Charles Fischer

My FishDuck Friends....sometimes Our Beloved Ducks make mistakes, especially in the heat-of-battle. We make them, and yet the star Tight End for the opponent drops a key pass; mistakes happen to both sides. But this is great information that I appreciate from Coach Cristobal. Question: You guys have been so consistent on special teams, but a couple of mistakes there. On the punt block, can you help diagnose what happened there, and then was there an issues with the snap on Camden’s extra point? He’s just been so consistent. I was curious if anything took place there. Cristobal: "None at all. The blocked punt is inexcusable. Miscount by the shield. The right shield. It’s a very simple count and just miscounted it. Really really upset with that one, but we’ll fix it. At the end of the day if we didn’t get it done, we’ve got to take that on as an entire organization to get better at it. The missed extra point was just, hit it poorly. Bottom line. He followed that by a kickoff that uncharacteristically went out of bounds. Now, what did we see after that? A really good extra point that split the uprights and we saw a ball get kicked eight yards deep in the end zone. You never want mistakes. We know that. But you also want to see the type of response you get out of a player. I thought Cam responded really well after the missed extra point." From 247 on interception in the end zone. 10/25/2021 Erik Skopil

My FishDuck Friends...there is some good information below for discussion! Question: I realize Forsyth’s injury may have factored into this a little bit but you started Bass at left tackle and then you had some other shifting around a little bit. Was that anything more than just Forsyth being out? Cristobal: "A lot of it had to do with Forsyth being out and then trying to keep… we don’t have our lineman on a pitch count, but we were a little bit banged up and we were figuring out those pieces. It would take all day to explain that on this conference call, so I’ll spare you the boring details, but we felt that we were going to have a nice rotation of guys that had played beside each other, maybe in different spots. But the matchups were going to fit, what we were running schematically was going to fit as well. Just watching tape it… I mean you had some guys grade out really, really high. That’s hard stuff to block. I know I mentioned it before, I used the term Star Was to describe their defense because, I know some of you guys probably are probably too young to remember Star Wars, was a good movie back in the day, but it comes in all kinds of different ways at you, and you’ve got to have tremendous eye discipline and you’re reaction time has got to be instantaneous. Those guys did a really good job of protecting the quarterback for the most part." Question: Going back to the offensive line. I wanted to ask about Dawson and just how valuable it was to have a guy like that who could jump into both guard spots and perform at a really high level for you guys. Cristobal: "He’s a Swiss army knife guy. That’s what he is. All tools. He’s got them all. He can snap. He also plays right tackle and left tackle. The best part about it is that we teach our lineman to learn the game from he inside out, meaning at the center position you have to know what the front is, what certain points mean on certain plays, all that kind of stuff. Being able to redirect stuff, readjust stuff, repoint stuff. He understands the game that way from the inside out and he’s gotten snaps at every single one of those positions. He’s been here a long time, been through a lot, battled some injuries, has developed his body. He’s become an excellent football player and his value was tremendous on Saturday." Question: Does he do anything that makes him more versatile and more valuable in that fluid role than the other guys? If that makes sense. Cristobal: "I think he just earned it. There’s a lot of other guys who we have that play their positions really well. We have some guys who have more flexibility than others. Guys that are older typically do, right? A little more flexibility than others. He’s just really, really smart. He understands leverage. He understands hat position. He has really good foot and body quickness. He uses his hands well, very technical. His power is getting better all the time. Now the mullet, that’s a whole different conversation, but aside from that, just a lot of positives with him and his development." Question: You really had to mix and match the offensive line a bit that last game because of some injuries and what not. But, I though they were pretty stout. What was your evaluation now that you’ve had a chance to look at that film? Cristobal: "Coach Mirabal and the offensive line did a great job. We’ve had some guys who have been banged up or dinged up and we shuffled some guys around. Other guys had also earned some playing time. We wanted to get those guys in the game as well. The one thing that was a surprise was the pregame issue with Alex Forsyth and we adjusted. The guys went in there and played their tails off. They really did. You have to. Understand that this outfit that we played brings so much pressure and even brought more pressure than we expected, more than they usually do. In the form of sometimes plus one pressures, where they’d have more guys coming than you could block. So you have to sift some stuff and you have to get a hand on two guys with one of your offensive linemen just to provide enough time. I thought not only the offensive line, but Anthony Brown was really good in sometimes having to redirect protections when they were bluffing one side and bringing it from another. Overall, I’m just really proud of that group. They’re not into praise, they just want to get back to work and get better." From 247 on interception in the end zone. 10/25/2021 Erik Skopil

Thanks Haywarduck for posting this and seeing the almost invisible button that IS there, and works. We can still operate, but we have to squint!

