Bleacher Report - Articles by Cameron Jerde

Oregon Ducks Fail to Dig Themselves Out of First-Half Hole

Cameron Jerde — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:05:35 -0500

The picture above can summarize what transpired earlier today in Palo Alto, CA.

That's right, there are now no longer any unbeaten teams in Pac-10 play.

The Stanford Cardinal came out firing early, and dominated the first quarter of play.

That hole would prove too deep for the Ducks to climb out of. However let's not discredit the valiant effort displayed by this Oregon Ducks team.

Even though the Ducks' first drive went three-and-out, even though Stanford running back Toby Gerhart seemingly couldn't be stopped, this Oregon Ducks football team never gave in, never quit, never gave up.

True, it would have been nice for Oregon to have won this game. All Oregon fans would have liked to go undefeated in the Pac-10, en route to a Rose Bowl berth.

But let's look at the bright side. Oregon is still ranked first in the Pac-10, tied with Arizona, one of the most surprising teams in the Pac-10 this season.

Oregon still has three games left to play, two of which are at home. The only away game is the Ducks' match-up with Arizona, and considering if both teams are tied when game time comes, this game will decide the Pac-10.

One other thing that could be overlooked about this game is that there were two penalties that were wrongly called. Two pass interference calls to be exact, that went against the Ducks' freshman cornerback Javes Lewis.

Lewis was nowhere near the receiver on one call. The other call, the Stanford receiver pushed off of Lewis.

Both of these calls, coincidentally, were made on failed third-down conversions, giving the Cardinal free first downs. Both of these calls led to Stanford touchdowns. Take away the blatant incompetency of the officiating, and Oregon would have won by four points.

But even though the Ducks lost, there should not be any reason for concern. Oregon still controlls their destiny in the Pac-10.

Arizona has a tough road ahead of them, as three of their final four games of the season are on the road; at USC, at Cal, and at Arizona State.

And I know that Arizona State has not played well this year, but teams almost always bring out their "A" game for rivalry games.

To win the Pac-10 title outright, the Ducks will have to beat Arizona on the road, and either Arizona State or Oregon State at home.

All three games are winnable, and if the aftermath of Oregon's season-opening loss to Boise State is any indication of how Oregon can rebound after losing a game, then the sky is the limit for the Oregon Ducks.

The season is far from over, and Oregon still remains in the driver's seat for the Rose Bowl.

Let's continue to cheer on our Ducks, and congratulate them on representing their university well, even in defeat.

"The Farm" Won't Douse The Earth-Scorching Oregon Ducks' Offense

Cameron Jerde — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:07:21 -0500

It's been nearly one week since the Oregon Ducks completely outplayed the USC Trojans.

Since then, many sports analysts across the nation have targeted the Oregon Ducks' upcoming matchup against the Stanford Cardinal as a trap game.

Other analysts have predicted that the Ducks will win by as few as a single point.

Do not be fooled by these claims.

Let's look at how many games the "experts" have gotten wrong this season.

First of all, when 6th ranked California rode into Autzen Stadium in Week Four, many analysts stated that the Golden Bears' running game, behind then-Heisman hopeful Jahvid Best, would prove too much for the Ducks' defense.

The argument was also made that given Oregon's offense troubles in their three out-of-conference matchups with Boise State, Purdue, and Utah, the Ducks' offense would struggle to keep up with the Golden Bears' offense.

At the end of this particular game, the scoreboard read: Oregon 42, Cal 3.

Jahvid Best, the Golden Bears' "golden boy" was held to only 55 rushing yards.

That makes the tally: Oregon Ducks One, Analysts Zero.

One month later, when the Ducks traveled up to Seattle to face their hated rival, the Washington Huskies, many analysts predicted that Oregon would lose to the Huskies, that Washington's dual-threat quarterback Jake Locker would have the Ducks' defense on their toes all game long.

At the end of this particular game, the scoreboard read: Oregon 43, Washington 19.

That makes the tally: Oregon Ducks Two, Analysts Zero.

And then the very next week, with the one-loss USC Trojans coming to town, the analysts again predicted that the Ducks would fall flat.

At the end of this particular game, the scoreboard read: Oregon 47, USC 20.

It was the most lop-sided loss in the Pete Carroll era at USC.

The Ducks ran for 391 yards, 64 more yards than USC had in total offense.

That makes the tally: Oregon Ducks Three, Analysts Zero.

And now we arrive at the Oregon/Stanford preview.

To quote Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News, there are ten reasons why the Cardinal will pull the upset tomorrow.

In his blog, Wilner states that "defensive discipline, Chris Owusu, History, Andrew Luck, The Ducks' Bill, the playing surface, atmosphere, schedule, and ground game," are the ten reasons why the Cardinal will come out on top tomorrow.

My response to this is that Wilner obviously does not give the Ducks' offense enough credit in his analysis of what he thinks will occur tomorrow.

Stanford is a solid team, and Jim Harbaugh has done an amazing job of rebuilding the once-great program, but the Cardinal are not ready to take that final step up into the upper echelon of the Pac-10 conference.

For starters, the team speed of the Cardinal on defense is awful. This is why the Cardinal could not contain Oregon State's running back Jacquizz Rodgers.

If the Cardinal could not contain Oregon State's offense, how do you think they will fare against Oregon's zone-read option offense?

I well tell you how they will fare. They will fall flat on their backs and not be able to recover.

The interesting factor though is Stanford's running game. Toby Gerhart, a bruising 235 lbs back, is employed through a traditional I-form offense.

Many analysts have stated that Gerhart will pound the Oregon defense, and that Stanford's offense will be able to control the clock.

What these analysts do not take into account is the tremendously athletic front seven of the Oregon defense.

Make no mistake, Oregon's defensive line is fast, strong, and they explode out of their stances. They may be smaller, but this allows them to get better leverage on the block, and if anything matters in the trenches, it's leverage.

And even if Gerhart breaks through the Ducks' d-line, the Ducks' incredible linebacking corps will be able to recover for them.

I do think that Stanford will put up a fight in the first half, much like the first half of last week's USC game, but Oregon will pull forward in the second half, and leave the Cardinal in the dust.

My VERDICT : Oregon Ducks 49, Stanford Cardinal 27

Make no mistake. "The Farm" will not be able to douse the earth-scorching Oregon Ducks' offense.

After this particular game, the tally will read: Oregon Ducks Four, Analysts Zero.

Oregon Ducks Look To Extend USC's Beaver State Drought To Four Years

Cameron Jerde — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:25:01 -0400

The state of Oregon is known for it's unrelenting liberalism, it's gorgeous coastline on the Pacific Ocean, it's example-setting environmentalism, and it's quality of life.

But the state of Oregon should also be known for one other thing: its hostility towards the USC Trojans.

The Trojans have experienced extreme difficulty in terms of playing football in the state of Oregon in recent years.

In fact, the Trojans are riding into Eugene, OR for this weekend's marquee matchup with the Oregon Ducks on a three-game state-of-Oregon losing streak.

Three years ago, the Oregon State Beavers upset the Trojans in Corvallis, ending their BCS title dreams.

The following year, the Trojans rode into Eugene for a top-10 matchup with the Oregon Ducks, and left Autzen Stadium that day with a 24-17 defeat.

And finally, this past season, the Oregon State Beavers recreated another rendition of the "giant killers" game, upsetting the No. 1 ranked USC in Corvallis.

Much has been said of the Trojans' ability to prepare for "the games that matter." Unfortunately, much has also been said of their inability to prepare for the little games as well.

This was evident in the Trojans' conference opening matchup against the rebuilding Washington Huskies earlier this fall.

The Trojans were without starting quarterback Matt Barkley, who had sustained a knee injury. However, backup quarterback Aaron Corp could start for most other Pac-10 teams.

The Trojans came into the game overconfident, and thus walked out of an erupting Husky Stadium with a 16-13 loss to the Huskies.

Since then, the Trojans have rebounded quite well, riding on a four-game winning streak.

All eyes will be fixed on Autzen Stadium this weekend as the No. 10 Oregon Ducks host the No. 5 USC Trojans.

Both teams hold an overall 6-1 record, however Oregon remains the only unbeaten team in Pac-10 conference play.

There are three games to compare the Ducks and Trojans, as they have faced three common opponents: the California Golden Bears, Washington State Cougars, and Washington Huskies.

Looking at how both teams played against the Golden Bears, Oregon comes out as the stronger of the two teams.

Both teams held the Golden Bears to just a field goal scoring wise. But that is where the similarities end.

The Ducks put up 42 points and 524 yards of total offense on the Golden Bears compared to the Trojans' 30 points and 457 yards of total offense.

The Ducks held the Golden Bears to 15 first downs, and 207 yards of total offense. The Ducks also did not allow the Golden Bears to convert any fourth down attempts.

The Trojans held the Golden Bears to 17 first downs, and 285 yards of total offense. Like the Ducks, the Trojans also did not allow the Golden Bears to convert any fourth down attempts.

Simply put, the Ducks outperformed the Trojans on both offense and defense against a common opponent.

Moving onto the differences between the Washington State games, the Ducks again outperformed the Trojans on both offense and defense.

The Ducks put up 31 first downs and 514 yards of total yards of offense against the Cougars, compared to USC's 14 first downs and 403 total yards of offense.

In fact the Washington State Cougars outperformed the Trojans in one category: first downs. The Cougars gained 18 first downs to the Trojans' 14.

On defense, the Ducks held the Cougars to only 158 yards, while the Trojans gave up 229 yards.

Against the Huskies, both the Ducks and Trojans had fewer first downs than the Huskies. In fact, Oregon's and Washington's offenses both gained about the same yardage.

And yet, Washington scored only six points. Yes, the final score showed that the Huskies scored 19 points, but 13 of those came during garbage time, when the Ducks played their second and third team defenses.

This proves how efficient of an offense Oregon has. They did a whole lot more with the yards they gained than Washington did.

So, after comparing all the common ground games between the Ducks and Trojans, the Ducks appear to have a big advantage coming into Saturday's nationally televised game.

But if there is one thing that Oregon cannot afford to do, it is becoming overconfident. And that is something that Chip Kelly will not let his team become.

A telling sign of this came during Oregon's team meeting before practice on Monday. Chip Kelly gathered his team in the locker room and said "Congratulations men. You are now ranked 10th in the BCS poll."

Not a single player clapped. The Ducks could care less about national recognition and the spotlight. They just look forward to each and every game, and with an extreme focus and intensity that I have yet to see matched.

Oregon needs to cut down on the amount of mistakes they made last weekend. The nine penalties were the most that they've committed all season.

The keys to an Oregon victory are as follows: Continued strong play from the offensive and defensive lines, and the offense coming out firing.

The Oregon State Beavers showed that the armor of the USC defense has more than a few chinks in it. Oregon needs to capitalize on these chinks.

I believe that Oregon can, and will, win this game. Matt Barkley has been to some pretty tough houses this season and come away victorious.

The Horseshoe in Columbus, as well as Notre Dame Stadium, are tough places to play.

But Barkley will face his toughest test to date this Saturday. Autzen Stadium on Halloween night, combined with a forecast that predicts pouring down rain and cold temperatures could prove too much for the young quarterback.

It's going to be a great game.

LET'S GO DUCKS!

MY VERDICT:

Oregon Ducks: 30

USC Trojans: 27

Memo To Oregon Ducks Fans: Hold Your Tongues For Now

Cameron Jerde — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:35:37 -0400

This past Saturday, the Oregon Ducks traveled to Seattle, Wash. to face one of their bitter rivals in the Washington Huskies.

After the first quarter, there was good reason for Oregon fans to become a bit worried.

The Huskies shut out the Ducks in the first. If it weren't for the repeated stand-up performances by the Oregon defense, the Huskies probably would have held a lead larger than three points going into the second quarter.

But all it took was one amazing play on special teams for the Ducks to bring themselves right back into the game.

A blocked punt by Rory Cavaille rolled into the end zone, and was fell upon by another Ducks player, resulting in a touchdown. Nate Costa then ran in the ball for a successful two point conversion.

In a matter of seconds, the Ducks took the lead, and never looked back.

This was the second game in a row where Oregon's special teams acted as the catalyst.

And even though the 43-19 score would indicate that Oregon dominated the Huskies yet again—the sixth time in a row to be exact—Oregon did not play a perfect game.

The Ducks committed nine penalties for 88 yards, the most penalties the Ducks have committed all season.

Many of these penalties were ones that are completely inexcusable. Holding, false starts, hands to the face, and illegal blocking in the back. All of these penalties are 100 percent avoidable if the players are disciplined, and Chip Kelly is one hell of a disciplinarian.

Maybe the fact that the game was a rivalry contributed to the amount of penalties called.

But if Oregon is going to beat USC, they cannot make as many mistakes as they did against Washington.

Oregon State proved that even USC is vulnerable at home. The Trojans barely held off a late rally to escape with a victory.

What does this say about how vulnerable USC is on the road? Well, for one, they lost to the Washington Huskies by three points in Seattle.

But aside from that lone hiccup, USC has played well this season.

If Oregon is going to beat USC, the Ducks' offensive and defensive lines need to keep performing at the level that they have been ever since the Boise State fiasco.

This game has all the makings for a disaster for the Ducks.

ESPN College Gameday is coming. The game is in Eugene, which could help to create a sense of overconfidence in the team and/or fan base.

This game could very well decide who goes to the Rose Bowl, and who goes to San Diego thinking about what could have been.

Chip Kelly will have his men prepared mentally and physically for the game.

I call each and every Duck fan to be prepared as well.

The game is this Saturday. The Ducks haven't won yet, nor have they lost yet.

Keep a level head Duck fans. We've still got a long way to go before the blackout on Halloween night at Autzen.

Ducks Look to Best The Huskies For The Sixth Consecutive Time

Cameron Jerde — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:06:02 -0400

It's amazing what a bye week can do for a college football team. No matter how any team is performing throughout the course of the season, each team works hard regardless, and thus deserves a week off to rest and recuperate for the next game.

It's even more amazing to see what a bye week can do for the fans of any one college football team.

Being a student on the campus at the University of Oregon, I have seen the effects the bye week has had on the student population. Why, just this weekend, some friends and I were thinking of things to fill our spare time with.

The most common answer? "I don't know man. The Ducks aren't on, so there really isn't much to do."

During the fall term, students at the University of Oregon eat, drink, sleep, breathe, and live Oregon Ducks Football.

As the Ducks prepare to visit Husky Stadium to face one of their arch-rivals, the Washington Huskies, Duck fans young and old are being filled up with the anticipation and eagerness of a small child on Christmas morning.

The biggest question coming out of Oregon Ducks' practices this week has been whether or not starting quarterback Jeremiah Masoli will play.

He has been practicing in full pads for the whole week, and has been taking his regular amount of snaps. So has backup quarterback Nate Costa, who started in place of the injured Masoli two weeks ago against UCLA.

Masoli has apparently been running half-speed during practices this week, which can mean one of two things. Either Masoli's knee is still not quite 100 percent, or he is being careful not to tweak his knee again before the game.

Duck fans have been reciting a new phrase this season: "In Chip we trust."

I hold absolute faith in Ducks head coach Chip Kelly. He is a very smart coach, and I have total confidence in him.

However, I personally feel, as I am sure Chip does, that if Masoli is not 100 percent by 12:30 PM PST this Saturday, he should not play.

The worst case scenario for the Ducks would be that Masoli re-injures his right knee against the Huskies and not be able to play against the USC Trojans the next week, a game that, if the Ducks defeat the Huskies this weekend, could very well decide the Pac-10.

