HappyToBeADuck

Welcome back JJ as a Fish Duck Writer. Your posts are always thought provoking, informative and enhance the OBDF....... This article is no different and offers the Forum much to "ponder". I would like to comment on just a few... . This fan (and this makes me barf) agrees the putrid dogs should be ranked #1. Michigan played only 3 ranked teams and most on their schedule would struggle to score points against FCS schools. Washington faced a number of challenges throughout the season and won on the road againsy ranked teams. Not to mention winning against OBD's, twice. The 2023 Ducks, IMHO are the most complete Duck team to take the field. The Ducks lacked 1 key piece, a K Thibs type, unstoppable Edge Rusher. The Duck edges are very good but not K Thibs. My hat is off to. KD and the huskies. Speaking of Kalen D.....when he came to uw, his 7 year head coaching record was 79-9. WOW... Now his HC record at uw is 23-2 and a CFP invite.... ..2 more victories and his combine FSU and uw record would be 46-7. Similar to CK..... I think any team and HC that faces KD has a KD problem. Not just DL! The BIG has no idea whats coming their way next year with KD. DL may out recruit KD. However, KD's game plans and in game adjustments are top level. I am very proud of DL and his powerhouse recruiting, portal acumen and player development. 2 seasons, 21-5 record that includes 4 losses by 12 points....thats darn good.... DL just needs more seasoning... The BIG has no idea whats coming their way next year with DL. Top 10 recruiting and key pieces in the portal will close out an exceptional, yet bittersweet, 2023 season. Go Ducks

It is easy to create all kinds of conjecture when we dont have all the facts on the subject...... The term phychologist is covers a wide spectrum. Often with a negative label. Grain of salt stuff.... Its been a great season with Bo being a great leader on one of Oregon's best teams ever. How many 11 or 12 win seasons have we had in 130 years? Its been fun on this fabulous Forum to read and digest all the articles about everything Ducks..... For this old Duck, nothing is wrong with this team, both staff and players. This group didnt execute on less than 10 plays out of thousands over the last 2 years. Those plays are the difference between 2 CFP appearances and possible football greatness. Give me more of this because DL's Ducks can play and compete with anyone. Eventually OBD's will climb to the mountain top....

Oregon's NIL offerings appear to be top $ based upon results. This should be enticing to experienced top level players... DL and staff have done very well bringing in talent, blending with HS recruits to build depth. I trust their decisions. Gonna be a wild December getting all the pieces in place....

Smart move by Caleb. His o line offers very little protection. He has a near $40 million dollar payday coming over the next 4 years and a 5th year option for the league QB average. Worth $30 million plus for the 5th year...... i admire and appreciate Bo playing and leading his team in the Fiesta Bowl. The team best come out firing on all cylinders so Bo leaves the field up 35-0 midway during the 2nd quarter. Bo has millions of future dollars at stake...... Bo's future is out in front of him and though there is no more risk in this game or any other game, i held my breath everytime he ran with the ball. The NFL will be picking up 3 tremendous QB's from the extinct PAC 12. Wishing Williams, Penix and Bo all the best in their lives....

Each Forum member or poster is entitled to their opinion and feelings. Part of the passion as a fan...... Take the time to read how the rankings and selection process work and you will see that Oregon was given the utmost respect by the committee as the top ranked 2 loss team. And please OBDF members the committee sets the rankings and the semi games. By selection order the bowls pick the matchups. This fan will not disrespect Liberty or OBD's for this matchup. This is a NY6 bowl matchup and both teams played their way into this game. Annie and others recognize and support this game! Bravo...... FYI, this type of game will happen each year as long as the G5 teams get an invite. So are we going to be whiny or upset if #5 Oregon faces #12 Liberty next year in a play in game to reach the quarterfinals? Perspective..........

I certainly feel the frustration over the Fiesta Bowls match up, so I did some research. It helped me understand a little better. Each committee member submits their list for the Top 30 teams. This establishes sort of a baseline for rankings. Each committee member, announamously presents their top 6 ranked teams. All members are provided mountains of data on games and teams to assist in how they rank the teams. Only the committee ranks the Top 6 and the 4 teams for the national semifinal games. That's it. From there the Bowls pick based on their order of selection and rankings. First consideration is bowl tie ins or agreements. For example Rose Bowl as we know is BIG vs PAC....... This year Rose Bowl is part of the semi-finals so the tie in contract is out the window. If this was a normal year, Washington would be off to the semi and Oregon off to the Rose Bowl. But its not a normal year, so Ducks are off to the Fiesta Bowl. No conspiracy theory or bias involved. It appears that the Fiesta Bowl had the last pick and the other bowls passed on Liberty. The Ducks played their way into this ridiculous situation........or down played their way to AZ. Congratulations to Liberty for a great undefeated season and yoir prize is a national tv game against OBD's. This wont change the sour taste in anyones mind but this will happen to one Power 4 team next year. Maybe even the Ducks. But it is done by final committee rankings and a predetermined process and nothing more.....

