HappyToBeADuck

The decline of the Ducks WBB program from playing at an elite level has been disappointing, to this fan. Many factors go into the making of a champuonship team. Not all 5 stars are created equal. Nor do they have the same drive to excel. Sometimes players and coaches cannot connect. It happens. I think i set my fan sights a little to high. Just spoiled by Sabrina and company...... Off the chart talent on the hardwood at the same time was spectacular to watch and support. Elite programs seem to sustain their recruiting and top level performance.The Ducks have simply slipped off that top level perch. Hoping that Coach can bring the WBB program back to that level in future seasons...... Go Ducks.......

Log Haulin I agree that TT didnt get a fair shake with the 1st team offense in game situations. I was referring to the open competition opportunities in practices. Especially in spring and fall camps. Those starting spots are earned and for some reason the players hitting the portal couldn't earn playing time. I hope TT gets to the MWC or maybe a little big 12 conference team and just lights it up. I liked TT from day 1 and am gonna still be a big TT fan.

They say the proof is in the pudding... After 26 games we can feel confident that DL and staff start the best players based upon game performance. Along with performamce and improvement in practice. TT and any players leaving thru the TP had their chance(s) to earn those coveted starting spots. They didn't! TT had 26 games,including spring ball, fall camp and weeks of practice to suplant Bo. I petsonally cant support those who feel he didn't get a fair shake. TT didnt feel he could beat out Dillion Gabriel, so he hit the TP. IMHO, Dillion has won on the big time national stage. Cam Ward has not. My instinct tells me DL nabbed the best QB1 available in the TP. The days of unproven QB's starting are disappearing barring injury. Go Ducks.....

Really am enjoying the breadth of comments on this topic. This fabulous forum has such depth within the community. For this old Duck, well I really appreciate and enjoy the Transfer Portal. It offers DL and his staff the opportunity to fill immediate needs with seasoned, experienced veterans. Many will disagree with me on this thought but the the 2022 Ducks may not have gone 10-3 without Bo arriving thru the TP. Not with the 2022 version of TT! Just one player can be the difference between 10-3 and 8-5. Do any of you feel the 2023 team would be staring down a 12 win season without Bo, his brother and key O lineman via the portal? Not to mentioned the freaks and depth added on the Duck D via the TP.... I will take and enjoy every TP rumor that flows thru the OBDF. The TP opportunity offers DL and staff the opportunity 2 times a year to fill needs. WOW! Just travel back a few years ago and consider this.......2 years after the 2014 Natty loss the Ducks went 4-8. Why? MH didn't hit the recruiting trail. Talented players on the roster matter. Slick recruited on the fly and of course, MC brought the talent. The Ducks were back contending, playing on New Years but could not make the CFP. Under DL and staff the TP has elevated the Ducks to a CFP contender. The entire 2023 season the Ducks were in the CFP mix until the end of the PAC Title game. I just dont see that happening without the TP, rumors and all.

Ryan it sure is exciting that Gabriel has transferred to Oregon and will complete his career as a Duck. Operating within the WS system, combined with the talent on the offense, Gabriel should be one of the best QB's in the BIG. If he earns the players trust and subscribes to DL's 1% improvement plan an 11-1 or 10-2 regular season is possible. Gabriel may even get an invite to the Heisman party. Ryan I share your positive outlook for the 2024 season with Dillion as QB1. An experienced QB2 is necessary in case of an injury to QB1. However in order to navigate next season with tOSU, Michigan and the huskies on the schedule replacing those big experienced D lineman is critical. DL has recruited some big time HS D line talent, for certain! A few experienced, seasoned freaks and monster lineman may be needed to solidify the D. Of course DL and staff know this. Will be exciting and nerve wracking to see how the Ducks fill those needs Hiring Walter Nolen with a lucrative NIL offer would be a great addition to the D line room. Best of success to TT and all the Duck transfers as they find their new homes. Go Ducks!

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!

Alex without any doubt, the eye test reveals the Ducks to be playing and executing better than the huskies. The betting lines reveal that those betting experts agree, too! For this fan it stops right there. Eye tests or appearances do not win football games. Scoreboard does! The damn huskies are 23-2 and OBD's are 21-4 the last 2 seasons. The difference? KD and his players beat the Ducks twice....... on the scoreboard, where it matters. Why? How? In both games the Duck players out played the huskies. The Duck players put themselves in position to win both games. Even with Bo's injury the Ducks were poised for victory..... However...... Poor decision making (take the points coach or punt) and weak play calls by Stein (KD recognized Steins tendencies) enabled the putrid dogs to win both games. DL and staff have probably not changed but hopefully they can modify those tendencies and choices..... This game will be an edge of your seat, back and forth, nail biter to the very end. The Ducks should win! The Duck D is vastly improved from Mid October. If the DB's cover the great WR's the front 7 will cause chaos in the husky back field. If not? The 2 glaring weak points the Ducks have in their aresonal are converting on some (not all) 3rd or 4th and short situations. And Cam's confidence! Either of those 2 can and may be key in the outcome of this game... I am betting on the Ducks to win but they dont cover. This group of special players will find a way to win. Go Ducks, find that 1% improvement and beat the huskies. The Real Dawgs are gonna be waiting.....