Nate Costa proved to us all that given the chance, he can step in and lead the Ducks to victory. He was a bit rusty, but what can you expect from a guy who just played in his first football game in over three years?

Costa has his first career start, and his first career win under his belt. He is brimming with confidence, as is the team, coaching staff, and as I am as well.

Let it be known also that Washington's defense has been having horrible problems all season long. Example: A blown coverage against Arizona State that led to a 50-yard touchdown pass by Arizona State, a play that won the Sun Devils the game.

Here is what it really boils down to. If Masoli is not 100 percent by game time on Saturday, he should not play. Let Nate Costa start in his place. Washington's defense is not as strong as UCLA's is. With another week of practice under his belt, Costa should be well prepared to start for the second consecutive game.

Even if Masoli is 100 percent for the game, I still don't think that the Oregon offense work fire on all cylinders like they did against Cal and Washington State. Masoli will have to shake off the rust from a two-week absence.

But above all, no matter which quarterback starts, Oregon is favored to win this game by 10 points.

The Huskies hold arguably the best quarterback in the Pac-10 in Jake Locker. He has a cannon for an arm, and can beat you with his feet as well. It will be a challenge for the Ducks to contain him, as they have not faced a quarterback to this date with Locker's speed.

However, the Oregon Ducks defense is fast, strong, and smart.

I see this being a low scoring game no matter which quarterback is starting. But once Oregon scores their first points, more will be sure to come.

Let's put our full confidence behind whomever takes the helm at quarterback this weekend. It should be a great game.

I will conclude with a clever anecdote.

What do the Washington Huskies and Possums have in common?

They both play dead at home, and get killed on the road.

GO DUCKS!

MY VERDICT:

Oregon Ducks 27, Washington Huskies 10

Rest and Relaxation: The Doctor's Orders

Cameron Jerde — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:22:32 -0400

For the Oregon Ducks, a bye week could not have come at a more convenient time.

While loaded with talent and depth, the Ducks are hurt, tired, and a little hungover from the euphoria of a five game winning streak.

Starting quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, who tweaked his knee during the first half of the Ducks' 52-6 rout of the Washington State Cougars, was taken out of the game before halftime, and appeared on the sideline in warm-ups at the start of the third quarter, icing his knee.

All indications are that Masoli suffered either a sprained or strained MCL. He did not practice for two consecutive days, but wore shells for the last half of the week before the Ducks' road trip to Pasadena.

Masoli did not suit up for the game against the UCLA Bruins. However, he wasn't needed. Backup Nate Costa filled in quite nicely for Masoli.

Aside from making one mental mistake that gave the Bruins seven free points, Costa played well, and helped lead the Ducks to a 24-10 road win over the Bruins.

This week, the Ducks will not be playing. On Wednesday's practice, the first of two the Ducks will be conducting this week, the second of which will take place today, Masoli wore shells, not full pads.

He did not run very much, but he did throw many more passes than he did last week.

"I took a lot more reps," Masoli said. "I was taking a lot more reps with the first team, getting my routes (and) timing back."

A second MRI was conducted on Masoli's knee last week. Masoli said that "the MRI didn't show anything really. It's fine."

Pessimists and rumor mongers all throughout the country have raced to their computers to spread falsities that Masoli indeed tore his MCL and is out for the season.

People of intelligence should not listen to said rumors. Masoli suffered the exact same injury that USC starting quarterback Matt Barkley sustained earlier in the season. Barkley is back at full strength now. Duck fans should expect Masoli to come back this season as well.

The question however, is when? Barkley missed only two weeks. Masoli has missed one so far, but looking at how his injury his healing, all indications are that Masoli will be ready to suit up and start against the Washington Huskies on Oct. 24th.

There is a slight fear factor though. As mentioned, the Ducks will be traveling to Seattle to face the Huskies. The worst case scenario, knock on wood, would be that Masoli isn't 100 percent going into the game.

What happened the last time a powerhouse Pac-10 team visited Husky Stadium without their starting quarterback?

Enough said.

However, I do not believe Masoli will not be ready in time for next week.

And even if he is not, knock on wood (again), Nate Costa proved to the world that he can lead the Ducks to victory. And, let's face it. UCLA's defense is much better than Washington's.

Some may say that Costa's performance at UCLA is not cause for positive thought. Keep in mind however that the UCLA game was Costa's first career start. For a quarterback to return after three major knee surgeries and win his first career start is no small feat.

Costa is now brimming with confidence. He knows that he is capable of leading the Ducks to victory, and the team knows it, too. His teammates have all the confidence in the world in him.

But for now, let us follow suit of the Oregon Ducks this week. Rest, relax, recuperate, and return next week with the anticipation of a small child on Christmas morning.

For the Oregon Ducks, and especially for Jeremiah Masoli, the bye week could not have come at a more convenient time.

A little R&R? It's just what the doctor ordered.

Oregon Ducks Football: Finding The Open Door

Cameron Jerde — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:34:16 -0400

When one door closes, another door opens.

Every cloud has a silver lining.

Look at the glass half-full, instead of half-empty.

These three idiomatic phrases, as well as many others, can represent the Oregon Ducks' season so far.

Who would have thought that, after being completely embarrassed and out-classed by the now-No. 5 Boise State Broncos, the Ducks would respond by winning five straight games for the first time since 2005?

After the Boise State debacle, a solid oaken door was slammed right in the face of Oregon Ducks fans as LeGarratte Blount was suspended for the remainder of the 2009 season after sucker-punching Boise State defensive end Byron Hout.

But as Duck fans were rubbing their bruised faces, another door opened for the other Ducks running backs.

Since Blount's suspension, redshirt freshman LaMichael James has literally carried this Ducks team on his back, rushing for 581 yards so far this season.

Other running backs Andre Crenshaw, Remene Alston Jr., and Kenjon Barner have stepped up big. Why, just this past Saturday Kenjon Barner provided the spark that the Ducks' sputtering offense needed, returning the kickoff to start the second half 100 yards for a touchdown.

On the opening kickoff of the Ducks' 42-6 slaughter of then-No. 6 California, starting cornerback Walter Thurmond III tore all the major ligaments in his left knee, and thus was lost for the season. Talk about another slammed door in the face.

And yet, another door opened for the Ducks, as Thurmond's backup—Willie Glasper—played the entire game, helping the Ducks' defense give up only 207 yards.

The next week, Glasper himself succumbed to the injury bug, hurting his knee during a non-contact drill so badly it would require season-ending knee surgery.

This door seemed much heavier than others. The Ducks would have to travel to Pasadena to face the UCLA Bruins—who up until the previous week had been undefeated—without three of their best athletes in the secondary: T.J. Ward, Walter Thurmond III, and Willie Glasper.

Yet, again, the Ducks managed to find another open door. Sophomore Javes Lewis took over where Glasper left off, helping the Ducks' defense to another great performance, holding the Bruins' offense to 211 yards.

During the Washington State game, starting quarterback Jeremiah Masoli sustained a sprained MCL injury, which would require him to sit out the UCLA game. However, the open door was once again found. Backup Nate Costa, in his first collegiate start, performed admirably—save for an unnecessary turnover that gave the Bruins seven free points.

Specifically looking at Masoli's injury, the half-full side of the glass (the silver-lining to the cloud) is he was not needed during the UCLA game, giving him more time to let his knee heal. The Ducks' first bye week also couldn't have come at a better time.

The Oregon Ducks have started their Pac-10 campaign 3-0 for the first time since 2001. That season would result in the Ducks slaughtering the Colorado Buffaloes in the Fiesta Bowl and an outright Pac-10 championship.

No matter how many doors have been slammed in the faces of this year's Oregon Ducks squad, the Ducks are finding the open doors.

For the first time in awhile, I see an Oregon Ducks team that isn't a group of individual heroes, but an entire team—playing as a team, winning as a team, and losing as a team.

Thanks to bitter-rival Oregon State's 38-28 victory over the Stanford Cardinal, the Oregon Ducks remain the only unbeaten team in conference play.

The Pac-10 is ripe for the taking for the Oregon Ducks. First-year head coach Chip Kelly has a mature, disciplined, team-oriented group of young men.

Oregon is in prime position to knock the USC Trojans off of the jewel-encrusted throne that they've been atop for the last seven years.

As long as the Ducks keep finding the open door and playing together as a team, they will find themselves in Pasadena for the second time this season.

Who Is the Front Runner to Win The Pac-10?

Cameron Jerde — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:17:39 -0400

After the first five weeks of the College Football season, we as fans, analysts, and general sports junkies have seen many surprises.

From the Oregon Ducks rising up from the ashes of their humbling week one loss against the Boise State Broncos, to the Washington Huskies' huge upset of the national juggernaut USC Trojans, this season has already had its fair share of publicity.

Looking at the Pac-10 conference, which for the last seven years has been dominated by the USC Trojans, three teams are neck and neck in what is sure to be a thrilling race.

If one were to watch a swimming race of let's say, Michael Phelps, Mark Spitz, and Jason Lezak, it would be a perfect epitome of the Pac-10 race as of now, likely ending in a photo finish.

There are currently three teams that are undefeated in conference play. The Stanford Cardinal sit atop the conference with a 3-0 record. The Oregon Ducks fall in right behind them at 2-0, and the Arizona Wildcats round out the conference's top three squads with a 1-0 record.

The Stanford Cardinal should arguably be in the Top 25 this week. The Cardinal have looked impressive so far in conference play. Their most notable win came against the same Washington Huskies team that upset the USC Trojans this season.

The Cardinal allowed the Huskies to score only one offensive touchdown, en route to a 34-14 victory.

The Cardinal's other two victories have come against a rebuilding Washington State squad and a previously undefeated UCLA team.

The Oregon Ducks, despite losing their first game of the season to Boise State, have returned with fire in their hearts.

The Ducks have won four straight since losing to Boise State, and have won their last two contests in very impressive fashion.

The Ducks slaughtered then No. 6 California 42-3, following up that performance with an even more impressive victory over Washington State, sending the Cougars back home to Pullman with a 52-6 loss.

The Arizona Wildcats' lone conference game, and victory, came against Oregon State, beating the Beavers in Corvallis 37-32.

Referring to the three-team race I used as an analogy, the Pac-10 conference's edition comes down to the Stanford Cardinal, Oregon Ducks, and USC Trojans.

Yes, Arizona is undefeated in conference play, but I am not completely sold on the Wilcats' performance this season. Especially since the Wildcats lost to an overachieving Iowa Hawkeyes squad, who in all honesty, should be 2-2 instead of 4-0.

Not to take anything away from Arizona. The Wildcats will be hosting both the Cardinal and the Ducks this season.

If either of the two teams know how hard it is to play in Tuscon, ask the Oregon Ducks, referencing the Wildcats' upset of No. 2 Oregon in 2007.

Looking at the all three teams, the Oregon Ducks would appear to have the advantage over the Cardinal and the Trojans.

The Ducks and Trojans have both faced the Washington State Cougars and California Golden Bears this season, and in both match-ups, the spread has been larger for the Ducks.

California received two consecutive blowouts from the Ducks and the Trojans. Both teams allowed the Golden Bears to score a meager three points, but the Ducks put up 42 on the Golden Bears, whereas the Trojans put up a slightly lesser amount of 30.

The other common matchup, against the Washington State Cougars, also had a larger spread in favor of the Ducks. This time, by a wider margin than against Cal.

Oregon's offense flew high for the second consecutive week, scoring 52 points against the Cougars.

The week before, the USC Trojans managed only 27 points against the struggling Cougars.

The Stanford Cardinal, who also have faced the Cougars this season, put up 39 points.

It would appear that the Oregon Ducks should be the front runner to win the Pac-10 conference.

But as the first five weeks of the season have proved, projecting how teams will finish is next to impossible. Upsets will always occur. Teams that are picked to struggle will find ways to win.

For the Oregon Ducks, the season is far from over.

The Ducks will be traveling to Pasadena, CA this week to face the UCLA Bruins, who as I mentioned before, were undefeated until this past week.

The Rose Bowl is always a tough place to play. With over 90,000 seats, the venue can become deafeningly loud.

The last time Oregon traveled to Pasadena, the Ducks were in the middle of their end-of-season slump in 2007 after Heisman Trophy candidate Dennis Dixon was lost for the season with a torn ACL.

If the Oregon Ducks are going to run the table in the Pac-10 conference, they need to keep following the disciplined mantra of first-year head coach Chip Kelly.

Take the season one game at a time.

The Ducks still have to play key road games at UCLA, Washington, Stanford, and Arizona, and face both USC and Oregon State at home.

The season is far from over, and Oregon will need to continue to follow the guidance of Chip Kelly to even have a shot at making the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1994.

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's The Oregon Ducks' Passing Game

Cameron Jerde — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:02:55 -0400

The sky surrounding Autzen Stadium couldn't have been a more pure blue this past weekend, as the Oregon Ducks forcefully completed their journey of redemption after manhandling the California Golden Bears 42-3.

For those who missed any of the action, all one needs to do is look toward the skies.

That's right folks. Oregon's passing game has woken up from it's long hibernation.

The Oregon Ducks came out firing on Saturday, as Jeremiah Masoli erased all doubt surrounding the combined performances of the season's first three games by completing 21 of 25 passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns.

Preseason All-American Ed Dickson was the recipient of Masoli's three touchdown passes, and should see his stock rise, not only on the watch list for the John Mackey Award, given to the nation's top tight end each season, but also in the NFL draft.

The Ducks were also able to run the ball very well against the Golden Bears' defense.

Redshirt freshman LaMichael James ran for 118 yards and one touchdown on 21 carries, recording his second consecutive 100+ yards performance.

But if any part of the Oregon Ducks' team deserves more credit than any other, it is without a doubt the Ducks' defense.

California running back Jahvid Best, a heisman hopeful, was held to a meager 55 yards rushing on sixteen carries.

Kevin Riley, who graduated from Beaverton High School in the Portland Metropolitan Area, only completed 12 of 31 passes. Most of those incomplete passes were not overthrown by Riley or dropped passes by his receivers. Instead, they were broken up by the Ducks' secondary and linebacking corps.

For the record, the Ducks played the entire game without their two best players in the secondary, T.J. Ward and Walter Thurmond III.

Ward will return this season, possibly this week after sustaining a high ankle sprain in Oregon's 19-8 opening game loss to the now No. 5 ranked Boise State Broncos.

Thurmond, however, is done. He underwent season-ending knee surgery this past Sunday. Thurmond injured his knee on the opening kickoff against Cal.

This puts more pressure on Oregon's defense to preform the way they did against Cal for the rest of the season.

Where do the Ducks go from here?

By Chip Kelly's mantra, it's one game at a time.

This is the way it should be. Coach Kelly is doing an excellent job of instilling high-quality character in his athletes—aside from the whole LeGarrette Blount incident, but that is water under the bridge.

The Ducks need to focus their attention on this week's upcoming matchup against the Washington State Cougars.

The Cougars may have only won one game so far this year, but as the Washington Huskies proved in Week Three, any team from the Pac-10 is capable of beating another Pac-10 opponent.

The only major flaw in Oregon's performance against Cal was turnovers. The Ducks committed three, and had they not, the spread could have been even larger.

Look for Oregon to come out firing early against Washington State.

The Cougars are young and vulnerable, but then again, after the first quarter, their defense only let USC score seven points.

Oregon is poised to make a run at the Pac-10 title, but they will need to take their season one game at a time if they want to achieve this goal.

