Under the Umbrella

Why all the Cal love?

What is it about Coach Jeff Tedford’s California Golden Bears that has perennially pulled the wool over the pollster’s eyes?

 

Maybe it's just the scowl that Tedford is known for that sends journalists and coaches alike sprinting to their computers to cast an underserved vote?

 

With arguably the worst meltdown in Division 1 history in 2007 after being ranked 2^nd in the nation and losing six of their last eight games, one would think that the pollsters would be a little more cautious of protecting their good name when assigning rankings to Cal.

Perhaps its time for the USA Today to start including the names of the coaches with their votes?

Cal’s record versus the top 25 has been dismal. In 7 years the team has posted just two ten win seasons and one of those seasons ended in a 14 point loss in the Holiday Bowl game against Texas Tech.

 

Cal has not finished well having only been to the Holiday Bowl twice, the Insight Bowl, the Las Vegas Bowl, the Armed Forces Bowl and the Emerald bowl. Outside of the Holiday Bowl these are definitely third tier bowl games. In fact Cal hasn’t played in the Rose Bowl since 1958.

 

Granted Cal may have been over looked for a BCS bid in 2004, but the loss to Texas Tech definitely quieted any legitimate complaint that Cal fans may have had.

 

Most recently, even after putting up 3 points in Eugene against the Ducks, Cal still couldn’t play their way out of the polls.

 

I cant understand why the AP and USA Today polls insist on giving Cal the leg up needed to win the National Championship. The rest of us know that Cal will smear mud all over the good names of those involved with the polls every chance they get. After all under Tedford Cal is 17 and 8 when ranked in the top 10.

 

Fool me once shame on you, fool me 8 teams, I should lose my ability to vote!

 

-Kurt Valentine

Blazers Media Day

Being a Portland sports blogger has its benefits. Yesterday was the Portland Trail Blazers media day and since I am such a prominent member of the sports media in Portland, I was invited. I spent the afternoon having lunch one on one with Brandon "The Natural" Roy, had a nice little shoot around/interview with Rudy, and was able to catch up with G.O., it had been awhile since are last conversation.

Ok, so obviously non of that actually happened. I was not invited to attend media day nor was able to have lunch with B. Roy but we all know he wanted to have lunch with me. 

There was some great and some not so great news from media day.

Joe Freeman of The Oregonian wrote on the improvements of G.O. It was everything we wanted to hear and more.

Greg Oden spent his brief 2 and a half month summer in Columbus, Ohio working with Blazer assistant coach Bill Bayno and former Blazer Brian Grant. The work outs were designed to help Oden work on offensive moves, shot blocking and foul reduction. Bayno also spent the summer instilling the mental side of the game to Oden. Teaching him to forget bad plays, and the weight of the world is not on his shoulders(its on Brandons).

Oden came into Media Day a new person. Jovial, outgoing, leaner and confident.

"It's very important to me. I love Joel (Przybilla) to death, but look, I want that starting spot," Oden said.

All of this good news isnt just noticed by the coaching staff, all of the players have also noticed a big change.

"I think he's back to the guy that we met when he got drafted," Aldridge said. "Back to having fun, more easy-going, more laid back. It seems like he's happy to be here again, like when I first met him."

Brandon added "In the past he was physically dominant now hes step up his skill...Hes beasting guys in pick up games."

But all good news is some how accompanied by bad news.

With G.O. coming into his own and the puzzle pieces seem to be coming together to form the picture of a championship trophy. One of the pieces still hasn't signed a contract. 

According to ESPN's rumor central and The Oregonian reporting. L.A. in confused and expressed displeasure about the unsigned contract. He wants to be signed to a long-term contract and is unsure why this hasn't happened yet. 

"I didn't think it would take this long," Aldridge said. "I thought that after what we did last year, having 54 wins and after the big change that's happened ... here, I just felt like it wouldn't be this hard to get it done. But it is. I can't say that I'm happy about it."

