Charles Fischer

My apologies, as I've been busy today and have not got to the Oregon Media Press Releases until now. The Ducks are now one of 12 Semi-finalists for the Joe Moore Award for the nations best offensive line. I could not believe what I came directly from the committee below! From the JMA Committee: "Man, these dudes out here on the West Coast are trying to hurt people’s feelings. Like it's personal to them. They play with a physicality and finish to them that is glorious to watch. They’ve become a JMA mainstay due to their steady play and ability to grind on teams in the run game." "They look to punish and pile drive in pass pro, and display a level of physicality that is rare in today’s college game. Fun unit with the goods to advance, if not win it." Wowsa. What you see above is something Brooks or Bellotti could not recruit to, and Cristobal could not develop or properly utilize. Such laurels from the people studying the offensive lines nationally? I have never read anything like that read about Oregon before...good gosh we have something special going on! Below is the rest of the press release: Oregon’s offensive line has been among the nation’s very best in 2023, leading the FBS with just four sacks allowed and tying for third with only 32 tackles for loss allowed. The Ducks are the nation’s top-graded pass-blocking team by Pro Football Focus at 89.7, while ranking second with a 94.2 rushing grade. UO has picked up where it left off in 2022 – when the Ducks led the nation with just five sacks allowed – despite having to replace four starters on the offensive line. The O-line has set the tone for an offense that leads the nation in scoring (46.3 PPG), first downs per game (26.8) and fewest turnovers (4), while ranking second in total offense (540.0 YPG), yards per rush (6.16) and total yards per play (7.84). Oregon has dominated the Joe Moore Award Pancake Block of the Week honor this season, with three different Ducks combining to win five times. Jackson Powers-Johnson has won three times, while Ajani Cornelius and Steven Jones each won it once. (Mr. FishDuck note--these pancakes are what is bringing the syrup!) Powers-Johnson has been one of the nation’s elite centers in his first season as the starter, ranking second at the position with a 90.2 pass-blocking grade from PFF while leading Oregon with 31 total knockdowns. He also ranks fifth among all centers in overall grade (78.8) and sixth in run blocking (77.5). Jones is the highest-graded pass-blocking guard in the Pac-12 at 90.9 by PFF, ranking fourth among all FBS guards. As a team, Oregon has allowed just 30 quarterback hurries and 36 total pressures in 10 games. The Ducks are one of just 11 teams to start the same five players on the offensive line in every game this season.

Moore has thrown three pick-sixes this season. Throws too flat way too often, IMHO. Don't like his body language... Only bring in a QB transfer if he is an experienced, proven QB, IMHO, considering the roster damage it could do. But then...

The single most important thing Mullens ever did was hiring Lanning. Our gripes about Rob should end immediately, because he did not do just one thing right... He did the most important thing right for the entire athletic program.

As reported by OregonLive....he has 7 million a year, with a million in deferred compensation, meaning it is actually EIGHT million a year. If he wins either of the next two games--he has a year added to the contract at 8.2 million. That doesn't suck.

Well, if his youngest son is age 10, then that means another seven years?

Of course you know David, that I lapped up every word of your article, and savored every sweet tingle I received as I read it. No love from me for the Trojans! Trying to emerge again USC? Here, let me help...

I don't buy that crap anymore...but then my home situation is changing which may have something to do with my change of attitude. Let's just say that with my limited time left on earth--my objectives will not be centered around making a woman happy.

Put the link in the post, have a space above it and below it. When you publish--the article box will appear. Or...to attach a link to a word, or set of words? Copy the URL, highlight the words, make them bolded, with italics and underlined, (by clicking on the B, I, U in the dashboard of the post) then click on the chain link, insert the URL link in the box that appeared, and click to finish...and done. Just a couple of clicks! Anyone halfway skilled at their job can do this easily, and I can say that as I am tech-impaired and have been able to learn and then create directions over a 14 hour period one weekend.

This is the relevant stuff from Canzano's daily column, and John has interviewed Lanning and his parents at length in the past. "Dan Lanning to Texas A&M?!? Have you met the guy? Know anything about his family? Talked with his parents?" "Lanning is not leaving Oregon anytime soon. Given the heavy emphasis on the transfer portal and NIL, he’s sitting in one of the best jobs in college football. Also, he has the benefit of knowing how undesirable things got for Chip Kelly, Willie Taggart and Mario Cristobal almost immediately after they left Eugene. Taggart and Cristobal went home to Florida. Kelly left for the NFL. They had their reasons, but I’m struggling to see logic in Lanning leaving for any job that isn’t a no-brainer. And Texas A&M isn’t one. Keep in mind, Lanning grew up in the suburbs of Kansas City on 6.54 acres. His alma mater is William Jewell College, a Division II football school. UO doesn’t have to worry about his former college luring him away. But more importantly, he and his wife, Sauphia have moved seven times in the last 13 years. I suspect Lanning will address the Texas A&M rumors on Monday night in his weekly news conference. I’d be surprised if he didn’t put the uncertainty to rest. In July, Oregon extended his contract and gave the coach a sizable bump in pay and additional job security. Lanning told me at the time that one of the family priorities was to see their three boys grow up and graduate from the same high school. I’d bet we get see that in Eugene."

Fun from the game...

Great observation and reminder. Since we have the No.1 offense in the nation--it is a real concern. Yet, now that his expertise is established...why would Stein leave? He will not get better talent at TAMU, and I doubt the same supporting staff as good around him. And if the next step is to be HC someday...he can do that from Oregon pretty easily. (As Dilly proved)

EVERY job that comes up FOREVER will have Dan mentioned as a candidate. We have get calloused up as Oregon fans; listen and take a nap.

It gets back to where he is comfortable; is he happy at Oregon? Now, this is yours-truly talking, but does it really matter that much whether you get 7 million from Oregon a year versus 10 million a year from TAMU? Yeah, I know the math, but you are still going to be independently wealthy quickly where ever you go. So if you are set either way...so where are you happy?

So cool to see the patterns materialize in the video as you diagrammed. Talk about perfect execution! Whew! Thank you Coach Boles.

There is also another component in all of this, and one that few outside Oregon would know; the coaching curse for those who leave Oregon to become head coaches elsewhere. For some reason...it rarely works out, with Andy Avalos being the latest victim.

We remember the misses, naturally, and not the makes. But last year at the end of the bowl game--we score with almost no time remaining and it is 27-27 with the PAT to go. Now keep in mind that Lewis has been kicking the PATs right down the middle. But this was a game-winner, and he got the yips. He kicked it, and it bounced off the upright, but went in. Remember the "Chunk" sound?

When I am coming out of the Mo Center...I am focused on getting into Autzen and into my seat. So, as a 37 year ticket holder....and I did not know. Very cool, Annie!

"Lanning is full of swag and confidence, whereas Mario always looks confused and scared. Oregon would beat us by 40." You cannot imagine how happy this makes me. You would not believe the emails I received from Miami fans who were so much smarter than Oregon fans...

I had not thought of it that way, and it is an astute observation. Thanks, as I need to add that to my B1G perception. (I am new at thinking about us and B1G!) Yet, Oregon could mess that strategy up when Danimal stacks great recruiting classes up, and can play toe-to-toe with those two. Oh yeah. B1G still wins, as they got us at a discount.

This. It started with Cam's first game at Auburn when Bo was the Tiger QB.

I am blown away by their season. They started the season with QB depth that I drooled at...three QBs! Now they are left with scoring only seven points on ASU? Whew!