Cal - Oregon

[WoVeU]

I don't know if I have seen a more erratic QB in FBS this year (Texas last year for sure)?!?! If he were more centered and stable this Cal team would be very good. Right now even with them leading (15-14), I ain't buying in, this has to end broken bear hearts!

[WoVeU]

And I get a bit tired of analysts questioning the early 2 point conversion attempts. There is more than 1 reason to go for 2 other than being down by 2. Which is the only support I have ever heard from ESPN hairspray heads.

Take this game. If you have a QB who can take you down the field and also make 2 terrible drive ending throws in a row. And the short porch is also more in his throwing range. Then going for 2 isn't a bad idea. Thinking you may have a few drive killers end you in FG range while Oregon is putting up 7's. If you can get 4 TDs and make 3 of 4 two pointers...that is 30 points add 2 FGs...and you have 36. That would be 1 more than 35 from the opponent getting 5 TDs. (The real problem is you still have to hold the other team to 5 TDs.) And there you go, Oregon kicks so few FGs, they aren't good at it. (They just missed one.)

[Cane from the Bend]

Yea, it's just too bad Cal isn't really any good at scoring Touch Downs...

How many blow opportunities do you need, to know when it is time to adjust?

If Cal would have grown a sack, and just went for it on 4th & 1 a couple of time, instead of punting, two things happen ( supposing you can pick up that yard ).

First you gain momentum, and keep the drive alive. Which also helps boost confidence in your offensive players.

Second, you aren't punting the ball needlessly to a team who is drooling to get their hands on it.

Sometimes playing conservative is more of a detriment then hoping you can hold out til the end.

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[Eric]

I'm really upset with the choice of Thursday night games on ESPN's part (if they choose them before the year, I'm not sure how the process works). This game, if it were "at" Cal (with their games at AT&T Park), then maybe it would have been worth everybody's time. But most people figured this would amount to a blowout. Oregon doesn't lose at home and anybody outside of Stanford is most likely not going to compete at Oregon.

Check these coming down the road: UCLA at Arizona (bleh), Virginia at Miami (bleh), Florida State at Boston College (bleh). And in the past few weeks we've had UNLV at Wisconsin (bleh), Oklahoma State at Arizona (bleh), and Cincinnati at NC State (bleh). Now I realize hindsight is 20/20, but why don't they get more games where an elite team is on the road against an above average team so there's some kind of intrigue? Or two above average teams? Boston College, Virginia, UCLA, Arizona, and NC State are not what I'd call above-average teams this year. Games like Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech is where it's at (I think Week 11).

[WoVeU]

I'm really upset with the choice of Thursday night games on ESPN's part (if they choose them before the year, I'm not sure how the process works). This game, if it were "at" Cal (with their games at AT&T Park), then maybe it would have been worth everybody's time. But most people figured this would amount to a blowout. Oregon doesn't lose at home and anybody outside of Stanford is most likely not going to compete at Oregon.

Check these coming down the road: UCLA at Arizona (bleh), Virginia at Miami (bleh), Florida State at Boston College (bleh). And in the past few weeks we've had UNLV at Wisconsin (bleh), Oklahoma State at Arizona (bleh), and Cincinnati at NC State (bleh). Now I realize hindsight is 20/20, but why don't they get more games where an elite team is on the road against an above average team so there's some kind of intrigue? Or two above average teams? Boston College, Virginia, UCLA, Arizona, and NC State are not what I'd call above-average teams this year. Games like Virginia Tech at Georgia Tech is where it's at (I think Week 11).

ESPN loving the Big Name doesn't help. I watched the latter part of WKU and MTSU being replayed today, much better game!

[WoVeU]

How many blow opportunities do you need, to know when it is time to adjust?

If Cal would have grown a sack, and just went for it on 4th & 1 a couple of time, instead of punting, two things happen ( supposing you can pick up that yard ).

First you gain momentum, and keep the drive alive. Which also helps boost confidence in your offensive players.

Second, you aren't punting the ball needlessly to a team who is drooling to get their hands on it.

Sometimes playing conservative is more of a detriment then hoping you can hold out til the end.

There you go, that is a real big one. I consider it pomp or ignorance for a team like Cal to think they can beat an Oregon w/o doing this? There is generally a good reason teams are favored by 20 points and such. If you can go for it on 4th for 1 and 2 yards, and maybe get an onside kick or some other unexpected (non-normative) big play. You have about a 95% chance of losing. I don't get it. (Also, fans love teams with that kind of brass...has to help the following...and thereby recruiting!!!!)