Thanks Coach for taking the time to identify, explain and breakdown these Will Stein plays. Your effort all season has brought this Duck fan a better understanding of what i am viewing. You are one of the writers or contributors that helps enhance the quality of this first class Forum...... Especially liked that you pointed out that some of Bo's checkdowns were by design within the play itself. Will watch for these plays as OBD's steamrole Liberty in the NY6 Light Game.........

As much as i would love to see Bo and the NFL bound players stay and play thru the bowl game, well consider these numbers..... 2023 first round contacts were #1 - near $40 million then each pick received a little less down to #32 - near $13 million No bowl game is worth risking that! 2023 2nd round contracts were #33 - near $13.6 million #64 - near $6.5 million For those players their future is now and their Duck playing time is in their past. I hope some of these players learn from Bo staying one more season. He went from a potential 3rd round pick to first round or early 2nd round pick. Bo made a quality life financial decision by staying. Go Ducks.....

Well FSU has every right to be frustrated and disappointed. Afterall they have their own vision of their team and its ranking..... BUT! If an undefeated season is the only criteria then maybe Liberty should be in the CFP? We know better because their schedule does not warrant a top 4 ranking. Neither does FSU's schedule. Their big wins are over LSU and Clemson. Both schools had down years. Both did little to boost FSU's level of quality victories. FSU has no game/season changing victory, do they? In comparison, Alabama beating then #1Georgia boosted their ranking and quality of victories. In turn that boosted Texas's quality win over Bama. Throw in that the SEC is viewed a stronger conferemce than the ACC. Take the time to view Bamas schedule over FSU's schedule. I never had FSU higher than 7th all year long. I viewed uw and a one loss Oregon above FSU. A one loss Oregon would have probably made the playoff. Would you have supported FSU keeping Oregon out? Probably not..... Of course we all have our viewpoint and I think all the posters can support their views.

Not pleased with the matchup! Really a big let down for the fan base. The Ducks put themselves in this position by losing. When you control your own destiny and dont win, well you get left overs.. However, the players who will declare willl not be playing in this game no matter who the Ducks play in the fiesta bowl. There future is preparation for the combines and draft......they earned their shot. This fan is not disappointed that the 2, 3's and others will be playing in the fiesta bowl. Their future is now! Right now. Lest we forget, they are some of the best players from HS the last few seasons. Many of them played solid minutes this year and contributed. Looking forward to seeing them shine. Go Ducks! Get ready and lets beat Liberty......

Well only 4 teams are going to be happy and 3 will not be. All 7 can make their case for an invite, except tOSU. You arrogant whiners didnt even make championship weekend. I cannot envision the SEC being left out of the playoff. FSU is the most vulnerable because ACC vs SEC does not stand up. If SEC keft left out well they really pushed to keep it at 4 all these years. Will poetic justice eule over SEC bias.

