David Marsh

Sounds like the staff likes the guys they have. I don't feel I understand how linebackers are supposed to work in Lanning's system but they seem to need to be able to do everything. Which requires an athletic freak which is difficult to get. I kinda feel they may need to rework what linebackers are supposed to do and maybe even simplify the role. But I say this feeling inadequate to really answer. But I also feel most people don't exactly know what linebackers are supposed to do in Lanning's defense.

I don't think there will be much change at all... I think there is a greater chance at refinement. But I do think there needs to be some change to get over that last hurtle.

The stars aligned for sure... He got lucky he didn't lose any critical players he didn't have a backup for. And it helps to have senior laidin team that isn't suspectable to transfer portal because they're out of eligibility. That and his coordinators aren't going anywhere. Oregon got burned back by the portal killing depth, bad timing on injuries, and coaches focus was divided. Too many things to go wrong... Not going to say we would have won if everything was perfect but all those together just broke the program.

I think some of that comes with experience. Remember we had / have a quarterback who has started less than 20 games! He's grown but we all know how many open receivers he missed and just didn't even see. Get Moore seeing the field better and that will help finish some of those drives. Seeing the field requires two things.. good offensive line protection and experience. Then on the runningback side of things we are returning TWO incredible runningbacks who were freshman! Seriously... Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill were amazing runningbacks this year and they were freshman. Just wait to see what they can do in year two when they have continued to grow into their bodies and have a deeper knowledge of the game. Not having Davison and Whittington in that last game really did hurt our chances because if he carried the ball I think he would have sustained a few of those drives. Harris was just too big of a step down. I'm by no means saying we win if we have both... but I think the game looks very different. Also Davison is a BEAST pass protector.

McClellan has been pretty clutch in coverage as well. Some incredible catches. I kinda felt like he didn't get enough targets in the last two games in particular. I feel like in the off-season Dante Moore is going to have to really work with his receivers to build some extra chemistry. It felt like he had good chemistry with Dakorian Moore in the early season but had to build some chemistry with Benson and McClellen in the second half of the season. There needs to be more trust between Moore and his receivers to take some educated risks. Many of his picks came when he fixated on a particular receiver.

Another interesting piece I'm seeing these days is the Jordan Seaton transfer portal recruitment. The Ducks sound like they are in it, for whatever that's worth and the number going around for his services is 3mil-ish. That's as much as our two newly promoted coordinators combined (more or less) for one player. In the past I think Dan would have given this a pass but I wouldn't be surprised to find out that the NIL budget might have been given a bit of extra juice after the last loss.

Hard to say.... Matayo was definitely not as good this year that last year in terms of the stat sheet. The backend of our defense felt pretty good for the most part... But was picked apart when QBs had time.

In my article tomorrow I look a bit more broadly on the changes coming to the program. But to make it short... The first string all stayed and the second string would have the same role they have this year next year. And there probably aren't the NIL resources to pay everyone and the starters just got a whole lot more expensive. Probably the most expensive players in terms of NIL are 4th year starters because they could have gone to the draft but aren't and will need to be compensated for staying.

Definitely a depth piece. Johnson is returning and will be a beast. Olesh from PSU has lots of potential but will need to learn the system. Plenty of time for that for sure. Kendre Harrison is massive at 6'7" but will need to put on some eight for sure as an incoming freshman. With only three tight ends the room was going to be thin. But adding another will definitely create some depth. I'm surprised that Vander Ploog and Roger Saleapaga both opted for the portal when Sadiq was moving on and Johnson was the only returning starter and Harrison was the incoming frosh. Lots of space for them to carve out roles for themselves with expirenced in the Lanning system.

But was he already getting pushed out by Wyatt? Purchase redshirted last year and Wyatt haa entered the rotation as a change of pace edge rusher. I would rather have Purchase on the roster but with both ends returning and Wyatt and maybe even Rushing pushing him from below how safe was his position on the two deep?

Crazy thing is that many players are being paid more than the coaches these days. I saw the salleries of these two the other day and both are making less than 2mil. A lot of big name players are making double that or even triple that if some reports can be trusted. I mean that freshman tight end at USC is supposed to be making 2 mil a year and he hasn't even played a down of college football yet.

I had students raking a test earlier this week... So I sat there checking any transfer portal news constantly. But otherwise I am moving into off season mode. I won't watch any of the championship game. With a 3 and 1 year old at home the ONLY games I get to carve out watching time are Duck games. I frankly don't care too much about who wins the national championship. I won't be happy with either winning but it is what it is. It's kinda funny for me because I football season but I generally hate the begining of the school year because as a teacher it is pretty boring with a lot of paperwork and not that much fun because you don't know any of the kids yet. So oddly enough right now my classes are more fun to teach but moving away from football season itself. I have other stuff to focus on at this point. I guess I'm ready for a bit of down time.

Absolutely this... that stint as an OC was in 2016!!! That was 10 years ago. He's developed and changed as a coach or frankly he wouldn't be a Oregon. I trust Lanning and I look forward to seeing some minor changes. I want to see more deep passing routes on offense for starters. Let lose some of these speed demons we have. Probably need some offensive line improvements as well but I think he'll get them.

Or my favorite... the Clorox Bowl Come on this needs to be a bowl game!!!

It could also be fun that if teams lose in the playoff they have a losers bracket! The losers of each round of the main playoff get seeded into the following rounds of the losers bracket. That wouldn't happen at all but it could be amusing for sure.