BigDucksFan

The Ducks don't need more linebackers right now but a defensive lineman like "Big Kat Bryant" and "Daquan Newkirk" could do wonders for us.

The problem is if no one in your conference (that you play) is rated in the top 10 or so then you can't go to the playoff committee and say "look I've beat a good team". Then, as what happened to USF, who went undefeated, yet still gets left out of the playoffs due to strength of schedule issues.

Yep, the Pac needs several to be contenders to show strength of schedule. Playing Portland, UNLV and then no one in the top 15 does little to give the playoff committee confidence in your ability.

Yes, we are a weak conference. I don't have the stats but I would suspect the Pac's bowl wins are not up to the other conferences. Also I don't think the Pac produces the same amount of NFL players as other conferences, again just a feeling.

Well said.

With all the holes the Ducks have been having with it's program over the years it's hard to think of anything other then being consistent and establishing almost anything. 2019 The mental breakdown and loss to Arizona State 2020 The down slope at QB and subsaquent loss to Oregon State, Cal and of course the bowl. 2021 The QB hole, the lack of a go-to receiver, starting over with defense. But we always have good recruiting classes.

We've got to get to the stat that really counts - - - - number of National Title wins.

The bottom line - - Woman's BB is running on "Hot" but not hot enough to beat UCLA or Stanford. - - - - - (yet)

I'm not sure college football would always have enough teams to fill all the bowl games if they didn't take some 6-6 teams sometimes.

Starting young with a good work ethic makes a big difference at this level, and it really shows in Taylor Mikesell.

I think what you are talking about requires "chemistry" between the QB and the No.1 Receiver. Also, depending on who the QB is, that No.1 Receiver may be different. The Ducks No.1 QB is up in the air right now, so who the No.1 Receiver is, is also unknown. After the Spring game we should know much more about the chemistry of the QB's and Receivers. Is it Spring time yet ??

The question is: When OC's do that, do the HC's really understand and get it ??"

Should be a even matchup which makes for a great game.

What the expansion will do is make it available to more schools to be able to tell recruits "if you come to our school you could be in the playoffs and possible win a national title". And should help to spread out the top players to more schools then just Alabama, Clemson or Ohio State.

Good question. I don't know the answer but maybe the Pac is a conference that just looks good but can't perform when the time comes. Like the Ducks did in this last bowl game.

I like your thoughts here.

So true here. For the DL to line up like that is just wrong. It's saying "I can't react fast enough so I need to back up to give me more time to react". And thus giving up 2 yards before the play even starts.

You provide us with an interesting topic to ponder here David, thanks for bringing it to us. If we want to get to where we want to be we have to have the defense that will work against those that are there now. In other words if you want to play with the top dogs you have to be like the top dogs. "When in Rome do like the Romans" If we want to win a National Title we should get a DC that knows how the winners play defense. If the we want to win a National Title, we will have to beat not only the lightweights of the Pac-12 but also the heavyweights that now own the National Title game.

Even though USC is projected to rank higher then the Ducks, a three-peat will depend on our defense which is kind of up in the air right now and of course our QB which is also up in the air right now.

# 9 USC Trojans # 13 Oregon Ducks # 14 Washington Huskies Oregon Ducks 2020 record: 4-3 (3-2 Pac-12) Projected returning starters: seven offense, seven defense, two special teams Projected losses: TE Hunter Kampmoyer, NG Jordon Scott, DT Austin Faoliu, CB Deommodore Lenoir, WR Jaylon Redd, WR Johnny Johnson III, OT George Moore, S Nick Pickett* Key additions: WR Isaiah Brevard, QB Ty Thompson, WR Troy Franklin, WR Dont'e Thornton Outlook: It's difficult to put much of a grade on Oregon's performance in 2020 because it played only seven games and was missing a handful of its best players after they opted out before the season, including star tackle Penei Sewell, safety Jevon Holland, linebacker Brady Breeze and cornerback Thomas Graham Jr. The Ducks won a Pac-12 title without winning their division and lost to Iowa State in the Fiesta Bowl. Overall, Oregon fans probably anticipated a little more in coach Mario Cristobal's third season. First and foremost, the Ducks must decide on a starting quarterback this spring. Tyler Shough, Justin Herbert's former understudy, completed 63.5% of his passes for 1,559 yards with 13 touchdowns and six picks. Boston College graduate transfer Anthony Brown took a lot of snaps in the Pac-12 championship game and the bowl game. It's unclear whether Brown will return for another season. The Oregon defense has three budding stars in Kayvon Thibodeaux, Mase Funa and Mykael Wright, and more help is on the way in linebacker Justin Flowe and cornerback Dontae Manning, who played sparingly because of injuries. Defensive coordinator Andy Avalos took the head-coaching job at Boise State, his alma mater.

Where they land in the NFL Draft, does matter not only to the players but also to the upcoming recruits. For some it helps them make there decision as to what school they will play at. Having first round draft picks helps as well as the total number of picks. Oregon is looking good in both respects.

All those wins and still not a national title.

Yes, and isn't it great to see ?? It certainly is about time.

And he still is.

This is actually good as it means when the Ducks get into March Madness they can play without some of their best players.