David Marsh

This seems rather likely right now.

I heard a while ago that JTT was interested in Bama and Oregon... Either way Oregon seems to be sticking on the list. If it comes down to proximity from home Oregon gets the advantage.

Washington was by far his high water mark. I really did think he was going to break out after that game but it never happened. I just keep coming back to his lack of speed.... yes the pistol is problematic... But so many runs out of it he was caught from behind BEFORE the line of scrimmage.

Habibi-Likio enters transfer portal I am a little surprised but not shocked by this. Honestly, with the runnningback talent at Oregon I doubt it was going to see the field much next year. He is big but not fast enough. I wish him the best.

Though Jordon Scott having shed about 20 pounds, down to around 300, really didn't look terribly good this season.

This article on Rivals was a very interesting read about why DeRuyter might move to a 4-3. I know there is absolutely no reason to fear the use of the 4-3 as it does have its own inherent strengths and weaknesses and it does look like it would be an amazing fit for Oregon's current roster... but I keep getting Hoke flashbacks. I'm still super excited to see how this Oregon team looks next year!

The running back room dynamic is very interesting. There are also some predictions that Oregon is going to pick up Cardwell (he announces Monday). Cardwell looks more like the type of running back Oregon has had in the past and a better fit for the vision at Oregon. The running back room on the whole is going to be very crowded this year. Dye will see the field even if they need to make him into more of a full time receiver. Dye has proven he can catch the ball and make some incredible plays. Verdell has shown he can do all the tasks required of a running back in the Oregon offense... Running, catching, and blocking... But he just isn't big enough. If he is going to have an NFL future he will probably need to move to receiver. With all that said... There is a lot of talent in the receiver room as well. So even trying to get Dye and Verdell on the field as receivers may be difficult. Especially with Redd and Johnson returning for another year. This is a very good problem for the coaches to have.

At this point I'm really excited for the spring game.. The spring game is going to be soooooo interesting this year. New defensive coordinator and a new defense with the most talent Oregon has ever had. THEN ... Moorhead gets to install his offense in probably the most comprehensive fashion so far with a full compliment of spring practices. So we might see the full potential of the offense. Is the spring game here yet?

The more I read about DeRuyter the more I like this hire. Oregon has some INCREDIBLE raw talent on the defensive line and linebacker and this hire is going to get the most out of that talent. KT is going to be put in position to win at the line of scrimmage and break into the backfield on every single down. He was basically doing this already but a scheme designed to do this will make him even more terrifying. Perhaps the biggest weakness is recruiting. This is something that can certainly be an area of growth and Cristobal obviously wasn't too concerned about this as he choose to hire him. Though I wouldn't be surprised to see DeRuyter working with some of Oregon's big recruiters and see his own recruiting improve while working at Oregon. He has a scheme that can be VERY attractive for many potential recruits. Who knows this system might be enough to make a final push to get JTT which would take the Oregon defense to the next level.

I think this is a solid choice. Its not as exciting as some of the splashier names out there but Oregon doesn't need splash it needs a GOOD defense. With so much raw talent on the roster it needs some development and be put in the position to make plays. Oh... and we may have made Jimmy Lake's job more difficult in the UW DC hire. That would be a bonus. .

Mullens would make a good commissioner. He does get the conference and also has an understanding of football on the national playoff level. He also knows what top tier programs in basketball need as Oregon is carrying the PAC-12 in basketball. However... The big questions are all going to be about how to get more money to each school.

I do hope Redd finds his next level. Honestly, he has has improved slightly since his freshman year but hadn't truly popped as a big time playmaker. When I first heard the news today I found myself reacting completely unexcited. It didn't strike me as something game changing for next season but just another potential player in the rotation. When Royce Freeman or Justin Herbert returned for their senior years I was excited for their return. I was excited to hear Lenoir return this year when he opted back in. I'm just not feeling it for Redd. He has some decent speed and speed that does require respect... Just ask the Huskies... But he hasn't been a game breaker and I really hope something happens in his development and he becomes a game breaker and doesn't just keep play time away from some of our younger players.

And I am COMPLETELY ok with that!

They probably already are... these things tend not to be public until late in the process. I know Oregon was also recruiting Smalls for a time... hope we don't get wrapped into it.

TV deals need to be renegotiated as well as the contracts end in 2024... whoever they get has an incredible opportunity to lift the PAC up. Great info BDF, thanks!

And it is where the future pac-12 championship games for football will be... And it does make a lot of sense... It just doesn't feel right for the headquarters. I suppose it really doesn't matter... After all it's all about money at this point.

Ugghh... Chris Petersen should not be considered for the job. Also... isn't it a bit weird that Las Vegas is considered neutral for the Pac-12? I mean geographically it makes sense... but there aren't any Nevada teams in the Pac-12 so I guess that would make it neutral but it also just makes it weird. California would be ok to keep the headquarters there... just NOT in hyper expensive San Fransisco. That will be a top priority for whoever gets the job is get the Pac-12 out of San Fransisco. That is money that can be used and invested in so many ways.

The hire is going to have to be someone who really understands football... Also wouldn't hurt if they don't have ambitions of being a tv network producer.

Larry Scott is out as Pac-12 Commissioner! The search is on!

The big question that comes to mind is less about the X's and O's and more about his recruiting prowess. Cristobal won't hire someone who can't recruit at a high level. Granted... Cal's recruiting has taken quite a few steps forward the past recruiting cycles so who knows...

I was thinking that would be Oregon State... but... if Washington can't get a good DC and keep their defense on track... yeah... Oregon State is going to surpass Washington.

It is physically impossible to catch him... Ask Kansas State in the opening seconds of the 2012 Fiesta Bowl.

Exciting... Need some electric play makers who force the defense to defend them with or without the ball in their hands. One of the most important offensive aspects Oregon has desperately been missing for quite a few years now. Seven McGee has also been comitted to Oregon forever... I didn't expect him to stick with it for 3 to 4 years but he did.

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.