HappyToBeADuck

He will be the big fish in the little pond at Arizona.....He should be their top recruit this cycle The offense will feature him and he will have eye popping numbers for scouts to drool over. Just like Pittman and hoped to be at Oregon Arizona football is on the rise and they just added a potential new star. The ball will come his way often when he is on the field. No reflection on Coach Lanning but he doesn't have an offensive vision yet in place for recruits to grasp.

There truly is no explanation. Hanging our hats on, AB gives us the best chance to win, is okay on a week to week basis. So the coaches are telling us that the 3 young QB's didn't develop enough from spring ball to December 3rd, to get a start? Okay, fair enough. But you're telling me they didn't develop enough to get more than a smattering of game time plays? Or none at all? Here's my bold take away........ You coaches are either terrible judges of talent (that can happen) or you lack the talent and ability to develop one, two or three..... Since Marcus departed and the gift of Justin was squandered please coaches, name me one QB you developed. I am all ears............. Coach Lanning appears to be building the staff that can teach and coach all the players....... Dear Santa please bring Oregon football team the best QB coach available........ Honey have you mailed my Christmas gift wish list off to Santa yet? Got one more wish to add.

Charles, great food for thought...... As I read this article, still wiping my sleepy eyes, I realized a few things at 4:30 am. My thoughts will probably not sit well with the diehards. I apologize in advance.... It wasn't Christmas Eve, after all. So I ate the cookies I left out for Santa. Guess the wife was right, again. I got that same bitter taste in my mouth after reading your superb article. The same bitter taste I get from all your articles pertaining to the MC Era offense. The same bitter taste after watching the offense under perform. How could a coach who loves football and supposedly loved Oregon (debatable for sure) methodically destroy the beauty of the Oregon offense? Recognize that beauty and still break it to pieces? How could I have been so deceived? I was sold hook line and sinker.... Yet, I sat and watched the slow, methodical killing. And still believed what I heard over what I saw. Worse, how did super talented youngsters watch games with their eyes and then be sold by the empty promises from MC. Not the only sales pitching HC to do this. Then it struck me! This salesmen brought 3 of Oregons top recruiting talent to the field. MC deserves very little credit for those 37 wins. The youngsters, coupled with their superb talent, deserve the lions share of credit. MC had coached them down. They succeeded in spite of the coach speak and in game weaknesses...... All those wins, PAC crowns and the Rose Bowl win kept the con alive. The zenith of the con was in the shoe. Nothing was held back in every aspect of the game. A thing of beauty. For a con man, the cherry on top of the whipped cream . My faith was restored. Maybe yours, too Then everything fell flat, game after game. The team was not the same. What the hec. The new con was in play. All the illusion, the emptiness of 37 wins had paid off...... The dream job came calling. The con man could go home........ Sorry for the rant. Charles and many on this forum saw this happening. They called MC and the different OC's out in articles and post. Yet I still believed the illusion because of the results. Now that bitter taste has turned to indigestion. Down right stomach ache. Not sure if it was from the cookies or pondering on MC 's offense and empty words. Can't be the cookies. Hec I have downed a dozen cookies before. Many times and no indigestion.....

Thanks 30Duck for posting that article. Love the part about developing quarterbacks. The fulfillment of the promise of the talent on offense, as we all know, lays in the development of those young QB's....... Well we all know it. Since Marcus graduated, no one on the staffs has developed a QB. Vernon Adam's came ready made. A gift...... We all know that the generational talent of Justin was squandered by the staff. Or the staff couldn't see what they had and develop Justin, or any QB, to their full potential. Maybe the tide will turn?

I hope Coach Lanning brings in a QB experienced in the offensive system that they want to run. Not to hold the 3 young freshmen back in anyway. But as insurance. It would be disappointing to discover in the Georgia game that the youngsters can't cut it. Double disappointing to not have a back up plan. Sounds like it's going to be exciting.

IMHO, they all matter Oregon has 13 games that are a priority. As Just Ducky said All of them. One at a time Plan, prepare, focus and execute each game, as the biggest game of the year. No exceptions.. .... I sure hope Coach Lanning brings in a high quality, experienced QB, via the portal. I would hate to find out during the Georgia game that our 3 young QB's didn't get playing time this season for a reason. Otherwise Georgia will rip that bandaid right off in game 1. Maybe that would be best for growth.

Drake you last sentence says it all... What could go wrong? That might be the strongest ponder point for this group. All the what could go wrongs will probably unfold right before our eyes.....

Jon thanks for getting the ball rolling on this topic. My take is, as others, it's a long way to February. I admire and respect players who are willing to wait to decide. Giving Coach Lanning and staff a chance to present their vision. If that vision and plan don't fit then they move on to the next choice Oregon has some obvious holes to fill. Right now...... Transfer portal is another big tool in a HC's arsenal. Just look at the Spartans and the Beavs. Unfortunately for the Spartans, their are some big boys ahead of them in the BIG. Oregon has no big boys ahead of them in the PAC. It's there for the taking. Just fill in the blanks, coach em up and let em play.