As Head Coach Chip Kelly stated, "The only thing we have done is given ourselves the opportunity to finish 3-9."

Kelly couldn't have stated it any better than that.

As long as Oregon keeps up their one-game-at-a-time approach, they will achieve greatness.

Purdue's Train Will Not "Keep A Rollin'" Against the Oregon Ducks

Cameron Jerde — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 18:22:29 -0400

Music can have a very calming effect on the mind, body, and soul.

However, while I was listening to a great rendition of Aerosmith's "Train Kept a Rollin'" I could experience nothing but pure anticipation for the Oregon Ducks' upcoming home opener against the Purdue Boilermakers.

There are many reasons for my severe impatience.

One reason could be that I will be playing in the Oregon Marching Band for the first time, one of the best college marching bands in the Western United States.

Another could simply be that I am as huge of a Duck fan as you will ever meet.

But more importantly, the main reason why I am experiencing severe bouts of anticipation is that the Ducks have a golden opportunity for redemption when the rebuilding Purdue Boilermakers come to Eugene.

It's truly amazing how the actions of one person can severely affect the integrity of an organization.

Of course, I am referring to Oregon's former starting running back LeGarrette Blount.

No matter where I was located after this past Thursday's contest between the Oregon Ducks and the Boise State Broncos, I was bombarded with images of Blount's infamous sucker-punch that cost him his senior year.

All the effort that former coach Mike Bellotti put into bringing the Oregon Ducks into national prominence was flushed down the crapper when Blount made that fatal decision.

I commend current head coach Chip Kelly, and now Oregon athletic director Mike Bellotti for their swift and just actions.

Now Oregon needs to put these losses, both the loss against the Broncos and the loss of LeGarrette Blount, behind them and start to prepare for their upcoming matchup against the Purdue Boilermakers.

How can we forsee this matchup unfolding?

First, let's analyze Oregon's loss this past Thursday.

It was clear from the opening kickoff that both teams would play sloppily.

Walter Thrumond III returned the opening kickoff to the Ducks' 42-yard line; a good start to the game.

However, Oregon's offense could not record a first down.

The Ducks' opening drive was highlighted by a first down pass from Jeremiah Masoli to Jeff Maehl that was thrown behind the receiver. Maehl caught the pass but was tackled for a meager one yard gain.

The next play was a handoff to redshirt freshman running back LaMichael James for a gain of five yards.

Then on third-and-four, Masoli threw an incomplete pass, resulting in a three and out.

Boise State's first drive was better than Oregon's, but resulted in a missed field goal by the Broncos.

Fast forwarding through the first half, Oregon had not yet recorded a first down, and had gained a meager 14 yards of total offense.

Then in the third quarter, Oregon's offense started to show why it was feared across the nation last season. Jeremiah Masoli threw for four consecutive first downs, and ran the ball in for a score, completing a 54-yard drive in under three minutes.

The kicker? Oregon's lone scoring drive did not involve a certain running back by the name of LeGarrette Blount.

In the fourth quarter however, Oregon was plagued by the same menace that haunted them in the first half, missed opportunities.

Both the Broncos and the Ducks turned the ball over back and forth throughout the second half, with Oregon never being able to dig themselves out of the hole they made for themselves in the first half.

The name of the game this past Thursday was missed opportunities.

Had the Oregon offense been able to convert Boise's missed field goals into touchdowns in the first quarter, the Ducks would have won the game.

Both teams played awful, Boise just was not as bad.

Of course, for a new head coach like Chip Kelly, calling the game from the field as compared to calling the game from the box is a huge change, and required at least one game for adjustment.

Yes, I would have liked to see Oregon open up Kelly's coaching career with a victory, but the loss is not the end of the world.

It was only one game.

On the other hand, the Purdue Boilermakers will be coming into Autzen Stadium this coming Saturday undefeated.

However, the victory Purdue recorded against the Toledo Rockets was anything but a perfect game.

Both squads recorded three turnovers, and converted close to 50 percent of their third down attempts.

The Boilermakers did score 52 points, but gave up 31.

They gained 535 yards of total offense, but allowed 493.

The biggest difference for the Boilermakers was passing yards. The Rockets out-threw the Boilermakers 423 yards to 220.

The biggest difference for the Rockets was rushing yards. The Boilermakers ran up, around, over, and through the Rockets, 315 yards worth to be exact.

Now comes the time to predict how Oregon will handle their upcoming home opener against Purdue.

First off, Oregon will be able to play in near-pristine weather. Last season, strong gusts of wind messed with the Ducks all game in West Lafayette, IN, and barely escaped with an overtime victory.

Second, the Purdue Boilermakers have a new coach of their own. This will be Danny Hope's second game as head coach of Purdue football.

Thirdly, the Boilermakers are in a rebuilding mode. Nicknamed "Quarterback University" by many sports analysts, the Boilermakers have been struggling mightily in the Big Ten (11).

Now that Chip Kelly has a full game of head coaching under his belt, I believe the Ducks will be fine.

Like I said before, going from calling the game from the booth to calling the game from the sidelines is a HUGE change.

Many sports analysts will say that Oregon will not be able to make up for the loss of LeGarrette Blount, a 1000 yard back from last season.

Don't be fooled. The Ducks have a large crop of agile, capable, speedy, and swift running backs.

Redshirt freshman LaMichael James will most likely get the nod at starting running back, but senior Andre Crenshaw will also be getting many snaps.

Other sports analysts will tell you that Oregon's defense will not be strong enough to compete in the Pac-10 this year. Again don't be fooled.

What most people have overlooked about the Boise State game is that despite losing stalwarts Nick Reed, Jairus Byrd, and Patrick Chung from last season's defense, the Oregon defense played a much improved game against the Broncos as compared to last season's rendition.

And yet even more analysts will tell you that Oregon's offensive line is too inexperienced, and not strong enough to help out Oregon's spread-option offense.

While Oregon's offense line does not have much starting experience, all but one lineman played extensive amounts of snaps last season.

The offensive line did not play well against the Broncos, but as I stated before, it was the first game of the season. Things can only get better from here.

Mainly, sports fans should look for the Ducks to come out sprinting on Saturday against the Boilermakers.

Oregon has to prove to the nation that LeGarrette Blount's absence won't affect the Oregon offense as negatively as people make it out to be.

I would not worry too much. Oregon's team, albeit young, has many talented players, and a great coaching staff to help develop the raw talent into something great.

The Boilermaker's train will not "keep a rollin'" this Saturday.

MY VERDICT:

Oregon Ducks: 27

Purdue Boilermakers: 13

Attention Oregon Ducks Fans: Do Not Panic After One Game

Cameron Jerde — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 03:10:16 -0400

I will admit, I was as disappointed as anyone could ever be watching the Oregon Ducks let the Boise State Broncos walk off the smurf turf with a victory.

This loss should not be cause for alarm.

I can't begin to tell you how much crow I've heard about this recent loss, and how much of said crow has been directed at Oregon's former starting running back, LeGarrette Blount.

Here is the case, my friends: Oregon simply gave Boise State that victory.

I predicted before the season started that if Oregon were to have a hiccup game, it would come against Boise State, simply because it was the first game of the season.

Boise State head coach Chris Petersen said after the game that even though he was proud of his team's victory, the Broncos played a pretty sloppy game.

The Ducks played a sloppy game, as well, which is normal for a team's first game of the season.

Considering that Oregon is a talented but still relatively young team, the sloppiness should have been expected.

A great example of this would be Oregon's entire first half on offense.

The Ducks were second in the nation in rushing offense last season, and averaged over 500 yards of total offense per game. They didn't tally a single first down in the first half, and only gained fourteen yards of total offense.

In the second half, though, Oregon's offense started to show its true colors. After starting with good field position, the Ducks marched 54 yards down the field for a score and a two-point conversion in under three minutes.

Remember that Boise State missed two consecutive field goal attempts in the first quarter. Had Oregon been able to take advantage of those missed field goal attempts, and had drives like their single scoring drive, Oregon would have won the game.

How can we explain Oregon's anemic offense in the first half? Was it simply first-game jitters? National television spotlight for a relatively young squad? Boise State's blue turf?

I believe it was a combination of the first two possible answers, along with a bit of over-hype.

Sports journalists far and wide have criticized the Ducks, saying that their offensive and defensive lines are too inexperienced, and too young to help the Ducks contend in the Pac-10 this season.

There are some problems with these claims. First off, Oregon's defense, despite losing three defensive starters from last season to the NFL, played a better game on Thursday night than they did last year against the Broncos.

Oregon's defense kept them in the game, making Boise State turn the ball over and causing the Broncos to go three-and-out on multiple occasions.

However, Oregon's offense could not capitalize on these Boise State mistakes. Many would point to the offensive line as the problem, considering that Oregon has had to replace three starters from the offensive line from last season.

Some may call them inexperienced. In fact, except for one lineman, Carson York (a redshirt freshman), the rest of the offensive line has at least one game of starting experience, as well as many minutes of playing time from last season.

The only inexperience that sticks out would be starting inexperience.

Yes, Oregon's offense didn't come to play until the third quarter, when it was too little to late. Yes, Oregon couldn't capitalize off of Boise's many blunders. Yes, LeGarrette Blount didn't play well and consequently acted in a way that has ended his college career.

Keep in mind, it was only the first game of the season.

There is no reason at all to panic.

The Oregon Ducks have a good team this year, albeit relatively young, and a great coaching staff.

Look for Oregon to bounce back against Purdue.

It's only one game of football.

Oregon Ducks' Offensive Line a Question Mark for This Season?

Cameron Jerde — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:00:42 -0400

If any two facets of a football team carry more importance than the others, they would have to be the offensive and defensive lines.

Others would argue that the quarterback or running back, or even the secondary are the most important.

How effective can a quarterback be if he is constantly being sacked by the opposing team?

How effective can a running back be if he cannot make it past the line of scrimmage?

How effective can a secondary be if the opposing quarterback is never pressured by the defensive line?

The Oregon Ducks possessed one of the most dangerous offenses in the nation last season. All the praise that surrounded the likes of Jeremiah Masoli, Jeremiah Johnson, LeGarrette Blount, and Ed Dickson would have been non-existent if it had not been for the man pictured above, Max Unger, and his offensive line.

For those who don't know who Unger is, he was the man in the middle for the Ducks.

As center, he anchored the Ducks' offensive line that allowed only 20 sacks in 2008. From that same offensive line, the Ducks have also graduated Fenuki Tupou, Mark Lewis, and Jeff Kendall.

The staggering amount of losses would seem crippling to the Ducks' offense. However, since Mike Bellotti became the head coach at Oregon, the Ducks have had a deep offensive line.

This year proves to be no different.

Starting at center this year will be junior Jordan Holmes, who has four career starts for the Ducks.

At the guard positions, sophomore Mark Asper, with one career start, will be starting at right guard, and redshirt freshman Carson York, will be starting his first game for the Ducks on Sept. 3, 2009, when the Ducks travel to Boise, ID to avenge last year's loss in Autzen at the hands of the upstart Boise State Broncos.

At the tackle positions, junior C.E. Kaiser, with 10 career starts, will be starting at right tackle, and junior Bo Thran, with five career starts, will be starting at left tackle.

It seems the only question mark on this year's Ducks offensive line would be redshirt freshman Carson York, who is the only starting lineman to not have any starting experience. In fact, Sept. 3 will be York's first game.

Rated by rivals.com as a four-star recruit, York may be the only starting offensive lineman without any starting experience, but when your offensive line coach is Steve Greatwood, York should not have too much trouble preparing for his first start.

It's a fact to say that the Boise State vs Oregon game will be one of the biggest in school history for both teams.

Both squads are rated in the Top 20 in both ESPN's Power Rankings, and the latest USA Today poll.

Some analysts have stated that even though Oregon has two talented running backs in LeGarrette Blount and LaMichael James, they will have trouble running the ball due to the inexperience of their offensive line.

Oregon's offensive line may not be the most experienced in terms of games started, but nearly every one of the Ducks' starters have played in big games last season.

The starting numbers do not carry heavily in their favor, but talent, heart, grit, determination, and coaching do.

Another factor that will work in the Ducks' favor is that the Broncos will be without two of their defensive tackles.

Head Coach Chris Petersen has suspended Michael Atkinson following a DUI arrest, and now, the Broncos have lost Greg Grimes for four-to-six weeks with a leg injury.

Well, looks like Petersen is capable of suspending people. Now he needs to crack down on cheap shots.

With a depleted defensive line, Oregon's "inexperienced" but talented offensive line should not have much trouble opening holes for running backs LaMichael James and LeGarrette Blount to run through.

Of course, Blount could also revert to running people over. Whatever works, right?

All in all, expect a good first game from the Ducks. Oregon's offensive line will be ready, but will Boise State's defensive line be?

As of now, that answer sounds like a no.

This season is going to be a great one, no doubt about it.

Seattle Mariners: How Hope and Change Can Affect a Baseball Team

Cameron Jerde — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:44:40 -0400

Until this season, it had been tough to be a fan of the Seattle Mariners.

Poor front office moves, inconsistent play, and dreadful coaching have plagued the once-great franchise.

However, this year's Mariners squad as shown what can happen when you add a pinch of hope and change to the franchise.

No, I am not trying to endorse President Obama through this article, although I am one of his supporters.

The point that I am trying to make is that the main ingredients to the Mariners' success thus far have been strictly the concepts of hope can change.

Look through all the moves that new Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik has made throughout his tenure, and you will see that change has immensely helped the Mariners to be in contention for a playoff spot.

The most influential change? How about donning Russell Branyan with a Mariners uniform?

Currently hitting .255 with 27 home runs and 67 RBI, Branyan has been without a doubt the largest offensive catalyst for the Mariners this season.

The knock on Branyan? He has struck out 101 times and counting. For those Mariners fans who remember Mike Cameron, the similarities pop out.

Cameron could hit for power, and plenty of it. While in a Mariners uniform he hit four home runs in a single game.

But, like Branyan, Cameron had horrible plate discipline. For both Branyan and Cameron, one could assume that on any given at bat, either player would either strike out, fly out, or hit a home run.

If Branyan did not strike out so often, it would not be too zealous to assume that he would be batting above .300.

What about other Mariners contributions this season?

Center fielder Franklin Gutierrez has also proved that he is reliable offensively. Gutierrez is having a career season. Currently batting a solid .300 with 14 homers and 50 RBI, Gutierrez has shown that he can hit for average and power.

If the season ended today, 14 home runs would not seem like great power numbers, but at the rate Gutierrez is hitting them, he is on track to end the season with 20+ home runs, a much more acceptable number for a power hitter.

Don't forget his contributions on defense either.

How many times have we seen Franklin make an awe-inspiring diving catch, or rob someone of a home run?

Another offensive contributor to the Mariners success thus far as been Jose Lopez. Currently batting .278 with 15 home runs and 66 RBI, Lopez is also on track to finish the season with 20+ homers.

However, offense is not the main reason why the Mariners are winning games. The Mariners have remained in contention for a playoff spot with their defense and their pitching.

There are only two teams with above .500 records that are being out-hit by the teams they've played, Seattle and Florida.

Florida has a modest difference of -1, which is a good example of why the Marlins are only six games above .500.

The Mariners' difference? -41 runs, meaning for a team that is only six games above .500, they have given up 41 more runs than they have scored.

This shows plainly how much the Mariners have relied on their pitching and defense to win games.

Only eight of the Mariners 59 wins this season have been blowout wins, meaning wins by five or more runs.

