Other than Dennis Dixon’s teeth and Ryan Leaf’s commentary, the most alarming thing about last night’s game is Oregon had looked like absolute world-beaters this season. World-beaters! And, all of a sudden, some nothing team that was at one point this season 2-6 and rumored to be firing its coach was tearing them to shreds.Tis the season that keeps on giving to fans — and taking from contenders.
One point that I’d like to make before moving on to the topic of conversation: Teams that run the spread offense without a spread-option quarterback are S-C-R-E-W-E-D. Unless you’re Urban Meyer and you have another freak of nature backing up your horse freak of nature.
That Ducks offense looked like target practice for Arizona’s defense. It was the most screwed up offense from a No. 2 team I’ve ever seen without Dixon in there. Leaf was struggling to even complete 5-yard passes. And great backs can carry teams through that. I thought Jonathan Stewart was a great back until last night. Now, I’m not so sure.
And as far as Meyer goes, I know that Cam Newton is another manbeast at quarterback, but I’m not so certain that Timmy Boy isn’t a once-in-a-lifetime perfect fit for that offense. I mean, if Newton could run it well, don’t you think he’d be in there some with Tebow being as nicked up as he’s been? And John Brantley is a pure dropback guy. So, Urbie’s going to have to either A.) Bolt to the NFL B.) Change his offense or C.) Pray that Newton can run the spread. I think Florida’s scary good next year, but afterward if Tebow goes pro? Hmmm, interesting question.
Anyway, guys, that was a roundabout way to get to this: We’ve all been saying all year that the college football landscape is crazy. Boston College, South Florida, Kansas, Missouri, the entire SEC, Oregon, Arizona State. All of this is just ridiculous. So, my question is why is this?
We all know the parity that college basketball is enjoying right now — I think we’re going to see a 16-seed beat a 1 in the next five years. But what’s the deal with college football? Why the parity? Players must stay three years. The BCS conferences get all the money. Yet some of the powerhouse schools are down or reeling, some look great one week and shoddy the next. Why is this?
I’m not well-versed enough on the academic side of the NCAA to know if it’s a school-related issue or what. Does anybody have an answer for why things are so crazy or is it just crazy in general? Is this something we can look forward to for a while? Cuz I don’t know about you guys, but dang, this is fun!
Unless you’re a Duck.
Ghost of Neyland
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I think that coaches are trying so hard to make their systems complex that they are creating offenses that punish mistakes more heavily than before. That’s why in most of these games where the underdog is winning, it’s because the other offense is misfiring. Unless you are Louisville in which case Petrino clearly knew how much it was going to hurt to lose Okoye and Dumervil.
And sweet mother of mercy, those girls could cheer in the SEC…
See, I think a gimmick offense is a good thing and can bring you a championship. But, like you said, when it’s bad, it’s unfixable. Tennessee fans were praying for the Wildhog last week. And Nutt just kept on running it. We were killing it. McFadden never even considered passing out of it.
That said, Florida assaulted us.
I think a complex offense (I’m reluctant to call an offense that works all year like UF’s spread option a ‘gimmick’) is a good think, but the risk is if one part of it isn’t working properly, you are in trouble because they are so intricate.
to expand that a little, the parity thing really hurts you at that point because it becomes harder to have a backup fully ready to step in if the star isn’t performing, or gets hurt. We saw that with JPW against MSU, and we saw it last night with Dennis Dixon.
I still think Stewart is a really good back. Arizona knew that Leaf wasn’t going to keep the ball on those read plays, so they keyed on Stewart. Plus Oregon’s o-line was pathetic.
since i don’t want to talk about oregon crapping the bed and therefore rolling out the bcs red carpet to my sworn enemy (lsu), i’m going to talk about happy things.
tidefanintn, i was somehow alerted to the talent on the oregon cheer squad toward the end of last season. they do not disappoint. i’ve also been to oregon and can tell you there is not a very deep talent pool up there. which leads me to two conclusions: all the hot girls in oregon go school in eugene…and those girls must be the most popular people in the entire state.
I took down the Oregon cheerleaders pic … not because it was bad, but I wanted to throw up the Minka Kelly pic. And I don’t want people thinking I’m a perv or that I had to post a cheerleading picture with every one of my posts.