Unrelated, but here's Ted Miller on the new Oregon back: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3371812

I thought 9000 was embarrassing but wow wazzu was the only school not to clear a 1000 people hahaha bob what is the record for attendance for the spring game at udub? we are light years behind some of these other fans

Is anyone else worried? This guy sounds like a monster. That combined with a strong offensive line, and our lousy linebackers, things are not looking to rosy for Aug. 31 in Eugene....

he is a monster. can't wait to see that nasty spread option rolling again down the field.

- even in it's glory days, UW only pulled in attendance in the low teens for its spring game, UW never has and never will pull in 20,30,40K+

- "our lousy linebackers" - you sir, are clueless, we have a very deep and experienced linebacking corps, with 3 potential all pac-10 players starting (Butler, Foster, Savannah). Not to mention our corners are former safeties, and our safeties hit like a mack truck, no more 200 yard rushing games against us, this oregon RB will be in for a rude awakening when he goes face to face with Vic and gets buried into the eugense turf

3 all Pac-10 linebackers? Wow, someone has delusions of grandeur. Keeping Oregon under 35 points will be a moral victory.

"Watching LeGarrette Blount run over and around flailing Oregon defenders during spring practices..."

Yep, sounds like the Yucks "D" is right on schedule. I can't wait till they get to miss-tackle Jake, Johnson & Homer.

Go Dogs!

Well, as a husky fan I am not ashamed to admit that I am a little scared of that game. Assume we lose. Our season will be derailed from the start! Not to mention the Ducks fans that will come in here and trash talk us for the entire year. Not going to be pretty...

Kirkland,

Our season will not be derailed if we lose. Remember, this is still a young team that looks more athletic, more aggressive, incredibly deeper, and likely will utilize a little more complicated and well-camoflaged defensive scheme next year.

There were at least 3 close games last year we pretty much handed away and the factors above should put us over the top for such games.

Oregon could be among the top 2 teams in the league next year. Admittedly, when they faced us last year, that was the best spread option offense I had ever seen (despised rival or not) and if they are at that level again, this year will probably not be our year, especially the first game out of the gate.

But the rest of the season can still be a vast improvement over this year.

I think what we may see next year is mistakes at the beginning and some underachievement...but a team that really takes off and ends the year strong. It seems a lot of young guys are poised to come of age next year and if that does happen, the growth and excitement may snowball. Especially combined with the excitement around the defensive coaching changes.

I recall the team underachieving in Cary Conklin's last two years but then catching fire towards the end of his senior year as its young players figured out what they were doing. They dismantled Florida in the year end bowl game (Aloha bowl?) and then Brunell took over the next year with that momentum and things escalated into the 3 straight rose bowls. I think that is when Gilbertson also took over the O line and turned some lackluster players into all conference selections. Jeff Pahukoa always claimed it was his coaching that turned the offense around during that era.

That sort of longterm expectation isn't realistic for this group but I do see this group taking some lumps at the beginning and with a little trial and error along the way growing into themselves and finishing strong...and poised to compete with the conference leaders by season's end.

The mentality in those years according to one of our LBs was "everyone is out there making plays. It is infectious. If I don't get out there and make as many plays as everyone else, the coaches are going to stop subbing me in."

Guest's comments are right on. It's good to take the long view with so many very young players. The D will have to sell out on the run against the Ducks, hoping their passing game isn't near as sharp as Dixon's was last year. Game could be won or lost by dawg backers. True test of the new defense and its character under new coach. But lots of time to prepare. Whatever the outcome, D should gain something valuable from the experience.

Wasn't it the Yuck #1s vs the Yuck #2s? The Yuck starting defense could barely tackle Jake so why are dumba** Yuck fans getting all pumped up about a RB running through their #2 defense? Just shows how stupid one can be coming from the #110th ranked school.

Regardless, I'd take our starting 3 LBs over anyone's in the Pac-10 except for USC and possibly Cal's. Rey Maualuga is an absolute beast.

Having watched the dawgs for decades, I can't imagine ANY of the potential results being etched in stone. Too much depends on the speed at which the new class is incorporated into the team, and how effectively they get up to speed. Clearly, it's only a matter of time. But how much time?

It's difficult to imagine Ta'amu, Noble, Thompson, et al getting pushed around much by anyone. They'll have to pick up techique and adjust to the speed, but they are big and relatively fast.

