HappyToBeADuck

Personally, I hope Santa brings us some top defensive talent thru the portal. The kind of playets who understand and can execute DL's system. Execute in 2023, not 3 years later. And 2 chaos promoting edge rushers. If the ducks cant pressure/contain Williams and Penix then we are playing for The Alamo or Holiday Bowl. The rubber meets the road on the defensive side of the ball. Defense, i feel cost us the dogs and beavers games.

Utilizing the potential of the portal appears to be the key. Bringing in talented players who will make an impact. Turn a weakness into a strength. How many of those players enter the portal and how many will choose Oregon, is anybodies guess. udub and uscuck brought in the right players who made them suprisingly better. From losing records to 11-2 and 10-2. That may be a season by season success but its shaping into the face of big time college football. I dont know if the portal is needed to save Oregon football? Oregon fooyball, IMHO, is positioned nicely for the future in the PAC..... But if they want an invite, annually to the CFP invitational then they best nail it every year in the portal. There were many, many on this Forum who didnt feel usuck or udub could turn it around in one season. Including me. Any doubters now? Go DL and staff. Get those key components on campus.

Charles, as i have stated before to this awesome Forum: FishDuck is a unique, one of a kind site" You are also a true "one of a kind" person. I congratulate you and admire your love, passion and committment to "all things Duck" This is your site and no one else's. As others have mentioned this is your home. That home gives us refuge. We are simply guests when we enter OBDF and if we comment then the rules need to follow. You have had to remind me on 2 occassions that I violated a rule. They were minor and just worded incorrectly. I appreciated your comments and help so as to not hurt or discourage others. I will support you no matter your choices with YOUR FORUM....... Perhaps visitors and commentors fail to understand your passion and love for the site. This is your child and you will protect it. And i love and admire you for your conviction.......

Back in the fifties, sixties and even before the bowls were a way for cities to get thousands of people to come and stay in their hotels, eat at restaurants and shops. A real cash windfall. I am certain Shreveport was estatic at the thousands of Duck fans who flocked to the Independrnce Bowl almost 40 years ago. Oregon traveled well! Some bowls had specific conference tie ins. Most obvious Rose Bowl(Big 10 vs Pac 8). Southwest Conference to the Cotton Bowl. Big 8 to the Orange Bowl. Special notes: BYU won their Natty in 1984 with a win in the Holiday Bowl. In 1991 washington could not face Miami because of the Rose Bowl committment. Thus a split fake Natty for both schools. Just another step toward BCS and CFP. The rich got richer. Each season a new bowl game was added and ESPN took over the monopoly of bowl games. One of the main reasons the lower tier bowls survive is the TV money more than pays the bills. If fans travel then the cities vendors have an annual windfall. Will the bowls survive with a 12 team playoff? Probably as long as media will pay for the broadcast rights. Personally, i would rather have Oregon playing in the Holiday Bowl than not. The younsters get 2 weeks of practice, a road trip and playing time. Thats a plus. As a fan, we get a chance to support our team. Yes the games are meaningless. But in reality they are important to everyones program When we move to the 12 team playoff we will see most years Bama, Georgia, LSU, tOSU, Michigan, Penn State, uscsuck, Clemson. Also a team from BIG 12, PAC 10, ND and Group of five. Those lesser bowls are critical for practice and exposure for about 40 other schools. Including the PAC schools.

Joshua, over the years the Holiday Bowl has produced some high scoring, exciting games. This year should be no exception. Both teams strengths are their offenses. Last team with the ball should win this game. I know very little about UNC's defense. As we all know, the Ducks D was porous and often undisciplined. As a fan I never new what to expect. I guess we will have to see how many more players transfer out prior to the game. Regardless of who starts for the Ducks, the television will be tuned to the game. Cheering for the Ducks has been a tradition during the bowl season since the Independence Bowl back in the mid eighties. I don't take the bowl games for granted every year because OBD's didn't always earn a bowl bid. Hopefully the youngsters will enjoy the trip and have a fun, safe game. Go Ducks.... All is not lost. Ducks got a better bowl invite than the rodents. The dogs lost their Rose Bowl bid and uscsuck didn't get a PAC title (so Dye doesn't get a PAC Title Ring) or a CFP invite........

