Duck Stuff: Morning Mud

Morning Mud

• Rob Moseley notes that while we picked up votes in the AP and coaches poll we are still at #2 in the BCS. Rob has done a good job in figuring out the remaining schedules of the unbeaten teams and concludes that we have nothing to worry about as long as we keep winning when it comes to finishing in the top two in the BCS. And really, that's all that matters.

• Ted Miller has his weekly, "What we learned in the Pac-10" article posted.

Oregon can handled the pressure of No. 1 (so far): After earning a No. 1 ranking in the major polls for the first time in program history, Oregon bombed UCLA 60-13 on Thursday. It was a performance that indicated the Ducks aren't going to be bothered by the national championship chase hype. Of course, a visit to USC on Saturday is a bigger test.

• John Hunt wonders if Darron Thomas should be mentioned in the Heisman race?

• Lindsay Schnell takes a look at how current high-schoolers and future Ducks did in their games this last weekend in her Friday Night Lights series.

• Rob Moseley, Jason Vondersmith and John Hunt take a look at what faces Oregon as they prepare to play USC next Saturday. Here is a sample from John's story.

The most important difference in USC's offense, from the Ducks' perspective, is that super-talented quarterback Matt Barkley appears to have been unleashed.

"The ball is more in Barkley's hands now than before,'' Kelly said. "He's talented. He's thrown the most touchdowns in this league, sixth in the country in pass efficiency, he's doing a really, really nice job. ...
They're a handful again offensively.''

GO DUCKS!