Problem is, besides Oregon, who they play at home, the don't have any major obstacles on their schedule. Proving themselves will really only come in the BCS title game.
Yep. Remember that one play when Mingo ran down LMJ from behind? The play wasn't even to his side, but he still had the wheels to circle around and run down one of the fastest men in the nation. Yeah, I don't think the Ducks were expecting that. Why shouldn't it go to our heads? It's clear that the rest of the nation has no answer for the SEC, as we've got the hardware to prove it. They don't seem great because they don't have to be. I remember trying to watch a couple of Big XII games last year, and I just couldn't finish them. The complete lack of effort & competence on defense was sickening. Any offense would look great or flashy if it were facing 11 luggage handlers all game long.
I was in Atlanta for the SECCG with some friends, and we watched the Pac-12 championship game the night before. There was so much ridiculously sloppy football that it was just unwatchable. That is why they need high-octane offenses.
Your men were very fast, but I don't think this play shows it that much, looks like LaMike was waiting on his blocking to me. The experts, Brent and Herb, sure got giggly about it though. After watching these replays, I was struck by just how fucking big the Tiger players were. I'm just saying, even though the SEC defenses are the best, its offenses aren't. There's times, especially when you're behind,.. where a power offense can hobble you, sometimes you need to get down the field fast. I don't think the SEC can consistently win the National Championship by fielding a team with a great defense and only a very good offense. Of course the hardware proves me wrong so far, but I think that is due to a lack of top level competition. IMO a team with both excellent offense and excellent defense could keep the national crown for a while, despite the great SEC defenses. I think USC at full strength could do it this year, and yes, I believe the Ducks can too, if our new QB can rise to the occasion. I know you say, Auburn wasn't that good and still beat the Ducks,.. well the Ducks played like shit and still nearly won. It was much tougher against LSU, we couldn't do it, but your offense was not unstoppable. I'm not dissing on your conference, like so many spiteful/envious PAC fans do. I want my conference to rise to your level. I just think that when an excellent team does challenge the SEC,.. you're within reach because of your O.
GiantDuckFan said: ↑ “The SEC d lines are special“I don't know why exactly, but SEC offenses don't seem all that great. ...if the SEC also has great offensive lines, that should balance the equation. Do you think great QB's avoid the SEC, so they can showcase their talents elsewhere?
Possible. Not this season, though. Gary Danielson was on Sirius/XM earlier talking about that. Specifically talking about Bama. He said last year, in their road games, they didn't have to face much in the way of solid QBs. This season, he's saying they're going to be tested by better QBs on the road. He said the SEC has better QBs overall this season, period. I think it's safe to say Murray and Wilson were the best two SEC QBs last year, and they're both back. Add Mett, Bray (with another year under his belt), Connor Shaw (with experience from last year), Rodgers at Vandy, and Mizzou's guy, and there's some pretty good QBs in the SEC. Add MacArron with a year under his belt and the impressive BCSNC performance. But the bottom line, and has been proven repeatedly, these high powered offenses of the Big 12/Pac 12 aren't so high powered when facing an SEC team with incredible DLs. It makes a huge difference. You guys were a great offense last season. Sure, you scored 27 on LSU, but you have to admit, yards and points were harder to come by against LSU than any other team you played last season. DL. If you played Bama, it'd be a similar deal. Although fans and even media don't get it, coaches do, and will adjust. You'll see a push from the big time programs across the country to load up on fast big guys to put on the DL. It's the anti-offense. And the pendulum will eventually swing because of it. I just don't see it right now.
I agree with all that, though you didn't get our best game, no comparison on who had the strongest D we faced. Your D-line was sorta ok I guess,.. but your coverage guys shut us down. Truth is the game was over at 31-13. Chip's already doing it, for a few years we've been loading up on tall lanky fast lineman, 6'7" guys around 250-280 lbs.
I think it boils down to regional genetic stock, in general. The PAC Whatev may not necessarily bought in to offense winning championships so much as that region produces a "stock" of players whose physiques translate well to that style of play. The midwest tends to produce the big grain fed farm boys that do well on the Offensive line/fullback spectrum, etc.
Not sure why a certain offensive style translates from conference to conference. But coaches are a stubborn lot in general and change can come painfully slow or not at all. Tom Osborne for decades would have his corn fed Huskers in the top five and get demolished by someone, anyone in the orange bowl. Finally figured out it took speed at the back end of the defense to keep all those Florida State and Miami receivers from running unabated to the goal line. I use to marvel at his inability to fix such a glaring weakness. When he did, he ran off a number of national titles. It's the wise coach that figures it out and HUMBLY sucks it up and makes the adjustment.