Question: You talked about how Devon has improved his practice and obviously again another week where he has the performance and production that he had. Speak to that and how he’s made that consistent now the last couple of weeks. Not just him, but Mycah has he done things not just on the field during games, but has he taken things differently in practice to get the product that he got because that’s I think near or close to a career-high by way of receptions. Cristobal: "We’re going to keep pushing both those guys. I’m going to say that. They’re continuing to things in practice that are affording these opportunities, but there’s more in the tank. There more in the thank for both those guys. The expectation is full throttle every single day, having a determination to continue to improve and push themselves and their teammates to do whatever it takes to improve. I want to stay along those lines, because I really appreciate these two guys. I know and I watch the potential and impact that they have and to me there’s more in the tank and we’ve got to get it out of them. I’m excited for them, about them. They’re great people. They’re on their way to being great players. I want to do nothing more than to challenge them and help them in any way that we can beach look, coach McClendon he doesn’t do a good job, he does a great job with those guys. We feel like every single week they’re getting better and better because we’re demanding their best, and we’ve got to keep doing it." From 247 on interception in the end zone. 10/25/2021 Erik Skopil it is real interesting to me to see what happens with these two receivers, but both, especially Williams, has been known to shine and then disappear. Thoughts?

Chris Duarte from Oregon Pacers is having a superb start to his NBA career with the Pacers. Pretty cool Shake n Bake move against a great defender in Giannis A

The Monday Mario Cristobal Press Conference was covered by most media and below is a very interesting section about Anthony Brown and this throws downfield. (Contained in an article by Erik Skopil) Question: You had 11 different players catch passes and I think probable one of the better passing days we’ve seen this season. After watching the tap, what did you see from Anthony Brown and kind of the offense as a whole that allowed you to have so much success? Coach Cristobal: "No. 1 play design. No. 2, they stack the box and with what they bring up front and the issues that they cause up front, you’re going to have to make plays in the back end. So, him being able to diagnose coverages, get the ball out on time. I believe he was 29 of 30. So he was pretty accurate on a lot of ball. Some balls he’d like to have back and of course the interceptions were ones that were not good throws. But there’s a lot of good, a lot of good plays, and a lot of really good throws that he mead that changed the game. Then he changed the game with his feet as well, on the big run and some of the other runs. Just the threat of being able to run like that also has an impact on the defense, and what you see. He also was a very good decision-maker in the running game, which also impacted the game. So, all in all, just a lot of really good execution by him, by our receivers and by our offensive line, the running backs in protection were very valuable. I’m sure you guys saw some of those clips. We starting to get more in sync. We have to show just a greater determination for executing at a higher level because there was more consistency, it’s not all the way to where it needs to be. There is progress. We’re excited about that, and it against starts with the quarterback and the guys up front." My OBD friends, this sounds like important improvement from Brown and significant flexibility by Cristobal. Thoughts?

This has not received as much press as it should and Nemec covers it well it his article, with a few other recruiting tidbits. Eighth best recruit ever in Oregon history? Whew! Rivals calls ‘5-star OL Kelvin Banks to Oregon Ducks’ One of Nation’s Biggest Recruiting Surprises by Andrew Nemec of OregonLive

Washington beat Cal in the head-to-head game.

Gosh...looking at the top two teams does my heart good. Now to keep it that way! We love your work David, so THANKS.

We have covered this subject extensively and I think everyone has been able to state their perspective. This "booing" topic is like a COVID thread, in that it quickly goes off the rails. People write things regardless of the rules, and it creates a ton of work for me, and creates disharmony among members. Thus I am locking this thread before it gets going. Everyone...don't start any more topic threads about this subject. For more examples and threads....go here and here.

It reminds of what Ol' Minnesota Viking Coach Bud Grant used to say...."to have a successful life as a football coach--you need a good wife, a good hunting dog and a good quarterback. And not in that order..." Oregon and Clemson share some similar frustrations this year. How good would Oregon be a GREAT quarterback right now? (Whew!)

I think it is a reasonable question, and if we could get a sizable lead this Saturday... Bellotti ran a two-QB system many times. (And people cannot mock you on football knowledge....see No. 4 and No. 10 in the rules as they protect you, me and everyone.)

That was incredibly funny...I burst out laughing as soon as I saw it! Thanks for prediction and the fun...

Not any "Critical Analysis" done at Oregon's own "Pravda."

Made me guffaw with that one! And thanks to everyone who inject some humor into their posts--it makes all that much more fun.

That is a great article above, and it is the offense that Mike Bellotti ran so well at Oregon because....we did not have the big-boys up front to pile-drive USC and Washington at that time, nor could we recruit the very best receivers. So...if this can work now?