When Geoffrey Arnold asked B. Roy about Lamarcus's unresolved contract Brandon said he has given L.A. advice about it and told him its just the business side of basketball. Brandon also added that Aldridge was happy about being back in Portland and back playing with the guys.

So at Media Day we had the good, the bad and the ugly. But if this country has learned anything about movies and real life. The Good always wins!

-ryanhs

Duck Down!

The University of Oregon announced today that All-American CB Walter Thurmond III is out for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury suffered on the opening kick off in Oregon’s 42-3 win over Cal.

 

Thurmond scored TD’s in both of Oregon’s wins prior to the Cal game. In fact in games that Thurmond scored a TD the Ducks were undefeated. Even Chip Kelly commented on the streak when he jokingly asked Thurmond if he could go ahead and score every game so that that the ducks could finish the season undefeated.

 

Thurmond’s absence will be felt in the return game as well as in the secondary. The Utes only completed one pass to a WR that was covered by Thurmond and that was a 5 yard pass that the WR had to come back to. Thurmond was also effective in stopping the run as he had 17 tackles over the last 3 games.

 

The Ducks will likely have Willie Glasper shift over and bring Talmadge Jackson into Willie’s spot. If T.J. Ward is available to play on Saturday, the ducks could go with a 3 Safety lineup that would include Javes Lewis and John Boyett.

This is the most recent in a string of injuries that has plagued Thurmond’s career. 2008 was a season where he showed resilience playing in 12 of 13 games, while battling several injuries and still playing well enough to be named a 2009 pre-season All-American.

Thurmond was projected as being a great  NFL prospect likely to go high in the draft. It's still possible with a speedy recovery and great work outs that he could still go in the first day, but this set back has likely cost him millions in the draft.

 

Thurmond is now the second cornerstone of this team lost for the rest of the season, with LaGarrett Blount being suspended after week one.

 

Thurmond ends his Duck career as the schools all time leader in non-offensive TD’s at 5. With 41 games started, his experience and leadership will be sorely missed on the field.

 

So ends yet another man crush for yours truly.

 

-Kurt Valentine

Blazers Players Answer Questions, Create Another.

They made it to media day, before feeling the effects of talent instead of chemistry.

 

Brandon Roy was adamant that he was more comfortable with Steve Blake in the starting line-up then new comer Andre Miller.

 

Meanwhile the rest of the organization is preaching sacrifice for the betterment of the team.

 

But if your “Franchise Player” wants to have his cake and eat it too, how long will it take for the rest of the franchise to follow suit?

 

I can understand why Brandon wants Blake in the starting unit, Brandon plays better with the ball in his hand and Steve has no issues deferring the point guard duties to Brandon. Brandon is more than capable of producing offense for himself, but rarely does he create for others unless they are waiting behind the arc.

 

That’s not what’s best for the team. Andre needs to be the starting point guard, so that more than just Brandon gets the ball when they need it.

 

Steve’s on the ball defense is serviceable at best. Andre’s on the ball defense is even less, however Andre will organize the team, call out the opposing play and ensure that everyone else is in position to make it difficult on the opposition.

 

Andre led the NBA in allyoop assists last year. Greg Oden for one could use some easy buckets early to really get him excited about each game. LaMarcus Aldridge runs the floor like a Small Forward and Nicolas Batum cant, or won’t, put the ball on the floor so a meet me at the rim style of play could benefit everyone else in the starting lineup.

 

All this means that Brandon and Andre have one month to get on the same page, or the free agent signing that had Blazer fans a blaze this summer could go up in smoke!

 

- Kurt Valentine

It Was Worth The Wait!

13 minutes and 20 seconds into the first quarter on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, the loudest sigh of relief in the University of Oregon’s recent history was heard around the state.

Ed Dickson caught his first TD of the season.

 

Instantly every armchair coach felt validated. The TD and subsequent victory legitimized every single demand by fans and the media to get Ed the ball.

Did the Ducks catch lightning in a bottle, or did a sleeping giant finally awake?

 

Oregon put up offensive numbers that the world has come to expect. 524 total yards of offense in a balanced attack, throwing for 288 and rushing for 236. The offense lived up to the hype, and reputation that preceded them.