They might get beat. And in some instances, they might even be embarassed. That's just the way the "potential" label works. But they'll also knock some veteran players on their respective backsides. And they will eventually be the difference in winning games.

It's not "if," it's "when."

For too long, dawg fans have hoped for upsets. Soon, we'll win some that we could have lost, and eventually, win games where we were the pre-season underdawgs.

I don't expect perpetual 10-win seasons. But I do expect bowl games to be the norm, and the fans of other teams to circle the dates of the husky games on their schedules.

Oregon has one weapon on offense. ONE. Oregon's wide recievers do not have the physical upside ours do and they will be breaking in a new qb one way or the other. Roper was lost in previous scrimmages against the (admittedly talented) Oregon secondary. Living in Portland, I get to here and see alot about the ducks and Beavs. The civil war game told you all you needed to know about this year's duck offense.

That was hear and read a bunch about the Ducks. Trying to type fast here at work. No edit function, sorry.

If you're interested in a good report on the Oregon team this is the best one I've seen so far. This post was made by a good Oregon fan named Drake, that posts at the Fix. Oregon lost some skill, but they also gained some. Thanks Drake.

I have never seen a Spring Game like this!!
Over 14,000 screaming DUCK Fans in Autzen, a monumental traffic jam just to get into the parking lots. The game is on the radio and tailgaters have it on their T.V.'s by the Bar-B-Ques.......crazy!!!
The first Spring Game I went to in 1994 was me and about 85 other guys.

I took my wife and a neighbor kid in 1999 and their were about 900 or eleven hundred of us....tops!
It's gone up steadily to 4, 5, 6, 8, thousand in subsequent years.....BUT 14,000+ strikes me as pretty crazy!
Sat. there was the national anthem and the University Band, cheerleaders, all concession stands were open. At halftime the vendors were making money hand over fist and the parking lots were flooded with a fresh tide of tailgaters.

On the field things were pretty good Sr. Matt Evensen's opening kickoff went OUT of the endzone by 5 yards. Later he kicked two 50 yd FG's and and a 36ydr. Punter Josh Syria had a 37 ydr w/ 0 return yards, one that went off the side of his foot and a beauty that hit the 10 yd line dribbled around and three DUCK coverage guys watched it go in for a Touchback. (you can believe they'll get chewed out for that bonehead behavior.)

Of course, as a Spring Game there WERE times of bonehead plays by youngsters not accustomed to playing or guys trying out at new positions....the usual stuff.
i.e. Veteran Sr. Safety Patrick Chung (Pac 10 Frosh of the Yr.) sat out as did 2007's #2 RB Jeremiah Johnson, so younger kids like trFr Javes Lewis, Jr.Pono Kam(hit w/ a stupid facemask tackle penalty #@*!#%), and rsFr. Todd Doxey all filled and did some good things. Poor Chad Peppars (listed as 5'10" 177# lies, lies, lies) was beaten badly and repeatedly by speedster Sr. WR Jaison Williams (6'5" 240#)
Punt Return continues to be a problem . The USC transfer WR speedster rsSo Jamere Holland tried his hand at the return game only to muff his 1st one and got back on it as a welcoming committee came up and buried him.
Last yr. Pat Chung couldn't do it and several others failed as well in their attempts.
I don't know what I saw in the LINEBACKERS play. The Unit's leader, John Bacon didn't play due to a rehabed knee that's ready to play on (like RB Jeremiah Johnson) but coaches saw no reason to risk an inj. prior to FALL CAMP. Jr. Riley Showalter, So. Spencer Paysinger, both got time and tackles. But, if they're tackles after a 12 yd run, doesn't that cut down on the value? Anyway, #25 Kevin Garrett, the Johnny Kirton of the LB Corps, IMO, (i.e. capable of losing a game for his team all by himself w/ halfassed play!) Garrett actually played better than last fall. But then, this was Spring Game, not UCLA, or Evensen Bernard !
Other linebackers who played w/ spirit but looked like rsFr and tr.Sophs were Terrance Pritchert, blake thompson, Terrell Turner, Brad Hanna, and casey matthews. We'll see what FALL CAMP has to show.....frankly I'm NOT impressed.