The rest? Decided by mostly one or two runs.

Let's not discredit Russell Branyan, Jose Lopez, or Franklin Gutierrez. Without their offensive production, the Mariners would most likely be in the same situation they were last year.

However, their contributions still do not fill the gaping hole which is the Mariners' offense. Like I've said before, it has been strictly the Mariners' defense and pitching that has put them in contention for the AL Wild Card.

The Mariners are currently four and a half games behind the AL Wild Card leading Boston Red Sox.

Boston's schedule starts getting easier from here on out, so the Mariners will really need to buckle down and get back to playing the way they were the first month of the season if they hope to make the playoffs for the first time since 2001.

The Mariners are looking stronger and battle-hardened thanks to the many nail-biting games they've played this season. The Mariners have won five games out of their last six, and six games out of their last 10.

So let's bring in the "refuse to lose" mentality that was the Mariners' trademark in 1995. Every time the Mariners lose, they need to get back up of the ground, wipe the dust off themselves, roll up their sleeves, and get back to work.

The Mariners have instilled in themselves the power of hope all season long. Right now, they need to harness that hope inside themselves and continue battling on, because as of right now, the Mariners are in the heat of the AL Wild Card race.

There is no margin for error. Let's get going Mariners.

Major League Soccer Poses Major League Problems in Portland, OR

Cameron Jerde — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 21:34:28 -0400

There are three vital components to a city's economy. One, the city's citizens. Two, the amount of tourism said city supports in a given year. And three, the amount of professional sports franchises located in said city.

Well, the third answer may not be as vital as it seems, but professional sports franchises can be great investments of time and money.

Even though our country's economy is not as prosperous as it has been in years past, sports fanatics are still flocking to the arenas, the coliseums, and the stadiums to watch their favorite franchises fight.

Think about how much worse off the economy of Pittsburgh, PA would be if their beloved Penguins and Steelers were not in town.

You may be wondering where I am going with this.

The city of Portland, OR has one single professional sports franchise, the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association.

However, in 2011, the city of Portland will be granted an expansion team through Major League Soccer.

The Portland Timbers, currently residing in the United Soccer Leagues 1st Division, will cease to exist in said division, and will enter Major League Soccer along with an expansion team from Vancouver, BC.

While this new professional sports franchise will most certainly attract many fans and help to bolster the city's economy, there are already surfacing problems due to the expansion of Major League Soccer.

It has been declared that the city of Portland will renovate it's current multipurpose stadium, PGE Park, to make it a soccer-only venue.

Because of this declared renovation, two teams that also call PGE Park home will have to look for new homes before the stadium is renovated.

The semi-professional Portland Beavers, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, will be forced to either leave the city of Portland or persuade the city to build them a brand new facility, although it will be much smaller than their current home.

The Beavers have looked at many possible locations to build their new stadium, but all have been rejected. It looks as if the Beavers may be playing their final season in Portland.

Portland State University currently uses PGE Park to host their football team's home games.

In the past, when PGE Park was under renovation, the Vikings played their home games at Hillsboro Stadium in Hillsboro, OR.

However, this was a special consideration by the Big Sky conference. Hillsboro Stadium fell below the conference's minimum capacity requirements for football stadiums.

If the city of Hillsboro were able to pay for a major expansion of the stadium, including building an eastside grandstand identical to the westside grandstand, and connecting the grandstands with endzone seats, the stadium would just maybe have enough seats to fulfill the conference's requirements.

There is one gigantic problem with this proposal. The city of Hillsboro does not have the money to fund a stadium expansion. The city can barely afford to fund it's schools. How could the city take on a multi-million dollar stadium expansion as well?

The Vikings could be saved if PGE Park's management agrees to keep housing them. Take the Seattle Sounders for example. The Sounders play their home games in Quest Field, also home to the Seattle Seahawks.

If the Vikings and Timbers were able to work out a compromise together, I am certain that the Vikings could stay put.

But if any problem outweighs another, it has to be the Beavers' pursuit of land to build their new stadium. One of the city council members said he would only vote to bring the Timbers into Major League Soccer if the city could find an area to build the Beavers a new ballpark.

I am not sure if council members can rescind their votes, but if they can, the Beavers' new stadium will be the make-or-break factor in promoting the Timbers into Major League Soccer.

I sincerely hope that the Beavers can find a suitable location to build their stadium. It would allow the Timbers to elevate to professional status, and would also help draw many fans to the games.

What would "Soccer-City USA" be without a professional soccer team?

The fate of the Timbers lies in the hands of the Portland Beavers. Someone please step up to the plate and allow them to build their stadium. You will be doing more good than you think.

A Golden Opportunity Lays on the Horizon and Portland Should Sign Bruce Bowen

Cameron Jerde — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 18:01:54 -0400

Throughout this long and draining NBA offseason, fans have grown accustomed to much speculation involving teams with cap space, free agents, and a draft pick who's last name is Ricky Rubio.

Well, for those who enjoy the speculation, this should tide you over for a bit longer.

It has just been announced that the Milwaukee Bucks have released veteran small forward Bruce Bowen after trade talks with the Denver Nuggets failed.

Bowen is 38, and is approaching the final years of his career. But the three-time NBA champion has much to offer a team.

For the first time in nine years, Bowen was not a member of either of the All NBA Defensive Teams. He still remains a defensive presence despite his age, and can shoot the three at an above average percentage.

Aside from the three, his offense is not up to snuff with the rest of the league's small forwards, but after all he is known for his defense.

When San Antonio sent Bowen to Milwaukee earlier this offseason, they received Richard Jefferson, another defensive stalwart with NBA finals experience, not to mention a younger one who can play offense too.

It strikes many as odd that the Bucks decided to release Bowen. I understand that they want to give Joe Alexander more playing time, but the Bucks ranked in the bottom half of the league in defensive efficiency last season. For them to simply cut Bowen seems like a huge mistake.

So, where does Bruce Bowen go from here?

Teams such as Orlando, Cleveland, and Boston have been mentioned as possible suitors for Bowen, but another team should be listed, Portland.

I know what you're thinking. The Blazers already have three, soon to be four small forwards on contract with Nicolas Batum, Travis Outlaw, Martell Webster, and Dante Cunningham.

It is without a doubt that Batum is the small forward of the future for Portland. Heck, he started 75 games last season in place of projected starter Martell Webster, who was hurt the whole season with a nagging stress fracture in his left foot's fifth metatarsal.

Batum is without a doubt Portland's best perimeter defender. He can do almost everything defensively that one could ask for. But he still needs some more coaching and time before he can be the stalwart Portland knows he can be.

Here is where Bowen comes into play. He could either start or come off the bench, but his greatest contribution would be to mentor the young Batum. If an eight-time All-NBA Defensive team member can't help an up-and-coming defensive playmaker, who can?

Bowen wouldn't have to stick around forever as a player. Like I said before he is 38. Portland could sign him to a one or two year deal. That would be enough to help mentor Batum.

Heck, Bowen could be added to the Blazers' coaching staff once he retires.

And yet another positive to adding Bowen to the Blazers' roster is that it would open up space for either Travis Outlaw or Martell Webster to be traded before the deadline.

Kevin Pritchard got his start in the Spurs organization. He's seen how much of a defensive presence Bowen is. In my opinion, Portland's "Golden Boy" would be a fool to miss this golden opportunity that is literally right under his nose.

It's your move Pritchard. Make the call.

It's Andre Miller Time in Portland, But Has the Clock Run Out For Other Blazers?

Cameron Jerde — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 03:36:11 -0400

My fellow Blazermaniacs, today we stand at the point of no return.

We face a shambled economy, a health care system tailored only for those who can afford it, and a congress divided over whether to rethink our policies or to stay stagnant in our country's development.

Political speeches aside there are many things to cheer about in the Pacific Northwest.

The state of the Portland Trail Blazers is a greatly intriguing one.

After the Blazers' first-round playoff exit this past April, head coach Nate McMillan, general manager Kevin Pritchard, and team owner Paul Allen vowed that changes would be made en route to a Western Conference berth.

There have been departures. There have been additions. There have been hearts broken, and there have been opportunities missed.

The first big change to occur was on draft night, when the Trail Blazers shipped reserve point guard Sergio Rodriguez and draft pick John Brockman to the Sacramento Kings for Jeff Pendergraph.

The Blazers also drafted Victor Claver in the first round as well as Dante Cunningham in the second.

The latest roster change we know of is that Portland has signed free agent point guard Andre Miller to a three-year $21 million deal.

What I would like to see now is for Kevin Pritchard and Nate McMillan to pull Jerryd Bayless aside and flip him the bird.

By trading away Sergio Rodriguez, the Blazers were making good on their word to Bayless, giving him the backup point guard role.

Now with Andre Miller officially a Trail Blazer, Bayless is in the exact same place he found himself in just 3 months ago, a third string bench warmer.

By signing Andre Miller, Kevin Pritchard has given us a vision of things to come.

Miller is in no way about to retire. At 31, the 10-year veteran has missed only three games in his entire career. He's nowhere near as fatigued as Jason Kidd, who is going on 37 years of age.

Although, when one looks closely at the games of Bayless and Miller, they are not so different,

Miller prefers to attack the basket, and not only can finish at the rim, but can dish the ball out to perimeter shooters for easy assists.

Bayless is a point guard trapped in a shooting guard's body. The kid is a pure athlete, plain and simple. We've seen how easily he can get to the rim. The only thing really separating his play from Miller's is the assist numbers.

Because of the Miller signing, I believe it is safe to say that Bayless could be traded by the trading deadline, along with Travis Outlaw and Martell Webster.

Dante Cunningham will most likely earn the backup small forward job over Outlaw, as he has a much more consistent jumper and is more prone to driving the lane, something McMillan has been trying to get Outlaw to do for years.

The other area where Outlaw has logged his minutes, the backup power forward position, will more than likely be filled by Jeff Pendergraph, who has shown his grittiness and toughness in the paint, as well as a developing perimeter game.

Unless Webster puts up incredible numbers this season, he also will be easy trade bait. Rudy Fernandez is Brandon Roy's backup. Rudy can shoot, pass, and play above average defense, while Webster is a defensive liability.

What the Andre Miller signing really boils down to is that Portland obviously is not confident with Bayless' growth as a point guard so far.

I would not be the least bit surprised to hear or read his name on a list of trades made before next season's trading deadline, along with Martell Webster and Travis Outlaw.

All that is left to do is for Kevin Pritchard to give both Roy and Aldridge the money they deserve.

Stay tuned Blazermaniacs. You won't want to miss out on any of the action, no matter what time of year the calendar tells us it is.

Portland Trail Blazers To Trade for Kirk Hinrich?

Cameron Jerde — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:13:12 -0400

Portland Trail Blazers junkies have known that general manager Kevin Pritchard has had eyes for Chicago Bulls reserve point guard Kirk Hinrich since free agent small forward Hedo Turkoglu had a change of heart at the last minute and decided to sign with the Toronto Raptors, but it has only been since 3:37 Pacific Standard Time that trade talks have actually taken shape.

ESPN's Mark Stein and Chad Ford have reported that the Portland Trail Blazers have entered into talks regarding a three-team deal with the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz.

The big names included in this proposed deal are reserve point guard Kirk Hinrich and starting power forward Tyrus Thomas of the Chicago Bulls, and starting power forward Carlos Boozer of the Utah Jazz.

Before the free agency period began, it was reported that the Detroit Pistons would be Boozer's No. 1 suitor if he had accepted the player option in his contract, making him an unrestricted free agent.

Boozer declined this option, allowing him to fulfill the final year of his contract with the Jazz. In turn, this has seemed to make it very difficult for the Utah Jazz to re-sign restricted free agent power forward Paul Millsap, due to the fact that Utah is already over the luxury tax.

What is interesting is that this trade started to take shape just a day after the Portland Trail Blazers proclaimed that they would prepare a "toxic" offer for Millsap.

What seems to be the case here is that Utah would rather trade Boozer in order to keep Millsap. This makes sense because of Millsap's youthfulness, his tenacity on the boards, and his ability to score.

The make-or-break factor in this trade would be whether or not the Jazz could receive another power forward, as the Jazz have only two on roster, Boozer and Millsap.

While the trade has not been fully completed, the Jazz would send Boozer to the Bulls for their starting power forward Tyrus Thomas. Somehow the Trail Blazers would end up with Hinrich.

If this trade were to go through it would become much more difficult for the Trail Blazers to sign Millsap. The most likely course of action would be for the Trail Blazers to pursue unrestricted free agent power forward Brandon Bass.

So Trail Blazers fans, what do you think? Please comment with your opinions and responses to the proposed trade. Go Blazers!

Are Oregon Ducks' Non-Conference Opponents Cupcakes Or Tres Leches?

Cameron Jerde — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 02:02:45 -0400

Earlier this evening, College Football laid in wait, hiding behind a bush lining the paved walkway leading to my front door.

It jumped out from behind the bush and startled the ba-jesus out of me. Then it hit me. We are only two months away from the start of the 2009-10 College Football Season.

I tell ya, it is very hard to believe how fast the time goes.

With the season quickly approaching, it comes time to analyze each team's current roster, coaching staff, and schedule (conference and non-conference) in order to predict how each squad could fare this upcoming season.

The Oregon Ducks have had a reputation for playing a mediocre non-conference schedule. There have been seasons when the Ducks have played host to below-average teams such as the Fresno State Bulldogs, Nevada Wolfpack, and the Utah State Aggies of the Western Athletic Conference.

On other occasions, the Ducks have either hosted or been hosted by some very presitgious programs. The Ducks have faced the Michigan Wolverines, Purdue Boilermakers, and the Wisconsin Badgers of the Big Ten Conference, as well as teams such as the Oklahoma Sooners of the Big Twelve Conference.

This season, the Oregon Ducks non-conference schedule seems to be a relatively solid one. The Ducks will travel to Boise this September to face off against the Boise State Broncos in their first game of the college football season.

The Ducks will also play host to the Utah Utes and the Purdue Boilermakers.

Let's look at each matchup, dissecting it down to the bone in order to glean a good sense of what might happen.

The Ducks and Broncos faced each other last season at Autzen Stadium. In a game where starting quarterback Jeremiah Masoli was forced to leave the game after taking a blatantly late hit from a Boise State defender, Oregon fell behind quickly and all seemed lost.

Then, then head coach Mike Bellotti decided to take out Chris Harper, a scrambling quarterback, and sub-in Darron Thomas, a dual-threat quarterback.

In a performance that went down as one of the greatest in Oregon Ducks Football history, Darron Thomas threw for 210 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception in a single quarter.

Thomas' amazing performance would prove to not be enough, as the Ducks were ousted by the Broncos 37-32.

What will it take for the Ducks to pull out a victory on the smurf-turf?

First off, the Broncos will be treated to a much improved Oregon Ducks football team from the last time the two teams met.

When the Broncos strolled into Autzen Stadium last season, they met an Oregon Ducks team with an unproven starting quarterback in Jeremiah Masoli.

Also, the cheap hit that took Masoli out of the game, and replaced him with Chris Harper, bought the Broncos just enough time to squeak past the Ducks before Mike Bellotti woke up, smelled the coffee, and put Thomas in the game.

If the Broncos do not know what Masoli is capable of, have them ask Mike Riley or Mike Gundy and they will find their answer.

It is clear that Oregon is favored in this game.

The Ducks have a proven, dangerous dual-threat quarterback in Jeremiah Masoli.