 

Chip Kelly got his first top notch win, even though his team had already defeated a top 25 team in the 18^th ranked Utah Utes. But this was special, not only was Cal ranked 6^th in the country, they were the popular pick to punch a ticket to the Rose Bowl.

 

The offense may have been shocked back into life, but the defensive performance was the most shocking event of the day. They allowed only a single score, a field goal to start the game when a Walter Thurmond III kickoff return fumble gave the ball to the Golden Bears on the Ducks 22 yard line. Instead of sulking over the terrible field position the Ducks D rallied and pushed Cal back 8 yards.

 

The total numbers are impressive too. Oregon allowed only 207 yards to an offense that was averaging over twice that. Heisman hopeful and front runner Javhid Best carried the ball 16 times for a pedestrian 55 yards.

 

Former Beaverton QB Kevin Riley didn’t fair much better completing 12 of 31 for 123 yards. The pressure that was applied on him by Kenny Rowe and Will Tukuafu was masterful, relentless and more than Riley could handle.

 

The secondary was nothing short of perfect and that was without having the unit’s two best players. Thurmond went out on the opening kickoff and T.J. Ward hasn’t seen action since the teams “Meltdown in Boise”. Talmadge Jackson and John Boyett both filled in admirably.

 

ESPN is reporting that Thurmond will likely miss a few games with an ACL strain. The Ducks hope to have Ward back for the game against the Washington State Cougars this Saturday.

 

Jeremiah Masoli had one of his best games ever. He was 21 of 25 for 253 yards and 3 TD’s. The 3 TD’s all went to the big fella, Dickson. The numbers though aren’t what made for an impressive day behind the helm. Masoli, was making the right read. In fact the cameramen where lost out there on Saturday and it made Duck fans think about 2007 when Dennis Dixon made professional cameramen look like a parent with a camcorder at a Pop Warner game.

 

There are a lot of detractors out there wondering if this was a fluke, but anyone who watched the Ducks play last year knows that this was just the beginning for our offense and just another great game in a string of many for our defense.

 

The Coaches that vote in the USA today poll need to review the game film. If Oregon is only the 25^th ranked team in the country, than how can you explain that Cal is 19? The AP may have Oregon overrated at 16 but at least they have them ahead of Cal at 24. But my argument with the pollsters is best saved for another time. This is an article of triumph, for the team and the fans.

 

The uniforms may have been from the 1993/94 season but the performance was more like the team from 2007.

 

The Ducks take on WSU Saturday with a 6:15 kickoff where Oregon looks to turn Freshman QB Jeff Tuel’s encore performance into a nightmare.

-Kurt Valentine

The Endangered Red Tiger

6 wins, 14 top 10 finishes in 16 tournaments and 20 million dollars. Those are the numbers that wrap up the 09' season for Mr. Woods.

This weekend Tiger lost a third round lead at THE TOUR Championship at East Lake G.C. to Phil Mickelson. A second place finish was good enough for Tiger Woods to win the 3rd Fedex cup points chase, and a ten million dollar bonus.

For most this would be an epic season, a historic season, a season to always be remembered... but it wont. No one will ever remember Tiger's 09' Season because he failed to win a major. He failed to make the cut at the British Open and he failed to hold a fourth round lead at The PGA Championship.

For all the accomplishments of 09' it will be a season marked with failure and what could have been instead of the continued search for greatness.

Will the 09' season be a changing of the guards or bump in the road for the greatest player of all time?

Be Proud, Be Great, Be Ducks

It’s Thursday and as promised, or threatened depending on how you look at it, here is my locker room speech to the Oregon Ducks as they prepare to take the field against the California Golden Bears.

 

“Today we have the 6^th ranked team in the nation coming into our house, looking to prove that they are the top team in our conference. I know we can beat them, but it’s going to take everything you have.

 

We have stumbled our way to a 2-1 non conference record. We have defeated good teams, but we haven’t faced anyone with the talent level of Cal.  