OK, the bright side of things (remember: KICKING GAME is very bright 'tho RETURN GAME is in the soup!)
OL......things look good even w/ OUTLAND TROPHY Candidate Max Unger practicing for the day at Tackle. The other OUTLAND TROPHY Candidate Fenuki Tupou will also start at tackle. CARSON YORK (6''5' 280# trFr from Coeur d'Alene) looked waaaaay good for a Spring Game....They might tear up his Red Shirt if Fall Camp goes well....he really seemed savvy in this college setting. Sr.Guards Jon Teague, whom I really like, and Mark Lewis will flank Unger in the fall. And, 6'7 310# Sr.Jacob Hucko, whom I like but the coaches don't seem to be as impressed will battle for the starting Tackle slot opposite Fenuki Tupou. Stand out recruit but yet to be heard from, Senior Bo Thran waits in the wings. Vet.trSoph C.E.Kaiser also is solid.

TE.....Well, the first pass of the scrimmage went to Vet.JR.TE Ed Dixon (6'5" 240#) for 67 yds and one play later, his team had a TD !!
Other good TE pass routes were run by BYU transfer Soph.Sam Doman . Chris DiVicenzo rsJR, a guy 4yrs into this system, disgraced himself with a drop over the middle all alone and nothing but daylight between him and the endzone!! Again, Spring Game bonehead plays. BTW, the coaching staff questions the ability of ALL of these guys to block dependably at the line of scrimmage and beyond. Still, this is a good area for the DUCKS, even if not a blue chip Great area.

RB.....OH MY GOD !!!! HIDE THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN.....JUCO BLUE CHIPPER, Lagarrette Blount (pronounced BLUNT ) is a franchise !!!!!!!!! 6'2' 230# and a MAN among BOYS !! Like USC's "thunder" Chauncy Washington, he is a "body dragger" before he goes down! He had 5-6 carries all day; just under 70 yds. one gifted run of 35+ yds. which immediately led to a TD. And another 25 yarder that, for me was worth the 4+ hours of driving and traffic to get to Eugene and see the game. At the line 2 D linemen, on blocks tried to grab him. Each man touched him but w/ the blocks on them and the angle, he ran through them like paper. In the LB/CB area two men grabbed a leg and a thigh. Blount struggled for two or three strides and both men fell off. Now, about 17 yds beyond the line of scrimmage 5 guys hit him he struggles for two or three more steps falls down and completes a 25 yd gain!!!
This is what Rueben Droughns did when he arrived from JUCO, only he didn't have the advantage of attending Spring Camp and learning the offense in April!!
Other RB's include of course Jeremiah Johnson (a proven comodity) and Andre Crenshaw a VERY adequate runner, and Remene Alston who is adequate and very familiar w/ the offense.

QB......as I've said, there is NO Proplem here. If Nate Costa (6'1 211#)can't handle it , then former 5th string (now BOWL CHAMP....S.Fla. Bull stomper) Justin Roper(Buford,Ga. 6'6" 204#). OR, former 4th stringer and 2 time DUCK starter, Cody Kempt (6'2" 207#), can do it. OR IF YOU REALLY LIKE EXCITEMENT, there's always FROSH SENSATION, from Wichita,Kansas, 6'2" 230# Frosh.....still has a Prom to go to !!! Chris Harper !!! OH, My God, this kid is young; he is definitely NOT Green! Well, if he IS Green it's 'cuz he's the GREEN FLASH !! Big, speedy, a heady player already AND a rocket for an arm.
And, if that's not enough, BYU transfer (same offense, guys) Jr. Cade Cooper 6'2" 201#

WR......Not quite as strong here as some recent SUPER STRONG collections of talent. But, Sr. Jaison Williams is an ALL LEAGUE prospect, USC trans. Jamere Holland is a speedster now 2 yrs into the system. He'll be used on the Flanker reverse like OSU uses Rogers on that killer play of the Beavers.
Jeff Maehl, and Aaron Pflugard are two tr.Sophs that burned their "shirts" last year and made great contributions.
In the Spring game, everyone ooohed and ahhhed over Maehl's fingertip catch for the highlight reel. Hell too, the play was NOT Maehl, I was watching closely (those high talent Rcv'rs are SUPPOSED to make those catches a fair percentage of the time). The REAL play on that play was High School boy Chris Harper looking off the TE or WR over on the right side as the right side DE or DT was off his blocker and bearing down. Harper then quarter turns toward midfield takes a half step up to the line and uncorks a beauty that only Maehl (in tight coverage) can catch.
On the just prior play, he had a post and a flag route over on the right side. From the right side D Men again came in early, he hurried his throw and came up short on the Flag route and if he had held it for just a second and a half longer, the Left WR was clear and WIIIIIIIIIIIIDE open for the TD on the Post route.
Anyway, QB, no worries.

