Haywarduck

I keep coming back to the decision is based on more of an adults risk to reward equation. The risk still is greater picking one of the young guns to run the offense than just staying with the guy who has made few massively impactful mistakes. I get it, we as fans want the points, the passes, the decision making, we have had it so many times before, we expect that type of performance from our qb. The problem as I see it is TT came in and threw some bombs to nowhere the last time he played. Maybe he and Butterfield just aren't ready for primetime? We have to trust the coaches and wish the best for AB. I also hope we get to see some real playing time for our backups in this next game. It better not be another play down to the competition, but it might be. Full disclosure I was rooting for Cristobal to pick one of the young ones as a starter this spring, so I get the angst.

My bet is the turnover ratio is what will be the kicker for a qb change. As long as AB takes care of the ball, which isn't guaranteed, he will stay our starter. When Shough started to cough up the ball more than AB is doing now, is when the change was made last year. Poor decision making from a veteran may push the dial a bit. Why let a veteran make silly mistakes when a young gun could do the same? The problem is I don't think Cristobal wants to risk putting in a young guy who may make 3 quick picks and blow another game. If AB does it then change will come. Until then we will see the same qb, my best guess. Fans are like kids, we have a much larger tolerance for risk. Why not put the young guy in it will be so much fun! Coaches are like the adult in the room, always thinking about the downside. I am not going to change qb's until I have to!

After beating Mahomes in Arrowhead in his second season Herbert is proving he is the real deal. Sometimes young qb's have a few good games, then struggle. Herbert is just getting better and better. It is exciting to hear the knowledgable pundits break down his game. Herbert has all the tools to become one of the all-time greats. Fortunately he also has the supporting cast, and a very good coach.

Great point Annie, how can we change out our qb with our OC in the hospital? I would think the OC would want to be in the new starting qb's ear after each play, if not after each practice set to get him ready. Without the ability to do this it would seem to be prudent to let AB continue. The problem is AB seems to be digressing, or was he reading turf speed and our guys were running at grass speed. AB seemed to overthrow a few which may be been misreading the speed on grass? Maybe I am just making excuses. I agree it would be good to make a move with the bye week and a weak opponent next up. I just don't see it happening without our OC, and without a complete meltdown of our starter. One turnover and a poor QBR in one game probably won't cause Cristobal to act. I do hope we see some action for our back-up because he needs to be ready going forward. An extremely bad game isn't out of the question with how AB has played recently. He could also get injured and we need to have the next man up ready to go.

All I can see is the outcomes aren't what I would guess they should be. Is it the coaching, not attacking, blocking correctly, or just a lack of that extra effort needed to dominate. The line play does seem to predict the outcome of the game. The line play against tosu was applauded, but against our other wins and the loss the play was spotty. This seems to indicate an effort issue. Are these guys, like the rest of the team, just playing up to and down to the competition?

I wish him well and a speedy recovery! These coaches work so hard, I am sure medical issues are often overlooked. Grateful he was able to get the attention he needed.

I also look at it like in a sport I use to compete in, triathlon. At first it was very traditional swimmers swam in speedos, cyclist used standard bikes and runners just ran in standard running gear. Pretty soon bikes were looked at and questioned. The handlebars, which had stayed the same for decades if not more, were first questioned. The 'downhill bars' were created, then the wheel were looked at. The disc wheel was created, then carbon fibre and on and on. This after decades of bike racing and the traditionalists adherence to what was always done. The traditionalists either changed or they were run over. If you want to be competitive you use the new technology. Football is much like that, you can be bigger and have more talent, but it comes down to being smarter. Cristobal is a traditionalist, and he needs to get off his old 10 speed, get some new wheels, actually use them they are sitting on the bench. He also needs to compete on a level playing field against what everyone else is doing. He also might think about innovating because that is in the blood of every Oregon Duck Fan I know. If he truly wants to be a Duck, then drink from the innovator cup, and just do it!

I am a firm believer people seldom change, they just shift a little. Change isn't often the best thing anyway, we do what we do because we are often good at it, and it suits us. With Cristobal he wants a power game because that is how he sees the world, and he is good at that type of thinking, acting. He is actually highly trained in the martial arts. What I would like to see him shift more to is hurry up football. It seems, too often, Mario is more the fighter who wants to wait until the bell rings and then see who is the better fighter. The problem with that thinking is no one really waits on their stool until the bell rings anymore, but Cristobal has that tendency. Saban decried the hurry up offense, but mostly because he, like Cristobal, was a traditionalist. You didn't hike the ball until everyone was ready, and you certainly didn't do it repeatedly. In baseball you might try and pick off the guy at first base, but you certainly don't hurry the game. Cristobal would love baseball and how it is played. The problem is football isn't baseball, and you can hurry the play. You actually benefit from hurrying the play. Saban is now a firm believer. He is a believer, but he hires people who know how to play that way, he doesn't call it. We are so close to what Saban has done. Moorhead gets the hurry up offense. What I see is Cristobal completely uncomfortable with this type of play, thus the timeouts, often at terrible times. He wants everything set, and doesn't necessarily see the other sides total confusion, or understand the opportunities. I want Cristobal to shift and see the benefits to the hurry up offense, not just the scary part. Even if it is power football, with a hurry up component. We need the advantage of hurry up. What is amazing to me is how effective hurry up is at the end of games, yet too many don't make it an integral part of their offense. Cristobal needs to see how it will benefit our program and turn Moorhead loose with it, while shifting to the side! My bet is Saban still isn't comfortable with the hurry up offense, but he knows it benefits the program.

Interesting discussion on the brand of Oregon Football, and the rebranding under Cristobal. Nicknames and acronyms are synonymous with branding and define the importance of what something is. