Charles Fischer

Whoever wins this series is in a much better position to win the conference, thus important for both teams. The No. 9 Bastard Beavers are coming off a four-out-of-five-game losing skid, and will be primed and ready to take us on in Corvallis. Let's Go Ducks! Oregon has six players batting over .300 and three knocking on the door at .292 to .300, thus the potential is there!

When a great player is recruited, nobody has any idea if he will be in the top group at his position or not. Bowens is a redshirt freshman, and could probably see too many people at his position, some of which may have moved ahead of him already. And then we have the true freshmen DL coming in... Whoever is at the bottom of a depth chart--will transfer. It is something I have to get used to still, but it is the reality when so many are being recruited.

Nix Selected 12th Overall by Broncos EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon quarterback Bo Nix was selected by the Denver Broncos with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday night. Nix becomes the seventh Duck quarterback ever to be drafted in the first round, joining Justin Herbert (2020), Marcus Mariota (2015), Joey Harrington (2002), Akili Smith (1999), Chris Miller (1987) and George Shaw (1955). Oregon has now had a first-round pick in five straight NFL Drafts, with Nix following Herbert (2020), Penei Sewell (2021), Kayvon Thibodeaux (2022) and Christian Gonzalez (2023). Oregon now has 22 total first-round picks in program history, including 10 since 2013 and 13 since 2000. Nix becomes the first Duck ever to be taken by the Broncos in the first round and the 10th overall to be drafted by Denver, reuniting with former center Alex Forsyth who was a seventh-round pick in 2023. The fourth Heisman Trophy finalist in program history and fourth Duck to be named the conference offensive player of the year, Nix put together one of the greatest seasons ever by an Oregon quarterback in 2023 to cap his collegiate career. He led the nation in passing touchdowns (45) while ranking second in passing yards per game (322.0), passing yards (4,508) and passer rating (188.32), and he set a new NCAA single-season record with a stellar 77.45 completion percentage (364-of-470). Nix set Oregon single-season records for completions, passing yards and passing touchdowns, and became the first Duck ever to surpass 4,500 passing yards in a season. He also threw just three interceptions, becoming the first FBS player since at least 2000 to record at least 45 passing touchdowns and no more than three picks in a season. A native of Pinson, Ala., Nix left Oregon as the program’s all-time leader in completion percentage at 74.9% (658-of-879), and he is the only UO quarterback ever to post a completion percentage of 70.0 or better in a season, also doing so in 2022 (71.9, 294-of-409). Despite playing just two seasons in Eugene, Nix also ranks third in program history in career completions (658), third in passing touchdowns (74) and fifth in passing yards (8,101). Nix was also the winner of the 2023 William V. Campbell Trophy, presented to the nation’s top scholar-athlete for the best combination of academic success, athletic performance and exemplary leadership. Oregon All-Time First Round Picks 2024 – QB Bo Nix, No. 12 (Denver Broncos) 2023 – DB Christian Gonzalez, No. 17 (New England Patriots) 2022 – DE Kayvon Thibodeaux, No. 5 (New York Giants) 2021 – OT Penei Sewell, No. 7 (Detroit Lions) 2020 – QB Justin Herbert, No. 6 (Los Angeles Chargers) 2016 – DE DeForest Buckner, No. 7 (San Francisco 49ers) 2015 – QB Marcus Mariota, No. 2 (Tennessee Titans) 2015 – DT Arik Armstead, No. 15 (San Francisco 49ers) 2013 – OLB Dion Jordan, No. 3 (Miami Dolphins) 2013 – OG Kyle Long, No. 20 (Chicago Bears) 2008 – RB Jonathan Stewart, No. 13 (Carolina Panthers) 2006 – DT Haloti Ngata, No. 12 (Baltimore Ravens) 2002 – QB Joey Harrington, No. 3 (Detroit Lions) 1999 – QB Akili Smith, No. 3 (Cincinnati Bengals) 1996 – DB Alex Molden, No. 11 (New Orleans Saints) 1987 – QB Chris Miller, No. 13 (Atlanta Falcons) 1976 – DB Mario Clark, No. 18 (Buffalo Bills) 1975 – TE Russ Francis, No. 16 (New England Patriots) 1972 – WR Ahmad Rashad, No. 4 (St. Louis Cardinals) 1972 – OT Tim Drougas, No. 22 (Baltimore Colts) 1968 – DB Jim Smith, No. 12 (Washington) 1955 – QB George Shaw, No. 1 (Baltimore Colts)

If anyone else can jump in... Here is a link to the picks... Picks thus far... 1. Caleb Williams to Chicago Bears 2. Jayden Daniels to Washington Commanders 3. Drake Maye to New England Patriots 4. Marvin Harrison to Arizona Cardinals 5. Joe Alt, Offensive Tackle with only one sack allowed in two seasons to the Los Angeles Chargers 6. Malik Nabers, WR to NY Giants 7. JC Latham, OL, to Tennessee Titans 8. Michael Penix to Atlanta Falcons 9. Rome Odunze to Chicago Bears 10. J.J. McCarthy to my Minnesota Vikings (AAAGH!) 11. Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OL, to NY Jets 12. Bo Nix to Denver! 13. Brock Bowers to the Las Vegas Raiders 14. Taliese Fuaga, OL from Oregon State, to New Orleans Saints 15.

See the thread below and give us your thoughts on the NFL Draft.

Agreed.

A very nice article indeed, and he brings up some good points--especially about being a few plays away from Lanning being 26-1, instead of 22-5. Those few plays--make the difference. Can Oregon get it done in 2024?

And he does not know the direction of the Willamette River flowing? THE river that connects us and have in common? Trust me...the Beavers know water...

Unfortunately, he might be on a "Bag" tour; whoever provides the biggest bag? He has visited Oregon and knows us, but this is not looking so promising as the other day.

In case anyone may think my post above is a bit cruel....note the actual picture below at a Civil War Baseball game a few years back, taken by FishDuck Photographer Kevin Cline.

Even the Beavers know their marketing has sucked, since the primary purpose was show that they were the "Anti-Oregon," option, and that has clearly not worked. What do you do when there is NO excitement about your athletics? Players leaving like a slowly dying, bleeding-out wounded soldier...how can you promote your football program to the country? Perhaps SYMPATHY? (Although stealing 30 million from Oregon has worked pretty well) Yeah! That could work...generating sympathy can't be any worse than what they've done? How about... When the chosen of CFB were Raptured to the Heaven of the Power-4, Oregon State was... I know...I'm brutal.

Oram's article about the OSU Spring Game brought him hate, and this one will bring even more. Be like Oregon? They can't, as they hate us and insist on poor marketing and promotion...which got them to this place. The difference in the Spring Games exemplifies the savvy, or lack of it by the athletic administration of each school. It illustrates why both schools are in the spot they are...and yet Oregon is supposed to help OSU further according to John Canzano? Over 30 million taken from Oregon over the next ten years, and bailing out their media contract with a Civil War in Corvallis? I could feel sorry for them if they weren't stealing from us, and they would hate us no matter what we did for them. The thought of even a fraction of a cent of my State of Oregon tax dollar going to support them makes me ill. What should we do?

Completely agree. And you can now put Mariota in that category since he recently admitted he lost his confidence as Joey did. (Because they both got the heck beaten out of them)

The answer given by the president to John, in reference to helping helping Oregon State made me want to hurl. Of course, you must make their problem, our problem! As if 30 million and rescheduling isn’t enough? So weak, so....

Agreed about McCarthy, but also think Drake Mayes is going to be a big hit in a few years.

Great diversity of opinions here, and I love it. I completely disagree with most of you, but I enjoy seeing other perspectives and learning from others. And we disagree without getting personal; it is rare on the web! Savor our community....

I didn't say the situation was ideal overall, but just that not everything would be as bad as so many here projected. We do not know yet all the negative directions this will go, but we also do not know all the positive directions things will go either. Like NIL.

