118 Comments
Apr 23, 2023Liked by John Canzano

I am so d-mn excited for OSU football this fall and can hardly contain myself. I know the doubters / Duck fans, like to say that OSU is doing well for a 2nd tier school, unlike themselves who are Tier One. This back-handed praise is a staple of the school to the south (USC considers itself above both Oregon schools and not in the same conversation). But from where I sit, OSU has the best D in the conference, except maybe Utah, the best QB room in the conference (does Washington, Utah or Oregon have this depth?), the best RB room in the conference and an adequate WR room. OSU is at the top of the league at this point, for the first time ever, or at least since 1962. Anything less than 10 wins would be a major disappointment. I am not ready to call the FBS Playoffs, but there is a decent chance for that.

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Apr 23, 2023Liked by John Canzano

DJ started a bit amped but settled in. —An agile tank with an arm.

Ben is showing confidence, consistency and steady improvement.

Aiden is so smooth. He doesn’t get bothered and flows as he runs.

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Apr 23, 2023Liked by John Canzano

I'm ready for the season. Yeah my first thought is "the kid" needs to put on some pounds. He's not ready to run the gauntlet of a full season physically or with a limited playbook but the sky seems to be the limit next year. He can keep the heat on the two other QBs though to be as sharp as possible.

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Apr 23, 2023Liked by John Canzano

After watching yesterday my opinion:

DJ to start. He looked confident in and out of the pocket, more than any of the three. His forcing plays was an issue at Clemson, hopefully the coaches can turn that around.

Ben second string,he was made as the perfect second string qb. Consistent. Can read defenses. Can protect the ball, and kill the clock.

Aiden redshirt year. He is awesome, but he needs more weight. At his size he could get injured... Not worth the risk unless DJ is the second coming of Noyer, then replace Dj with Aiden... Ben as permanent second string

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We have a really good problem!

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No back-handed praise or second-tier references coming OSU's way from this Duck fan. They have my attention and deep respect. Anyone who feels otherwise hasn't been paying attention - IMO.

ALSO: prayers for AD Scott Barnes.

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Oregon St was the most complete team SC faced last year. Refs and a busted hamstring cost them Utah but Oregon st was a QB away from winning that game. Best head coach in the PNW. Won two of the last civil war games and defending champ hard to say they aren’t the best football program in the state. They have an identity and culture. I will not be the least surprised to see SC facing them in the CCG this year and will be a battle

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Apr 23, 2023Liked by John Canzano

I hope Aiden and his family are patient and grounded as you point out, John, especially in these lovely times of transfers. He is 17, inexperienced and needs to add weight/bulk. With two other experienced qbs it just seems risky to put Aiden on the field unless they have to. That said, DJ needs to step up so he is ready to go. No one is going to care about Aiden’s age if DJ can’t get ready to win. Not after what they just saw in the spring game.

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Apr 23, 2023Liked by John Canzano

thanks for some of the backstory. Chiles running the ball was very exciting for sure, but opens him up to injury. How many times do you see Tom Brady take off with the ball or any quarterback who desires a long career? We saw Bo Nix get hurt and he would run the ball a lot and I said to myself early in the year that it was risky business.

Loved Jonathan Smith's response to your query about starting the most talented player. It was a professional dodge of a tough question.

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Apr 23, 2023Liked by John Canzano

I always appreciate your coverage of Oregon State Football! It wasn’t that long ago there was no hope in the program, so it feels good to be relevant & in the discussion.

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Apr 23, 2023Liked by John Canzano

The real question is, if Chiles is the real deal, if the Beavs will be able to fend off the vultures when they start playing the NIL siren song. We saw how a school like Oklahoma, with world-class assets up and down the board, couldn't keep Caleb Williams. How long do you think it'll be before guys like Riley or their lackeys start paying visits to Corvallis? Stay tuned and bring popcorn.

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John. Wow oh Wow !... Aiden is going to be a Heisman Candidate in the very near future . The kid is incredibly gifted , but now at 17 Coach Jonathan has to protect him from getting hurt too early . He needs another 30 lbs on his frame for sure ! DJ has to R E L A X , take in his new team mates and enjoy life more . He seems too serious , too tentative now, and a little perplexed over this pro- Style scheme that Smith/ Lindgren run !....much different then Clemsons spread QB option play. Nite and day difference !

DJ will get better with GAME time !

Bring on the Dawgs ... bring on the duX , the Beavers ain’t afraid of either - “Whoop Ass time”,

come November for duckies and dawgs ! Fight ON , Beavs !!

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Apr 23, 2023Liked by John Canzano

This sounds a bit like the Marcus Mariota Oregon situation when he showed up in 2011. Darron Thomas was coming off leading the Ducks to the national championship game in 2010, but by all accounts it was pretty clear to everybody in practice Mariota was the best playmaker they had. They redshirted him, and then Thomas left early after 2011 and declared for the draft. It was interesting because everybody knew he would not get drafted. Felt like he knew what was going to happen in 2012.

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Apr 23, 2023Liked by John Canzano

Okay, the view from Seattle: this will be another season where the Pac-?? is a conference that eats its own. There are probably 7 or 8 teams that could win the conference but everyone is likely to have 2 or 3 losses. Some of these match-ups will be major shoot-outs, and not because the defenses are not solid. And of course, given that, the teams will be stuck somewhere in the second-ten in the polls. Then in bowl games they will crush teams from everywhere else. Wash, rinse. repeat.

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A wealth of talent produced by a couple of seasons of success. Major props to Coach Smith and his crew. OSU has upped its game in a major way.

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Apr 23, 2023Liked by John Canzano

There's an old coaching axiom that says the best thing about freshmen are that they become sophomores. Ducks fans remember hot spring game performances from Chris Harper, Ty Griffin, and more, but with a full playbook to learn and implement, and against defenses designed to take away their tendencies, they wilted. DJ will start. In the age of easy portal entry Aiden will be a question mark.

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