Notalot

Yes, let's hope so. Hope springs eternal. History has seen Rob caught with his pants down around his ankles and it's not been a pretty sight.

It may prove beneficial in the end to have slack (open slots) in the roster. The new coaches will have time to understand the players they inherited, assess needs, and find and attract the best fitting players to their schemes. I think we fans will be pleasantly surprised and optimistic by the revised roster when spring practice begins. Now, can the new coaches motivate, teach. and coach as a unified staff? September won't come fast enough.

The AD, Rob Mullens now, has a responsibility to keep his hand on the pulse and manage continuity of the coaches in the football program. As football is the revenue-driver of UO sports, then his attention on football coaches must be high and constant. Rob Mullens has been caught short a few times. The environment of football coaches and their contracts has changed. RM needs to get ahead of the game.

DanLDuck

UO v OU is an epic and anticipated matchup anytime. Slotted in TV prime time on a slow sports night the game will be watched coast to coast. What better time is there for the Ducks to prove that the win over the Buckeyes in the Shoe was deserved? I would like to see the O-line push the Oklahoma defense with Dye passing 150 yards rushing and Cardwell adding 100 more. It will be great if the defense can plug the LOS and play a pressing pass defense taking away the first six yards that the Ducks opponents feasted on throughout the season. No guts no glory. No balls no blue chips. Go Ducks.

Thanks, Jon, for writing the sad story that encapsulates the management foibles of the leaders of the PAC. The PAC-12 has dug itself into the proverbial hole. Along with those you called out by name, I would further place responsibility on the university presidents who failed to protect and increase the present and future value of the asset of “college football” and the brand of the PAC-12 and its predecessors. As only three strikes are allowed, the management “misses” of the administrators should be afforded foul ball status at the least.

Like a breath of fresh air. Optimism returns. The elements detailed by Coach Boles have been sorely absent from the.Duck’s recent offenses. Two back sets, counter plays (Mr. FishDuck will be happy}, under center snaps, and more up tempo snaps will add variety to the offense and challenge defenses. I’ve been a fan of Coach Norvell at both Tulsa and Memphis. If Oregon’s offense migrates to Norvell’s schemes under Coach Dillingham, then Oregon’s offense should roll again. Coach Joe Moorhead’s tenure as OC began with optimism based on his notable track record. The offenses under Moorhead turned out to be unimaginative, mundane, and disappointing overall, uncharacteristic of Modern day Ducks football. Go Ducks.

Graduate transfer for his next act. He has coached the Patriots and now the Bucs - next the Ducks?

Tom?

Mullens got juked by Mario who ran by him and scored. Mullens failed by not having a contract signed at least 30 days before early signing. He blew it by not having advanced contingency actions underway for the "what if" scenarios. Is this his Strike 2. Strike 3, or just another foul ball? This hire must be a home run. Excellence? Or mediocrity? And, oh by the way, the next HC needs to be strong, admired, connected, and respected enough to bring a great OC, DC, and staff along quickly.

From Duck Territory: I am astounded at Rob Mullen's floundering slow progress in replacing his key employee, the Head Coach for Football.My shock and amazement is amplified with his history of being unprepared when the last coaches turned over.An executive supervising division managers typically continually prepares for key employee turnover.AD Mullens should always have a short-list of best HC candidates watching their performance, contract status, and family news shuffling the list to always have 4-5 viable and desirable prospects (who would likely take the position if offered) for head, and have been grooming his relationship with each.A rapid hire is not always required and the process can sometimes be more leisurely. In some cases, such as the current Head Coach vacancy, moving quickly is valuable and necessary.Was Rob Mullens adequately prepared for Cristobal to bolt? Did he read the tea leaves two weeks ago and begin hitting up agents, warming up his top prospects indirectly, etc.? Or, was AD Mullens caught napping with his pants down?I certainly don't have the answer. but it looks like a Duck and walks like a Duck. Again.

Mycah knew/knows something. He wouldn't have known MC was bailing. That's too far above his pay grade. What did he know? He was rarely targeted with a thrown ball. Often passes were ill- timed or off the mark. The offense was ineffective without a passing game. His role was all exercise and risk without corresponding rewards. The coaches were stubborn and resisting change. All of the WR. TE's, and RB's must have known the same. The fans saw it from miles away. Mycah went away. That's in the past. The future is new and bright. Go Ducks. Go QB's and receivers. You have uffered enough.

The regular season is nearing its end. For the Ducks, “Just win, Baby”! Do that and let the chips fall (sic) where they may. Don’t win - don’t qualify.

Run Utah into the ground. Stop the Ute's passing game and QB scrambles. This feels like a Duck Day to me.