The Ducks have a beastly, 1000 yard running back in LeGarrette Blount.

The Ducks have an offensive line that is one of the deepest in the country. When one player leaves, another is right there to plug the hole.

The Ducks have a deep receiving corps made up of the speedy Jamere Holland, the reliable Jeff Mahel, the highly-touted Lavasier Tuinei, and the bruising tight-end duo of Ed Dickson and Malachi Lewis.

The Ducks have a monster defensive end Will Tukuafu who should be a lock in the All Pac-10 first team.

As always, the Ducks will have a deep secondary, anchored by senior cornerback Walter Thurmond III, Junior cornerback Talmadge Jackson III, and senior safeties T.J. Ward and Titus Jackson.

The Ducks will also have a deep linebacking corps, led by juniors Spencer Paysinger and Casey Matthews, and sophomores Eddie Pleasant and Terrence Pritchett.

The one thing that has rarely been a problem in the '00s for the Oregon Ducks has been depth.

Like many previous years, I do not expect the Ducks to have problems with the depth of their team.

The Broncos are definitely not as loaded as the Ducks. The Broncos do have a good starting quarterback in Kellen Moore, but the Broncos have lost arguably their most valuable offensive weapon in running back Ian Johnson.

The Broncos claim to never get any respect in the preseason rankings. My argument to their so-called plight is that the Broncos schedule at most one decent non-conference opponent per year. They torch up the WAC and then ask why they aren't included in BCS talks.

Two word answer: The WAC.

With a loaded defensive line and linebacking corps that will take much pressure off a secondary that has had to replace their two best players, the Oregon defense will be able to pressure the Boise State offense into making bad decisions.

Will the game be a blow out? Who knows? But, more likely than not, the Ducks will leave the smurf turf victorious, but vomiting from the hideous turf.

The Purdue Boilermakers should be an easy victory for the Ducks. The game will be at Autzen, which significantly reduces the possibility for the same nearly hurricane-force winds that messed with the Ducks all-game long last season.

Simply put, the Ducks offense will be way too potent to be stopped this season, and the defensive line and linebacking corps will always be a thorn in the sides of opposing offenses.

Now to move onto the real challenge for the Ducks. The Utah Utes.

The Utes biggest threat will be their defense, specifically their run defense. The Utes allowed only 99 rushing yards per game and 3.1 yards per carry last season.

The Ducks averaged 280 rushing yards per game and 6.2 yards per carry, basically doubling the stats that Utah allowed.

The Utes have not seen a running attack as fierce as Oregon's. They will have to find a way to tackle LeGarrette Blount, who consistently can carry three or four guys on his back for an extra ten yards, and shifty redshirt freshman LaMichael James, who was rated so much higher on recruiting draft boards than Oregon State's freshman phenom, Jaquizz Rodgers.

The Utes face finding solutions for a ton of holes on the offensive side of the ball. The deciding factors in this game will be whether or not the Utes can take the heat from the Auzten crowd, and whether or not their defense can live up to their statistics from the previous year.

My guess is no to each of those questions. The best rushing offense that Utah faced last season was Texas Christian's. The Utes let the Horned Frog's feature back, Aaron Brown, run for 106 yards.

Sorry Ute fans. Brown is nowhere close to LeGarrette Blount.

After analyzing the Ducks' non-conference schedule, I would expect the Ducks to start their conference schedule with a 3-0 record. However, if the Ducks were to hiccup, I believe it would be against the Broncos in Boise.

This will be Chip Kelly's first season as the head coach of the Ducks. A perfect season is too much to ask for right now.

However, Kelly is not brand-new with the players. The offense will still run like a well-oiled machine. The Ducks' defense line, who has been coached by Jerry Azzinaro for the whole summer, a coach who has bred the likes of Dwight Freeney, will be a force to be reckoned with.

I do not care if I am called a homer for my projections. What I see is an Oregon Ducks team waiting for the kill. They're hungry for a big helping of revenge against the upstart Boise State Broncos in Week 1.

All doubters can say whatever they wish to me. I will let the Oregon Ducks' offense and much improved defense do the talking.

It's going to be a great college football season.

Ick-Snay on the Edo Turkoglu-Hay: Who Should Portland Go After?

Cameron Jerde — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:52:46 -0400

In only two days, the city of Portland went from having an emotional high to an energy-drink induced crash.

It was reported that the Portland Trail Blazers and free agent small forward Hedo Turkoglu had agreed to a five-year, $50 million deal in principle.

Then, Turkoglu made an about-face and sprinted for Canada.

By renouncing the rights to Shawn Marion, Anthony Parker, and Carlos Delfino, the Toronto Raptors were able to offer Turkoglu about $3 million more than Portland had originally offered.

Portland could have matched this offer had Kevin Pritchard renounced the rights to the Trail Blazers' two Euro-stash players: English power forward Joel Freeland and Finnish point guard Petteri Koponen.

However, the reason Turkoglu decided to sign with Europe was not solely because of money.

The city of Toronto has a much larger Turkish population than Portland.

The flight from Toronto to Istanbul is much shorter than the flight from Portland.

Also, Turkoglu's wife made it perfectly clear that she preferred Toronto over Portland.

There is also the economic factor to consider due to Canada's economy being much better than the United States'.

But, when you're making $50 million, why would that economy matter so much?

I personally was looking forward to seeing Hedo Turkoglu in a Trail Blazers' uniform.

I was looking forward to seeing Kevin Pritchard dispose of either Travis Outlaw or Martell Webster to make room for him.

I was looking forward to having another scoring option in the starting lineup to help take the pressure off Brandon Roy.

Tough cookies. What's done is done.

The silver lining on this cloud is that Portland still has around $9 million to use this free agency ($10 million if Pritchard releases his Euro-stashes).

With Turkoglu out of the picture, who should Portland focus on signing?

It certainly hurts the Blazers that players like Ron Artest and Trevor Ariza have found new homes. It was reported that Portland had some interest in Ariza.

Looking at the small forward class, a few notables are still up on the board.

Lamar Odom, Shawn Marion, Marvin Williams, Linas Kleiza, and Grant Hill are all currently unemployed.

Odom could be an option for the Blazers. He's looking for $6-8 million per year, so the Blazers could afford him. Odom doesn't need to start, and he can play both the three and the four.

If Portland does not move Travis Outlaw or Martell Webster this offseason, Odom could be signed to backup LaMarcus Aldridge. I'm just not certain if the fans would approve of a Laker coming to Portland.

Marion is getting older, along with Odom and Hill. His numbers are dropping, which is expected for a player his age. He also has a reputation for being difficult. I'll mark that as a negative on Kevin Pritchard's check-list.

Williams has as much raw talent as any other forward on Portland's roster. Like Outlaw, he has been inconsistent throughout his career.

I don't think Portland would gamble on him.

The Blazers drafted Kleiza in the first round of the 2005 draft, but traded him to Denver. Kleiza's stock rose tremendously around the deadline. He's physical, which is one thing the Blazers desperately need. He can also score.

The Blazers could go after him as he would help take scoring pressure off of Roy and Aldridge.

Hill has been labeled as injury prone and for good reason. However, he played all 82 games this past season. The only Blazers player to do that was Joel Przybilla.

Hill is 36, but he still is one of the fastest small forwards in the game. His jump shot isn't pretty, but he isn't afraid to drive to the hoop, something coach Nate McMillan tried to get Travis Outlaw to do all season long.

Hill also has one of the best free throw percentages in the game.

I would say that Portland should go after either Kleiza or Hill. Hill could be a quick-fix, allowing Nicolas Batum to fully develop into the starter we know he will be. Kleiza could start as well, but Hill would be able to help mentor Batum.

What about at power forward?

It has been reported that Portland would be prepared to offer all their cap space to sign David Lee from New York, but there have been concerns over available playing time for Lee.

If Portland wanted to use less than half their cap space on a power forward so that they could make an offer at a point guard or use the rest in a trade, they could go after Drew Gooden.

In ESPN's John Hollinger's words, "you'd be hard-pressed to find a more effective reserve big man on the market."

At point guard, the options are slim.

Andre Miller doesn't fit in with the Blazers as they need a traditional point guard.

Jason Kidd will return to the Mavericks.

Raymond Felton is restricted and the Bobcats look to keep him.

Mike Bibby will stay with the Hawks.

The only real option the Blazers have is to go after Milwaukee point guard Ramon Sessions, but the Bucks can match any offer the Blazers give him.

They also will have more cap space to do it now that they have the contracts of Charlie Villanueva and Richard Jefferson off their belts.

The best option Portland has at adding a bona fide starting point guard to their team would be through a trade.

Here are some scenarios.

Danny Ainge can deny it all he wants, but I am pretty certain that the Celtics are looking to trade Rajon Rondo. Portland could be a buyer as Rondo still has a rookie salary.

Portland could use some of the trade exception money from the Ike Diogu/Michael Ruffin trade to exchange for Rondo.

Boston is looking to be proactive in the free agency. With Stephon Marbury's salary coming off the books for them this summer, the Celtics would have roughly $300K to spend.

If they could trade Rondo for cash, I am sure Ainge would pull the trigger.

Another guard the Blazers could trade for is Chicago's Kirk Hinrich.

He did not have as productive of a season as he's used to, but do you think any former starter would play behind Derrick Rose?

In order to clear up some roster space, Portland could deal Steve Blake and Travis Outlaw to the Bulls for Hinrich. This deal would do two things for the Blazers.

One, it would help to clear the log jam at the small forward position, allowing Portland to go after a small forward in the free agency.

Two, it would give Portland an upgrade at starting point guard. Hinrich can shoot, pass, and defend pretty well. He would help the starting lineup well.

The trade would also help Chicago rid themselves of a disgruntled former starter, and give them a point guard who isn't opposed to playing backup and with a smaller salary.

The Milwaukee Bucks have stated that they wish to trade point guard Luke Ridnour.

Portland could be a buyer.

Ridnour played high school ball in Blaine, Washington, right on the border between the US and Canada. He played his college ball at the University of Oregon.

He's a Northwest guy, so I don't see why he would be opposed to playing in Portland as the only other Northwest team, the Seattle Supersonics, whom he was drafted by and played for five seasons with, and moved to Oklahoma City.

Portland could trade Steve Blake and Travis Outlaw to the Bucks for Luke Ridnour and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. Mbah a Moute's contract could be payed off with trade exception money, and thus the Blazers would have one less small forward and an upgrade at the point.

These possible trade scenarios sum up what Portland could do this offseason to nab a point guard.

Of course, I am not a GM, nor will I likely be one.

There are probably some options that I do not know of.

One thing is certain.

Portland is in a better situation because Turkoglu did not sign with them. Portland can now use their money more wisely, and they could nab two free agents instead of one.

The possibilities are unlimited.

I know that I am about as impatient as a small child on Christmas morning, and I am sure some of you Trail Blazers' faithful are as well.

Let's hope Kevin Pritchard can work his magic this offseason.

The players and fans deserve some more good times.

Hedo Turkoglu Signs With The Portland Trail Blazers

Cameron Jerde — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:46:19 -0400

According to Henry Abbott of espn.go.com, Hedo Turkoglu and the Portland Trail Blazers have agreed to a deal in principle.

The contract specifics such has Turkoglu's salary, and the length of his contract will not be released until the NBA announces the new salary cap for the 2009-2010 season.

The signing will most likely mean one of the Blazers' three small forwards will not be in a Blazers uniform next season, as Travis Outlaw, Nicolas Batum and Martell Webster are all under contract.

There have been rumors starting up that Portland could trade Travis Outlaw and either Steve Blake or Jerryd Bayless to the Chicago Bulls for Kirk Hinrich.

What we do know is that Hedo Turkoglu will play for the Blazers next season. General manager Kevin Pritchard saw who he liked, and make all the right moves to grab him.

All that is left to do is for Blazers faithful to await Pritchard's next move.

Portland Trail Blazers Are Set Up for Major Success in the 2009 Offseason

Cameron Jerde — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:06:06 -0400

When Portland Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen told his general manager Kevin Pritchard to make the necessary moves to improve the team, I am convinced he did not mean to make minor adjustments.

As soon as the clock hit 12:00 a.m. eastern standard time on July 1, 2009, Kevin Pritchard made a call to Hedo Turkoglu's agent, Lon Babby. That call was the first one Babby received about his client.

Trail Blazers head coach Nate McMillan flew to Orlando last night to have dinner with Turkoglu. To return the favor, Turkoglu and Babby will fly to Portland today to tour the Rose Garden, the team's practice facilities, and to take a tour of the city Turkoglu likely could be playing in next season.

But will Pritchard stop if Turkoglu decides to play in Portland next season?

Before the NBA draft in late June, Pritchard outlined the Blazers' needs. They included a starting point guard, starting small forward, and a backup power forward.

By acquiring second-round draft pick Jeff Pendergraph of Arizona State University from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for disgruntled reserve point guard Sergio Rodriguez and second-round draft pick John Brockman of the University of Washington, it seems Kevin Pritchard has filled the Blazers' need at the backup power forward position.

If he is indeed able to sign Hedo Turkoglu, he will have filled the Blazers' need at the starting small forward position, as well.

But what about the hole at starting point guard? Steve Blake showed the NBA that he can be an acceptable starter, but not for a championship caliber squad.

Names such as Ramon Sessions, Andre Miller, Kirk Hinrich, Jason Kidd, Nate Robinson, Devin Harris and even Steve Nash have been listed as possible targets for the Blazers this offseason.

Of these names, the only ones that I see as possible Trail Blazers are Hinrich and Harris.

The Bucks have made it clear that they intend to keep Sessions in a Milwaukee uniform. They have cleared cap space by trading Richard Jefferson and allowing Charlie Villanueva to sign with the Detroit Pistons.

Unless Pritchard works out a major sign-and-trade deal, I do not see Sessions coming to Portland anytime soon.

Andre Miller could help the Blazers, but he would only be a quick fix, as he is in the twilight of his career. Besides, Jerryd Bayless, whom Kevin Pritchard knows will be his future starting point guard, is a good year or two away from being an effective starter.

Kidd would not be a good fit for the same reasons as Miller.

Although Robinson has extensive playing experience with Portland's go-to guy Brandon Roy, as the two played together at the University of Washington, Robinson is more of a scoring point guard. Although the Blazers do need a point guard who can create their own shot, they also need a point guard who can create shots for others.

Unless Portland offers Brandon Roy to the Suns, they will not nab Steve Nash. The whole point of Phoenix trying to trade Shaq and Amar'e this offseason was so they could build their team around Nash, not trade him away.

So, that leaves the Blazers with two realistic options: Hinrich and Harris. Although Hinrich seems to be the more realistic of the two, I wouldn't be surprised to see a Harris trade go down.

Here's why—New Jersey needs help at the three.

They have eyes for Travis Outlaw. He's young, has an above average jumpshot, and can play pretty good defense when he puts his mind to it. There's a big reason why his name appeared in trade rumors this season about a possible Vince Carter move to Portland.

They also need help at the four now that they have traded starting power forward Ryan Anderson to Orlando as part of the Carter deal.

I would be very shocked if the Nets did not bite at an offer of, let's say, Steve Blake, Travis Outlaw, and the draft rights to Jeff Pendergraph and Patrick Mills. It would give them the help they need at the three and four, an established starting point guard in Steve Blake, and would also help clear cap space for the summer of 2010, as both Pendergraph and Mills have no minimum contract options other than the league.

Plus, New Jersey could stash Mills in Europe and not have to pay him at all, since he was a second-round draft pick.