D-Line.......Most Spring Gamers were newbies....Only Simi Toeaina showed up and he DID look good !! It was wonderful to see former starter Cole Linehan back in uniform and back in full force... he's very dependable. JUCO Mike Bellagamba (6'2" 258#) looked good. He should help spell the regulars some next season. This will be a solid area with regard to STARTERS.....there's another JUCO coming in the Fall that is said to be a possible first teamer by Aug. 30th.

Secondary......as I've said, the DUCKS should be listed as #1 in the Conference for Secondary in the Pre Season Mags.

Ha, there are so many things one could call a gathering of 14k Yuck fans. Who else has amusing ideas?

Ted Miller talked about Pac-10 football on a radio station in Eugene.

http://huskysportsnews.com/blog/2008/04/29/espncom%e2%80%99s-ted-miller-talks-pac-10-football-on-%e2%80%9cthe-writer%e2%80%99s-block%e2%80%9d/

NY Fawn - let's hear a couple good one's on 14K fans that show up to tiny little Eugene. I want to use them on the 31st after your all pac-10 LB's (insert chuckle here) are mowed over, outrun and out coached.

BT,
How did the BSU spring game go? Have they named a Qb yet? How is Kellen Moore looking?

I do not understand what duck fans actually think they can accomplish next year on offense. Perhaps they have a wonderful back in blount, and perhaps Johnson is back to his old self (acl tear... doubtful!), Dixon is a fine pac-10 te and their line is serviceable blocking in the spread offense... BUT... they have no proven qb and no wide receivers. Correct me if I am wrong, but is not a successful spread offense predicated on having serviceable parts in all areas. Jayson Williams is a head case. Pflugrad will make Jordan Polk look like a monster, and as I stated above, unless Costa is the second coming of Kellen Clemens (despite his ACL tear), I think the ducks offense this year will be nothing like the dixon, stewart, johnson, colvin offense of last year... I know Chip Kelly will try to find a way to keep D's honest, but I think the ducks will be as one-dimensional this year as we were at times last year.

One way you handle "monsters" is you take right to the suckers. Cougars 900 people wow, sounds like all of their fans showed up, probably closed down the McDonalds for the event!

I guess if we wanted to look at the possibilities of a Power Running Game to compete with Oregon's P.R.G. we could use this line-up:

O-Line - White-Frisbee (6-6 340lbs)
Sedillo (6-3 300lbs)
Ossai (6-6 300lbs)
Habben (6-6 300lbs)
Bulyca (6-6 340lbs).
TE - Savant (6-5 250lbs)
Gottleib (6-5 245lbs)
RB - Kravitz (6-1 245lbs)
FB - Homer (6-0 222lbs)
QB - Locker (6-3 230lbs)
WR - Logan (6-2 215lbs)

I think we can line up with Oregon and play Smash Mouth.

Are we ready for some fun Husky Nation???

Guest,

I missed the BSU game because I had to fly to Alaska a couple of days before the game to help my niece who's husband was diagnosed with a rapidly progressing terminal illness while in the process of remodeling their home. I just got back a couple of days ago so I'm kind of out of the loop, but here's a good article on KM, and the QB situation. Generally, BSU won't ever name a QB early because they want them to continue to compete through the summer.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/boisestatefootball/story/350150.html

I sat on the south side and tried counting. If there were less than 10,000 I would be very surprised. Most of the sun-soaked, lower north side was filled and between a 1000 and 2000 were on the south side.

HFNY: No, it was not #1 offense against #2 defense. The two teams 'drafted' players for their offense and defense, so it was pretty mixed. I'm not saying that Blount guy is going to run up and down the field on us, but I was thinking there might be more of a drop off with stewart leaving, now I'm not so sure...

Spring games don't mean squat anyway.

BT,
Thanks for the link. Sorry about your family troubles.