 

Cal is beatable; they struggled against teams that aren’t nearly as good as you guys! If you go out there and play the game the way that a true Duck football player plays it, I guarantee that we will be singing Mighty Oregon till the sun goes down.

A victory today puts to rest the demons, because it will signify that we answered the call on both sides of the ball. And it takes an entire team to win a game of this magnitude.

Offense you have to be sick of letting the defense get all the glory. Aren’t you tired of hearing people say, thank god the defense is so good?

Where’s the heart?

Where’s the pride?

 

It’s all about Intestinal fortitude out there.  

 

We can’t rely on the defense any more!

 

Javhid Best may be the best running back in the nation. Cal thinks so and so do the people calling the game on the TV  that your friends and family are watching. Don’t let him embarrass you like that on national television.

 

Offense we run the ball to set up the pass. When the passes come your way, make the catch. The more catches you guys make, the more we can throw. Thats how it works.

 

DB’s, you guys are gonna see a lot of man coverage out there. I’m counting on you to be in the right spot every single down. You will be the difference between winning and losing. If I can keep you in man, we can stop the run.

O line you did a great job last week, but Cal’s line is stronger and faster than Utah. Put them on their backs early and they will stop coming hard when it matters the most at the end of the game.

 

D line, Riley is not mobile take advantage of that. Make him feel the pressure and he will turn it over, give him time and our secondary will suffer. Most importantly maintain gap assignments. Cal’s draw plays won’t work if you’re in the gaps.

 

This game will be won in the trenches and it will be won by us. That’s why we worked so hard this week, this fall, over the summer, last spring and hell our entire lives.

 

Every inch of that field, every second of that clock, every screaming fan will have to be earned today.

 

So,

 

Be proud!

 

Be great!

 

Be Ducks!”

 

 

- Kurt Valentine

Who Dat? Oh Dat Just Drew!

If you haven’t seen the Saints play this year, you haven’t watched the most exciting offense in the NFL!

Not only are they working as one unit with one goal in mind; scoring points, but they are being led by a great quarterback at the top of his game. Last year Drew led the NFL with 34 TD’s. This year, he is on pace to throw for 72 TD’s. Yes, I know it is early to be making assumptions, but he is completing a mind boggling  75% of his passes.

 

Last year, Brees threw the ball about 40 times a game with an average of about two TD’s. This year, he has thrown the ball 34 times in each of his two games played for 4.5 TD’s a game.

 

With Mike Bell running the ball for 229 yards in the first two games for an average of 5.1 a carry and Reggie Bush averaging of 48 yards receiving per game, the backfield is making life easier via dumpoffs and play-action.

 

This offense is built for Brees and Brees is delivering. He is making the right reads and hitting his receivers either in stride or where only they can make the catch.

 

The Saints are averaging 46.5 points, 468 yards of total offense, 323 passing yards, and 145 rushing yards a game. Those numbers are incredible. That puts them 1^st, 1^st, 2^nd, and 8^th in the league respectively.

 

Now I know Brady put up crazy figures in 08, but keep in mind Brady was throwing the ball to Moss and Welker for crying out loud. Can you name one Saints receiver?

 

Anyone?

 

Come on…

 

No… Shockey doesn’t count, but he is having a great season.

 

Brees’ main targets are Devery Henderson and Marquis Colston. Don’t get me wrong, these guys can play! Colston already has three TD receptions in two games. Neither of these guys is Randy Moss though! Not only is Brees tearing it up, but he is making the most with what he’s got. He is elevating every player on his offense and maximizing talent level.

 

So just remember, if the Saints are playing, you should be watching!

 

Zach vW

What to do at QB? The Oregon Ducks Need an Answer!

Walter Thurmond III returned the first punt of the game 78 yards for a touchdown and the Ducks dismal offense was spared its first possession. The defense didn’t get a rest, but at least when they went back on the field they had the lead.

 

Thurmond is second in total yards for the ducks with 364, trailing only QB Jeremiah Masoli who has 524. III also trails only Masoli with 2 TD’s this year to Masoli’s 4. III only has one turnover this season compared to Masoli’s 2 INT’s and 6 lost fumbles.