Charles thanks for posting these 2023 stats. They are incredible..... No stat or number suprises this Duck fan when it comes to the offense. With Bo at the controls the Duck O, since the loss in Seattle, has scored at will. It is the defensive stat of just 16 points per game that is incredible! That number represents the 1's and 2's getting alot of reps thus shutting down the opponents offense. Most of the points surrendered are when the 3's and walk ons are in the game. Late, garbage time scores for WSU, ASU and usc were against the backups. If the starters were still playing in the 4th quarter the average points allowed per game would be less. Who holds usc to 12 points thru 3 quarters? OBD's did....... Yet, for me, the best performance was Dorlus and Bassa teaming up for the very late score against TT. And the D closing out the game with an interception. And against the Beavers the entire Duck D refused to even let the rodents sniff a score. Impressive! Of course none of this matters unless OBD's handle their business in vegas. Go Ducks beat the huskies......

Good DrJ, that loss to Arizona or the loss ro ASU are just real game examples of how anything can happen when they play the games. Yesyerday's games were a great example. A number of heavy favorites struggled to get victories against their rivals. Bama got lucky! Hope the CFP committee takes notice that OBD's and Texas did not struggle. They dominated! While determining the outcome of any game is easy on paper, especially for us fans, when the stakes are high anything can happen. The huskies are playing terrible and just finding a way to win. I dont think the Ducks will be in a giving mood. If the Ducks play their game with minimal mistakes they should avenge that loss to the huskies. Neither team is the same as when they first played this season. IMHO, the huskies will be playing the best team in college football. Go Ducks!

How amazing.....a second husky week in one season...doesnt get much better than that..... Let the hatred flow with vile venom! It's obvious that the teams are headed in opposite directions. But anything can happen when the game is played. This fan is so proud of and excited that the coaches and players have earned a rematch with the huskies. I mentioned on another thread that the final PAC 12 bragging rights are on the line next Friday night. Thankful that the Ducks will turn out the PAC 12 lights with a win over the hated huskies. Go Ducks!

I can see how many on this Forum could feel a screw job setup could be brewing. My gut feeling just doesnt support that thinking. Even if the comittee, for any reason, builds a criteria that tOSU is the best 1 loss team, which i doubt they will, then it won't hold thru championship weekend. The Ducks, Longhorns and Bama have navigated thru their season and earned a shot in their respective conference title game. tOSU had their chance and lost. No title shot for the buckeyes. The CFP has penalized teams who lose late in the season. A late loss cannot be overcome without chaos. DrJacksPlaidPants is correct that the CFP has put non-conference champs in because other conference champs had 2 losses. The BCS (All BS in my opinion) was flawed, deeply flawed. They manipulated the system and the Ducks did get screwed. Remember, Auburn was 12-0 and they didn't get a BS invite, just a screw job. The CFP committee has been much better. However anything is possible. The CFP, in different seasons, had both Oregon and Utah primed for invites. Both lost their play in games and thus their invites. They screwed themselves. No conspiracy or east coast bias that i can discern. If the Ducks, Tide and Longhorns lose, they wont get an invite. A 1 loss tOSU would be in position to get an invite. No conspiracy or screw job if you win. If their are 4 undefeated teams standing after tonight lets hope the huskies are one of those teams. OBD's will have a shot to win and position themselves for an invite. Ducks just take care of business and throttle the huskies. No CFP invite without a,12-1 record and a PAC Title. Some have now mentioned that Texas could jump Oregon. WTH? Oregon has done nothing to diminish its standing with the committee. In fact the final destruction of Beavus should enhance that view. The little big 12 title game is not a glamour matchup. Texas will win the game against nobody. Ducks beating an undefeated #4? Even a non Duck fan can see that..... IMHO, their is only one scenario that the Duck fan should be concerned with and thats Bama over Georgia in a great, close game. Dont know if thats enough for Bama to climb over the Ducks and Longhorns? Not a scenario i wish to see. It's all fun to ponder on this awesome football weekend on the best sports Forum in the world. But this Duck fan has enough to worry about and that's the putrid huskies. The game called the 2023 PAC 12 football season is now in the final minute and 4th and goal from the 1 yard line. It is the last breath for a once proud conference now on life support. All bragging rights will be final.... Go Ducks! Beat the huskies.....