Charles Fischer

(Press Release from Oregon Athletics) SAN FRANCISCO – Senior Will Richardson was named to the Pac-12 preseason all-conference first team, while junior transfers Quincy Guerrier and De’Vion Harmon earned second team honors, the league announced Wednesday morning. In addition, two-time defending conference champion Oregon was picked to finish second in the Pac-12, receiving two first place votes. The Ducks have now been picked inside the top four in seven consecutive preseason polls. It is the second straight preseason first team honor for Richardson, who averaged 11.3 points, 3.9 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game last season, helping the team advance to the Sweet Sixteen. He enters the season with a chance to move into Oregon’s career top 10 lists in steals, assists, three-point field goal percentage and wins. Guerrier recorded eight double-doubles and four 20-point games for Syracuse last season, helping the Orange secure a birth in the Sweet Sixteen. Earning third team All-ACC honors, Guerrier averaged 13.7 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. Harmon reached double figures in 19 games, including four 20-point outings for Oklahoma last season. He earned All-Big 12 honorable mention with averages of 12.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.1 steals per game. 2021-22 PAC-12 MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON MEDIA POLL Team (first place votes) 1. UCLA (32) 2. OREGON (2) 3. USC T4. ARIZONA T4. OREGON STATE 6. COLORADO 7. ARIZONA STATE 8. WASHINGTON STATE 9. STANFORD 10. UTAH 11. WASHINGTON 12. CALIFORNIA 2021-22 Pac-12 Men's Basketball Preseason Media All-Conference Teams FIRST TEAM Warith Alatishe (Sr., F, Oregon State) Marcus Bagley (So., F, Arizona State) Evan Battey (Sr., F, Colorado) Tyger Campbell (Jr., G, UCLA) Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Jr., G/F, UCLA) Johnny Juzang (Jr., G, UCLA) Bennedict Mathurin (So., G, Arizona) Isaiah Mobley (Jr., F, USC) Will Richardson (Sr., G, Oregon) Noah Williams (Jr., G, Washington State) SECOND TEAM Boogie Ellis (Jr., G, USC) Quincy Guerrier (Jr., F, Oregon) De'Vion Harmon (Jr., G, Oregon) Jarod Lucas (Jr., G, Oregon State) Azuolas Tubelis (So., F, Arizona) HONORABLE MENTION (received votes from eight-or-more members of the media): Efe Abogidi (So., WSU); Daejon Davis (Gr., WASH); Jaiden Delaire (Sr., STAN); Harrison Ingram (Fr., STAN); Jabari Walker (So., COLO); Peyton Watson (Fr., UCLA). I am not surprised that Will Richardson was named to the first team, but two of our transfers....who have not played for us yet made the second team? Whew! They must be pretty-darn-good!

I want to really thank Coach Chuck Smith for his insight, his article and the time he is giving us as a volunteer moderator. Can any of you spare some hours out of the 168 hours each week? It is easy work, reading comments as you normally would...email me! The Coach and I could not believe the timing of this article, as the Counter is his favorite play, and both Texas and the Chargers used it to win just this last weekend! You rarely get recent examples of what you are trying to convey in an article like that very often. If you look at all the links--there are so many variations of the Counter can mess defenses up who try to stop it. But with the basics? Who can forget Washington Redskins and the "Hogs" blocking for John Riggins in the famous "Counter Trey?"

He's got a good gig making 8 million a year...why would he leave?

Another best case scenario is Ty Thompson allowed to play long enough to set things on fire...and another Joey Harrington replacing AJ Feeley story happens again to win games for Our Beloved Ducks!

Who is this guy? You've jumped to the other side! Let's follow him! But you do make some great points Jon...and if Columbus could happen, then so could a big turnaround.

A number of sites are reporting he will be playing... Bradyn Swinson Set to Return vs. California by Max Torres of Duck Digest

“See, y’all think I’m playing with you but having KT (Thibodeaux) on the field, it’s a great addition,” said Dorlus after practice on Wednesday. “Because I’m telling you, they (the opponent) get so threatened by him that they just forget about all four of us on the d-line.” The quote above is from Brandon Dorlus in a Duck Territory interview, and there is no doubt that this could help Dorlus. With Swinson on one side, and Thibs on the other--the Cal O-Line must be conscious of the outside rush. This opens up lanes on the inside if you can extract yourself from an offensive lineman leaning on you. Dorlus has a GREAT swim move, and in the second half he might have a fair amount of room to move!

Amen. That is true for thousands of people, and begins to make people think twice....