You may be wondering why Pendergraph would be included in this trade scenario. After all, he is slated to be LaMarcus Aldridge's backup.

The Blazers could do better than Pendergraph. Specifically, Portland could land either David Lee or Antonio McDyess in free agency.

Lee's biggest suitors were the Memphis Grizzlies, but they couldn't afford to pay what his agent asked for, so they traded for Zach Randolph.

This leaves only two teams that could give David Lee a contract over the mid-level exception: Oklahoma City and Portland.

Who do you think David Lee would rather play for? A young, inexperienced Oklahoma City team with a nice group of young players in Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Kevin Durant, and Jeff Green?

Or would Lee rather play for a playoff team with a solid lineup of Kirk Hinrich/Devin Harris, Brandon Roy, Hedo Turkoglu, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Greg Oden?

I know what you're thinking: David Lee wouldn't want to play backup to LaMarcus because of how many minutes LMA played last season.

Here's why that's not true—the only reason Aldridge played that many minutes per game was because he would be moved to center because Oden and Przybilla were either injured or in foul trouble.

Both big men will come back next season more disciplined, and thus will not foul as often, letting Aldridge rest more, which would allow Lee to play solid minutes.

Think about it. A starting lineup of Hinrich/Harris, Roy, Turkoglu, Aldridge, and Oden. Also, a bench unit of Bayless, Fernandez, Batum, Lee, and Przybilla.

I'm sorry Laker fans. If and when Portland lands this lineup, there is no way the Lakers will waltz to a No. 1 seed in the West. The Blazers will be on your tail all season long.

All in all, this free agency is shaping up to be a solid one for the Portland Trail Blazers, and whether the other teams in the West like it or not, they will have to respect this young, but mature team. Otherwise, they will be left in the dust.

Portland Trail Blazers Make Progress on Draft Day, But More is Still to Come

Cameron Jerde — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:27:44 -0400

No, the Blazers did not manage to land Arizona State sensation, or 2009 Pac-10 player of the year, James Harden (far right).

He was selected third in the draft by Portland's once interstate rivals, the Oklahoma City Thunder/Seattle Supersonics.

Blazers fans have become accustomed to drooling over what trades general manager Kevin Pritchard will make on draft day, which amazing prospects will he miraculously manage to score, which teams will be Pritch-slapped.

This year's draft, for the Portland Trail Blazers, was not about finding that young, talented player, the missing piece to the puzzle.

This year's draft was about making minor adjustments to an already potent roster.

The Blazers needs were simple: Cut away any deadwood necessary in order to sign free agents, or trade for players to fill the holes at starting point guard backup power forward.

Today, Pritchard was able to slightly fill some of these goals.

By selecting Victor Claver with their No. 22 pick, the Blazers will be able to generate some more cap space, as Claver will most likely be kept overseas for the next two to three years.

Now what would a NBA draft be without a trade orchestrated by Pritchard? A boring one no doubt.

Today Portland agreed to send backup point guard Rodriguez, the rights to the 38th pick, power forward John Brockman from the University of Washingtocash considerations to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for the rights to the 31stn, and pick, power forward Jeff Pendergraph from Arizona State University.

This trade will work wonders for the Blazers.

First off, it helps to clear out the log jam at the point guard position. Jerryd Bayless now knows that the Blazers coaching and management have faith that he can be their full-time backup point guard, instead of having to catch garbage minutes from Rodriguez.

Second, the trade will help to fill the hole at backup power forward.

Jeff Pendergraph, standing at 6'10'', is pretty much a carbon-copy of LaMarcus Aldridge, the Blazers' starting power forward. He can shoot the mid-range jumper well, but can also score from the low post. He is a tenacious defender, and his large wingspan helps him to block many shots.

I still can't help but feel like there will be more to these trades that we as fans haven't seen yet.

Leading up to the NBA Draft over the past few weeks, it was reported that if the New York Knicks selected Jordan Hill, a power forward from the University of Arizona, that they would most likely take part in a sign-and-trade deal that would send power forward David Lee to Portland.

This deal could be a possibility. Could Pendergraph be a player involved in this proposed trade? We cannot be certain yet.

Also, there have been trade rumors spreading about the Blazers looking to make deals for either Kirk Hinrich, a point guard for the Chicago Bulls, or Devin Harris, point guard for the New Jersey Nets.

I would think that the Hinrich trade has more validity to it than the Harris rumor. Why? Because Devin Harris is a young, talented point guard, the building block for the New Jersey Nets.

The Nets have found long-term replacements for departed All-Star shooting guard Vince Carter in Courtney Lee, whom they received in the deal that sent Carter to the Orlando Magic, and in Louisville's Terrence Williams whom the Nets drafted with their 11th pick.

Why would the Nets be looking to trade one of their three cornerstone players when they are undoubtedly in a rebuilding phase?

Kirk Hinrich is pretty sold on the idea that Chicago will be trading him to Portland. But at what price to the Blazers?

The Bulls used both of their draft picks this year to select power forwards James Johnson of Wake Forest, and Taj Gibson of USC. Perhaps Chicago was preparing to include one of these two power forwards in a deal to help fill the gap at power forward, except that "hole" seems to have been filled.

When the Bulls drafted Derrick Rose with the No. 1 pick last year, Hinrich was moved to playing backup point guard.

Because they did not draft one of the many talented point guards in this year's draft, Portland very well could have to return the favor by sending Chicago one of their own point guards, which could be either Steve Blake, Jerryd Bayless, or Patrick Mills, whom the Blazers drafted with their 55th pick.

By trading Sergio Rodriguez, Bayless has been assured of holding the backup point guard role, so logically the Blazers would either move Blake or Mills to nab Hinrich.

There also is the free agency to consider. There are many possible scenarios that could unfold in the following months leading up to the 2009-'10 regular season.

One thing is certain, and that's Pritchard certainly isn't done yet.

Rest assured Blazer fans, KP still has a few tricks left up his sleeves.

Portland Trail Blazers Draft Day Game Plan Part Three: Power Forwards

Cameron Jerde — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:53:05 -0400

This is the third and final installment in my Draft Day Game Plan mini series. We've already discussed the Trail Blazers' needs at the point and the three.

Now it comes time to search for a backup power forward, a missing link, to fully complete the Blazers' roster.

First, let's look through the NBA Draft.

If you don't know Blake Griffin's name, or who he is, than you probably don't watch college basketball. Griffin, who will more than likely be the first pick in Thursday's NBA draft was the best player in college basketball this season.

A dominant big-man, he tied the NCAA record with 30 double-doubles in his sophomore season.

There is no way in hell that the Blazers will be able to trade for Blake Griffin unless Kevin Pritchard cuts off both his arms and legs, and sells the Clippers his first-born child.

What other notable power forwards are in the NBA draft this year?

Arizona's Jordan Hill, North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough, Pittsburgh's DeJuan Blair, Wake Forest's James Johnson, and Xavier's Derrick Brown are all projected to be first round draft picks in Chad Ford's fifth mock draft on espn.go.com.

Coupling that with John Hollinger's draft rater, where each collegiate prospect's PER rating after three season is predicted, only two of the above athletes make the top 12: Blake Griffin and DeJuan Blair.

Tyler Hansbrough falls in at No. 24, with two Missouri-bred power forwards, Leo Lyons and DeMarre Carroll, falling in at 20 and 23 respectively.

What's to say about the other projected first round power forwards when two projected second round power forwards surpass them on the PER scale.

Granted, the rater isn't always correct, but most of the teams who take heed are satisfied with the results.

For the Blazers, DeJuan Blair would be a quick fix. I would caution the Blazers to stay away from him as he has had injury problems with both his knees.

Tyler Hansbrough could add some toughness that team captain Brandon Roy desires, but he would have major disadvantages in height, weight, and speed compared to established NBA power forwards.

Arizona State's Jeff Pendergraph could be another possibility. He's pretty much a carbon copy of LaMarcus Aldridge.

What about free agency?

NBA power forwards that will become free agents this offseason include Glen Davis and Leon Powe of Boston, Joe Smith and Anderson Varejao of Cleveland, Dallas' Brandon Bass, Denver's Chris Andersen, Antonio McDyess and Rasheed Wallace of Detroit, Indiana's Josh McRoberts, Memphis' Hakkim Warrick, Milwaukee's Charlie Villanueva, David Lee and Al Harrington of New York, Paul Millsap and Carlos Boozer of Utah, and Washington's Etan Thomas.

Out of these power forwards, the most notable are Powe, Varejao, Bass, Andersen, McDyess, Wallace, Villanueva, Lee, Millsap, Boozer, and Thomas.

We can definitely eliminate Rasheed Wallace from this list, as Portland GM Kevin Pritchard will not bring back Rash-weed to Portland. We've moved past the "Jail-Blazers" era.

Millsap can also be eliminated. He is a restricted free agent, which means that Utah can eclipse the luxury tax threshold to sign him by matching any offer another team sends him. There is no way in hell that Jerry Sloan will let Millsap go.

Boozer can also be eliminated. Putting him in the same locker room with Joel Przybilla is never a good idea. Same goes with Chris Andersen.

Villanueva can also be eliminated. He's had a couple instances of "lack of character." He also would not want to backup LaMarcus Aldridge. He would want to start, which would only happen in case of injury.

That leaves us with Leon Powe, Anderson Varejao, Brandon Bass, Antonio McDyess, David Lee, and Etan Thomas.

Of these remaining options Powe and Lee are both restricted free agents.

It was reported through the rumor mill on espn.go.com that if the Knicks select Arizona PF Jordan Hill with their No. 8 pick, they will most definitely let David Lee go, most likely through a sign-and-trade deal. It was also said that their most likely trade partner would be Portland.

What I am hearing from many of my colleagues is that David Lee wouldn't accept the "garbage minutes" backing up LaMarcus Aldridge. My answer to that is that Lee wouldn't have to play garbage time.

A good chunk of the minutes Aldridge gathered were at the five spot. This was due to the fact that Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla had a difficult time staying out of foul trouble.

Because both players will be working extensively this summer at big man camps, look for the fouls to decrease significantly. This means that Aldridge wouldn't have to play the five, and that he would be able to rest more. In turn, this would give David Lee more minutes.

Antonio McDyess is also an intriguing option. He is entering the twilight of his NBA career, but his game fits perfectly with the Blazers' style of play. He can force his way through the paint, and isn't afraid to sacrifice his body on the defensive side of the ball.

Brandon Bass' name has also been mentioned. The only thing that concerns me is his height. At 6'8'' he would have a height disadvantage against most other NBA power forwards.

Etan Thomas is a monster on defense, but his offensive game is simply abysmal. The thing I love about him though is that he has one of the biggest work ethics I've ever seen. He has the determination to improve, which any coach loves.

On to the possible options.

1) Portland uses their No. 24 pick or trades up in the draft to select someone like Tyler Hansbrough or Jeff Pendergraph.

2) Portland takes part in a sign-and-trade deal with New York and lands David Lee.

3) Portland signs Antonio McDyess in free agency.

Whatever the case, I'm sure Kevin Pritchard will make the right decision. All we have to do now is wait as the clock slowly ticks toward Thursday.

Portland Trail Blazers Draft Day Game Plan Part Two: Small Forwards

Cameron Jerde — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:08:16 -0400

This article is my second installment in my three-part series regarding which routes the Portland Trail Blazers should take this Thursday with regards to reordering their roster.

My first installment covered possible replacements at the starting and/or backup point guard positions.

This installment will cover the Blazers' needs at the small forward position.

The Portland Trail Blazers have a large stock of athletes who can play both the two and the three. Some, like two-time all-star Brandon Roy, can even play the one, two and three.

As of this moment, the Portland Trail Blazers have two true small forwards, rookie Nicolas Batum of France, and six-year "veteran" Travis Outlaw of Mississippi's Starkville High School.

Martell Webster, who has played both the two and the three positions missed all but five minutes this season, suffering from a nagging stress fracture in his left foot's fifth metatarsal.

Here is what we do know. Nicolas Batum, although extremely raw, has tremendous upside. If he were given more minutes in the playoffs, he most likely would have been a Bobby Gross type of player, one that would have been overlooked by the opposition, and would have performed very well.

Batum is the small forward of the future for the Portland Trail Blazers. There is no doubt to this statement. However, as of now, he is not starting material.

Travis Outlaw, the longest tenured Trail Blazer, has shown that he can be a good sixth-man, and a pretty reliable option off the bench.

As most of us have seen however, Outlaw is extremely inconsistent. One game he can take over where Brandon Roy left off, and let him rest. On another occasion, Outlaw can blow a lead, and quick.

This was sadly the case in the first round of the 2009 NBA Playoffs, where on only one occasion did Outlaw positively affect the outcome of a game.

Martell Webster, who is a combo 2/3 player, has shown offensive prowess, but on the defensive side of the ball he is a major liability.

That being said, it comes time to analyze this year's edition of the NBA Draft, the free agency, and the trade market to see how Portland could, and should go about addressing their needs at the small forward position.

In Chad Ford's fifth mock draft on espn.go.com, the first small forward to go is Gonzaga's Austin Daye, at No. 14 to the Phoenix Suns. Other notables in the draft are Louisville's Earl Clark, Pittsburgh's Sam Young, Georgetown's DaJuan Summers, Spain's Omri Casspi, and Sweden's Jonas Jerebko.

Coincidentally, Chad Ford has the Portland Trail Blazers selecting DaJuan Summers with their No. 24 pick.

Adding to the plethora of information that we now know about all these prospects is John Hollinger's draft rater, which predicts each collegiate prospect's PER rating after three seasons.

In terms of small forwards, Austin Daye holds the top spot, fourth overall, among collegians.

Other notables are North Carolina's Danny Green (2nd among small forwards, 8th overall), and Earl Clark (3rd among small forwards, 12th overall).

What is a little perplexing is DaJuan Summers' status on the draft rater. Currently, he is rated 48th overall.

Granted, the draft rater isn't always correct, but more often than not, teams who take heed are usually happy with the results.

North Carolina's Danny Green can be a potential draft day steal. He hasn't made the first round of Chad Ford's mock draft yet, but holds the 8th best projected PER rating. Portland does hold four second round picks, so if he doesn't crack the first round, they could draft him lower so they could fill a different hole in the first round.

With the draft covered, let's move on to the free agency. This year's most notable small forward free agents include Atlanta's Marvin Williams, Houston's Ron Artest, Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom of the Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando's Hedo Turkoglu, Phoenix's Grant Hill, San Antonio's Ime Udoka, Toronto's Shawn Marion, and Utah's Kyle Korver.

Among these small forwards, the biggest names are Artest, Ariza, Odom, Turkoglu and Marion, all of whom will become unrestricted free agents, meaning that their respective clubs cannot go above the luxury tax threshold in order to re-sign them.

Out of this group, who should the Blazers go after. Immediately, Artest, Ariza and Odom would not be welcome sights in the Blazers locker room. Artest has badmouth the Blazers on more than one occasion, and Blazers players and fans alike still have the shocking images of Ariza throwing Rudy Fernandez to the floor during a game in Portland.

This leaves Portland with two options: Shawn Marion, and Hedo Turkoglu. One thing is for sure, both players will command large salaries, which Portland would be able to match, due to the combination of Raef LaFrentz's expiring contract, and the fact that Blazers owner Paul Allen will dig into his own pockets if need be.

Marion is a monster on defense. He was one big reason, along with Amar'e Stoudemire, why even in Mike D'Antoni's system, the Suns were able to play such good defense.