Ryan certainly a lot to ponder from your article and very on target. Especially on, well everything....... DL and his staff have showed us all that they can self examine their teams needs. Then thru recruiting at the HS or juco level or the portal fill those needs....... Those coaching decisions turned the core of OBD's from MC's fluff 4 & 5 stars (mass transfers out) to a core filled with 4 and 5 star players with substance. While i do share in this Forums grief and disappointment over the 4 three point losses the last 2 seasons that derailed OBD's CFP opportunities, I feel it was execution on both sides of the ball, in key or critical moments that caused the losses. Not glaring weaknesses or holes that need filling.... The double #@/(?% huskies and OBD's are very equal teams. I felt the winner of the PAC Title game could win the Natty. This was a high level CFP game and the huskies executed a few more plays, when needed to win than the Ducks. In both games....... Dan Lanning has been a HC for 26 games. KD a HC for 114 games (103-11) and 7 league titles. He game planned well, in both games, ro keep the Ducks about 2 TD's under their scoring avetage. The husky players executed their game plan and won the game. We will face that coaching talent level every year KD foolishly stays at uw. Someone in the SEC needs to throw ridiculous money at KD The 2 contests were painful for Duck fans but they were 2 of the best contests played on the national scene, all year. Whats done is done! On to the BIG 18.......and 2024.... Ryan you and Haywarduck are spot on in your posts. We need tall, talented, speedy NFL type D backs on the roster. Especially against tOSU, usc and the huskies. Those 3 schools field NFL WR's that stretch the field. The front 7 needs the 3 freaks to create havoc. Without all the pieces the Ducks will not make the CFP. Not a gloom and doom prediction, just fact. DL and staff know what the needs are that must be filled. I am confident that they will endure the players declaring for the draft and transfers out by taking the best players in the portal It wont be a lack of talent on the roster in 2024. Just like 2022 and 2023 it will be about the execution. Damn, i am HappyToBeADuck and headed to a NY6 bowl game. The CFP appearance? Depends on filling out Ryan and Haywarduck's recipe for success. GO DUCKS!

Set backs, tears and disappointment are part of the journey of life! Along with achievements, laughter and happiness. Sometimes these opposite cousins show up at the same time. Nearly 16 years ago I sat near my Fathers bed in a hospice center. We talked for hours and we shared stories of lifes acievements and set backs. Brief moments of disappointments and volumes of acievements. Laughing and crying that brought tears to my eyes. All these converged at the same time..... A few hours later Dad's 90 year journey ended. One of the many life lessons he shared was to accept and learn from your experiences as life unfolds. Good or bad, didnt matter as long as the experience enriched your life and you learned from it. Of course last night was a deep disappointment. None of us, the players, coaches, fans or NIL investors, got the desired end goal desired, a PAC 12 Title...... Hopes and dreams take us to the highest peaks. Failure to achieve...... damn! Took sometime before i could shut my mind off and fall sleep. Eventually I stopped counting what ifs and fell asleep. During my duress I thought about where the Ducks were the last season of MC. The season started strong and ended with OBD's being blown out twice by Utah, destroyed by OU (until OU let off the pedal) and annililated by Georgia. All on national tv. What had happened to OBD's? The journey was crushing. Many on this great Forum were already giving up on Coach Dan Lanning. Really? After 1 game? Since leaving Atlanta the Ducks are 21-4. All 3 point losses against our bitter rivals. No more blow out losses because DL and staff fixed that. They brought in key players to fill holes. They developed players, built depth and won almost 90% of their games. Well done.... Ryan, DL and staff will continue to bring in and develope talent. The improvement in the secondary from year 1 to year 2 was leaps and bounds. Year 3 will even be better. This staff is solid and the compass is pointing north. TT will get his chance to take the reigns. This will be the best recruiting class ever! More freaks and high quality transfers will come via the portal. DL and staff will get better as they gain experience and lessons. Our hopes as fans will be rekindled and OBD's will get another chance ro put a cherry on top of a season. To keep this in true respective, i will not have another bedside chat with Dad.....double damn! This was a great season by the Ducks. Just not the greatest season. That is yet to come........

Charles thanks for the numbers that really showed Penix's performamce drop off the last half of the season. I admire and respect Penix's game. He stands in there and takes those hits. Gritty and gutsy for sure! He was pounded and hurt during the Duck game. It was evident in his performance the following week against the Sun Devils. The husky offensr scored no touchdown? He was hurt............ I support your article %. The Duck Havoc Squad needs to hit Penix hard and often, within the rules! No targeting hits please! KD and his OC will probably have plays called for short gains and quick releases. Sort of nickel and dime there way down the field. Keeping Bo off the field is critical for the huskies to stay close in this game. Penix and the husky offense will be facing a Duck D that is vastly improved the last 6 games. On 6 different occasions Duck opponents have scored 10 points or less. If DL had left the 2 deep rotation in the game usc would have scored only 12 points. Let that sink in...... I support a good, clean game with massive hits on Penix. There must be chaos and havoc in the husky backfield, all night long....... Go Ducks........

Oregon wins 38-28 1- TO 2 - Sacks 352 passing yards During this 2023 season I am a near perfect 11-1 in that the Ducks did the opposite of my score. If i predicted the game close, well it was a complete blow out. And then vice versa...... Go Ducks beat the putrid dogs!