1Funduck

Enjoyed the article and it took me back to yesteryear. Woulda coulda shoulda seems to be the phrase that pops in my head. 2005, a cheating USC leaves Oregon without a PAC10 Title. But, ....Scoreboard. I'm asking myself, 'why has USC been so dominant'? So many variables that I had to break it down to basically 2 main reasons. Coaching and Recruiting. Anybody remember statements like, USC could play competitively with the worst NFL team? I remember pundits making that argument during an ESPN segment. Absurd. Of course that begs the question, Why was USC so good? Pete Carroll and tons of 4-5 star recruits. That's the bottom line. A more than capable coach with an above standard roster will net you W's. Just plain and simple. Of course, when you don't have that recipe, you have to get creative with your scheme. Mike Leach, Chris Petersen, Chip Kelly. But, in the end, recruits consistently win Championships. Oregon seems to be due for the next level.

Couldn't agree more. If the pundits had it all figured out, why play the game. One team should kneel down in defeat at the KO or TO. I Never watch shows that promote prognostication as the premise of the show, unless its about the Ducks. They better say the Ducks are going to win...

Is this not a good reason to basically turn off all the pundits that talk Football as their profession? We talk about it and its free. Just a bunch of fans. What do we know? Apparently about the same conclusions as the paid pundits. Its all opinions. I don't believe any of them. Not one. Scoreboard! Thats the answer. Yeah, you probably guessed I hate the ranking system and the playoff model. All opinion. USC should have won. Hmmm, they played....Oregon won. Scoreboard!!

I'm so looking forward to this season! Lets get a full Spring and Fall practice in.

The ultimate nick name is 'Seven' with his number being 7. A coincidence that you score 7 with a TD and an extra point? How do you get to 7 on the score board? Have Seven run it in and the Cattle Man punch it through!

I think I can understand Oregon Not being a Top destination for coaching. The South has a ton of people and support for CFB. Lots of high support in college coaching destination rankings. In fact the whole East coast is where most destinations are. But, with my Green and yellow glasses on, Oregon has some eyepopping reasons for being a top 10 destination IMO. Knight, facility's, commitment to a winning program, and relatively consistent dominant seasons. The fan support along with the cash for the program makes it move on the list.

We love him, but what does the rest of CFB think of our Coach?

I agree with the 247 feelings. Its always been a distorted face with me when a school can add to their recruiting score by adding more players. In theory, a school could recruit 85 players in 1 year and have the highest score, even though every kid is a 2 star and is 50th or lower in their respective position. Said school wins the recruiting title. Thats bunk. Average the score, average the stars. 247 just wants to be different and make themselves out to be deep analytical evaluators. The common fan eats it up. Those in the know, know better.

Maybe I'm seeing it differently, but I believe that supports my thesis. Oregon has to bring its Brand; winning, cool uni's, Nike, flashy offense. But, I would agree that recruiting needs to be top notched as well. After all, USC gets top recruits by default. We are ecstatic to have such an impressive class. Its old hat to USC. They played poorly and only got 12 recruits. They win the South last year, add a stellar recruiter promising next level success, and Boom! USC has a top 10 class and 2022 looks to be a dog fight for top 5 next year. Make no mistake, IMO, as MC goes so does Oregon. If he's our NS, then this could be a generational move in the west. Something towards the level of Clemson is what I'm seeing. Now we just need that prolific offense to return. I believe we have that in spades within 2 years. Duck on!

And Washington comes in at .......#35. Whuuf!

Five schools who won big on National Signing Day (247sports.com) Thought I would share a link. Enjoy.

I'm going to take issue with 'his recruiting ability'. Recruiting is far and away about winning and the school and perception along with exposure. One would guess they are all interlinked. Oregon is pulling power house players and didn't have a DC approaching signing day. Our DC was gone. Why didn't these players leave? Any of them? None of them. Why? Brand. IMO its really that simple

Hilarious! Predicted over a year ago and they lost most of the top 10 of their wish list. Emeka OSU, Huard is a Husky, JTT is NOT to be a dawg, Troy Franklin is a Duck, Keith Brown is a Duck....etc. Etc. Etc. Those husky hopers and dreamers, SMH.

Yuck! I seem to remember a guy by the name of Neiheisel make the statement that he was going to win the PNW. He tried to create some extra rivalry with that stunt. It didn't work. Now, Washington is squawking about winning the north. My take is that you have to play to be given the title. They forfeited their last game and then their ticket to the Championship. Nobody's fault. Washington had the best percentage, but couldn't play. Oregon could and then they did. They played then they won. ScoreBoard!

Thats.......a Cool way to commit. With your Pops.

Thx Fish for bringing up such an interesting POV with the info. Its no secret, I've been messaging that our defense is more about youth than ability. Our biggest problem was our offensive became anemic. Verdell was basically a no show this year due to injury and this exposed our RB cupboards didn't look so stocked. Add to it an woefully inexperienced O line and a new QB and it got scary at times. I truly believe that our offense, even if left alone and allowed to mature, will be much better than last year. I'm reminded that Shough was a top tier QB in 2020. He had some struggling decisions but, in essence, he's a new starter, with a new O line, in a shortened year, with No Spring or Fall practice to speak of. Its time for a do over. Get Shough back in there and I believe we have a 10 win season and another Pac Title. Our defense just might be good enough to win us some games this year. Rose Bowl bound IMO.

