No one knew how Chip Kelly’s Eagles would respond after an embarrassing 48-30 loss against 3-9 Minnesota. The answer, it turns out, came in the form of stomping the living crap out of the Chicago Bears – a much better team – on national TV. With a minute and a half left in the first period, Philadelphia had 21 points and 149 yards of …
Five Big “Ducking” Deals of 2013
With 2013 quickly coming to a close and only one major event remaining on the calendar, (Men’s basketball vs Morgan State doesn’t really count) it’s time to take a look back at some of the greatest impact moments for the Oregon Ducks in 2013. The Ducks Win Another BCS Bowl Game Oregon hammered Big 12 champion Kansas State Wildcats, 35-17, to secure a Tostitos Fiesta …
Chip Kelly Update: Matt Cassell Shoots Down Eagles
The Minnesota Vikings were desperate Sunday in the MetroDome. Not only was star running back Adrian Peterson (last year’s NFL rushing leader) out injured, so was his more-than-capable backup Toby Gerhart. Desperate people are dangerous though, and as Tommy Lawlor said, the Vikings were backed into a corner and came out swinging. Swinging in this case meant throwing the ball. …
Chip Kelly Update: Boom!!
from Video I heard a great story on the radio about a guy teaching himself to make really good pizza. He knew a special, extra hot oven is needed to make a good crust, hotter than the 500 degrees or so a conventional oven will give you – but he didn’t have the $5,000 to $20,000 that a real pizza oven …
What Now Oregon?
Kevin Cline It would appear that after four straight years of BCS appearances, the University of Oregon football team will be left on the outside looking in. Most likely the team will be headed to the Alamo Bowl, something that most pundits and fans would not have predicted before the season began. Yet here they are. There is nothing wrong …
Chip Kelly Update: A Defensive Mastermind
from Video Chip Kelly seems to spend half his life fighting shallow stereotypes about his teams. He’s a passing demon! No, wait — he’s obsessed with running. Well, he demands running quarterbacks, right? In any case, he has a huge book of tricky plays. Or is it a small book of flexible plays? They all come fast . . . …
Is Helfrich Establishing a New Identity for the Ducks?
Kevin Cline Is Mark Helfrich’s team taking on a new identity? Did anyone see that ending coming? What about Oregon’s other senior receiver? Following the closest Civil War in more than 30 years that was part of the craziest weekend in college football in recent memory, some thoughts: Mark Helfrich is Beginning to Establish His Own Identity as Head Coach Remember …
An Emotional Civil War Victory Marks the Beginning of an Era
Kevin Cline In five years, the previous decade of Oregon football may end up being remembered as two separate eras: before and after the Arizona game of 2013. Some would say that opening sentence is nonsense, arguing that the latter era began once Mark Helfrich became the head coach. I would respond by suggesting that for the first time this year, the …
Chip Kelly Update: The Final Push
Mark Saltveit Now it gets serious. The big push toward the playoffs is on. The Eagles survived a very tough schedule, with three games in the first 11 days, two of the best teams — Denver and Kansas City — in their first four games and the latest bye week in the NFL. Now they are rested and healthy again …
Chip Kelly Update: Leading the division, taking a week off
from Video The Philadelphia Eagles are now in first place in the NFC East, on track to make the playoffs just a year after finishing last and losing 11 of their final 12 games. They have their bye this week, well timed to heal up some injuries and refocus for the final push. It won’t be easy. In December they …
Chip Kelly Update: Maybe He Is a Genius After All
from Video The Eagles consolidated their recent gains by knocking off division-leading Green Bay, 27-13. It was a solid win (and their first against a team with a winning record). Nick Foles did not have another Hall-of-Fame-type of game. He started with some tentative play that brought back grim memories of his terrible showing against Dallas, but he steadied himself in …
Chip Kelly Update: Rock Bottom & Rock Bottomer
from Video Four weeks ago, I thought the Eagles had hit rock bottom with their 52-20 loss to Denver. If only . . . Part of that was the schedule. They had just lost to the dominant Broncos, the (still undefeated) Chiefs and the surprising Chargers. Ahead was a parade of cream puffs: the Giants, Tampa Bay, Dallas (less so), …