David Marsh

That article was pretty funny... I think the big difference right now (I know there are a lot of differences) in the defensive coordinator search between Oregon fans and Washington fans is just how relaxed we are as duck fans about all of this. As Oregon fans we knew Avalos would only be around for 2 to 3 years with two being on the short side. The BSU job opening up sped things up a bit but it wasn't a shocker. We all know that Cristobal is going to take his sweet time on this hire but whoever is hired will be well vetted. So there is more intense curiosity on our part. When Avalos left, there was a level of genuine excitement in the Oregon fan base... Not because Avalos was bad, but because of the possibilities. Now... Looking at the Washington fan base, it is just out right terror. Lake's hire of Donovan for the offensive coordinator was head scratching considering the names out there and the Washington defense was pretty pathetic this last year. Now the treasured Washington defense is on the line here. The real question for Washington fans is how much of Lake's ego will get in the way of his hire? Does he fashion himself the defensive coordinator or does he want to hire one to work with him?

Jeremiah Masoli ... In the last year of Mike Bellotti.

Jimmy gets to really prove his defensive chops now and show off how good of a head coach he is when he has to make some more hires. I would like to point out that there has been NO interest in that Offensive Coordinator of theirs. You know... the one who was fired and replaced by Moorhead at Penn St.

Now how much of a punishment does Tenn get? I've also heard some rumblings out of Georgia of some recruiting improprieties there ... though improprieties can be anything from McDonald's bags of cash to giving someone's dad a toothbrush. Worth paying attention too... LSU self reported as was good enough to not play in a bowl game this year... that will probably be enough to satisfy the NCAA. But if it's a Pac-12 team that team gets the book thrown at them...

A polished product that is exceeding many of those five-star recruits out of high school.

Definitely felt that way on the whole... there were times where I would say different groups were doing better than others. I mean the offensive line looked great until the last few games. Quarterback even looked good until the last few games. On the flip side... the defensive line and the linebackers looked pretty bad until the last few games... and same goes for the secondary. On the whole NO position group looked good for the entire year and all left a sour taste in our collective mouths. I actually think the runningbacks were the most consistent group ... but that doesn't mean I think they were good because I don't think they were. They just seemed to underachieve at a consistent pace for the most part.

The SEC and the self-fulfilling prophecy. They are all ranked and thus they prove how good they are by bearing ranked teams. I do agree that the committee and media have really propped them up and created a monster.

I think this year we had a chance to see the SEC for what it really is... A bunch of cupcake lovers with a few good teams and one superpower. Don't forget LSU was so generous this year to self report some recruiting infractions and self "disciplined" by sitting out of a bowl game this year. Something stinks in the SEC and it will take some time for us to figure out just how bad it all is.

I'm thinking Butterfield or Thompson. Though I really do believe the winner of the position will be determined by throwing ability over running ability. The priority with the quarterback needs to be making all the throws and not turn the ball over. Shough missed a lot of routes over the middle and those are must hit routes. Being able to run would be nice ... But a prostyle quarterback can still run the ball as Clemson's Lawrence has run the ball pretty effectively though he doesn't have anywhere near the speed of some of the typical prototypical duel threat quarterbacks. Being able to throw the ball is going to be the key to the offense.

Honestly... Best position group... Receivers and tight ends. Solid blocking and they performed well when the ball was thrown their way. Worst position group... Safeties for most of the season. So much room to easily throw the ball. 3rd and long was dreadful as teams regularly converted in those situations.

I remember MC saying at after the early signing day they were in position to pick up the best players they could.

He seems to have been really hot early on but interest from multiple teams seems to have slowed or dried up. The Louisiana DC is interesting... he would be one of those up-and-coming guys in the mold of an Avalos which could be good... though are they a good enough recruiter? They might be I simply don't know. Recruiting to Oregon isn't as easy as Cristobal makes it look so ensuring a strong recruiter is critical to Oregon's continued recruiting strength.

I wouldn't say Cardwell is a must win recruit ... But he is up there. We desperately need a big and FAST runningback. Cristobal wants to run the ball up gut... Which is fine lots of the major teams do this and do it well... But for this to work Oregon needs a bigger and faster back than what we have.... Verdell is too small, Dye and Dollars are change of pace or attack the edges backs... And Habibi-Likkio is just too slow.

