HappyToBeADuck

Jon thanks for continuing to provide your in depth thoughts and feelings about the state of the PAC. Love your passion. The inexplicable decision to not act when the remnants of the BIG 12 were in desperate need of a helping partner still leaves the taste of a vomit burp in my mouth. Or thoughts of my ex. On this forum many wanted that merger while many did not. Lots of pros and cons. No real right answer. What mattered most was what would the Networks think about a 4 time zone mega conference? It appears the PAC Academic Brain Trust didnt even try to find out. GEEZ....... IMHO, the one way that the PAC can increase the value of its media rights is to win big time, high profile games. Oregon beat Georgia Utah beat Florida USC beat Notre Dame Stop losing to no names Stop losing bowl games Get a team in the 2022 CFP USC or Utah or Oregon win the Natty in 2023-2024 ESPN, FOX, ABC and CBS will give the PAC respect and money when they earn it. Stop talking about it and get it done. Winning the Natty will drive eyeballs to the conference. It will keep California 5 stars out west. Advertisers pay for winners. Lets play to win it all.

All 3 QB's should get first team reps right up to the kick off against Georgia. Competing against each other should bring out the best in each player. If either Ty or Jay feel they are not getting a real opportunity to be QB1 then the transfer portal could be their answer to getting playing time. If the Georgia game gets out of hand then i hope all three get playing time. Gaining valuable experience in the new system to get them ready for BYU. All three should play against Eastern Washington. Get them all ready for conference play. Either Ty or Jay didnt earn playing time or the previous coaching staff foolishly robbed them of their opportunity for growth.

Hopefully the Utah coaching staff heads to Florida on Monday before the game. Give the players the opportunity to adjust to the time change and the humidity. This is a winnable, high profile game that will keep Utah in the top 10. If you wamt to play in the CFP then you need to play like it from day 1. Oregon should head to Georgia early in the week, also. Give the players every advantage possible. The Ducks are definitely in a high profile game. Is it winnable? Anything is possible with the talent on this team. Georgia will not overlook the Ducks like the entitled Buckeyes did. SEC teams play like its life and death. They rarely miss an opportunity to destroy a high profile OOC opponent. Dont know enough about the Ducks confidence or game plan at this point. But i will be rooting for a great game from our Ducks........

Wrathis, my expectations are stuck in neutral until the Ducks play their first 3 games. The team is filled with talent on both sides of the ball, no doubt. 50 plus youngsters who were thrown into the mix in 2021 will bring battle hardened experience to the field. Having Sewell, Flowe, Manning, Dorlus, Swinson and others executing Coach Lannings defense is appealing But my excitement will ramp up once I see what the coaching staff does with that talent, how they game plan and how they make in game adjustments. More important, how do the players respond and execute what is taught? MC and staff took the fun out of watching Duck games. Even with all the wins. When I watch a game I want to get amped up, get excited and anticipate great things. Not repeatedly go WTH........ Just the thoughts of an old Grey Beard..........

Joshua thanks, as always for taking the time to create this article. I agree with Badwater that seeing who pops at the spring game will give us a better picture. Next man up has always been the continuing story for all teams no matter the sport. Here's your chance, your opportunity are you ready willing and able to seize it? Some rise to the occasion while others do not. This year more than ever it may not be about who pops or stands out. Rather who stays, transfers out or transfers in. The new landscape of college sports is ever evolving. Some for the good and some for the bad. Such is life..........

