| 09 September 2010
How do you stop a team that runs up 72 points and 720 yards of offense in its first game of the season?
You don't. But you hope to slow that offense down, and unranked Tennessee has some help from former Boise State defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox, whose Broncos beat the Oregon Ducks one year ago, 19-8, in the game made famous by the LeGarrette Blount sucker punch and ensuing fiasco. Wilcox is 3-0 as a coordinator against the Ducks, and the Volunteers are coming off a 50-0 win against Tennessee-Martin. The Vols will have their hands full, though, with LaMichael James returning from his one-game suspension and looking to reestablish himself as one of the top backs in the nation.
The OSU Beavers have the week off and are preparing to face Louisville in Corvallis on Sept. 18. OSU coach Mike Riley has instituted a new video policy for media at Beavers practices, and it raises an interesting question: what, exactly, was leaked to TCU, and how did it cost OSU in its trip to Texas?
For a little insight about what the Beavers have been doing with their bye week, catch OSU defensive back James Dockery, and other Beavers, on the Jim Rome show on Friday, 1:30 PST, on ESPN. Rumor is that Dockery might have a future in television.
The FIBA World Championships continue to provide exciting basketball in September, but the Blazers participating in the tournament are out of championship contention now. Ben Golliver at BlazersEdge provides a summary of Rudy Fernandez's, Nic Batum's, and Patty Mills's performances, and Blazers fans might be surprised at the player with the best numbers: Rudy. If nothing else, Rudy's performance should ensure continued trade interest around the NBA.
Blazers fans have only 18 days remaining until training camp begins in Tualitin, and questions about the rotation will only increase as camp progresses. Will Greg Oden be ready? Can Jeff Pendergraph be the backup power forward the team needs him to be? How will minutes be divided between Wesley Matthews and Jerryd Bayless? Is Elliot Williams the point guard of the future? Will Rudy Fernandez or Patty Mills even be present?
New Blazers General Manager Rich Cho has his work cut out for him, but he also has a roster loaded with talent.
NBA brains are loving Greg Oden right now. Kevin Pelton of Basketball Prospectus just one-upped John Hollinger as Oden's Number 1 Hype Man going into the new NBA season. The quick and dirty summary: Oden's more valuable than even Brandon Roy, when he's on the court. Let's keep the words "Oden" and "bust" appropriately miles apart from this point forward, and continue hoping for the best in terms of his health.
The NFL season kicks off tonight with the Minnesota Vikings taking on the Saints in New Orleans. Former OSU quarterback Sean Canfield was cut by the Saints in late August after being drafted in the 7th round this year, but look for him to land on a team in the CFL, Arena League, or UFL in the near future.
It's week 2 of high school football in Oregon. Let's hope the sprinklers don't clear the fields again this week.
photo: daylife
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