A year or so back...when everyone was wringing their hands and gnashing their teeth about how NIL was going to ruin college football forever, and how this was the beginning of the end....I brought up in this forum that an ancillary positive benefit of NIL would be to encourage players to stay an extra year, and not declare for the NFL draft early. It wasn't going to be all-bad... It would help the player get paid more that next year if they were projected to be a low round draft pick, and it would help the player climb higher in the draft after his senior year. But it also would help the NFL having more seasoned players coming to them, and goodness knows how it helps CFB teams have MUCH better teams, thus a more entertaining product on the field. Oregon has tons of those examples in this year, and in the 2025 NFL class that is remaining behind for another year. Terrance Ferguson is going benefit himself and Oregon by Staying What are the pundits now saying? Why Early draft Declarations are Declining Since college athletes have been permitted to profit off their name, image and likeness, early entries to the NFL Draft have been on a decline. Fifty-eight underclassmen declared for this year’s draft, the lowest total since 2010 and down from 130 three years ago. Doesn't seem like a coincidence. Scott Dochterman investigated the trend in a story last week that left me with one overwhelming takeaway, summed up here with my emphasis added: Said Brad Heinrichs, CEO of Iowa’s NIL collective: “The NFL practice squad pay is around $200,000 per year. … If a kid can get anywhere in the ballpark of that by staying in school, it can make a ton of sense for them if they are projected to be a late-round pick. The NIL money is guaranteed. In the NFL, you can get cut at any time.” It’s a good point and probably the source of internal debate among athletes projected to be mid- to late-round picks in the draft. So, how should we feel about it? I'm all for seeing our favorite players stay in college through the end of their eligibility. Sure, the NFL may have to adjust, but giving players more power in their decision-making feels like a net positive to me. ----------------------------------------------------------- Does this begin to tilt your thoughts about NIL?

Over on the Athletic, it is being reported that NFL scouts and teams are beginning to figure out what we've known all along; Caleb Williams is a spoiled, entitled, yet incredibly talented player. If he had an attitude like Bo Nix, then could win Super Bowls, IMHO. But don't think it will even take a year with his new team to lose the fans and the locker room. IMHO, he will run through several NFL teams before he either locks in enough money and bows out, or finally grows and changes his ways. Below is a little of what was written... ------------------------------------------------------------ In Bruce Feldman’s annual NFL Draft confidential file, multiple coaches and scouts questioned Williams’ NFL readiness as a person, not a player. Some choice quotes, each from a different coach/scout: “I think Caleb has a chance to be very good, but I’m not sure about the wiring. For me, it’s how motivated he is to just win.” “He gives off a Russell Wilson vibe with this lack of self-awareness. ‘I’m kind of above everybody.’” “I like Caleb as a player, but the locker room part of it concerns me … he’s going to have to understand the difference in where he’s at and how he’s been treated to being the quarterback in an NFL locker room.” And then there was an interview on the “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast, in which an NFL scout is quoted worrying about Williams crying after a loss last year. The direct quote: "Raw emotion is great, but Caleb's thing? That was ridiculous to me. That threw up major red flags. ... I will tell you, he scares the sh—t out of a lot of NFL teams too.” ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Would YOU draft Caleb Williams? You could miss the best ever, or... Yet the writer came back and stated this was all nonsense, that Chicago will draft him No. 1 tomorrow night. Would YOU?

Have a hanky handy to wipe the drool! (I'd watch it on YouTube)

Even the biggest suck-up to Beavis, John Canzano admitted.... --------------------------------------------------------------- Football is going to drive the narrative this fall, however. It’s why the on-field performance of Bray’s team is vital. The Beavers have almost no margin. They can not fade on the field. It’s why the actual play, not the window dressing was more interesting to me on Saturday. How did OSU look? (In their Spring Game) Smallish. Slowish. The quarterbacks aren’t ready. The offensive line wasn’t great. --------------------------------------------------------------- That does not sound like an 11-1 season upcoming....

The word on another site is that, "this will happen quickly." I do not place much credibility on someone who claims to have inside knowledge, but it is a very nice thought. The big guy (No. 41) swallows them up...

The right spot is more important than his draft ranking, and I hope he finds a good matchup.

I wonder how Beavis fans feel after getting absolute confirmation that they are a G-5 team, and a stolen 300 million doesn't change it?