Whew! And Cal is probably the weakest team left on the schedule?

I forgot and did not mention...if he gets hurt--Oregon is in a world of hurt. We need to bring the newbies along quickly...

That is a hoot Haywarduck....and so true. For some reason...dogs don't like tomatoes, and Oregon fans want what they used to have...

The number of posts and page views has dropped everywhere as fans are checking "out" of Oregon football. So many other fan bases would be joyous at 4-1, but the mood here is much darker, much different. Is Cristobal is starting to lose the fan base for Oregon Football? I won't go into why, since we have all discussed the issues extensively. But man...I can feel a big drop in interest, and vibe that is not good for Athletic Department if they want to fund all sports. What are you feeling about the fan base? A different vibe from my impression? A fan at the Stanford game...

There is already talk brewing about that in this article, and I would imagine that Jim Leavitt would grab it in a second. (But would he move his family?) 🙄 I told a number of people to watch out for SMU this year, as they are currently undefeated and the combination of Leavitt as DC and Sonny Dykes running the offense (remember at Cal with Jared Goff?) could be a potent combination...and it is. Thoughts?

Kayvon Thibodeaux continues to miss playing time for Oregon as he has to serve his "sentence" of sitting out the first half of the Cal game for the bogus Targeting Penalty versus Stanford. The good news is that Bradyn Swinson is back, and in only two games he had 10 tackles, two TFLs, and two sacks with a big one at Ohio State. You might recall I featured him in a video after the game as being impressed that a freshman demonstrated a talent for shedding blocks so well, and so early. Boy we need him! (But he will be rusty as first...) Oregon has got to get a pass-rush going, and I never thought I would be writing that at this point in the season. And if DJ Johnson can play both ways....

Not to me. I loved how they used Travis Dye as a change-up and as a superb pass receiver out of the backfield. While CJ Verdell did not have the break-away speed of other running backs of the past, he was tough and his vision had improved significantly this past year. We will really miss him. Dye has had ball-control issues when he carries it a ton; will that happen again with all the carries in Pac-12 play? And...he is smallish; is that who you want for a crucial 3rd and 1, or an inexperienced freshman running back? Oh yeah...I forgot. They'll have Anthony Brown take-on the interior of the opposing defensive lines...

(Press Release from Oregon Athletics) (Bolding/Formatting from Mr. FishDuck) SAN FRANCISCO – Oregon was picked second in the Pac-12 preseason coaches’ poll which was announced on Tuesday at the conference’s annual media day, coming in behind only defending national champion Stanford. Pac-12 Preseason Coaches Poll 1. Stanford (11) - 121 2. Oregon (1) - 108 3. UCLA - 101 4. Oregon State - 86 5. Arizona - 83 6. Washington State - 70 7. Colorado - 65 8. Arizona State - 47 9. USC - 45 T10. Utah - 25 T10. Washington - 25 12. California - 16 The Ducks are coming off of a Sweet Sixteen run in 2020-21 when they finished 15-9 and 10-7 in Pac-12 play, coming in fourth in the league. Oregon returns its leading scorer and rebounder from a year ago in Nyara Sabally (12.9 PPG, 7.3 RPG) and assists leader Te-Hina Paopao (4.4 APG). Sedona Prince gives the Ducks another talented star in the frontcourt after averaging 10.4 points and 1.5 blocks per game while Sydney Parrish, Maddie Scherr and Kylee Watson all return after playing significant roles in their first collegiate seasons. Oregon also welcomes in a talented group of newcomers made up of five transfers and two true freshmen. Endyia Rogers arrives in Eugene from USC, where she was an all-conference performer a year ago after averaging 14.8 points and 4.3 assists per game. The Ducks also bring in graduate transfers Shannon Dufficy and Ahlise Hurst Georgia State transfer Taylor Hosendove and junior college All-American Chanaya Pinto. True freshman Taylor Bigby comes in as the No. 29 player in the Class of 2021 according to espnW in addition to being a two-time Gatorade State Player of the Year in Nevada as a junior and senior. Phillipina Kyei rounds out the group of newcomers and is the tallest player in program history at 6-foot-8. The Ducks are the only team in the Pac-12 to have three 2021 all-conference performers on the roster in Paopao, Rogers and Sabally, while the four transfers who came from other Division I schools have a combined 331 career starts under their belts. Oregon will host exhibition games against Saint Martin’s (Oct. 28, 6 p.m.) and Westmont (Nov. 6, TBA) before opening the regular season against Idaho State on Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. in Matthew Knight Arena.