Flashy no. Balanced? A passing threat? More yards on offense? More PPG? All that added to more rushing yards. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Thanks David for sharing your thoughts. The "is Becoming" within your Title suggests the future. I sure hope for a more watchable offense in Oregon's future. I wince more than applaud during most games. "It's not easy being green" said Kermit the frog. But, I'm happy for the wins, and proud of the foundation and substance of Oregon Football. Hopefully, better days on the offense will dawn ahead. Go Ducks. Go David.

JS at UW would likely present problems for our Ducks in time. He's a loyal Beaver for sure, but one of the suitors may make the offer too good for him to turn down.

Back at those of you who commented.I have enjoyed reading your thoughts in reply to the topic. Frankly, I am surprised by the majority of responses. In the lead post I was not disparaging Brown, nor suggesting that he should not be QB1. I have believed since he was named the starter that Oregon should ride that horse until it cannot carry the team - the job was his to lose. I live in ACC country, and have seen Brown QB while leading Boston College. As a former QB a hundred years ago myself, I have felt some things QB's faces and feels that come with the position. Given AB's passing issues beginning in game #1, that have lingered throughout the 10 games, coupled with the prolonged lulls in the offense early in games and in the 2nd quarter, I would have played other QB's for several series in each game except the Ohio State game. The coaches did not. I agree with the majority of you who posted that AB's our guy now, and we hope that he stays healthy and takes the Ducks into the playoffs. Thanks again for taking part in the dialogue.

I fully agree with you that AB was a big part of our wins. Going into the most important games of the season, those with the greatest implications and visibility, with no bench experience concerns me greatly. The high risk now was manageable before.

One bullet is loaded into the revolver. The cylinder is spun. Where did it stop before being pointed at our collective heads? The trigger is pulled - only to hear a metal on metal click. What if? As the season has progressed for Duck's football, I feel an ominous sense of peril. The source of my fear is the total reliance of Duck Football on Anthony Brown. I get it that Brown is a sixth-year college QB. I know that he started and was a proficient starter at Boston college where he was good, but never great. I get it, and agree that his experience and earned leadership made Brown the best choice to lead the Ducks when the season began. I cannot imagine that ten games into the season, with a 5* and two 4* recruit Freshmen, one with a redshirt year under his belt, that other Duck QB's have not all been given significant game action snaps. Anthony Brown is a planned rusher. He rushed 29 times in the past two games alone. He has no lifeline or net under him in the case of injury. He is exposed to potential injury every snap; hand-off, pass, or rush. Frightening. Anthony Brown as the sole playing Duck Quaterback is Russian Roulette. Do you feel the tension as the Ducks move closer to the North Title, PAC12 Championship game, a New Years bowl game, or the CFB Championship Playoff games? I was taught to hedge my bets. Coaches Cristobal and Moorhead have gone "all in" and bet the house on Anthony Brown. Will the Ducks survive? An injury to Brown, and the Ducks are wounded, maybe fatally.

Nicely crafted analogy with salient facts and astute observations. The coaches as vinters angle you took is masterful. Thanks Haywarduck.

Cardwell is off to an amazing start to his Ducks career showing tremendous potential. He is shifty, strong, has vision, follows blocks, and has balance to match his acceleration. I don't know yet that he will become the bell cow back, because Oregon's RB room is loaded. It is too soon to anoint Cardwell as the chosen one. Sean Dollars before injury was highest on the depth chart. Trey Benson has been likened to Royce Freeman. Seven has been compared to DAT with the attributes of a mamba. Let this sink in for a minute. I don't like the one back Pistol formation. I don't like Oregon's predisposition to inside runs. With the Ducks great, but under-used wide receivers, and the terrific young running backs, the offense needs to attack the entire field challenging the opposing defense more vigorously and keeping them off balance and guessing with tempo. The current offense is strong, but predictable, stale, and methodically boring. That may be a result of the limitations of the QB, but cannot be a factor going forward as the team strives to win the national championship next year. The Ducks need all of these young backs to have a role and get playing time, just as the ball needs to be spread to the many good receivers. The offense needs to ramp up and average 45 PPG, because it can. I'd like to see more 2-back sets, and more use of the slot back as a runner next year.

AB will lead the way on the field and in the QB room. His experience will be a gigantic help preparing our young QB’s to be great in the near future. We need him.

I was at Spartans Stadium in East Lansing when VA led the Ducks team. With me at the game was my brother-in-law and his family - all MSU alums. The Ducks were on fire and the win looked to be ours. Everything turned when VA broke his hand. He lost his grip. The key play was on my end on the field in front of me with VA rolling left. The receiver had leaked into the end zone to that side. Touchdown Ducks! No, an incomplete pass as the wounded duck throw from VA's broken hand fluttered short of its target to the ground. He was a warrior and battled, but the injured hand cost the Ducks dearly that season. But VA won my heart and I remember him as a great Duck who nearly pulled off a memorable miracle.

Thanks Charles, for sharing the video. Robby Ashford is an interesting sports story to follow.