Tag Archives: Stanford

IS THERE A FORMULA ON HOW TO BEAT OREGON?

Posted: Jan 4, 2015 by . Filed under Blog Posts, Feature Articles | 27 Comments

The Oregon Ducks have lost only four games over the last three years with 2014 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Marcus Mariota running the offense.

Marcus Mariota In Game Heisman Pose

Photo Courtesy – ESPN.Go.Com

So I went back and looked at those four losses, two against Stanford and two against Arizona to see if there were common denominators in all four losses. Here’s what I came up with:

In all four losses Oregon was held to less than 10 points at halftime.

In all four losses Oregon lost the “Time of Possession” battle by an average of 37:10 to 23:50.

In all four losses Oregon turned the ball over at least once on offense and totaled 8 turnovers in those four games for an average of 2 turnovers per contest.

In all four losses Oregon’s opponent ran more offensive plays than the Ducks did. On average Oregon ran 11 fewer plays per game in the losses (83.5 to 72.2).

In all four losses Oregon’s opponent ran for 200 yards or more as a team and averaged 58 carries for 246.5 yards per game on the ground.

In all four losses Oregon only had a 32% conversion rate on 3rd down on offense.

And in three out of the four losses Oregon was outgained in total yards by an average of 24 yards per game.

 So what should Ohio State take from this?

Urban Meyer Sugar Bowl

If I’m the Buckeyes I’m going back and watching all four losses to try and learn the recipe for success against Oregon from Stanford and Arizona. Then I’m  going to formulate part of my game plan on trying to run a ball control offense, an eat the clock offense with Ezekiel Elliott leading the way, but also using Jalin Marshall, Curtis Samuel, Cardale Jones and maybe Dontre Wilson if he’s healthy on the ground. By establishing the running game and chewing up time on the clock, it should in turn open up the passing game for quarterback Cardale Jones and receivers Devin Smith, Michael Thomas, Evan Spencer and more.

Putting pressure on Mariota was also a major factor in the four losses which helped lead to those 8 turnovers. Not just by sacking him, but forcing him to throw the ball before he wanted to. So that means the Buckeyes defensive line led by All American Joey Bosa, as well as Michael Bennett, Adolphus Washington and Steve Miller have to penetrate Oregon’s tough offensive line and get in Mariota’s face to hopefully sack him, at least hit him, or if not, force him to make early errant throws that could end up as interceptions. Also when Bosa or maybe linebacker Darron Lee get a chance, within the rules of the game, they need to hit Mariota as often as they can, as hard as they can, to make life miserable for him in all four quarters of the National Championship game. Just like the Buckeyes defense did to Miami’s Ken Dorsey in the 2002 National Championship contest.

That looks to be the formula on how to beat Marcus Mariota and the Oregon Ducks. Easier said than done of course, but the Buckeyes are a confident team and peaking at the right time, so let’s see if Urban Meyer’s troops can execute a game plan like that and if they do, they’ll have a good chance of winning the game and making history by being crowned National Champions in the first ever year of the College Football Playoff.

MY ANDREW WIGGINS PLAYER BIO AND SCOUTING REPORT

Posted: Jun 8, 2014 by . Filed under Blog Posts, Feature Articles | 27 Comments

Andrew Wiggins

Small Forward – 6′-8″ – 200lbs – Age – 19 – Kansas – FR.

Reach – 8’11 – Wingspan – 7’0 –  Max Vertical Jump – 44 inches

Season Averages: 17.1PPG – 6.0RPG – 1.5APG -44.8%FG-34.1%(3FG)-77.5%FT

Draft Projection – Top 3 – could go number #1

AP FORT HAYS ST KANSAS BASKETBALL S BKC T25 KS

(photo courtesy StandingOSports.com)

Strengths

An athletic freak! His dad played in the NBA and his mom won medals in track in the Olympics for Canada, so his DNA is scary good. When you combine his 6’8 frame, 7-foot wing span and a 44 inch vertical jump, it’s crazy what he can do athletically on the court. His coach at Kansas Bill Self said he has the quickest second jump he’s ever seen, meaning he has the ability to bounce up and down like a pogo stick on the offensive boards and beat guys to the rebound for easy put backs.

 

His transition game is outstanding. He quickly fills the lanes on a fast break, getting from one end of the floor to the other and throws down vicious dunks or can pull up for a soft jumper.

 

 
He already knows how to play defense and wants to. How many college kids can you say that about? He uses that great athletic ability on the defensive end to guard 2’s, 3’s and some 4’s. So he’s ready to contribute right away on the defensive side of the ball.

 

 
Shoots it well from the free throw line and his jump shot is good, not a great. His pull up “J’ is solid, as is his intermediate jumper and he has decent range.

 

 
Penetrates well, has a very quick first step and the alley-oop out of bounds play is tailor made for him.

 

 
High character kid and a student of the game.

 

Weaknesses

Must get stronger and add a few pounds to his frame.

 

 
His jump shot and his overall offensive game needs to be more consistent.

 

 
He can get lost in the shuffle out on the court at times because he needs to be more aggressive. Some teams are concerned that he’s too passive,that he doesn’t have that killer instinct or alpha dog mentality.

 

 

He needs to work on his ball handling which will allow him to attack the rim more in the half court set and make him a better passer. Going left off the dribble is a definite weakness.

 

 

With his athletic ability he should finish better around the rim. But that should come when he gets stronger.

 

 

Has good form on his jumper, but it needs to be more consistent, especially from beyond the arc.

 

 

Roda Thoughts:

Reminds me of a taller version of one of the best two-way players I’ve ever seen in the NBA, Sidney Moncrief. Others comparisons are to Tracy McGrady, Rudy Gay or Vince Carter.

 

 
It looked like he was figuring things out at the end of the season for Kansas as he stepped his game up when Joel Embiid went down with a back injury as he had games of 41p-8r vs West Virginia, 30p-8r vs Oklahoma St., 22p-7r vs Iowa St. and 19p-4r versus Eastern Kentucky in the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament.

 

 

But his final game at Kansas was a clunker. In the 3rd round of the NCAA tournament against Stanford he was held to just 4p-4r on 1 of 6 shooting from the field in a 60-57 loss to Stanford. That left some people wondering how could he disappear in the biggest game of the season? But he also showed his true character after the defeat saying, “I let a lot of people down. If I would have played better, we wouldn’t be in this situation, you know? I blame myself for this.”

 

 

He will need to become more consistent, aggressive and attack more on offense if he wants to reach that superstar level. But he has arguably the most upside/potential of anyone in this draft because of his athleticism, ability to play three positions, he already plays defense, is a hard worker, with a high basketball IQ and on top of all that is a good kid who will take well to coaching.

 

 

Wiggins is my favorite player in this draft and whichever team selects him is getting a future all-star and potentially a future superstar.

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