Multiple times a week I meet with business owners who want our team to establish whatever process is necessary to build a high quality, long term, successful culture. Just like in the responses above each of these owners have different definitions of what culture means to them. TAMJ--some of these highly successful business owners agree with you that the term has lost all meaning. However, TAMJ I respond to them with this question: How did you build such a great company without building and establishing a long term, successful culture?..... At that point, 90% just stare at me without a reply. (The next person who speaks loses so I wait for their reply) These are highly intelligent, hard working men and women. They know how they got to this point...... Eventually they start talking and reveal the steps they took on their road to success. 1Ducker1 asked about philosophy and that is one of the first steps. These people had an idea or product and believed that they had a plan(philosophy) to get it done. Or as Duck 1972 mentioned a philosophic idea and a plan to achieve it. At this point you have an idea, a product or service and a plan to put in motion. Nothing tangible..... You throw in belief, work ethic, trial and error and repetition of what works. You take what you sell to the market place. Your customer base grows, orders increase and now you need employees to fill those orders. You teach your new employees your successful process and procedures and production increases to meet demand. You are now building your culture. McDonalds, Starbucks etc have successful process and procedures. When you come to work for them or walk in the door you know what to expect. Their culture is a given. Let's hope that Coach Lanning can build a successful culture at Oregon. Just like McDonald's and Starbucks. You know the kind that dominates it's competition. In football terms, like Bama, Georgia, tOSU.

Great comments by all on this thread. So early in the game of NIL to have any concrete results. Will boosters continue to pay millions without Natty's? In Texas boosters have been paying big bucks for decades. Limited Natty's has not slowed the money train. A & M will probably pump it out until they get one. Others schools maybe not. We live in a results orientated world. To early for results. Let's let this topic percolate for a few years.

Charles thanks for the article. Leadership is so crucial to the success of any organization or venture. Leaders, by example and experience, can and should inspire those around them. To me the 2019 team had leaders on both sides of the ball. They played together like brothers and family. That leadership was spawned from upperclassmen who endured 4-8 and 7-6 seasons. If respect and trust are truly earned then players like Herbert and Dye left no doubt by their dedication and work ethic. They made it easy for others to follow. Those talking heads and click bait fools proudly proclaimed that Justin Herbert was not vocal enough to be a leader. It took just one start for Justin to prove his leadership. Nobody ever won a football game by yelling the loudest. Justin was prepared and let his execution do the talking. Those pundits sing a different tune now. In the 2021 victory against tOSU the team played inspired and as brothers. They left it all on the field against a true blue bloods home turf. We, as fans, were proud, excited and inspired for the future. One young fan was so proud of his team that he left a little tiny toy Duck on the defeated buckeye field. The final blow to add insult to injury. This young fan said nothing but his action spike volumes. The mountainous number of injuries in 2021 limited the Ducks from that moment on. Who knows what levels of leadership were no longer on the field to lead by example. In some games 7 or more true freshmen were on the field playing defense. Some in new positions. Noah was the one constant. Did these youngsters even have a chance to build trust with each other? It takes scheme, leadership, experience and player trust to stop third and long plays. The 2021 defense had very little of those components. 2022 and beyond will be all about leadership. Leadership from Coach Lanning and staff as well as players earning their leadership roles. I am confident the roster is full of potential leadership. Can the coaches find it, nurture it and develop it. But more important can those leaders find it within themselves and do they want to? Great ponder point Sir Charles........

Charles thanks for this article and topic. I have reread this 3 times. There is a great deal to think about and ponder. I like the idea of putting the players and coaches in a sort of a pressure cooker. Will they be shaped into hard diamonds or simply, spit out? Without a doubt, very talented players will transfer out. It is usually easier to quit than finish within difficult situations. The Ducks will be as prepared, motivated and in shape as the Bulldogs when they step on the field in September. Maybe not as talented. The question is will they be as prepared, motivated and in shape late in the season against Utah or USC/Utah in the P-12 title game? Or better yet in a rematch with Georgia? Many on this team played and experienced 3 losses in 4 games to close out 2021. They played uninspired and seemed tired. My hat is off to them for sticking it out under a quitting coaching staff. Their staff will not be quitting on them in 2022. The opportunity is theirs for the taking. We will all see who rises to the challenge. I feel confident Coach Lanning and his staff will teach and drive these young men hard Go Ducks........

I truly hope that the connections being built between the coaches and players helps the new staff truly find out why this talented squad got destroyed on the field at the end of the season. Did they lose trust in MC and his staff? Did they stop caring for each other, the team and staff? Did the players feel betrayed? Emotional damage control will go along ways to bringing back the swagger that apparently was left in Columbus ,Ohio. I like that Coach Lanning and staff are building that bridge of trust, again. A commitment of trust for each other, the staff and team is critical to the journey to Athens and beyond.