Yes Pennsylvania Duck has been going above and beyond to keep OBDF in the know. Great work and thank you. Cant wait until PDuck posts all the articles announcing the top players coming via the portal.

DazeNconfused timely article. Great breakdown and assessment on the defensive departures. And more importantly, the positions of need to be filled. I agree with Kurt Rambis, why was this defense so underwhelming? With potential QB heisman candidates at usc and washington on the Duck schedule in 2023 the front seven must be manned by elite players. Players who can contain, apply pressure, disrupt flow and get to the QB. DnC, you are spot on that DL should emphasize the talent he helped put in the NFL. Not only at Georgia but the transfers who will head to the NFL off this years Duck D. That Natty ring on DL's finger will speak volumes. Street cred! DL and staff did a good job utilizing portal transfers for the 2022 season. For 2023 they need to do a great job. One or two transfers won't be enough to build a aggressive 2-deep roster. DL must win the portal like Baylor and MSU in 2021 and usc in 2022. If not we will not be amongst the favorites to win the PAC in 2023. I have faith in DL when it comes to recruiting.......

I will watch and cheer for OBD's. If Bo doesn't start then i will support Ty or the walk on back up QB. The remaning squad of players that take the field are our Ducks. They are going to play an important part of the 2023 season. Its next man up time of year. GO DUCKS...... PS: If Bo plays it will be more exciting.

Well everybody is entitled to their feelings and opinions, especially when you are home on this forum. Just can't share or support that opinion Coach Lanning just blew it. Were coaching mistakes made? Of course there were. Just for reference Coach Saban and his 5 ☆ studded players could easily have 4 losses. Out of character poor coaching decisions and lackluster player performance crept into Tuscaloosa.... Mistakes happen, players fail to execute and games get lost. I like that DL takes chances and risks. The Ducks went 9-3 not 3-9. Thats a level of success no matter the yardstick you measure by. MC would have gone 6-6 or 7-5 with his middling offensive numbers. No Coach who took the team from 34 points a game average to over 40 points a game, blew it. DL and Dilly lifted the scoring average by a touchdown per game. Well done..... Forum members, IMHO, we have the makings of a great Coach. He salvaged last years recruiting class, assembled a darn good staff and should ink a top 10 class later this month. Rest assured DL will keep taking risks and that may bring home a natty.

Well why not? Solid resume! Understands high scoring college offensive schemes. Well Coach Lanning flew to Michigan to hopefully lock down Moore, then maybe Buffalo to get Brady. Nothings a sure thing until the ink dries on a LOI or contact Maybe while DL is in the Eastern Time Zone he can head south and get some of those monster D lineman. Then head to Texas to get a few edge rushers..... Doesnt cost anything to dream..... Go Ducks and Go DL.......

Utah's football program is so under appreciated and under rated. Last year the Big Dog in the PAC was Oregon. Utah destroyed them twice and were crowned PAC Champions. This year the Big Dog in the PAC was uscsuck. Utah beat them twice. One a come from behind nail biter and the other a come from behind butt kicking. Thus earning back to back titles. Both seasons the Utes did something that Alabama and tOSU could not do. They won their Conference Title. Hec tOSU didn't make it to their own conference title game the last 2 seasons. Sort of backed into the RB. Yet they will probably get a back door invite to CFP. They did not even earn a trip to the BIG title game, yet they may earn an invite to play for the Natty. That is a lack of respect by the CFP committee. Well done Utes, now go get that Rose Bowl victory.

