Breaking Down Cal Match-Ups: Defense

In the second part of this week's head-to-head look at the Oregon-Cal game, Duck Sports Authority takes a look at the two defenses as we head towards a Thursday night match up at Autzen Stadium.

DEFENSIVE TACKLES: 



Cal: Cal runs a base 3-4 defense. The depth chart lists 6'2" 285 pound Kendrick Payne as the starter. Payne was primarily a backup last season to graduated senior Derrick Hill. Payne has been effective at clogging the middle of the line and has accounted for 6 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss and 1 sack. Backing up Payne are Aaron Tipoti and massive Viliama Moala, a 350-pound true freshman.

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Oregon-Cal Mathups: The Offense

Late last week, we decided to release the Match-Up articles through Duck Sports Authority. Read the excerpt below and follow the link for the full article. It is free content!

This week Oregon faces California in the friendly confines of Autzen Stadium. The teams bring identical 3-1 records into this game with Cal's loss coming on the road at Washington while Oregon's lone loss of the season came in the opener at Cowboy Stadium to the #1 ranked LSU Tigers. Today Duck Sports Authority takes a look at the offensive match-ups for the game.

(excerpt)

Growing as Fans

As we approach Cal this week, the most important topic I think we can discuss is sportsmanship.

Look, I cannot go and talk to the California Golden Bears, their coaches and any other personnel responsible for the fake cramping that became so prevalent in our game against them last year. I have met Tedford, talked X's an O's with him, but I sincerely doubt he would remember that, nor do I think he would take my call.

And, while I can most likely out bench press every player on the Cal team, that certainly does not mean I can force them into changing their methods for this game. I simply do not have any sway whatsoever in their choices. Honestly, I really only have the choice in my personal actions. Nonetheless, I wish to at least put this out there.

DSA Tailgate-Cal Edition

Greetings from your social director... it seems like it has been a while since our last home game, but, the festivities begin as usual 4 hours prior to game time

We will be in the Serbu Youth Center Directly across Centennial Blvd (MLK) from Autzen. We will have the flag up and the Banner attached... but we are also in spaces 222 & 223.

Let me give some easy to find directions to our spot.

Sunday Wrap Up

Though the Ducks did not play this weekend as they began preparation for Cal on Thursday night, let's wrap up the rest of the Pac-12.

Oregon Coach Mourns

Offensive Coordinator Mark Helfrich spent Friday in Coos Bay mourning the loss of his father Mike. On the evening of the Arizona game, Mike, in Tuscon for the game, passed away in his hotel room just prior to the start of the game. Helfrich learned of his father's passing after the lopsided victory.

We would like to send all of our thoughts and prayers to the Helfrich family. Mike was a legend in Coos Bay and will be sorely missed.

What is it Like to Be a Duck Fan?

PHILOSOPHY AND BEING A DUCK FAN

A classic piece of writing from philosophy is titled "What Is It Like to be a Bat?" The article, originally inspired by Timothy L.S. Sprigge, was written in 1974 by Thomas Nagel. I am going to dissect it, some and change it to "What Is It Like To Be A Duck Fan?" Just a fun experiment I decided to undertake after perusing other fan sites and noticing just how we are perceived outside of Autzen.

Let's start with the 7th paragraph. The first six discuss the concepts of consciousness and terminology. The seventh begins the meat of the philosophical inquiry into the consciousness of bats.