Gonzaga is not playing its best basketball right now. St. Mary's laid out a blue print to confuse and stymie Gonzaga's bigs. They are very vulnerable even though their talent and depth is off the charts. Being born and raised in Spokane I am an avid Zag fanatic. A lifelong friend and I attended games in the old Kennel in the early sixties. We were 10 year olds. That friend attended the WCC tournament and expressed concern over the team not firing on all cylinders. We shall see. If the back court and wings keep the ball moving and hit those jumpers then the Zags make the final four. If not an upset in the Sweet 16 is possible. Go Zags. Let's hang that banner. 60 years is a long wait.

Player development......... Take what the staff teaches you to build and grow as a man and as a player. Add to your God given raw talent and develope your individual skill set. Learn from your mistakes, daily. Grow your skill set daily. Be prepared and ready. Then learn your role(s) within the team. Grow within the team and its process and schemes. Give 110% in practice. Be a better team player each practice and each week. Win games.

EastBayDuckDad, thank you for posting this information. I agree with Jon that alot goes into bringing high 4☆ and 5☆ talent to Oregon. Especially when they seemed to be entrenched in the southeast. Money is a big factor to some. Mommas home cooking is another. Most of all, Coach Lanning and staff must get to the CFP and eventually put a Natty on the books. It's one thing to have the best facilities, as Oregon does. But we need the proven championship pedigree. Coach Lanning will bring some of the best defensive talent to Oregon, ever. Why, because when he gets that ring on his finger his credibility will skyrocket. Great times ahead but we might want to consider being patient, maybe? Maybe not?

Just another form of pay to play or maybe just sit on the bench or sidelines. I truly love people. Love interacting with all that God created. However, some people can sink to the lowest common denominator. When they get caught, the first rat will spill the beans and try to take the rest down with them. Haywarduck is right on that if we are surprised then we weren't paying attention. Personally, those without a moral compass simply say I didn't know I was doing anything wrong.

Jon I think his coach was Bobby Knight. Not sure but the school might have been Army? Not certain but it sounds right. Tough way to go out at home after all these years. What a great Coach... put him in the Coach Wooden class on many levels. Certainly left Duke better than he found it......

Any P-5 defensive player who watched the Natty could envision or dream about playing for Coach Lanning. Only so many high 4 and 5 star players can go to Georgia, Bama, tOSU, etc. Oregon with Coach Lannings scheme can never get enough of those type of players on the roster. If Coach calls and asks you to come visit, WHY NOT? Deciding between Oregon and UCLA? That choice could be the difference between a NFL Combine invite or just finishing your degree and on to your 40 year career. Or maybe just a legitimate shot at the CFP. Young people have dreams. Dreams that drive your personal motivation engine. Playing for a national brand on national TV could be part of that dream Go Ducks find those hungry, talented players willing to work for the team and make their dream come true. Find players who are committed to 2022 being a 15 game season.

Whatever pieces it takes to have a 2 deep defensive roster in place September 3rd against the Bulldogs. Mingle a little veteran experience with the baby Ducks, pour in the seasoning of the Coach Lanning Defense and take the PAC by storm. Georgia, BYU, WSU and Utah offensive schemes and talent will push the D to the limit. The D may need to win 2 of those games. The difference between 10-2 and 8-4 could be a few key pieces.

Injuries from the first three games, especially to starters, will be or could be problematic going into conference play. It normally requires all hands on deck for the Ducks when battling the Cougars in Pullman. 2022 will be no different. Team confidence will be critical depending on a 2-1 or 1-2 start. The character of the team will be taking shape and all the 2021 experience will be on display. Good or bad.......

Annie, thanks for posting the list. It's always fun to see what others feel or perceive the future to be With the unrestricted transfer portal in play by April 30th the top 10 could change dramatically. Then change again by September 1st. Much to ponder and discuss. The only constants are Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State and maybe Clemson. OBD's must string 3 or 4 seasons of 13-0 or 12-1 to break into that club.

