10-14-2023, 05:16 PM
Dan Lanning edition.
Last week it was Miami HC Mario Cristobal tempting fate by running the ball trying to gain extra yards instead of taking a knee. He lost the game when his RB fumbled the ball away and his defense gave up an Oregon State at Stanford-like TD on the final play of the game.
This week it was Oregon HC Dan Lanning eschewing FG opportunities twice in game against Washington and getting nothing when his offense snapped the ball from the 3 and 8 yard lines of the Huskies.
The Ducks intercepted Penix with less than a minute before half, moved the ball, and faced 4th and Goal from the UW 3 with a few seconds left in the half. A FG would have brought the Ducks to 21-22 and they were receiving the second half kickoff. Instead, Lanning went for the TD and didn't get it. Oregon promptly when 3 and out, punted the ball away, and found themselves trailing 18-29 instead.
On the very next possession after falling behind by 11, they also drove the ball deep into the Red Zone, and again eschewed the FG that would have made it 21-29. Washington did end up punting and Oregon ultimately would take a 33-29 lead, but they ended up losing by 3.
It seem like yesterday that fans used to always complain about coaches punting and not going for it on 4th down enough. Oddly enough, it seems many coaches have now gone way overboard and are being too aggressive and not balancing risk enough. Yes, I get it, you want to score a TD and take the lead going into half time, but it's a long game. Think Lanning wished he had those 3 points right now? I know Duck fans do.
Regardless, that game lived up to the hype, which was nice to see. I picked Washington to win, but Oregon really should have won, and would have if its coach had a little less hubris.
Last week it was Miami HC Mario Cristobal tempting fate by running the ball trying to gain extra yards instead of taking a knee. He lost the game when his RB fumbled the ball away and his defense gave up an Oregon State at Stanford-like TD on the final play of the game.
This week it was Oregon HC Dan Lanning eschewing FG opportunities twice in game against Washington and getting nothing when his offense snapped the ball from the 3 and 8 yard lines of the Huskies.
The Ducks intercepted Penix with less than a minute before half, moved the ball, and faced 4th and Goal from the UW 3 with a few seconds left in the half. A FG would have brought the Ducks to 21-22 and they were receiving the second half kickoff. Instead, Lanning went for the TD and didn't get it. Oregon promptly when 3 and out, punted the ball away, and found themselves trailing 18-29 instead.
On the very next possession after falling behind by 11, they also drove the ball deep into the Red Zone, and again eschewed the FG that would have made it 21-29. Washington did end up punting and Oregon ultimately would take a 33-29 lead, but they ended up losing by 3.
It seem like yesterday that fans used to always complain about coaches punting and not going for it on 4th down enough. Oddly enough, it seems many coaches have now gone way overboard and are being too aggressive and not balancing risk enough. Yes, I get it, you want to score a TD and take the lead going into half time, but it's a long game. Think Lanning wished he had those 3 points right now? I know Duck fans do.
Regardless, that game lived up to the hype, which was nice to see. I picked Washington to win, but Oregon really should have won, and would have if its coach had a little less hubris.


