Arizona-Oregon: The Ducks Look to Silence The Boo-Birds

This week I’ve decided to go another direction.

If you just want to read a straight preview of this weekend’s Wildcats-Ducks game, skip down just a little ways.

All of you Duck fans who boo'ed the team during the game last week—shame on you!

I have never understood the notion of booing one’s own team. Your upset with their performance, I get that. Believe me I was saying some choice words watching on TV and I’ve cursed a blue streak in the stands when things weren’t going well. But a curse is an expression of frustration, booing is more than that.

When you boo someone, you are expressing vitriol toward them. You are saying that they are not welcome around you, that they are not good enough to be on the field. That may not be the message people were trying to convey, but that is what it sounded like. That’s why people should only boo the opposition, if they insist on booing at all.

More than that, fans simply do not have the right to boo. Where were you during the week’s practices? The film sessions? The weight-room workouts? You weren’t there any more than I was. So how did you know if the team is trying or if they are just coming up short? You didn’t and you can’t. Don’t be so quick to deal out judgment.

You think the players need someone to tell them when they mess up? They know! Fans don’t tell players what they need to do to get better or hustle harder, that is what coaches are for.

We fans latch on to the accomplishments of teams and take their joy and pain as our own because we love watching the game and having someone to pull for. When we are true, die hard fans, these athletes can even affect our mood. I know, I’ve been there.

But WE aren’t the ones sweating, trying, pushing with all we’ve got and doing our damnedest. The players are the ones that do that. The game is for them, not us. Celebrate when they do well, mourn when they do poorly. But don’t you dare pass judgment on their effort or dedication when all you do is look at them run around on the field.

Despite struggling in the passing game, Oregon eked out a win in dramatic fashion against the Stanford Cardinal last week. Turnovers hurt the Ducks, but a few iffy calls went Oregon’s way to even things out. The Cardinal defense wore down late in the game and was unable to stop Oregon’s final drive, earning the Ducks a momentous win.

Things don’t get any easier this week as the Arizona Wildcats come to Autzen. Stanford was a team that had a very similar profile to the Ducks, but with home field advantage and a little luck, the Ducks proved to be just a little bit better at doing what they do well.

Arizona presents tough match ups for the Ducks. The Wildcats utilize a Texas Tech style spread that usually uses four or five wide receiver sets. Oregon’s pass defense has been abysmal at times this season, especially against play action and their depth will be tested. If all the Wildcats did was throw, the Ducks might be able to sit back and whether the storm, but ‘Zona averages nearly 170 yards rushing per game.

The Wildcats are not a team that the Ducks can count on to beat themselves. Arizona leads the conference in turnover margin at +8 (Oregon is currently at -1 on the season). The Cats also have the fewest penalties and penalty yards per game in the Pac-10. Combined with the league’s leading punter, scoring kicker, and punt returner (in average yards per return), Arizona is a formidable team with no glaring weaknesses.

But there is room for Ducks fans to hope. After all, the Wildcats lost to New Mexico, and to Stanford, a team Oregon just beat. For the Ducks to have a chance, they must find success on the ground. Only USC, and Boise State (Cal did a good job but let up in stretches) have truly been able to shut down the Ducks option attack. Still, the Wildcats are decent against the run and will no doubt crowd the line of scrimmage.

Jeremiah Masoli led a dramatic comeback last weekend, but still had a rough day throwing the ball. The Ducks did find some success on quick screens, essentially expanding their running game to include the wide receivers.

After Jaison Williams’ struggles catching the ball he was benched and Drew Davis started the game. But one torn ACL (oh, that damn tendon again…) later and Williams has his job back. If he still wants to claim some of Oregon’s career receiving records this week would be a great game to bust a few big plays again. Ed Dickson has been entirely missing from the offense for several weeks now. If the Ducks want to make their offense two dimensional, getting these two going would be a terrific place to start.

Oregon is going to have a tough fight on its hands trying to match up against Arizona. It is imperative that the Ducks avoid turnovers and penalties, and play solidly on special teams (Morgan Flint seemed to do well as the new placekicker last week) because Arizona isn’t in the habit of doing the opposition any favors.

With the Pac-10’s two top scoring offenses facing off, expect a shootout. Oregon’s defense has to firm up, but they can’t be expected to win the game by themselves. If the Ducks want get the W, they need to get their offense going early and maintain their momentum throughout the game. That means the ground game has to have a strong showing, putting the onus on the offensive line to play more physically that the Cats front seven.

My mind says the Ducks just don’t match up well with the Wildcats, but my Green and Yellow heart says they’ll find a way somehow.

MY VERDICT: Oregon Ducks 45, Arizona Wildcats 40

PS: To everyone who is going to be in the stadium, please cheer hard for all the seniors. Yes, even Jaison Williams!