The thing that concerns me about Marion is his attitude. Apparently he can be a bad influence in the locker room, which is something the Blazers do not want. Kevin Pritchard has worked his butt off to clean up the Blazers' image to ruin it with one move.

No, the most likely addition to the Blazers via free agency would be Hedo Turkoglu. Although he is asking for $10 million, that's a price Pritchard and Allen would be willing to pay for his services.

He's another phenomenal outside shooter that would help spread out the defense, and make room in the post for LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden. He also is capable of playing the four, and driving to the hoop, making the defenses collapse, opening up the outside shooters.

The last time the Blazers had an opportunity to sign a big-name free agent was in 2007, when current Orlando Magic combo forward Rashard Lewis was a free agent, the Blazers could not afford to sign him.

Now the Blazers do have money to work with, and if Kevin Pritchard wants Turkoglu in a Blazers uniform next season, I hardly doubt he wouldn't find a way to make it happen.

Moving on to the trade market, there are a couple names we saw in trade rumors this season.

Players such as Chicago's John Salmons, Milwaukee's Richard Jefferson, Charlotte's Gerald Wallace and Detriot's Tayshaun Prince were all involved in trade rumors with Portland.

Some of these can be ruled out immediately unless sign-and-trade deals were made with players such as Channing Frye who's contract expires this off-season.

But others, such as the rumored deal where Portland would send Sergio Rodriguez, Martell Webster, and Travis Outlaw to the Pistons for Tayshaun Prince and their No. 15 pick.

Guess who Chad Ford has Detroit picking? Earl Clark.

If this trade were to go through it would work for both sides pretty well. First off it would give Detroit a package of young talent, which they will need since they will be going into a rebuilding phase.

It would also unplug the clog at the small forward position for Portland. Batum would be able to play behind Prince, coming off the bench, and playing more minutes than he would as a starter.

The deal would also give Portland another young player to build up. That's what successful franchises do. When their teams fare well, they bring in young talent to build up. It's a cyclical process.

So, after analyzing the upcoming draft, free agency, and trade market, there are three ways Portland can address their needs at the small forward position.

1) The Blazers can stand pat in the draft, and use one of their second round picks to draft Danny Green from UNC, using their first round pick to fill a need at another position.

2) The Blazers could sign SF Hedo Turkoglu in the free agency.

3) The Blazers could trade for Tayshaun Prince and their No. 13 pick and draft Earl Clark from Louisville.

Whatever way the Blazers choose to address their needs at the small forward position, I am 100% confident that Kevin Pritchard will make the correct choice. He hasn't failed the Blazer thus far, and I don't see it happening anytime soon.

Portland Trail Blazers Draft Day Game Plan Part 1: Point Guards

Cameron Jerde — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 01:55:12 -0400

As I woke up this morning, I went through the motions of my daily routine. I took a shower, ate some breakfast, and checked the rumor mill on espn.go.com.

Then it hit me, as it should have hit all other NBA junkies, that the 2009 NBA Draft is less than one week away.

It feels like time has just blown by. It seems as if the Lakers won the Finals just yesterday.

With the draft rapidly approaching it comes time to brainstorm as to what moves each team will make.

The Portland Trail Blazers are the league's up-and-coming superpower. They have a solid nucleus with two-time all star, and All-NBA third team shooting guard Brandon Roy, soon-to-be all star LaMarcus Aldridge, and up-and-coming center in Greg Oden.

The Blazers have some solid contributors off the bench, including Travis Outlaw, Rudy Fernandez, and Joel Przybilla.

They also have a couple project players in Nicolas Batum and Jerryd Bayless, who probably will be the small forward and point guard of the future for this loaded Blazers team.

Something was missing however in the first round of the playoffs. The Blazers showed no depth at the power and small forward positions, with not much more at the point.

Many questions have surrounded these vacancies. Should Portland plug the holes with more young talent, or go after an established NBA veteran during the free agency?

First, assuming that the Blazers make no trades, that they do not go after any free agents, that general manager looks solely at the draft, let's look at possible candidates for the Blazers' No. 24 pick.

First off, this year's draft is not particularly deep overall, but there is quite enough depth at the point. If Kevin Pritchard is looking at not moving whatsoever, the Blazers most likely will have their pick from two talented point guards: Ty Lawson of North Carolina, and Darren Collison of UCLA.

Looking at Chad Ford's fifth mock draft on espn.go.com, he has Sacramento, one pick ahead of Portland nabbing Ty Lawson, and for good reason. On John Hollinger's player rater, which predicts each player's PER rating in his third season, Ty Lawson ranked No. 1. He could be the steal of the draft if other organizations don't take heed.

Darren Collison's appears at No. 18 on John Hollinger's draft rater. Although he is smaller than your average point guard, Collison can make up for his height disadvantage with his stellar defense. He would be a big improvement over the Blazers' starting point guard, Steve Blake.

In one of Chad Ford's previous mock drafts, he had Portland drafting Florida-bred point guard Nick Calathes. Calathes has raced to Greece, hoping to make more money, but still has maintained his eligibility in case the whole Greece thing doesn't work out.

In case you're wondering, Calathes ranked No. 6 on Hollinger's draft rater. That's No.3 for point guards.

Now, if Portland wanted to make a run at Davidson's Stephen Curry, which is always a possibility, Portland would have to make a deal, which is also always a possibility when Kevin Pritchard is behind the steering wheel.

It has been confirmed that PG Sergio Rodriguez will not be in a Blazers uniform in 2010. His contract is not expiring so that means he is either being traded or waived.

Rodriguez is the kind of point guard that would flourish in a run-and-gun offense, or in a system resembling that of New York Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni.

In Chad Ford's mock draft, he has Stephen Curry being taken seventh, by the Golden State Warriors. Would an offer of let's say, Sergio Rodriguez, Portland's No. 24 pick, and maybe one of their four second round picks be enough to lure Stephen Curry towards the Blazers?

What about in the free agent market? There are some point guards that could don a Blazers uniform in 2010.

NBA point guards that will become free agents this offseason include Atlanta's Mike Bibby, Boston's Stephon Marbury, Charlotte's Raymond Felton, Chicago's Lindsey Hunter, Dallas' Jason Kidd, Denver's Anthony Carter, Indiana's Jarrett Jack, Memphis' Juan Carlos Navarro, Milwaukee's Ramon Sessions, New York's Nate Robinson, and Philadelphia's Andre Miller.

Of these players, the most notable are Bibby, Marbury, Felton, Kidd, Sessions, Robinson, and Miller.

But if Kevin Pritchard decides to go the free agency route, whom of these players should he go after?

Of these players, Bibby, Marbury, Kidd, and Miller will become unrestricted free agents, meaning that their respective teams cannot match an offer given to said player if it puts the team above the luxury tax line.

While all of these players could contribute right off the bat, they are all in the later stages of their careers and would only be quick fixes. No, if Portland wants to solidify their point guard rotation for years to come, Pritchard needs to nab one of the restricted free agents.

Of the restricted free agents, meaning that their teams can go over the luxury tax line to match an offer, the most notable are Felton, Sessions, and Robinson.

It is almost a guarantee that the Bobcats will not let Felton go, as he and D.J. Augustine can form a pretty solid rotation.

Both Sessions and Robinson will most likely be let go, as Milwaukee is suffering from severe financial constraints, and New York is gearing up for the "summer of LeBron."

But of the two, I would give the edge to Sessions. He has the height, the quickness, the basketball IQ, the works. Robinson can score, but really that's all you can expect from him, as he is a scoring point guard whereas Sessions is a pass-first point guard.

So, after all the deliberation, Portland has five potential additions to their roster at the point guard position. They could trade up in the draft to nab Stephen Curry, or they could stay at No. 24 and pick either Ty Lawson, Nick Calathes, or Darren Collison. The Blazers could also go after Ramon Sessions in the free agency.

Whatever the action, I am 100% confident that Kevin Pritchard will make the right decision. Portland's "Golden Boy" surely will pull off another draft day miracle, and some unlucky team will be icing their cheeks after they've been "Pritch-slapped."

Kevin Pritchard Smells Blood During NBA Off-Season

Cameron Jerde — Tue, 26 May 2009 19:46:13 -0400

The NBA Draft Lottery has passed, and the Los Angeles Clippers have won the Blake Griffin sweepstakes.

What does this mean for all 30 NBA teams? It's time to start pre-draft workouts.

Now specifically what does this mean for the Portland Trail Blazers?

The most glaring needs on the roster are a starting point guard who can create their own shot, and create shots for others, a backup power forward who can hold the fort while LaMarcus Aldridge rests and a starting small forward who can be another scoring option.

Earlier in the season, before the trading deadline, espn.go.com had been reporting trade rumors that the Portland Trail Blazers were talking extensively with the Milwaukee Bucks.

The specifics of the proposed trade included Portland sending backup point guard Sergio Rodriguez, backup power forward Channing Frye, and a 2009 draft pick to Milwaukee for their backup point guard Luke Ridnour and starting small forward Richard Jefferson.

Had this trade been finalized, there would be no doubt that the Blazers would have been able to secure a second-round date with the Los Angeles Lakers.

So, how should Portland go about addressing their needs?

The need for a solid backup power forward stands out amongst all others with the Trail Blazers. Channing Frye was able to bring size to the Blazers' front-court, but his style of play was completely incompatible with the Blazers' offense.

On the first team, LaMarcus Aldridge brought his rapidly developing post game, and was able to confuse defenders with an array of moves. His ability to spin past his defender and finish at the basket coupled with his sweet touch from mid-range proved to be a vital component of the Blazers' offense this season.

On the second team, Channing Frye brought his one-sided play to the mix, setting up for mid-range jumpers. This would work fine when his shots were falling, but it also put him out of position for grabbing boards. Even though Frye is a class act and is definitely the most articulate speaker on the Blazers, I would expect that his contract is not renewed.

There are a couple ways the Blazers could go about this need. One way would be through the NBA Draft.

Although this year's edition of the NBA Draft is about as deep as a puddle on a sidewalk, there are still some talented players the Blazers could acquire with their 24th pick.

Jeff Pendergraph, a talented power forward from Arizona State University, is basically a carbon-copy of LaMarcus Aldridge. He can work his way through the paint, but also post up for a mid-range or fade-away jumper. His long arms give him an automatic defensive advantage, plus he runs the floor almost as well as the L-Train.

ESPN's Chad Ford has the Blazers picking UCLA's Darren Collison with their 24th pick, but I am not convinced that Portland's biggest need is at the point. Jerryd Bayless needs to be given more time, and he can become the Blazer's future point guard.

Another way the Blazers can address their need at power forward would be through the free agency.

Even though he is older and on the decline, the Blazers could go after Detroit's Antonio McDyess in the free agency. He is a seasoned veteran with several years of playoff experience. His style of play also fits the Blazers' offense.

Moving on the Blazers' need at point guard, it is without a doubt that Sergio Rodriguez will be traded this off-season, we just are not completely sure where to. Don't get me wrong, Sergio stepped up his game in the last few weeks of the season, but he was never consistent. If anything, he was consistently inconsistent.

Like I mentioned before, Chad Ford of ESPN has the Blazers selecting UCLA point guard Darren Collison with the 24th pick. Collison is quick and has many great leadership qualities, as well as penetration and defensive abilities. This pick could not hurt the Blazers, only help them.

Collison most likely would not start if he was drafted, but he would be able to provide an impact when he would be on the floor with Brandon Roy, as he would be able to handle the ball and run the offense, letting Roy play off the ball.

A trade rumor on espn.go.com stated that the Portland Trail Blazers had talked with the Phoenix Suns about the possibility of trading for Steve Nash. The deal reportedly would involve Portland sending Travis Outlaw, Jerryd Bayless, and a second round draft pick to the Suns for Nash, and their fourteenth pick.

Again, I would hope that the Blazers have more faith in Bayless, but if they must do it, they should go for it.

So, for solving the power forward and point guard needs, the Blazers could use a combination of trading for Steve Nash and picking Jeff Pendergraph or signing Antonio McDyess, or a combination of picking Darren Collison and signing Antonio McDyess.

As for the starting small forward position, this poses a rather large question mark. If the Blazers do make the aforementioned trade with the Suns, they could use that 14th pick to draft Earl Clark from Louisville, but I am not sold that a rookie can provide that immediate of an impact unless your name is Blake Griffin.

There have been talks about going after Grant Hill in the free agency, which would not be a bad option, just not the best. I believe the best option would be to revisit the Ridnour/Jefferson trade talks.

With this trade, the Blazers could nab some veterans, which would be a welcome sight no doubt.

As always, the possibilities are virtually endless.

If one thing is clear, it is that next season will be most intriguing for the Portland Trail Blazers.

Portland Trail Blazers' Offseason: What's To Be Done?

Cameron Jerde — Fri, 01 May 2009 17:25:01 -0400

It's over. Done. Finito. The Portland Trail Blazer's season is now officially over after the Houston Rockets wrapped up the two teams' first-round series with a 92-76 victory, and have advanced to the second round of the NBA playoffs for the first time since 1997.

But one question remains: Did the Houston Rockets attain this feat all by themselves?

If one thing remains clear, it is that the officiating in this series went from sketchy, to laughable, and finally to god-awful.

I will give Houston credit for winning Game One in Portland. They came out much more focused and much more prepared than the young Portland Trail Blazers.

But Houston's wins in Games Three and Four? No sports fan in their right mind should give the Rockets credit for these wins.

Throughout the entire series, we all saw a Houston Rockets team that always had one foot over the line, seeing if the officials would take heed.

Ron Artest and Shane Battier threw elbows at Nicolas Batum, Brandon Roy, Travis Outlaw, and Rudy Fernandez, and the Blazers were called for the fouls.

Luis Scola led every layup or jump-hook with his off-arm and pushed LaMarcus Aldridge, Channing Frye, and Travis Outlaw back while in the air to give himself more room to shoot. The Blazers again were called for fouls in these situations.

Yao Ming hacked the arms of Greg Oden, Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Rudy Fernandez in the paint while shooting, and no foul calls were made.

When driving to the basket, Ron Artest and Luis Scola used their off-arms to hook around their defenders, a clear violation, and they were rarely called on it.

What did it take for the Blazers to finally get the refs to call a fair game? It took Nate McMillan publicly calling out the officiating and getting slammed with a $25,000 fine.

Even then, the games were still not fairly called.

Had the officials called each game fairly, Portland would have won Games Three and Four in Houston and sealed a series victory with their Game Five win in Portland.

I guess I never got the memo that breathing on a player resulted in a foul too.

So to answer my aforementioned question, the Houston Rockets did not win this series by themselves. They had to rely on biased officiating to pull out their first two home "victories".

Make no mistake, the Portland Trail Blazers were and still are the better of the two teams in the series. Houston was just given a "Get Out of Jail Free" pass.

But it's over. Nothing I write, nor anyone, for the matter, says or writes, can overturn the robbery that was committed.

The only thing that can be done is for the NBA to review every play of each game and see just how one-sided the officials were.

Now, the Blazers must start planning for next season. Where do their priorities lie?

One thing that was clearly evident during the first round of the playoffs was Portland's lack of depth at the small forward position.

Starter Nicolas Batum is a monster on defensive, but his offensive skills have not reached their full potential.

Backup Travis Outlaw struggled mightily during the first round, averaging a meager 9.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, and 0.5 APG. Despite being Portland's first option off the bench, his numbers clearly do not reflect what he accomplished during the regular season.