I'm not smart enough to dissect a defense to that level. But it has been my observation that our defense wasn't that bad and just smacked of inexperience. I don't remember ever getting the ball thrown on us. The middle seemed a bit soft in the passing game. I chalked that up to all the DB's that opted out. Our Defensive backfield was coming in as the 'Old Man' in all of CFB. Now it was littered with relative youth. Run game? I guess I can get on board with that. LB's are essential to stopping the run. But, I would argue that our D line and LB's played really well but inexperienced. They were harassing USC's backfield all night in the Championship game. But, I won't turn my nose up on a Freshman of the year in the SEC. And, competition makes players on a team that much better. Flowe, Sewell, and ToTo? Puh'leeze! Funa, Lil' Flowe, Brown? That's a Ton of Youth. By default, this squad is going to be lethal to an offense. Just get us a Spring and Fall camp to develop these kids in the scheme. Oh, I want JTT as well. Thought I would throw in a little plug..

I'm not belittling JTT as a solidifying power of a recruit. But he is not even close to being the first in this 3 year saga that is MC. Penni Sewell a 4 star elite Offensive lineman was a Blue Chip pick up. He ends up being, most likely a top 2/3 pick in NFL draft. Kavon is the #2 recruit regardless of position. Jonathan Flowe is the #1 ILB in the nation. Noah Sewell is the #2 ILB in the nation in the same year! Top 2 ILB's come to Oregon? Absurd! Dontae Manning, #4 CB in the nation last year. Mase Funa, #4 ILB in the nation. You want to know how stunning this class is for 2021 without JTT? Just jaw dropping..... Some recruits and their pecking order in the recruiting rankings by position. TT#4, KS#6, TF#3, DT#7, KB #6, SM#3, MM#5, JL#2, BC#8, TF#10, BW#10. 11 Kids in the Top 10 of their respective position! That's in 1 class alone! This year! I want JTT as bad as anyone, but the riches are oozing and spilling over our plate. We have a top tier defense right now but relatively quite young. JTT won't solidify our recruiting power. Its already here. But, he would turn heads. IMO, he would add incredibly to the brand that is 'The Duck'.

I remember, not so long ago, Oregon would score in the first 2-3 minutes of seemingly every game. The plays were simple but they were 25 seconds between snaps. Even simple would get 18 year old Kids heads spinning and create confusion. 120 seconds later?.........TD! Can we get some of Dat?

Lets not get ahead of ourselves here. We Fans are a bunch of middle aged men, some girls as well, that are situated relatively nicely in life. We knew everything as teenagers and made some of the most epic decisions of our lives during that time as well. And some of us could probably link our current environment to those decisions so long ago. If JTT has his parents in his ear, then he will listen to their counsel. JTT hasnt seen the Shoe. He should at least see the school before heading 2000 miles away from his parents and all that is comfortable back here in the PNW. I could very well be wrong, but I'm getting a different vibe from this delay. . Oregon just this week became a 'Warm' destination for JTT. That tells me something. Oregon is seriously in the mix. This could have so many variables in the decision making. Proximity to home and his parents watching. Proximity to home and him going home for the weekend, winter break, summer break, and seeing his family and friends. After all its only a 4 hour drive or so. Another factor is playing time. Most likely, JTT Does Not start for OSU or Alabama next year. Its well known that Oregon was the Youngest team in all CFB for 2020. Oregon would have JTT A starter out of the box. Or at least a #2 in rotation. Oregon just won their conference championship again and with a gutted roster no less. Oregon is the cream of the PAC and is going to vie for the Championship again for 2021. Oregon has a clear shot at the playoffs this coming year. I bring all this up, because making a decision when you are the Top Dog in all CFB recruiting is a decision you don't want to fail at. Maybe, just maybe, this Kid isn't being a premadonna so to speak and is locking down the right decision for himself and his family. Just my $.02

If Oregon can 'Land' JTT then that would most likely bump Oregon to the #3 spot in recruiting.....just Wow!

Over at 247, JTT is now officially down to 5 schools. This was Not the case earlier this week. This is quite the 'Public' development. Oregon was a 'Cold' before and has emerged as a strong consideration. Hmmm, what has changed in this last week that has made the CFB world notice that JTT is, all of a sudden, 'Warm' on Oregon? I think we know.

I have no problem with Vegas as the new HQ. I would suggest putting all the tournaments there as well. They have the infrastructure. They have the facilities. Tradition means very little anymore....see Rose Bowl. But an office that is a 90 minute flight to the farthest reaches is a geographical non starter as far as an issue. The championship or tournaments are only 2 weekends for Bball and 1 game for the championship for FB. I would say it makes the most sense to centrally locate it in Vegas. The added benefit is that fans would make it an extended vacation and the Arena or Stadium would be packed. That's a sight better than SF where its a fortune and is raining or enveloped in dense fog during these events. PAC12 championship and a killer buffet, then finish it, with Blue Man group or some other top notch show.

Now we are getting into the weeds. I love it! Whether 1 or 2 gap, that brings LB's into play. Seal off the edges and leave the middle the most porous so to speak. Then add a 260lb. LB or 2 and let them have at it. Still want the 325/6'4" Behemoth that isn't a 5x5.

Transfer Portal is probably the quick fix....maybe. RB's 1) Zach Charbonett is originally from Cali and wants out of Michigan. Rated a high 4* in the .9700 range. 6'2" 215. I'm guessing he's probably 225 now. 2) Eric Grey is a 5'10" 205lb. .9244 kid out of Tennessee and was the #4 APB in HS. (I won't add a little Jab at T) DT's I don't see anybody that stands out in the Portal for DT.