregon representative." As for the investigation process, Bachman says "the NCAA's typical protocol is to follow a notice of inquiry with a notice of allegations, then to summon the school before its Committee on Infractions. After a hearing, the NCAA takes roughly six to eight weeks to issue a ruling, according to timelines from other recent investigations." In a recent article, Canzano argues "Ducks coach Chip Kelly is a brilliant football mind and a great quote. But he wasn't accustomed to the complexity involved in running a major college football program when he took over at Oregon." He continues saying "those working in the football offices say the program abandoned protocol and felt 'wild west.' Kelly didn't delegate responsibly, either -- hold up, the head football coach was texting and calling a low-level scouting wanna-be?!? -- and the result now is an inquiry."Simply stated, this investigation just got real and the NCAA seems to think they have a reason to dig farther around in our program. Canzano says receiving a "Notice of inquiry...that's like being served divorce papers or a lawsuit. You know it's really happening. You understand it's going to get worse before it gets better." Since the Oregon Ducks have now been notified of an official investigation occurring, how confident do you feel trouble is or is not close behind?
As an Oregon Ducks fan, I hate even having to bring up this question. Coach Chip Kelly has taken the Ducks to two straight BCS Bowl Games including the 2010-11 BCS National Championship Game. Going into the 2011-12 college football season, Coach Kelly has the Ducks primed to make another run at the National Championship. But then there is this major question concerning recruiting practices, Did the Oregon Ducks Cheat? and these quotes in particular taken from an article on Rivals.com:"In a wide-ranging, multi-day interview, Lyles said Kelly scrambled in late February and asked Lyles to submit retroactive player profiles to justify the $25,000 payment to his company just days before the transaction was revealed in a March 3 Yahoo! Sports report.""Lyles insists Oregon did not make a direct request or payment to steer recruits to Eugene. However, he now says Oregon did not pay him for his work as a traditional scout, but for his influence with top recruits and their families and his ability to usher prospects through the signing and eligibility process."“I look back at it now and they paid for what they saw as my access and influence with recruits” It would seem Coach Kelly attempted to cover up and create facts immediately prior to an article coming out questioning a payment the University of Oregon made to Will Lyles worth $25,000. This an in itself just doesn't sound good for the future of Chip. Covering up an NCAA violation is precisely the type of behavior that recently forced Coach Jim Tressel of Ohio State and Coach Pearl of the University of Tennessee to resign. The other accusations are equally as bad as it seems Chip may have paid for Lyles services in order to gain a recruiting advantage. I hope this isn't the case and we keep Chip, but things don't look good. I would like to note, that we only have one side of the facts. Kelly and U of O are currently being silent in compliance with NCAA requests. Voting at the current moment should be based on whether you feel Will Lyles is credible. Otherwise, vote B!Will Chip Kelly survive as the Oregon Ducks
CB Cliff Harris has been suspended indefinitely by Coach Chip Kelly who stated "Earning an opportunity to represent the University of Oregon and this football program certainly rests far beyond a player's ability on the field of play. Our behavior out of the spotlight often is more important and will be held to a higher standard. Until Cliff is able to conform to the same standards all of us must comply with, his status will remain unchanged."Harris was pulled over by Eugene Police driving 118 mph on a suspended license at 4:30 AM the other night. The car he was driving was a rent-a-car rented by an employee of the University of Oregon, which also makes this a potential NCAA violation for receiving an improper benefit. So far all we know for sure is Harris is going to be suspended against LSU, which is arguably our most important game on the National Stage for another run at the BCS National Championship. Beating an SEC Powerhouse like LSU to start off the season is exactly what our Ducks need to get that Champions Edge and Confidence for the rest of the season. What Harris did was stupid and selfish, period. He has no business driving without a license, and even if he had a license he is wrong for driving dangerously at 118 mph. Some of his teammates such as Kenjon Barner are defending him. Barner threw a jab at fans tweeting "All these ppl talking bad about cliff r funny cuz the minute he scores a TD yall will be the 1st to say he's greatest guy #fareweatherfans." He also tweeted "A lot of ppl hold us on such high pedestal tht u forget we r human we make mistakes he didn't murder,rob,or anything like that get over it." This is the wrong attitude to take. The Ducks have their sights on another shot at a National Championship. The players know this and they know what this means to the entire Oregon community. Nobody in Oregon is asking for the players to be held to a higher standard, but we do expect them to abide by the law when they are on scholarship at our State University.
U of O has tons of talent and one of the best coaches in college football. We also have La Michael James! If you're a fan of the Ducks you're a fan of LaMichael. He continues to break records and set firsts for the Ducks. LaMichael is Oregon's first football player to win a major college award, the Doak Walker. He has scored the most points in a season with 22 touchdowns, 132 points. He's tied for the most 100 yard games in a season. Furthermore, James has rushed for 100 yards in more games in his career than any other Duck in history. Needless to say, he's leaving his mark on Oregon Duck history.He has one more big game ahead of him, The BCS National Championship Game vs the Auburn Tigers--the first time in U of O history to be playing for a title. We can count on LaMichael James to help lead the Ducks to victory. The Auburn Rush Defense has been extraordinary this season. The Tigers are ranked 10th Nationally in Rush Defense and 2nd in the SEC giving up only 111.69 yards per game on the ground. The unit is ranked 22nd for Tackles for Loss and 20th for Sacks in the nation. However, the Tigers Defense does give up points and is ranked 54th in the nation giving up nearly 25 points per game. I'm going to add more information concerning the Tigers Defense shortly....what backs they faced and how good they did against their D and so forth.But for now, vote on how many yards he'll get against Auburn on January 10th in Glendale, AZ!Go Ducks!LaMichael James Season Statistics:1,851 total yards and 22 TD'sLaMichael James Season Rushing Statistics: 281 rushing attempts; 1,682 rushing yards; 6.0 yard average per rushing attempt; 76 yard long and 21 TD'sLaMichael James Season Receiving Statistics: 13 pass receptions for 169 yards and 1 TDGame Statistics:
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