Oregon
Oregon Safeties On Lockdown with New Coach Matt Powledge
When Dan Lanning was formally introduced as Oregon’s new head coach on Dec. 11, 2021, he wasted no time assembling an elite and numerous teaching employees.
Junior Adams and Demetrice Martin stolen away from Pac-12 rivals. Tosh Lupoi and Adrian Klemm left NFL organizations to hitch the Geese. And each place coach has expertise galore.
Coach Matt Powledge
But essentially the most underrated addition — and maybe essentially the most helpful — to Lanning’s employees needs to be Co-Defensive Coordinator and Safeties Coach Matt Powledge.
Powledge has been teaching faculty soccer for over a decade now, however his most profitable season got here in his 2021 marketing campaign with Baylor the place he served as safeties and particular groups coordinator.
After the rent, Lanning made positive to make observe of Powledge’s profession accolades: teaching the Huge 12 Defensive Participant of the Yr and the Huge 12 Particular Groups Participant of the Yr, being a giant a part of the “unbelievable turnaround at Louisiana” alongside along with his robust observe document. However Lanning additionally targeted on a extra essential trait that Powledge brings.
“Most of all, Matt is deeply revered within the teaching occupation as a result of he cares in regards to the younger males he coaches and leads them to success,” stated Lanning.
With almost six months underneath his belt with the Geese, his devotion to the gamers and their growth has actually began to shine via. One instance is with Bennett Williams.
Security Bennett Williams
Williams had a stellar begin to his 2021 season. In simply 4 video games, Williams recorded 20 tackles, three interceptions and a landing. Then, what has been described as a “freak accident” struck Williams earlier than taking part in Stanford and he would not play once more till the Alamo Bowl in opposition to Oklahoma.
The Geese misplaced loads of defensive again depth this offseason: Verone McKinley III and Mykael Wright have joined the NFL, whereas DJ James and Jaylin Davies entered the switch portal.
Fortunately for the Geese, Williams is again for extra.
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“Proper after the harm I had it in my thoughts I’m coming again,” Williams stated. “I’m a lot extra grateful this yr, and daily arising right here and never taking issues as a right.”
Security Trikweze Bridges
With 4 interceptions being thrown on the day, the defensive again room had a lot to have a good time within the Spring Sport. With loads of alternatives to go round, it was Trikweze Bridges who stole the present along with his pick-six off Bo Nix.
READ MORE: Oregon Soccer Spring Sport Defensive Gamers of the Sport
Powledge has spoken out in regards to the expertise of his safeties room, and of Bridges specifically.
“That is one of many issues that is actually stood out with our secondary,” stated Powledge. “You bought Bennett, you bought Trikweze, you bought Bryan Addison — these guys, man, they’re lengthy, they will run, they’re athletic, however additionally they have an awesome psychological side that they bring about to the sport.”
Security Bryan Addison
Bryan Addison had a strong day within the Spring Sport as effectively, recording 5 tackles and a move break-up. The transformed large receiver noticed extra taking part in time after accidents plagued Oregon’s protection final season, and he appears to be like to proceed to play a key position for the staff.
Veteran Steve Stephens IV additionally returns after an injury-plagued 2021 season that noticed him blossom into an on a regular basis starter within the defensive backfield.
One other title to look at is JJ Greenfield, who additionally picked off new teammate Nix within the second quarter. For sure, Powledge has loads of weapons at his disposal.
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Oregon
Foothills of the Northern Blue Mountains of Oregon under a high wind watch Monday and Tuesday
The National Weather Service issued a high wind watch at 9:29 p.m. on Sunday valid from Monday 4 p.m. until Tuesday 10 a.m. for Foothills of the Northern Blue Mountains of Oregon.
The weather service states, “Southeast winds 25 to 40 mph with gusts of 45 to 65 mph possible for the base of the northern Blue Mountains of Oregon.”
“Damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines. Widespread power outages are possible. Travel could be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles,” describes the weather service. “Monitor the latest forecasts and warnings for updates.”
Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.
Oregon
Rewalking Oregon’s path to College Football Playoff
No. 1 Oregon will face No. 8 Ohio State in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.
With the rematch officially set, we’re taking a look back at the path the Ducks (13-0) took to reach the CFP as the top seed.
The season began with a clunky 24-14 win over Idaho. The right side of the offensive line was responsible for multiple penalties and three sacks to an FCS opponent that made for an unnecessarily difficult opener, even as Dillon Gabriel threw for 380 yards with two touchdowns to Tez Johnson.
Special teams rescued the Ducks in a 37-34 comeback over Boise State. Ashton Jeanty had 192 yards and three touchdowns to legitimize his Heisman candidacy. An 85-yard punt return touchdown by Johnson and a 100-yard kickoff return by Noah Whittington and recovery in the end zone by Jayden Limar erased a fourth quarter deficit. The offensive line made constant changes while allowing four sacks and committing five penalties in the unit’s most disjointed performance in years.
The early issues up front were gone as Iapani Laloulu took over at center in a 49-14 plastering of Oregon State. Gabriel threw for two touchdowns and ran for one as the offense gained 546 yards with 10 plays of 20-plus. The defense shutdown the Beavers ground game in the second half and UO secured its first win in Corvallis since 2018.
Following its first bye week of the season, Oregon officially opened Big Ten play at UCLA with a 34-13 rout at the Rose Bowl. A 28-3 lead was more than enough for the Ducks to coast and they held the Bruins to just 47 rushing yards.