Darren thanks for the article. Been playing the "what if" game all week. Disappointment is not the emotion that I was hoping would rule my feelings this weekend. 10 days ago, i was certain we would beat the Rodents then have a shoot out against usc. Sure didnt land that way. However the Utes humbling the traitors was special and moved my disappointment meter. As for analytics? Did LR use analytics to go for it on 4th and 8? They failed, Utah got a short field and momentum. Little did we know that the game for the traitors was over at that point. The Utes seized the moment, took control and started their journey to the Rose Bowl. Analytics failed. Did KW use analytics when he went for it on 4th and 2 in trojan territory? Or did he use common sense or a gut feeling? They made the first down and later scored a TD. If it was analytics then it succeeded. Later in the game, KW ignored the analytics and punted around mid-field on 4th down. His in game experience told him that his D had taken control. A measurement that Nerd filled analytics may not be able to compute. KD ignored analytics. He did not give the trojans a chance to get momentum back. Thats smart coaching. Analytics had very little to do with the butt kicking the Utes put on the traitors after LR's analytical mistake. You dont hold a team to 1 yard of total offense in the 3rd quarter with analytics. Half time adjustments and smash mouth football by the Utes crushed the traitors false hope of a coronation. Analytics does not create turnovers nor take into account a QB injury. The Ute DC turned his beasts loose on a wounded prey. Caleb Williams could not overcome his injury. He gave it is all but fell short. My hat is off to an injured Bo Nix and his offensive team mates for beating Utah. They overcame...... Still injured Bo and the Duck O beat the Beavers. Poor coaching, poor analytics and a invisible Defense lost that game. I really hope DL and his staff recorded the PAC title game. KW, his staff and players laid out the blue print for back to back trips to the Rose Bowl. That's a jouney we all would like to see our Ducks take........

Love watching the BIG Conference usc trojans lose to the PAC 10 Conference Champion Utah Utes. Sweet.......... Congratulations KW, Staff and players. Depending on tomorrows games the trojans and huskies will both be NY6 Bowl eligible. Both schools would be attractive to any NY6 Bowls. But, if any conference gets shafted it would be the PAC. But USC and Tennessee in the Cotton Bowl could happen.

DazeNconfused that was a strong post and i support most of your thoughts Personally I feel MC went 10-2 last year because the PAC was so weak. When MC and the Ducks faced KD and the Utes (with great QB play) they got destroyed. Oklahoma, with an interim coach destroyed the Ducks in the first half of the bowl game. I didnt feel MC and his staff were good in game decision makers who feasted on a weak conference. And they lost to Stanford. This year the top 7 teams in the PAC were strong. Top 25 strong. New coaches, top QB transfers and portal players changed the landscape. Including our Ducks. MC's middling offense would have maybe gone 7-5 or 6-6...... DL and his staff were correcting mistakes and making in game adjustments, all season. We lost to #1, #12 and #14. We beat UCLA, Utah and Wazzu. The Ducks played a very tough schedule. I just cant discount that coaching got us their, too. MC would not have gone 9-3. Many factors went into being 9-3 instead of 11-1. ● Bo's untimely injury ● TT's inability to run a simple play, read a defense , scan the field or run progressions (I can't believe that the coaches didn't work withTT) ● A complete let down by the secondary against UW that gave them quick, easy TD's ● The defensive players simply disappeared in the entire 4th quarter against the Beavs. The players were on the field not the coaches. ● The coaches werent on the field misjudging kick offs or fumbling punt snaps. Thats on the players and their focus. ● And yes DL and staff made costly mistakes and insane play calls at times. I agree with you that the HC and his staff bear the responsibilty for the end result. But some of these players just never got it. Maybe they didnt buy in? Maybe they lacked the work ethic to be champions. Maybe, maybe and more maybes....... I want to know what happened to the juggernaut that walked off the field in the horseshoe in September 2021. You know the team that humbled tOSU Buckeyes. I hope DL can build back to that level. It's okay to be terribly disapoointed, even angry. Even sore losers. Or have to buy Rose Bowl ( or NY6) tickets to pay off a bet to my dog buddies. No printable words can describe what i feel. I love my Ducks. The coaches need to get better but some of these players need to own it, too. Or just hit the portal.