Get the right DC and it could be a possibility... Need a scheme that puts KT in one on one situations all game long with a secondary that locks it down so the qb has to hold the ball longer. Biggest problem with defensive players are their lack of tangible stats. Yes, tackles, sacks and forced turnovers are all well and good ... But how do you quantify the sheer havoc KT can cause. Yes, I am aware there is something called a havoc score out there but so much of what goes into that is subjective. Though... I'm all for a defensive player being included in the Heisman conversation.

Gotta expand that recruiting footprint. One of the biggest reasons why hiring from the outside is highly beneficial.

I'm liking Schumann right now... Need a defense that stops opposing offenses in their tracks. If the offense gets rolling under Moorhead with a strong defense we will be going to the playoff sooner rather than later.

Here is a grey uniform from a game Oregon WON but in a season Oregon were supreme losers! These were also some of the WORST uniforms Oregon has ever worn. They look like pajamas... there is just nothing good about them! Especially with an uninspiring victory over a bad UC Davis team.

My leaning as well... though if Heyward was the one who formulated the plan against USC for the past two years I would feel more comfortable with his promotion than before. Not like the coaches care what I think.

This does change I think how we all look at the defensive coordinator spot if we do choose to promote from within.

Charles I had to go through the wonderful FishDuck photo gallery and find my favorite uniforms... COLOR RUSH! Uniforms from the Oregon-Oregon State game in 2013 and 2014.... I like the yellow helmets a bit more.

USC ... Where high quality runningbacks go to sit. Especially with their air raid offense now that is reluctant to use their stable of highly touted runningbacks. Going air raid was one of the dumbest ideas USC has decided to pursue. Yes, USC has good receivers and have done well at quarterback and have gone all in on that strategy. In the process USC will probably be seeing lots of their runningbacks looking to leave in the coming years. USC has also been completely out recruited by Oregon on the offensive line and in the long run that will only help Oregon. Personally, I'm completely ok with this.

And that is precisely why they didn't let Herbert run the ball because Herbert broke his collar bone because of a run. Now the coaches said they always gave Herbert permission to run... But we all know that wasn't the case.

Taggart was on the upswing... Though that was still a very underwhelming season all the same... Herbert getting injured and watching a freshman flail around on the field as qb was not a good time.

Development of receivers has definitely been a concern. Mitchell was a Helfrich recruit. Mitchell was a good receiver but he was made better because he had a good quarterback throwing him the ball in Justin Herbert. Great receivers need great quarterbacks. Pittman and Williams have a lot of potential to break out into stars next year but they need someone to throw them the ball and allow them to make plays. Shough had some decent deep balls but from what I saw I don't feel confident that Shough has the arm strength to get receivers the ball over the top of a defense... or on a crossing route across the middle of the field as he missed a LOT of those over the season. For a receiver to be a star we need a quarterback who can run the offense better and get those receivers the ball. Alabama's Heisman winning receiver wouldn't have won the award if his QB didn't throw him the ball.

I'm less worried about the receivers than I am about the trigger man. Receivers Primed to breakout: Williams, Pittman, Hutson, Webb and DJ Johnson. Williams and Pittman both missed quite a few games this year due but both had some great moments. Hutson is a freshman who was thrown into learning a college system with only the bare minimum supports and practice time to actually learn the system. He had some flashes and saw the field. Webb didn't see the field this year (at least not to my knowledge) and Johnson overall has some nice hands and runs with some insane power. Webb has a lot more speed than Johnson but Johnson has some decent speed if he gets free and even then he isn't easy to tackle. Granted, I don't see either of these two TEs being a featured receiver. Super Promising Freshman: Franklin, Thorton, Brevard and McGee I do expect to see Franklin on the field this upcoming season. Thorton and Brevard may see the field but I wouldn't be surprised if they end up maintaining their redshirts as there are still other receivers on the Oregon roster who may surpass them. However, this freshman crop might just take control and all play significant roles. I am also including McGee on this list because he is really a hybrid type player in the mold of a DAT or Nelson who may be deployed in the the slot or as a runningback depending. The Vets: Johnny Johnson and Redd Both have had their moments but neither have really proven to be that breakout star that demands special coverage from an opposing team.