What a confusing and disappointing end to a once sky's the limit season. I would ask the coach, how much fun are the players having sitting on the bench? Don't understand this.......... I wonder if the young QB's can't wrap their heads around the JM offensive scheme? Or maybe they can't execute the plays? Wasting another opportunity for growth in another wasted game. Just realized my basement expectations are Rose Bowl or New Years Six Bowl......

Thanks David for the article. Showing both sides of the loyalty coin opens up a number of ponder points. I wonder how much the make up or personality of the coach plays into loyalty. After all the very nature of coaching is akin to dating, building a relationship, then marriage and with rare exception ends in divorce. Coaches and schools are doing nothing more than dating until theirs enough mutual trust to form a relationship. From the moment a young coach gets started all the parts are moving. Most start as a GA, then move to be a position coach, As the dating continues, the good ones can become OC or DC. Now we have a better relationship. From GA to OC/DC who you date or build a relationship with can change instantly. Examples: HC gets fired (dating over) OC/DC becomes HC, most of the time at a different school. You get an invite to join their staff. (New chance to date someone new and begin a new relationship. New HC comes in and doesn't want to date you. You're out looking for a new date. Their are many more examples but just look at the dating Saban and Jimbo Fisher did before they got their current HC gig. Neither gave or received loyalty. Both played the dating game, extensively. Google their coaching journey..... Saban is in a long term marriage. No divorce in sight. But Saban for 20 years had roving eyes for what he wanted. Bama filled that desire. You would have thought Jimbo Fisher would have stayed at FSU after winning a Natty. But a new, prettier suitor with a boatload of money came a calling. At no point in his coaching pedigree has he been loyal. A & M can expect no loyalty, nor will they give any unless the marriage is super successful. Dabo Sweeny is a different animal. Played at Bama, I believe. Started the dating game their as a GA. Then different position coach. Clemson came a courting and he got his opportunity. An opportunity that could not happen at Bama with Saban there. Looks like a marriage with no divorce in sight. These 3 coaches are extremely successful..... I wish this success on Coach Lanning at Oregon. Win and the check book will be wide open. Will Coach Lanning, after he builds success, want a marriage with his first great suitor. ??????? Lose, or miss expectations and just as you mentioned, David, Oregon will end the relationship. Just ask MH. Their will be no loyalty. Then all the assistant and position coaches will be looking for a new date. Oregon, too.....

Well, we don't need a basket case like UM. Geez he's worse than my little terrior puppy.... 10 pounds of crazy in a 5 gallon bucket...... We need a coach who can hire a quality staff, recruit at highest level including staff and effectively coach the players. Then win it all. Hope Coach Lanning is that HC.....

Thank you Coach Justin Wilcox for having the academic prowess to decline the offer. The Oregon HC position has become and will forever be a pressure cooker position.

Thanks Coach Boles for taking the time to put the article and clips together. Thanks 81DuckAlum for showing those scoring comparisons. While I personally don't concern myself with the unknown it's not easy to dismiss the scoring stats. How critical is player talent, development, scheme and execution in those scoring numbers? FSU 247 Recruiting Rankings 2018 - 12 2019 - 18 2020 - 22 2021 - 22 Those ranking numbers are lower than the Ducks. They also don't account for injuries and portal transfers, in or out. The talent at Oregon is a step up from FSU.... So I asked myself a few questions after reading Coach Boles article and watching the clips...... Was the talent on the field good enough to execute and finish a high number of the play calls? Any weak links on the O Line? Was their enough depth and player leadership to overcome injuries? DId the players fully buy into the scheme and play calls? We're the players coached up enough to execute at a top level? Barring injuries and transfers, my answers........ This current roster has superior offensive talent and potential... The O Line doesn't appear to have any weak leaks The O Line is 2 deep with talent and experience...... Can't answer if the players will buy in, yet. But we haven't seen any mass transfers, yet Only the results on the field will show us how well the players are coached. This new OC hire didn't really excite me or disappoint me. This hire will be part of Coach Lannings learning curve. I am rooting for the best. One thing is certain, if the new OC can't improve on the scoring results at FSU, then many on this forum will lose alot of sleep. ESPECIALLY Charles..........

30Duck This tells me Moss was sold on MC not Oregon. Doesn't mean he signs with Miami. Gives Coach Lanning a little time to introduce his plans to Moss and family. Moss already knows what USC, Bama, ASU and Miami offer to him. Coach Lanning is getting his chance. Go Ducks.......

I imagine that Coach Lanning and Riley are going hard after the players they really want now. So many new coaches around the country that the recruits can take there time. Both coaches have an idea of which players will enter the transfer portal from the previous teams they coached. Look out after bowl season. It's gonna be some selling my services to the highest bidder.

77Duck We did avert a near disaster. MC had no culture except every man for himself. You can feel the potential with Coach Lanning.

Frosting on the cake. The Oregon cake....... Keep them coming Coach Lanning.

Thanks Charles and your team. Hungry for more..... This new chapter of Oregon Duck football is going to be an exciting ride.