With NIL and the portal part of the big time college landscape we could see huge swings in wins and losses. Last year Baylor and Michigan State used the portal to forge impressive seasons. Yet this season they fell off to being about average. This season usc used the portal to rise from 4-8 to 11-1. Who knows what next season will bring? That includes OBD's. Players and coaches will come and go. Players chasing a better NIL or playing time. Coaches moving for a better gig, paycheck or dream job. Stability gives way to fluidity. Multiple parts moving annually. Well grounded coaches like KD and JS coach their talent up and mold players into their system. I wonder what DL will be like? Either way i cant wait for this years signing class and the bowl game. Dont care who, when or where we play cause i love my Ducks. That's why i am Happy.......

I would rather have true freshmen playing on defense in a number of positions. If the new player can grasp the system then its easier to endure the growing pains. Gosh, a number of players on the defense seemed lost all season long. #44 was one of them. He either didnt understand his role, didn't want to understand his role or was incapable of executing. I wish him well and success moving forward

Even if Bo comes back (highly doubtful) a experienced QB transfer would add to the competition. If Bo moves on and TT hits the portal then we will need 2 QB transfers. NIL money will probably play a key role on how things in the QB room roll out. Our 3 non-conference games are all manageable and could be won by a true freshmen QB or a transfer. As we all know, once you get into the conference schedule, anything can happen. Road games vs Utah and Washingron may find the Ducks as underdogs. USC and Oregon State will be toss ups at home. Whoever earns the starting job will need to be a leader and dynamic. If that player needs to come from the portal, so be it. Go Ducks........

Drex thank you for sharing your incredible life experience with all of us. It was a dark time for our country, her people and, of course, those families directly affected. Losing to the dogs and beavus is nothing more than disappointing. It was just 2 games out of a season of playing games. 9/11 was a tragedy of monumental proportions. Sometimes a dose of reality gives us perspective.....

Yes to all the great comments and heartfelt feelings expressed on this thread. There is no right or wrong feeling to express. Just individual feelings based from individual expectations. My expectations were 9-3 and thats were we landed. The season, without Bo and this years stud O line could have easily been 7-5 or 6-6. That unit overcame a pourous, pitiful defensive unit. 40 plus points per game kept us relevant and in the hunt until the 48th quarter of the season. For me, i just can't turn my back on that...... Then the defense quit. No excuses they quit. Who in the hec can't stop the run especially when you know the other team is going to run? But that's football. Momentum is difficult to get back when you let it slip away. But the best part is we have a game late in December. The youngsters get 2 more weeks of practice. By then DL will have landed a top 15 recruiting class and a few key transfers in the portal. And hopefully a great OC hire. To those who dont watch the bowl game, well that's okay. But you deprive yourself of the journey. The best highs(excluding drugs) come after the lowest lows........ Stick around and enjoy the show.....

My instincts lead me to believe that the players found out that Dilly was gone early on in the 4th quarter. The offense suddenly went vanilla and thru the motions. The talent didnt just disappear the motivation left the building. The defense suddenly had players missing assignments and maybe a distracted DC couldnt remember to put 8 in the box to continue to stop the run. No facts to back this up but something changed during the 4 minute commercial break.

