DanLduck

The worst part about the win last night will be the continuation of starting AB. He can't/won't throw downfield. He telegraphs all his passes. He doesn't seem able to go through his reads without always dumping off to the safety valve. Is he intentionally trying to improve his completion %?!

So sorry to hear. Thanks for sharing. Prayers for him and his family.

Oregon 20 - Cal 17 1, 1, 183

Foreboding. Not a good feel. We only scored 17 against these guys last 2 years, and gotta say, AB does not give confidence he can connect downfield. Without CJ...I'm a little concerned. But, it's a new day. A new game. A new opportunity. So hope is renewed. We have DeRuyter this time. AB is gonna come out of his funk and play lights out. And Seven Mcgee is gonna run a punt back for a TD!! Or not. Seriously, the Ducks need to send a message this game about who they are. When the going gets tough...time to show up! I've got my fingers crossed.

I was at the game the first time they wore black unis...it was sooo cool when they ran out onto the field. I believe the fans wore black also. It was a surreal experience. That said, a highlighter yellow stadium would make those black unis "pop" as they say in the design world. You are so right Fishduck! But in my experience, Oregon fans seem to wear whatever color they feel like most of the time. Apparently Oregonians don't like to be told what to wear. lol

If the offense doesn't look vastly improved on Friday, then it's definitely time to make a qb change. AB must play great, or make the change. The way we have been playing, we couldn't beat anyone ranked above us anyway. From what little we've seen, all 3 backups can throw downfield. That alone is an improvement worth making a change.

I don't disagree with you. Yet the product on the field is boring, predictable and just not fun to watch. Because of this, could we lose recruits? Arizona is going after that amazing athlete in CA, I can just hear them say something like, "they can't/don't throw downfield, your talents will be wasted" "Come to AZ, we know how to use your talents".

Swinson is the man we need back! Now, if they double team KT we sack the qb!!

Gruden gone affects MM not at all this year. Next year...maybe. Marcus likes Vegas. Close to Hawaii, nice pay check, no expectations. They will have to trade him. He isn't going anywhere voluntarily.

Only 3 years of top recruits

Great points JJ. We need Noah at LB. We have talent in the RB room, time to use it. Both Cardwell and Benson. Let Seven return punts. Time to coach aggressively, throw downfield. We now are in control of our own destiny again, it's up to the coaches to put the team in the best place to capitalize. Use our recruits.

That was a great article on JH. Thanks for sharing it. Not getting "coached up" is a pretty harsh statement I think. Justin had 3 different head coaches. 3 different offense's to learn. 3 different OC's. And he was drafted in the first round. Yes, the 3rd QB taken, but going to the Chargers was a blessing. As I've read here more times than I can count, it's all about W and L. So having a head coach be concerned about getting wins is a bad thing? Maybe he needed to be encouraged to play "loose" for his best potential. Brady wasn't even taken in the 1st round, don't qb's improve their game in the NFL? At least the good ones. Seems like all these kids have their own personal coaches anyway. Maybe too many voices can mess a kid up. Like with golf, you don't want to be thinking too many thoughts on that back swing! It does seem however, that Oregon is not "quarterback U". It would appear that finding a qb guru could be a good thing, but I believe most colleges could use one.

Well said. Targeting calls are getting carried away !!

Good point BBS, the problem seems to be getting the ball into these players hands. Almost all the receivers are rotating into the game but very few throws to them. Also, I've become concerned recently about the RB coach's involvement in the offense. Mastro seems to be the one who decides who plays and when, and perhaps designs the run game (he is the run game coordinator). That part of the game plan gets worse every year. What gives?

No. Wait, let me think about it...NO.

Funny stuff Mr. Fishduck, you have given more ammo to my sweet wife to use against me when she says I've got "monkey brain". I do however appreciate the safety of expression found here. Thank you Charles.

Not really confident...but I believe it will. In two years we will have 5 top classes in a row and hopefully a 5* qb throwing strikes to 5* WR's. It could happen. Right? I mean, if we're lucky, right? Maybe?

I'll go with ASU, USC, OSU and UCLA

I heard this comment too, and at the time I thought, "so that's the problem ". I don't know how their system is supposed to work, but the results are uninspiring. Ultimately, I think MC and Co. are better coaches than we think. There is so much behind the scenes we just don't know, and injuries have been a serious problem. But I'm wondering about the RB coach, Mastro. He seems to have a big say in who plays and when, and we certainly have questioned some of those decisions. Maybe there are too many cooks in the kitchen! Except for one game, our offense has been boring, predictable, and only moderately successful. The qb play seems to have regressed each game, not improve. If you wait for the wheels to fall off before you act, you are not a leader. Good leaders anticipate and have a vision for the future.

It's kinda funny, Stanford has put more big game losses on Oregon than any other team, but I've never hated them. I hated Harbaugh (still do), I don't particularly like Shaws smug looks, but never hated them. I think their name and mascot and band are all lame... UW is really the only team I hate. Maybe Boise St. too.

You are right in your assessment of Kiffin. But it would be soooo hard to be a Duck if he were hired. But I would prefer him to Harbaugh!! lol

I don't think the question is arm strength. AB clearly can compete with Herbert on strength alone. His problem is accuracy, probably a result of poor mechanics his whole career.

Is it possible these injuries are results of/or lack of types of training? Too much weight lifting? Not enough stretching? I really have no idea, but there have been too many! Any ideas?

Costa injured, not really a true regression.

I was pondering the same question. Going back to Herbert's final year, we have not only not coached the qb to his best potential, but it appears just the opposite, our qb play is regressing, as the season progresses. I'm aware that we have different head OC over those years, but Mastro, Mirabal and Cristobal are the same, and run results are stagnant. Maybe the reason a blue-chip, bell-cow, every down back hasn't picked Oregon in awhile is more clear to the players than to us fans. It sure seems something is wrong in the kitchen with the cooks more than with the ingredients.