Martell Webster, who came into the NBA season as Portland's projected starting small forward, missed all but five minutes this season due to a nagging, slow-healing stress fracture in his left foot's fifth metatarsal.

Even though Webster is a monster on the offensive side of the ball, he is a liability on defense. If he wants to keep his job with the Blazers, his first priority, after regaining his health, should be to improve his defense.

Around the trade deadline, there were many trade rumors circling around the Portland Trail Blazers. Names such as Gerald Wallace, Richard Jefferson, Caron Butler, Tayshaun Prince, and John Salmons were mentioned as possible new Blazers.

None of these trades went through, however, and despite the officiating of the series, it would not have mattered had Portland been able to nab one of these big-time small forwards.

Detroit is looking to rebuild their team after being swept by the Cavaliers in four games. The dynasty of old (Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, Tayshaun Prince, Richard Hamilton, and Chauncy Billups) has been separated. Prince, Hamilton, and Wallace are still Pistons, but they are all getting older.

Because Detroit made the playoffs, they will not be in the 2009 NBA Draft Lottery. If they wish to make their rebuilding stage much shorter than it will most likely be, they will need a package of young talent.

Before the trading deadline, it was rumored that Detroit would send Tayshaun Prince and their first-round draft pick to the Blazers for Martell Webster, Travis Outlaw, and Sergio Rodriguez. Talks between Pistons GM Joe Dumars and Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard ended, however, as Dumars wanted to see if Detroit could still make the playoffs.

Look for this trade to be revisited this offseason, as both teams would benefit from it. Detroit would receive a nucleus of young talent, and Portland would receive a high-quality veteran small forward to help anchor their starting lineup.

Nicolas Batum would also be able to move to the second team, strengthening it's defense, and Jerryd Bayless would be able to take over as the second team's point guard.

Portland also needs a backup power forward. Channing Frye has quality character, but his tendencies to shoot mid-range jumpers instead of play hard-nosed post-up basketball do not fit into the Blazers' style of play.

There are many power forwards in this years' draft, but few of them are taller than 6'9''. For Portland, having both their starting and backup power forwards around the same height, allows them to not change their game-plan based on who is on the court.

The most talented power forward in this years' draft by far is Oklahoma's Blake Griffin, who will more than likely be drafted first. Other notables are Gonzaga's Josh Heytvelt and Arizona State's Jeff Pendergraph.

Heytvelt and Pendergraph are projected to be drafted in the late first round or early second. Depending on how high Detroit and Portland's picks are, assuming the Prince trade goes through, Portland should not have to give much, or anything, up to nab either one of these talented young athletes.

Heytvelt is a tremendous athlete and a solid rebounder. He also has a nice range on his jump shot. He does need to add some strength, however. He also needs to improve his post game, shot blocking, and ball handling.

Pendergraph is almost a carbon copy of LaMarcus Aldridge. He is a great post scorer who runs the floor extremely well. His perimeter game is up-and-coming, and he has a high basketball IQ.

He is still raw offensively though, and needs to add strength to really become a low-post threat.

Looking at the facts, the right draft pick for Portland would be Jeff Pendergraph. He would compliment the second unit extremely well. Portland is developing into a legitimate threat to the Lakers, and more young talent will only strengthen their team.

If Kevin Pritchard pulls the trigger and trades for Tayshuan Prince and drafts Jeff Pendergraph, Portland will be in a great position to challenge the Lakers for the West's No. 1 seed next season.

Prediction for next season:

Portland wins 60+ games next season, becomes the outright Northwest Division champion, and earns at least the West's No. 2 seed.

An 86-83 Heartbreaker Puts the Houston Rockets Ahead Two Games to One

Cameron Jerde — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 01:16:51 -0400

The Houston Rockets managed to defend their home court in Game Three, and have taken a one-game lead over the Portland Trail Blazers in the best-of-seven first round series.

The heartbreaking loss was sealed when Blazers point guard Steve Blake forced a three-point shot with more than 10 seconds left that missed horribly.

But under no circumstances should anyone blame Steve Blake for losing Portland the game.

This was not solely his fault, but the team's in general.

Nate McMillan elected to play a severely-struggling Travis Outlaw over known defenders Nicholas Batum and Rudy Fernandez in the closing minutes.

Brandon Roy committed rookie mistakes, such as trying to do way to much with the ball in midair when no Rockets players were contesting the shot, and committing stupid fouls that eventually caused him to foul out.

LaMarcus Aldridge did not cut to the hoop on two pick-and-roll plays, and thus passes made to him by Steve Blake were thrown away.

Travis Outlaw was caught watching the game instead of focusing on covering his man, Shane Battier, who was able to make too many backdoor plays.

While in the paint, Joel Przybilla bumped a driving Kyle Lowry out of the court and picked up an unnecessary foul call.

Let's face it folks. Portland did not play anything close to winning basketball tonight. Yet the fact that they only lost by three points is astounding.

I have stated again and again that in order for the Blazers to assure themselves of a victory, they need to get Yao Ming into foul trouble early, as he has no true center to back him up with Dikembe Mutumbo out with a self-proclaimed career-ending injury.

Instead of seeing players like Brandon Roy or Steve Blake driving to the hoop to make Yao foul them, I saw a Blazers team that looked much like the same Blazers team that got their rear ends handed to them in Game One.

Portland was settling for jump shot attempts, and the worst part was that they weren't falling.

Even when Yao Ming was out of the game, the Blazers looked afraid to take the ball to the hoop.

LaMarcus Aldridge tried to establish himself in the paint throughout the game, but when he would be passed the ball, he would dribble way to long instead of making a move immediately to the basket. This allowed Houston to double-team him, and led to either a turnover, or a forced (and missed) fade-away jumper by Aldridge.

Where is the Blazers team that we have seen all throughout the regular season? Where is the Blazers team that won 54 regular season games? Where is the Blazers team that was Co-Champions of the Northwest Division?

Throughout this series, including Game Two, I have seen a Blazers team that looks like the team last year that barely managed to achieve a .500 record.

Portland needs to win Game Four to assure themselves of home court advantage the rest of the playoffs.

How should Portland go about this?

1): The Blazers need to take the ball straight at Yao Ming their very first possession, and make him foul them. The Blazers cannot keep settling for jump shots, and need to show Houston right out of the gates that they are going to set the tempo of the game, that they are going to be the more aggressive team, that they are not going to be pushed around.

2): LaMarcus Aldridge needs to stop dribbling the ball so much, and make a move as soon as he gets the ball. Right now he is getting into foul trouble because he is backing down Luis Scola, Scola is flopping, and the officials are buying it.

If Aldridge makes a move to the basket as soon as he gets the ball, not only will it protect him, but it will also allow him to play a more crucial factor in the game. This will create opportunities for other players as Houston will be concentrating too much on Aldridge.

3): Nate McMillan needs to stop using the "twin towers" game plan. The team has not practiced this enough, and right now it is hurting the Blazers more than helping them. The only sure-fire ways to take Yao out of the game are to get him into foul trouble, or to run him to death.

4): McMillan also needs to make a tough decision on Travis Outlaw. The longest-tenured Blazer is struggling the most this postseason. As of late, "Mister Fourth Quarter" is causing more harm than good. Right now, drastic times call for drastic measures.

McMillan should do to Outlaw what he has done with Frye and Rodriguez, which is to bench them and only use them if other players are in foul trouble.

5): The Blazers need to play much better defense. Letting Luis Scola waltz to the rim for an easy layup is pathetic. Even if the Rockets are hitting their shots, the Blazers need to make them work for them by contesting each and every shot.

The Blazers have made many mistakes this series, but they learn quickly. The Blazers only lost this game by three points when they only played well one quarter. Every game so far has been a learning experience for the Blazers.

They have nothing to lose now and everything to gain because they are guaranteed another home playoff game.

Right now, I can see a Blazers team that now knows what they must do to win this series, and I seriously doubt that after losing a close game, even though they played so pitiful, that they will make the same mistakes again.

Prediction: The Blazers finally tighten their loose screws and win Game Four in Houston, Game Five in Portland, and clinch the franchise's first second-round playoff appearance since 2000 by winning game Six in Houston. Portland wins series four games to two.

Brandon Roy Scores 42 Points as the Blazers Even the Series at One Game Apiece

Cameron Jerde — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:55:41 -0400

Some like to call him "The Natural," "Lucky Number Seven," "Mister Fourth Quarter," or simply "B-Roy."

No matter what nickname he is dubbed, Brandon Roy can take over a game at a moment's notice.

On Tuesday evening, the fourth seeded Portland Trail Blazers entered their home court with redemption on their minds. This past Saturday, the Blazers were manhandled by the older, more prepared Houston Rockets. The Blazers had failed to protect their home court in Game One, and subsequently lost their home court advantage that they had so desperately played to secure.

However, as I have stated in previous articles, Game One was used as a learning technique, or coping mechanism for the Blazers. They were able to get the butterflies out as most of the roster was playing in their first ever postseason game.

In Game Two, we all saw a much more focused Blazer team. They were able to contain Yao Ming well, using their "twin towers" strategy of playing both Joel Przybilla and Greg Oden at the same time. Steve Blake played excellent defense on Aaron Brooks, and forced him to take low percentage shots.

There were some downs as well. Most notably, losing a five point lead in just over 30 seconds, thanks to a five-point turnaround by former Trail Blazer Von Wafer. Wafer made a duo of plays similar to what Blazer fans saw Rudy Fernandez do versus Phoenix.

Von Wafer hit a three-point shot, then stole the ball away from Rudy Fernandez and ran the length of the court for a dunk.

Portland will now have a major advantage over Houston for the rest of the series, as the Rockets have lost their 18-year veteran and major defensive role player Dikembe Mutumbo to a knee injury that is possibly career-ending.

Mutumbo was Yao Ming's backup at the center position. Now, with him out of the picture, once Yao succumbs to foul trouble, as he did in Game Two, the Rockets will not have a true center to substitute for Yao.

Portland took advantage of this situation and proceeded to pound the Rockets in the paint.

Now that Mutumbo is gone for the rest of the playoffs, he himself even stated that his career is over, all the Blazers must do is get Yao into foul trouble in order to win the game.

If the Blazers keep playing their stellar defense, if Nate McMillan still employs his "twin towers" strategy, if the Blazers can get Yao Ming into foul trouble, they will win this series in only five games.

These are a few ifs, but Portland showed us all that they can achieve these ifs in Game Two.

Now all that is left to do for Blazers fans is to sit back and watch the fireworks.

Prediction: Portland wins Games Three and Four in Houston, and clinches the series by winning Game Five in Portland. Portland wins the series 4-1.

Game One Leaves a Sour Taste In The Mouths of The Portland Trail Blazers

Cameron Jerde — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 16:17:48 -0400

For many of the Portland Trail Blazers, last night's contest versus the No. 5 seeded Houston Rockets was their first playoff experience, and boy did it show.

The Blazers displayed their youth from the opening tip-off, en route to a 108-81 blowout from the upstart Houston Rockets.

For the Portland Trail Blazers, the 2008-2009 regular season was marked by a myriad of changing goals. First, the Blazers focused their sights on finishing the season with an above .500 record. Second, they vowed to make the playoffs and end the franchise's six-year playoff drought. Third, they dedicated themselves to obtain home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

All of these goals have been met. The regular season was a complete success for the young Blazers. But this is the playoffs, and now higher goals have been set, such as advancing past the first round.

The Houston Rockets may be without their team leader and superstar in Tracy McGrady, but the Blazers still have yet to figure out how to deal with one large problem, a 7' 6'' tall problem to be exact: Yao Ming.

Let's be honest with ourselves. Portland's two headed monster, Joel Przybilla and Greg Oden, will not be able to stop Yao Ming. He is simply too tall to be blocked, and too talented to be stopped. We saw this last night, with both Portland centers getting into foul trouble.

Unless the Blazers somehow resurrect Goliath from biblical times, or can lure Maunte Bol or Gheorge Muresan back from retirement, the Blazers will not be able to stop Yao Ming by playing defense. The only way the Blazers can minimize Yao's effect on the game is to get him into foul trouble.

Brandon Roy realized this in the first quarter, as he drove to the lane on offense and was able to make Yao foul him. But after Yao Ming left the game, the Blazers stopped driving to the hoop, and settled for outside shots.

Normally this would have been fine, since the Blazers lead the league in offensive rebounding. However, the Blazers only recorded 15 offensive rebounds. While this seems adequate, the Rockets recorded 36 defensive rebounds. The Rockets (total) out-rebounded the Blazers 44-30.

The Blazers were bested in every facet of the game. Houston shot at a higher percentage, earned more trips to the charity stripe, out-rebounded Portland on both ends, and played more physical defense.

Should Portland have been granted more trips to the foul line? Absolutely. The officiating was some of the worst I've seen in playoff basketball. That being said, one cannot solely blame the officials for the outcome of the game.

What I saw in Game One was a Blazers team that looked rattled, afraid, and confused. It seems as if all the playoff hype that surrounded this young team psyched them out of their groove.

What happened to the squad I saw rough up the Boston Celtics in December? The officials are going to let Houston play physical. That means that players like Luis Scola and Ron Artest will be able to get away with throwing elbows to the face, swatting defenders' hands, and hooking around players to gain position.

I also saw a Blazers team that did not argue with the officials to get calls to go their way. They backed down, and let Houston bully them all game long, like a third grader being bullied by a sixth grader.

Somebody needs to get a technical foul call by calling the officiating out on their bad calls, because otherwise, the officials will keep turning a blind eye to the Blazers' cause.

Even if the Blazers cannot stop Yao Ming, and if they cannot convince the officials that the calls they make, or lack thereof, are bogus, they need to do two things which they lacked in Game One: They need to play much more physical defense, and they need to push the tempo of the game.

Keep in mind that the Houston Rockets are a team that like to play games in the '70s. They play a down-tempo, defense-oriented game. The Blazers play up-tempo offense, but also play hard defense. They can do both because of their youth.

There is no single player who can run the floor better than LaMarcus Aldridge. Even though Sergio Rodriguez can be messy with his passing and inconsistency, Portland's "Spanish Armada" of Sergio Rodriguez and Rudy Fernandez can speed down the court for many fast break points.

So, with one playoff game under their belts, the Blazers have gotten the butterflies out, and have gotten the lousy play out of their systems. For the rest of the series, Portland's game-plan should consist of four key parts.

1.) They need to drive to the basket on offense and get players like Yao Ming and Luis Scola to foul them. If the shots are blocked, they need to crash the boards, and earn that second chance to score.

2. If the officials are not calling any fouls on the overly physical Houston Rockets, they need to stand up for themselves and make the officials know that they are not calling a fair game, and that they will not be bullied any longer.

3. They need to push the tempo of the game with each offensive possession and each Houston turnover. This will tire out the Rockets much more than the Blazers, and will allow the Blazers to create many more scoring opportunities for themselves.

4. They need to play much more physical defense. They need to let the Rockets know that they will not get away with cheap offensive tricks, and that they cannot bully the Blazers like a younger sibling. This should include playing Nicholas Batum more minutes, as he is the best perimeter defender on the team and can shut down outside shooters like Von Wafer, Ron Artest, Shane Battier, and Aaron Brooks.

If the Blazers do all of these things, they will not experience another meltdown like they experienced in Game One. They will not lose another home contest. They will not lose the series to the Rockets.

My Prediction: Blazers beat Rockets in games two, three, five, and seven. Blazers win series 4 games to 3, and advance to Western Conference Semifinals versus the Los Angeles Lakers.