DazeNconfused your writing is always informative, thought provoking and gives us much to ponder. Thank you and all those that comment. My personal thoughts since i read your article at 5 am and have digested almost 50 diverse comments moves me in a different direction... When you take the full snap shot of the season, DL has made hundreds of in game decisions in 12 games. The majority enabled the team to rise from the ashes of total annihilation in Georgia Then run off 8 wins in a row. Thats leadership and coaching. The offense averaged 40 plus points in those games. The Ducks were on their way to scoring over 40 points (and winning the game) when Bo got injured. It was at the end of a 10 minute, 4th quarter drive that was a result of good coaching and execution. IMHO we lost that game because our coaching staff had not prepared a backup QB to read a basic goal line defense and execute a successful 1 yard gain. Not because of a in game decision that back fired. Score 40 plus and we beat the dogs. The Ducks had converted numerous 3rd and 4th down and short yardage situations all season. No reason to not go for it....... (Fixing the lack of a prepared back up is a much greater priority) The loss to the leg lifters was crushing. Imagine how the coaches and players felt. Once again, DL lifted the team from the ashes and they beat Utah and the best coach in the PAC. With a stationary QB, DL coached his team to the win. Then for 3 quarters they handled the rodents. But for some reason the Duck D disappeared in the 4th quarter. It was the worst linebacker play in a quarter ever. Again IMHO, the Ducks lost to the rodents because of a complete defensive meltdown not because of a judgement gamble by DL (Fixing everything about a broken defense is again more of a priority than an in game coaching decision). Hopefully DL can bring in a solid OC and a QB coach who can enhance QB player development. 40 plus points is a necessity with a weak D. As for the D.....My youngest son was watching the game with me. He played cornerback for 3 years at the FBS level. He repeatedly called the Beaver play beforehand and pointed out what Duck linebacker was out of position. The intensity, passion and edge left the D at the beginning of the 4th quarter allowing momentum to shift. He noticed that the Duck O play calling went vanilla. Pethaps Dilly checked out for ASU. The O becane predictable and went thru the motions. Beavs seized the moment. These are the things DL must fix. In game decisions may be the least of his problems. DL is a solid HC already. I will take some bonehead decisions if he fixes the real reasons we arent 11-1.

DnC you offer some good choices in the article. Thanks...... Really support the idea of bringing in an experienced HC to support DL as his journey continues. Not sure how DL feels about that idea. Do you feel Mullens will be making the final choice? Or will this be Coach Lanning's call to make? You are correct that the Oregon OC position is prestigious. The Ducks should be able to ink a high quality OC from your pool of choices. Excited to see and hear the oitcome. Go Ducks!

Personally, fans and boosters even mega donor boosters can and probably should fume at Mullens. Afterall Mullens elevated MH and gave him a big pay raise. Mullens hired WT and MC. MC was a good hire but he lost the room, both fans and players. Charles makes a good point that last year it was going to be a difficult year to get a proven HC to leave their current gig. Quality assistants were maybe the best options. But maybe fans and boosters should not be fuming at Lanning. ...... 47sgs makes a solid case that Bo Nix and the O had been unstoppable. Too much success to play call in a conservative fashion. Every reason to believe first downs would be made. It, to me, was a mix of in game decisions that didn't work out. I ask, is that a reason for 2nd quessing or firing a coach? Nobody on that coaching staff told the defense to quit in the 4th quarter or for the linebackers to disappear, too. Some fuming toward player non performance against the Beavs may be warranted......... DL's body of work is a mixed bag of positives and negatives. But 9-3, with a chance for a 10th win is positive. (Might add DL overachieved some 7-5 and 8-4 pre-season predictions from this very awesome Forum) IMHO its to early to be second guessing the hire of DL. DL is a work in progress that this Forum has praised for integrity and great hires. Second guess in game decisions, ABSOLUTELY.......... Mike West also asks a valid question, who do you think will take the challenge of Oregon and Phil? Dan Lanning, that's who..... For me, coaches need 3-5 years to match the players to their scheme and vision. Now if DL and staff dont fix that porous defense or develope quality QB's next year? Then my tune will start to change. PS: Perhaps the fuming boosters can kick in a few million for NIL so DL and staff can get the players needed thru the portal. Like SC did!

I agree Coach, this was an exciting season. More ups than downs. Some painful lessons........ Hopefully, DL and staff learn and grow from this difficult finish to the season. Closing out against 3 ranked teams with a combined record of like 28-8. (Might be off a little) That's a tall task for a first year HC and staff. But for a few coaching miscues and some monumental defensive meltdowns this team should be 11-1 and heading to the title game. The future will be ever shifting but very bright.

Before the season started I predicted and even bragged to friends, family, customers and my insuffrable dog friends that the Duck Linebackers would dominate in DL's defensive schemes. Goes to show how little i know about DL's defensive schemes and college linebackers. Those linebackers disappeared in the 4th quarter yesterday. My phone was blowing up from all directions reminding me how little i know. They didnt call me a buffoon but had some choice name calling nonetheless. I am deeply disappointed but i sure love the Ducks.....