Jordan James and Jordan Burch took center stage in a 31-10 Friday night drubbing of Michigan State at Autzen Stadium. James had 166 yards and a touchdown and Burch had 2.5 sacks and recovered a fumble. Two red zone interceptions by Gabriel made things briefly more competitive but the Ducks pulled away to setup a clash of undefeated titans.
The Oct. 12 game with Ohio State lived up to the billing as the top game of the season. There were seven lead changes in the 32-31 Ducks win over the Buckeyes, who were driving in the closing seconds and Will Howard slid at the UO 26 with time expiring. A deliberate 12 men on the field penalty by Oregon led to an in-season rules interpretation by the NCAA and provided further evidence of Dan Lanning’s preparation relative to Ryan Day. Even without Burch, who suffered a knee injury two days before the game, the Ducks were able to generate some pressure on Howard.
A Friday night trip to West Lafayette, Ind. will be remembered as Oregon’s first shutout since 2012. Purdue was hapless, throwing for less than 100 yards. Even with Traeshon Holden suspended and Terrance Ferguson out following an appendectomy, the Ducks were vastly better in every facet.
A 38-9 blowout of Illinois was filled with physicality in all phases. The defense had seven tackles for loss with three sacks, two interceptions and eight pass breakups to help build a 35-3 halftime lead.
Ferguson and Burch returned in a 38-17 beat down of Michigan at the Big House. The Ducks also suffered injuries to Johnson and Marcus Harper II but still managed to gain 470 yards and did not allow a sack against one of the best defensive lines in college football.
Gabriel broke the NCAA career touchdown record in a 39-18 win over Maryland. A season-high 12 penalties, particularly a couple of pass interference calls in the end zone, made the game more competitive than it truly was and Burch sprained his ankle.
Another fourth quarter comeback was required to escape Wisconsin with a 16-13 win. Gabriel found Ferguson on fourth and nine to open the fourth quarter and the defense closed it out with back-to-back three-and-outs, a fourth down stop and interception by Matayo Uiagalelei to cap an eighth straight conference win in as many weeks.
The second bye week allowed for Johnson to return for a 49-21 rout of Washington to cap a 12-0 regular season with Dan Lanning’s first win in the rivalry. Burch had 2.5 of Oregon’s 10 sacks and Uiagalelei had two. The Huskies ran for just 43 yards and could not stretch the field vertically.
A battle of top 10 defenses instead was a shootout in the Big Ten championship game, which Oregon won over Penn State 45-37 at Lucas Oil Stadium. Gabriel threw four touchdowns, with three going to tight ends, and the defense had two interceptions to help secure the conference title, No. 1 seed in the CFP and Rose Bowl berth.
CFP quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl
- Who: No. 1 Oregon Ducks (13-0) vs. No. 8 Ohio State (11-2)
- When: Wednesday, Jan. 1
- Time: 2 p.m. PT
- Where: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
- TV channel: ESPN
- Stream: You can watch this game live for FREE with Fubo (free trial) or by signing up for Sling (cheapest streaming plans, $25 off your first month). If you already have cable, you can also watch this game live on Watch ESPN with your cable or satellite provider login information.
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— James Crepea covers the Oregon Ducks and Big Ten. Listen to the Ducks Confidential podcast or subscribe to the Ducks Roundup newsletter.
Oregon
Oregon Ducks vs. Ohio State Betting Odds: Rose Bowl, College Football Playoff
The Oregon Ducks will face the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1. The Buckeyes handled business in the first round of the College Football Playoff and will now face the Ducks in the quarterfinals. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. PT on New Year’s Day.
What do the Vegas oddsmakers say about the upcoming matchup between Oregon and Ohio State?
The Oregon Ducks and Ohio State Buckeyes will play in the Rose Bowl for a trip to the College Football Playoff semifinals. The Buckeyes are coming off a 42-17 dismantling of the Tennessee Volunteers in the first round of the CFP. That performance was enough for Ohio State to now be a slight favorite over the No. 1 ranked Oregon Ducks.
It’s nearly a pick ‘em, but Ohio State is a one-point favorite as of now. The over/under is set at 53.5 points.
The odds makers have loved the Buckeyes all season, and they still do. Not only is Ohio State a slight favorite over Oregon, they also have better odds to win the national championship.
Texas is the overall favorite to win the national championship with odds of +340. Ohio State has the second best odds of +380. Oregon is third with odds of +400.
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MORE: How Oregon Ducks Landed Transfer Portal Star Isaiah World Over Texas A&M Aggies
Oregon and Ohio State treated the country to one of the best games of the 2024 regular season when they played in October. The Ducks outlasted the Buckeyes in a 32-31 thriller at Autzen Stadium in Eugene.
The Ducks were underdogs in that game too, but prevailed and won outright. Now, the two will play against each other in the “Granddaddy of Them All” in the Rose Bowl. The winner will play the winner of the Texas-Arizona State game in the semi-finals.
What are the other games in the quarterfinal slate?
The quarterfinals in the College Football Playoff will kick off when No. 3 Boise State plays No. 6 Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl at 4:30 p.m. PT on Dec. 31.
The New Year will start off with No. 5 Texas and No. 4 Arizona State in the Peach Bowl at 10 a.m. PT on Jan. 1.
Following the Rose Bowl between Oregon and Ohio State to finish off the quarterfinals is No. 2 Georgia and No. 7 Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl at 5:45 p.m. PT on New Year’s Day.
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MORE: San Francisco 49ers To Draft Oregon Ducks Quarterback Dillon Gabriel? Brock Purdy Contract
MORE: Oregon Ducks Fans Color To Wear In Rose Bowl Vs. Ohio State Or Tennessee in Pasadena
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