Oregon Primer

§  I am dreading this game not just because we are going to get blown out, but because those damn quacker kazoos the Duck fans blow on incessantly are way worse than vuvuzuelas.

§  I am surprised and disappointed that there were still a couple thousand tickets available as of Wednesday.

§  Maybe we won’t be the only team missing some key players to injury this week, although Chip Kelly is like Bill Snyder when it comes to injuries.  Heisman candidate RB LaMichael James’ disclocated elbow is healing and he will make the trip but it is unclear if he will play.  He said he could play “if they need me,” or if they decide they want to take advantage of our weakened defense to pad his stats for Heisman consideration.

§   Versatile and dynamic QB Darron Thomas is questionable with his knees, but he expects to play.  I think he will play at least some, although backup frosh Bryan Bennett played great in his place vs. ASU.

§  We’ll see who is available this week for the Buffs from injury. We know that they are in double digits for guys who are “out” for the Oregon game: Speedy (2-4 weeks), P-Rich (Embree said “probably not” but hopefully back for 10/29 @ ASU or USC 11/4)), Lockridge (always quick to injure, slow to recover), Cefalo (knee this time 1-2 weeks), Rippy (ACL-season), Poremba (concussion-season), OG Blake Behrens (shoulder/season-I think he can redshirt and give some depth next year), Bell (knee/pre-season), S. Harrington (preseason hip), Shawn Daniels (not quite ready), Jack Harris (could possibly play in November), Daniel Munyer (close but still not quite ready either), Sandersfeld (running and could actually play as soon as this week) .   Not sure about frosh S Wil Harlos?

§  There are numerous other members of the defense who are playing through injuries.  It is no coincidence that Tyler Ahles moved back to the D and the next week they burned Woodson Greer’s redshirt, and that they are rotating a lot at LB.

§  Josh Hartigan should be back in the lineup this week.  Who will the mystery man be who misses the Oregon game? 

§  The LBs are up in the air without Rippy and with some unreported injuries.  One option would be to go with TFr Brady Daigh in Rippy’s place, leaving everyone else in their regular positions.  Another is having Jon Major or Derrick Webb slide over inside, which would mean Patrick Mahnke likely starting, with the true frosh Daigh and Woodson Greer III backing up.  This will likely be a game time announcement so as not to give anything away to Oregon.

§  The Buffs defense is going to have to protect the edges and cover all 53 yards of the width of the field; all while also protecting against the big play down the middle.  This is a game where our lack of speed, especially with the injuries on defense, could really be exposed.  The ends and “Jack”-Uz0-Diribe, Haritgan, Juda Parker, Tyler Ahles, David Goldberg- have a big job ahead of them Saturday.

§The offense is just going to have to do everything it can to keep up.  This means (am I sounding redundant again?) no friggin' mistakes!  Convert on third down and in the red zone.  Try some trick plays and let it loose!

• Malcolm Creer could be the latest to burn his redshirt if the coaches just decide they want a different, bigger option, or if Tony Jones or Josh Ford gets injured.  They would still prefer to redshirt him, but everyone involved is prepared for him to burn it if they deem it necessary.  If Jones and Ford do well and stay healthy, he will remain a spectator.  If one starts to struggle running or blocking, or one gets injured, we’ll probably see him.  They don’t want his first action to be when both have gotten injured and he is forced into emergency action.

§  Why is it that we are about the only team in the Pac-12 that doesn’t use some form of no-huddle/hurry-up/don’t let D substitute in their offense?  CU is the team that could benefit the most by wearing teams down at home with the altitude, but should then be better conditioned than opponents on the road.  At this point we are probably too injured and short on depth.  Maybe next year with Conor Wood?

• Embree did say recently that the remaining four suspended players could actually return this season but that he wouldn’t talk to them for a few weeks still. The infractions were all different for each of them, but that they all had a similar theme, and were due to an accumulation of incidents. “They were doing things that are selfish that aren’t putting the team first, showing that you’re doing things that show you’re not committed to football, that you’re not committed to doing everything you can for the program.” Josh Moten’s were obviously the least serious or first time offense maybe. My main read is most were still likely to do with drugs and Embree had just had enough and decided to make an example of them: it doesn’t matter, team comes first and he won’t take any crap from anyone, even right before a big game. Embree’s going to do it the right way, the Coach Mac way, not the turn your head or slap the wrist Hawk-love way. And an interesting contrast to how Chip Kelly and Oregon handled Cliff Harris’ well publicized indiscretions.

And for just a little more leading up to the game…

• Here’s Stuart’s TIPS: http://www.cuatthegame.com/2011/preview-oregon/ 
• David G’s Key matchups: http://www.ralphiereport.com/2011/10/19/2499755/colorado-buffaloes-oregon-ducks-key-match-ups