Joshua, another spot on article.. Thank you! As the MC Era unfolded, game after game, I kept asking myself....... How does MC and the OC expect to get to the CFP, let alone the Natty with this type of offense? Charles and others wrote many articles on this very topic. Charles mantra of 45 points a game continues to echo in the empty halls of my brain. Let's face it, just a couple a handfuls of coaches have won the Natty, this century. Most all will not even reach the CFP. Maybe MC included. They don't have the pedigree, facilities, coaches or players. Let's face it, Cincinnati is in because a number of blue bloods are down. Which is great by the way....... Almost 50 years ago, I was privileged to coach youngsters in football. We scored alot. 5 years into the program, a couple of opposing moms came storming at me after we beat their team 46-14. In my face they yelled and criticized me for running up the score, every game. RIGHT in front of all the kids. Parents that's a no no. I asked them to give me a moment to gather my team, congratulate them and then shake hands with the other team. As the field thinned out of fans, I could see more parents gathering with the moms who confronted me. Just what I needed. Now mind you, I was very young and lacked wisdom. Hec I couldn't even spell wisdom. But I was smart enough to know these moms were scary. Some of the moms on my team were standing there, too. They bombarded me with why I continued to run up the score? My answer...... We don't run up the score. We practice plays designed to score. No matter who is on the field. The kids are playing in front of their parents, other family members and friends. They want to do well when it's there turn to play.. They want to score from the first play to the last play of every game. I play all the kids on my team. The team who scores the most points win. Our players play to win. I don't control what happens on the field. The players do. It was going well until I said it's your teams job to stop us from scoring. Then it got worse when a 13 year old player, on our team said.... Your team wouldn't have scored any points if coach hadn't told the defense to take it easy on you... Someday I will finish the rest of the story..... Point is that the team with the most points wins. Was then is now. You can win alot of games by just playing to win. You want the CFP and Natty, then it takes 3 things. Score alot of points every game. Break the morale of your opponents early and often. Every game. Then have a defense that can win games when the offense is having an off day. And have a defense that can throttle the high scoring offenses in the CFP and Natty. Lastly, you have recruited youngsters who love to play and win. Give them plays (schemes) designed to score. Designed to win the chess match of footbsll.... Then turn em loose and let em play.........

GODUCKS 15 Could points. Risk is a gamble that usually has only 2 sides. Win or lose. The journey that Lanning takes between now and the fall, is the tell that fills expectations. So much to follow from early signing day, staff hires, especially OC and QB coach, portal transfer moves, late signing day and spring ball. During that time we will begin to see Coach Lannings vision and plan. Lots to look forward to, ponder, criticize or praise. This is fun. The final stir of the drink is game day. Seeing how the plan is executed. Because I am like coach, from the first moment I put on pads in the early sixties to this day...... I still get excited when I hear the word, football. Hec I bet some of you, maybe many of you can still smell the grass.

Haywardduck..... You said the magic words Player Development...... BYU's 2021 recruiting ranking was 71. They developed their players. This year they currently sit at 51. Back to back 10 win seasons. Check out Fresno State, SDSU and Utah States rankings. Those coaches do more with less with their player development. Maybe Mario, learned from his time at FIU that he better recruit higher talent, if he wanted long term success Because now after 7 total years as HC, his track record shows very little player development. Did anyone see any improvement from KT this season. Young man should have dominated everything he stepped on the field. Did he?

Darren, that article sums it all up. Nice breakdown. Those previous players were loyal to a fellow Duck and the nostalgia of a wonderful past. Like going home for the holidays. Fond memories, the safety of family. (Well most families) The steps to win a Natty are not safe. High stake gambles with more risk than rewards. No fond family memories because the National Championship has not yet been ours to bring home. Sure Coach Lanning is a risk. You want a Natty, you take risks. As for Coach leaving. It's part of the business. If Coach Lanning is offered a job as HC at Bama, Georgia, Ohio State ? Well maybe its because the Ducks beat them on the field in the Natty. Excited that we took that risk.

Charles, as I listened to Coach Lanning speak at his introductory press conference, I was very energized and excited for the future of Duck football. When the media started asking questions I was certain the first question would be about his plans to improve the scoring by the offense. Especially when Coach mentioned explosion plays in his talk. Considering that all those media members had written articles or discussed on the radio shows how lacking the Duck offense was. Lack of scoring was a big topic, all season long. Why cover the sport if you won't ask the questions that are pertinent. The media and fans alike suffered thru the offense not being able to get first downs or score to close out games. Coach Lanning would have answered any question that addressed the elephant in the room.

Nice article to start the day with. Just too good of an athlete to play for the little puppies. Would love to see that big youngster in any of Oregons many uniforms.

No matter how good Coach Lanning's defense gets the Oregon offense must improve. It must.... Even the best 2021 defense (Georgia) got blown away by Bama's offense. Utah demolished our offense, twice...... goodness, twice! Where did the offense go? 30 points a game plus couldn't muster 10 points in either game. Even if the Oregon D had played great and held Utah to 10 points, we still lose. Still turns my stomach. I am excited for the future of the Oregon defense. But the talent on this offense needs an injection of energy with heavy doses of coaching. The Oregon offense should outscore 10 of our opponents in 2022. The other 2 games the defense needs to save the day. Go Ducks.