Why or why not......... It's difficult for me to think the Ducks can duplicate the result in the shoe against the Bulldogs. As Jon points out, the tOSU defense was not elite. It was the perfect storm for the Ducks to pull the upset. Don't get me wrong, the Ducks earned that great victory. They can certainly equal the effort and execute a masterful game plan against Georgia. However that may not be enough. Their is no reason to believe the Bulldogs will have a let down in 2022. We can only hope they under estimate the Ducks. Can lightning strike twice? Too many ifs at this point to feel confident about a victory. I am confident the players will give it their all. Keep the score close, hit a few bombs and play with your hair on fire. Another game in the national spot light. Go Ducks.....

Great comments with equally great perspectives from all commentors. One could be curious about a sport and give it a try. Realizing the sport is fun and stick with it. In some instances, not all, size, strength, speed, agility and power dominate the landscape. Football and basketball would be obvious examples. Many get left behind as the competition increases. Natural, God given talent is a big plus. Couple that with a desire to excel and the willingness to put in the time to be the best and great things can happen. These young men and women who compete at the college level have poured their blood, sweat and tears to reach their elite status. It isn't by chance, it's by effort and design. But for me it's passion. Pure passion. When I was very young I had a curiosity and desire for the foolish game of golf. After my first 18 hole round (age 😎 I had a passion for the game. It became a love affair. From age 14 to about age 35 I would shoot between 67 and 75 each round. However, I was not competitive. Never played on a high school or college golf team. I simply was passionate for the game. That passion is what keeps me playing 6 decades after I started. It cannot be quenched. Must be love because I rarely break 90, anymore. But teeing up at sunrise, challenging the course is as exciting today as it was in 1960. The fond memories of family, friends and customers never wanes. IMHO, the players and coaches have passion and a love for their sports. They work hard, sacrifice and compete to excel. It's within us all, not just sports. It all walks of life......

Duck1972, great question and ponder point. The thread has some excellent and diverse opinions and comments. As a fan, I would hope the new coaching staff will and can assess the strengths and weaknesses of the players. Then teach, train and coach the player weaknesses into strengths. The previous staff may have tried to focus on player development. However the QB talent must have missed many practice sessions. Or the talent is/was unable to be developed. So many facets to player development, especially for the QB position. Should we air it out? With a diverse, well balanced offense, led by a confident, prepared QB then yes. Question is do we have that QB in the room? Can that QB be developed to lead a well balanced offense? Spring ball will tell us alot. Personally the other side of the coin is more concerning. Can the coaches teach this talent? How will they handle in game adjustments? More questions, few answers. So much fun to ponder. Answers coming soon, just not soon enough.

Charles, as always thanks for another great topic to ponder. The whole Taggart, MC experience is difficult to digest, as a fan. Makes me appreciate the continuity of head coaches we had from Brooks thru MH. We were truly fortunate. MC was always going to Miami and I would call him a bold face liar to his face, if he said or implied otherwise. His crowning coaching jewel, the win in the shoe, set it all in motion. The Hurricane boosters, with deep pockets, had to have this coach now. So the check books flew open. But it set in motion the Ducks getting a young, top notch DC as a coach. Let's hope he can become an equally top notch HC.

Joshua, I agree it would be nice to see JB stay with the program. Even though 2020 Spring Practice was cut short due to the pandemic this is his 3rd spring session. However, if he stays this summer will his 3rd full summer session. This young man has 3 or 4 years eligibility remaining. By this time he should have his grown man's body. I truly believe their is one hec of a QB within that young man. And somebody is going to get the benefit of his talent and knowledge. I am afraid that once he gets his degree he will transfer. He will not last long in the portal if he enters it. The big question, to this point, does JB have enough QB IQ or was the previous staff inept at developing his talent?

Joshua you are on target that bringing in Nix was a good move by Coach Lanning. Under the bright or dark shadow of the transfer portal the QB room could change again after spring ball. In or out...........