I agree, or disagree, hell, whatever - Redrum - 01-15-2012
I'm constantly amused by the leitmotif in Stanford conversations about Pac8-Pac 10-Pac 12 football. Like the Israelites waiting to cross over to the promised land, we constantly talk about the imminent decline of opponents as the key to our success. If Chip Kelly goes, if Matt Barkley goes pro, if USC is put on probation, if Sarkesian gets hired by the pros, if Kal would just renew Tom Holmoe's contract.....Stanford could then just win it all. Happened once when USC turned the reins over to Paul Hackett but generally the challenge is for us to be good enough to beat them, not that they get lousy enough that we can beat them.
Just remember, Tennessee won the national title the year
after Peyton Manning graduated.
I agree, or disagree, hell, whatever - Redrum - 01-15-2012
I'm constantly amused by the leitmotif in Stanford conversations about Pac8-Pac 10-Pac 12 football. Like the Israelites waiting to cross over to the promised land, we constantly talk about the imminent decline of opponents as the key to our success. If Chip Kelly goes, if Matt Barkley goes pro, if USC is put on probation, if Sarkesian gets hired by the pros, if Kal would just renew Tom Holmoe's contract.....Stanford could then just win it all. Happened once when USC turned the reins over to Paul Hackett but generally the challenge is for us to be good enough to beat them, not that they get lousy enough that we can beat them.
Just remember, Tennessee won the national title the year
after Peyton Manning graduated.
Re: Darron Thomas going pro -
jayasena - 01-15-2012
(01-15-2012, 01:08 AM)socalstanfan1 link Wrote:I think Oregon is just a unique system that will always be a difficult team to beat as long as they have excellent athletes...
and hope that at some point Chip Kelly decides to take his system to the NFL to give it a spin with the big boys.
There's nothing magical about Oregon's system. It's just different from what the rest of the Pac has run and therefore an anomaly most defenses couldn't afford to spend a lot of time preparing for. The week before the Oregon game just isn't enough. Over the past 3 seasons, Oregon+Kelly is 2 of 6 when the opponent had more then a week or two to prepare (i.e. season openers and bowl games).
I fully expect things to change. Not because Kelly will leave or because Oregon will suddenly run out of athletes but because the recent coaching hires in the Pac bring multiple "spread offenses" (or whatever they are called) to the conference. This forces defenses to spend more time preparing for that kind of offense and gain more real game experience against such offenses (yes, I know they are not all identical). Of course, I'm NOT saying that Oregon will become a doormat. Just that the of extremely large proportions edge they get by being unique is lessened, which may be all that a good opponent needs.
Re: Darron Thomas going pro -
jayasena - 01-15-2012
(01-15-2012, 01:08 AM)socalstanfan1 link Wrote:I think Oregon is just a unique system that will always be a difficult team to beat as long as they have excellent athletes...
and hope that at some point Chip Kelly decides to take his system to the NFL to give it a spin with the big boys.
There's nothing magical about Oregon's system. It's just different from what the rest of the Pac has run and therefore an anomaly most defenses couldn't afford to spend a lot of time preparing for. The week before the Oregon game just isn't enough. Over the past 3 seasons, Oregon+Kelly is 2 of 6 when the opponent had more then a week or two to prepare (i.e. season openers and bowl games).
I fully expect things to change. Not because Kelly will leave or because Oregon will suddenly run out of athletes but because the recent coaching hires in the Pac bring multiple "spread offenses" (or whatever they are called) to the conference. This forces defenses to spend more time preparing for that kind of offense and gain more real game experience against such offenses (yes, I know they are not all identical). Of course, I'm NOT saying that Oregon will become a doormat. Just that the of extremely large proportions edge they get by being unique is lessened, which may be all that a good opponent needs.
Re: Darron Thomas going pro -
jayasena - 01-15-2012
(01-15-2012, 01:08 AM)socalstanfan1 link Wrote:I think Oregon is just a unique system that will always be a difficult team to beat as long as they have excellent athletes...
and hope that at some point Chip Kelly decides to take his system to the NFL to give it a spin with the big boys.
There's nothing magical about Oregon's system. It's just different from what the rest of the Pac has run and therefore an anomaly most defenses couldn't afford to spend a lot of time preparing for. The week before the Oregon game just isn't enough. Over the past 3 seasons, Oregon+Kelly is 2 of 6 when the opponent had more then a week or two to prepare (i.e. season openers and bowl games).
I fully expect things to change. Not because Kelly will leave or because Oregon will suddenly run out of athletes but because the recent coaching hires in the Pac bring multiple "spread offenses" (or whatever they are called) to the conference. This forces defenses to spend more time preparing for that kind of offense and gain more real game experience against such offenses (yes, I know they are not all identical). Of course, I'm NOT saying that Oregon will become a doormat. Just that the of extremely large proportions edge they get by being unique is lessened, which may be all that a good opponent needs.
Re: Darron Thomas going pro -
fullmetal - 01-16-2012
I, too, have heard that Bennett is better than D. Thomas. I would still think Oregon is the biggest obstacle in the Pac-12 north.
Re: Darron Thomas going pro -
fullmetal - 01-16-2012
I, too, have heard that Bennett is better than D. Thomas. I would still think Oregon is the biggest obstacle in the Pac-12 north.
Re: Darron Thomas going pro -
fullmetal - 01-16-2012
I, too, have heard that Bennett is better than D. Thomas. I would still think Oregon is the biggest obstacle in the Pac-12 north.