Every week I receive a press release (among many others) that has all the stats and information that refer to the next game. I found a number of interesting tidbits, and a few that raised my eyebrows. Fast FishDuck Facts: --Oregon's yardage in rushing (1,052) and passing (1,054) are surprising close. I would have thought a 60/40 split towards the rush, since we've had some trouble passing at times? --Oregon's third down conversions are the same as our opponents at only 42%? --Oregon's Red Zone scoring percentage is impressive at 91%, but an exception before halftime last game was a killer. --This one I am stunned at: the Sacks by Oregon are the same as our opponents at 10 each! (I would have thought we should have been much higher at this time, considering preseason hype) --Oregon has the third longest home winning streak in the nation at 15. --The overall series is led by Cal (?) at 41-40-2! --Oregon is tied for 1st in the nation with the fewest turnovers given up. --The Ducks are just giving up 16.7 points per home game this year. --Oregon leads the Pac-12 in scoring at just 35.80 points per game? Personnel Surprises: --The biggest ignored feel good player story of the year--is Camden Lewis as he has gone 6-6 in Field Goals and 23-23 for PATs. I never would have thought it would happen! --I think it sucks that we have to face an Oregon Alumni in the coaching staff of Justin Wilcox, (HC) Bill Musgrave, (OC) Peter Sirmon (DC) and Keith Heyward. (DBs and coaching alumni) --Verone McKinley III is in a 5-way tie for most interceptions in the nation. --Alex Forsyth is back and listed as the starter at center! --Keith Brown is listed as the starter at the weakside linebacker. (WILL) --Keyon Ware-Hudson, a redshirt freshman 288 pound defensive tackle (No. 95) is listed as a starter. --The two Tight End slots (which is unusual to list it that way) are simply listed as "or" between the four of DJ Johnson, Moliki Matavao, Terrance Ferguson and Spencer Webb. --Wide Receiver is even more jumbled as they list them as the following: Pittman or Redd, Hutson or Johnson, Franklin or Johnson? I was surprised by a number of these...some good, and some not so...

One of the best lines ever by a FishDuck writer years ago...."Starkville is the Pullman of the SEC." Leach likes the backwaters of conferences in WSU, Texas Tech, (where you can see tumbleweeds blow downtown) and Starkville.

Wow. The Athletic Department should be concerned that so many fans agree with you...a lesson in "how-to-kill-a-Brand." (And I don't blame you)

You and me both; who can predict this year at all?

OK...that is the shortest post ever that has made me laugh! Other than cat GIFs...

(Press Release from Oregon Athletics) EUGENE, Ore. – Oregon’s complete 30-game 2021-22 schedule is set, following the release of the entire Pac-12 schedule on Monday by the conference. The Ducks will play 18 conference games while hosting 15 contests at Matthew Knight Arena. Of Oregon’s 30 regular season games, 20 will be broadcast live on either Pac-12 Network or an ESPN Network, while the four home games not on a TV network will be on the Oregon Live Stream. The Ducks have 12 matchups scheduled against teams that made the NCAA Tournament in 2021, with the potential for two more in the Battle 4 Atlantis. Oregon will play three of the Final Four teams from a year ago in a five-game stretch in January, playing at Stanford on Jan. 7 before hosting Arizona on Jan. 15 and Connecticut on Jan. 17. Fans will also have two opportunities to watch Oregon in action at Matthew Knight Arena before the regular season tips off, when the Ducks host exhibition games against Saint Martin’s (Oct. 28) and Westmont (Nov. 6). The 2022 Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Tournament is set for March 2-6 in Las Vegas at Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay.

And that is the difference between LSU fan and us....they truly are the worst.

This is a very informative article about Justin Herbert and confirms some fears we had about his coaching at Oregon... From the Article: But Herbert’s mechanics did cause some problems at Oregon. Beck says the Ducks coaching staff was more concerned with their young quarterback playing with a clear head rather than overcoaching his mechanics. Ideal footwork was seen as a luxury rather than a necessity, and getting Herbert prepared for Sundays wasn’t their biggest priority. They were trying to win games—and having their ultra-talented quarterback play loose was the best way to do it. “[Oregon] had footwork that they had set up within their system, but it was more of a frame of reference,” Beck said. “There weren’t nailed-down specifics … the coaches knew how talented he was, and they didn’t want him to get hung up on those throws. It was always, ‘Just let it go, Justin. Go get the next one. It’ll be fine.’ But he had a desire to know why he wasn’t making those throws.”

Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! If we have that national reputation already? There goes the BRAND.