I have to say that Mario's recruiting makes what was rare in the past, to now,....routine. Whew! (Press Release from Oregon Athletics) EUGENE, Ore. — Kayvon Thibodeaux has swept the Pac-12 Defensive Player and Defensive Lineman of the Week awards and Noah Sewell has repeated as the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week, the league office announced on Monday. Thibodeaux is the second player in the conference this season to win multiple awards in the same week. USC’s Jackson Dart was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player and Freshman of the Week on Sept. 20. Thibodeaux is the third different Duck this season to earn the Defensive Player of the Week, and the first UO defensive lineman to win the honor since Nick Reed in 2007. Sewell joins Utah’s Cameron Rising (Offensive, Oct. 11 - Oct. 18) as the only players in the league to win a Pac-12 honor in back-to-back weeks this season. The Ducks have now won 11 weekly conference awards this season, the most in the league. Oregon has had at least one winner six of the first eight weeks, with multiple winners on three different occasions. Kayvon Thibodeaux – Pac-12 Defensive Player & Defensive Lineman of the Week » Set career-highs with nine tackles (eight solo) and 4.5 tackles for loss in win at UCLA. » Recorded two sacks, the fourth multi-sack performance of his career and first since 2019. » Forced a fumble for the second time this season and third in his career. » First Duck with more than four TFLs in a game since Jalen Jelks on Sept. 23, 2017. » First UO player since 2007 and one of just seven in the FBS this season to have at least nine tackles, four TFLs and two sacks in a game. » Leads all Power 5 players in TFLs (31.0) since the start of the 2019 season. » Now has 16.0 career sacks. » Pro Football Focus National Team of the Week and Defensive Player of the Week. Noah Sewell – Pac-12 Freshman of the Week » Tied for the team lead at UCLA with nine tackles (six solo). » Also recorded a tackle for loss and a pass breakup. » Led or tied for the team lead in tackles for the fourth time in the last five games. » Tied for third in the Pac-12 with 63 total tackles, including 51 in the last five games. » Has registered at least four tackles in all 14 career games. » Six or more tackles in each of his last 12 games. Oregon 2021 Pac-12 Weekly Award Winners Sept. 7 – Justin Flowe (Freshman) Sept. 13 – CJ Verdell (Offensive) Sept. 13 – Alex Forsyth (Offensive Lineman) Sept. 13 – Bradyn Swinson (Defensive Lineman) Sept. 20 – Verone McKinley III (Defensive) Sept. 20 – TJ Bass (Offensive Lineman) Sept. 27 – Bennett Williams (Defensive) Oct. 18 – Noah Sewell (Freshman) Oct. 25 – Kayvon Thibodeaux (Defensive & Defensive Lineman) Oct. 25 – Noah Sewell (Freshman)

This is an extremely well thought out and written post, and yes I agree with it--but it is an example of so many posts I see from all of you on both sides of the issues. I do love reading and learning from you all...

OK...that sounds reasonable. (Until I remember that it is the EIGHTH game of the season!)

UtahDuck! I was about to drop an email to say that "I've missed you!" Your analysis is always so welcome...

A once-in-a-generation player for Oregon at a position we have not had domination at. Like you--I am going to soak it all up!

Truly...that created a LOL with me. Part of it is--I can hear you saying it in my head and that makes it even funnier!

Completely agree. I will admit to being stumped as to what to call this crazy set of frustrations and joy...and as a publisher I am reminded to NOT place a question in the title that can be answered without reading the article. Tons of people are not reading it, and that is my fault with the title. A shame, because there are some stats in there that I thought some members here would pounce on for discussion.

....about those uniforms? I love the tough win over a noble foe, but I still cannot help but wince when I see some of the pictures. And the heck of it is--the pictures are beautiful, so well done but I cannot get past those darn ugly uniforms. Your take now on them?

(Press Release from Oregon Athletics) EUGENE, Ore. – Oregon sophomore guard Te-Hina Paopao was one of 20 players named to the preseason watch list for the Nancy Lieberman Award, given annually to the top point guard in the nation. Paopao is coming off of a freshman season in which she earned All-Pac-12 honors while also being named to the all-freshman team. She became just the fifth UO player ever to receive first-team all-conference recognition and the first since Sabrina Ionescu and Ruthy Hebard in 2016-17. Paopao averaged 10.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per game while leading the team with 4.4 assists per contest and shooting 39.5 percent (30-for-76) from three-point range. The Oceanside, Calif. native led all freshmen nationally and finished fourth overall in the Pac-12 with a 2.40 assist-to-turnover ratio. Her 84 assists last year were also the eighth-most in school history by a freshman and her 4.4 assists per game ranked fourth overall in the conference. Paopao turned in 11 double-digit scoring performances, highlighted by a 22-point effort on the road against No. 15 Oregon State on Dec. 13. All of her double-figure scoring games came in Pac-12 play as she averaged 11.4 points per game and shot 40.6 percent from three-point range in conference contests. Paopao missed the final five games of the season due to injury. Paopao will look to become the second Oregon player to win the Nancy Lieberman Award and join Ionescu, who won it three straight years from 2018-20. Head coach Kelly Graves also coached the 2011 winner Courtney Vandersloot while at Gonzaga. The watch list for the award will be narrowed down to 10 in mid-February before five finalists are selected in March ahead of the award presentation at the end of the season.