 

Maybe III should be the QB. At least he knows that receivers routes are ran downfield and not just a series of 5 yard outs.

 

In all seriousness the time for change at QB is near, if hasn’t come already.

 

Last week Masoli only attempted 16 passes, completing an embarrassingly low 4 attempts. Actually that’s not being very fair, he did complete 5 passes but one of them was to a Utah DB.

 

The apologists will point to Dennis Dixon and his rocky Junior campaign and how he was able to turn it around to have a Heisman worthy Senior season. What they fail to mention was that during that rough and tumble Junior season he actually lost his starting job to Brady Leaf of all people and was still putting up better numbers that Masoli is.  

 

All reports indicated that Nathan Costa actually out performed Masoli in the spring and fall camps when looked at in a vacuum. Head Coach Chip Kelly had said that the QB position would be “an open competition.” However no one could place those two QB’s in a true “open competition” considering the amazing numbers that Oregon put up last season under Masoli’s watch.

 

The apologists, including the Kelly, will make excuses about the inexperience on the offensive line and in the receiving corps. Analyst will say that it’s the adjustment from Kelly being upstairs as an OC to now being on the field as the HC.

 

In all honesty there isn’t much less experience this year, returning 2 of the 4 receivers that made an impact last year in Ed Dickson who had 35 catches for 508 yards and 3 TD’s alongside Jeff Maehl with 39 catches for 421 yards and 5 TD’s.

On the OL, 4 of the 5 started at least 1 game last year with a combined 22 starts and 66 games played. Granted they aren’t Max Unger but it’s not like your bringing out an entirely new set of big uglys.

 

This week against Cal could be the final straw. Duck fans are disgusted across the state at Masoli’s passing game, and with more fumbles and INT’s than the entire offense has TD’s who could blame them?  

 

If there is a light at the end of the tunnel, it must become visible this week.

 

- Kurt Valentine

Welcome to Portland!

Fantastic move Pritchard!

 

   

 

You just took one of the youngest teams in the NBA to one of the oldest teams in the NBA with two free agency moves and I’m ecstatic about both. By now we all know what Andre Miller is going to bring, but I don’t think a lot of Blazer fans know how much Howard is going to help this young team.

 

Career Line:

 

GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
1043	871	32.8	.469	.122	.763	6.6	2.5	.7	.2	14.9

 

We first saw Juwan hoop it up as part of the fab five at Michigan in 92. He made it to the final four along with teammates Chris Webber and Jalen Rose. Howard was then drafted fifth overall in the 1994 NBA draft by the Washington Bullets, now the Wizards. In 1996 Juwan made his first and only NBA All-star team. Over the 96 season, Howard averaged 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists.

 

Now don’t read this and expect that Juwan is going to come in and compete with LaMarcus for a starting spot. Howard is 36 years old and should not expect to play more than 8-10 minutes a game.

 

Howard’s real value to this team is his leadership. He has extensive NBA knowledge. He has played for 6 NBA teams over 15 NBA seasons. Juwan will push Oden and Aldridge while instilling patience and solid post moves. Juwan will play limited minutes as a rebounder and as an intelligent presence. We won’t see many turnovers from him. We will see smart fouls and strong leadership. Juwan also gives the second unit a solid post presence.

 

Howard has already made his presence felt in Rip City.

 

Jason Quick of the Oregonian was on Wheels at Work and quoted Kevin Pritchard as saying the voluntary scrimmage went well and when the participants were seemingly ready to quit, Juwan barked orders to the team saying “We got one more”.

 

Juwan was guarding Greg Oden often in the sessions and was heard ordering the other team to “Get the big man the ball!” This will go along way to getting Greg off to a quick start which could be the difference between another underachieving season for the 7 footer or an All-star appearance.

 

That’s just some of what the Blazers expect from someone that has played in 23 playoff games.

 

End of story, this move makes the Blazers older and wiser!

 

Zach vW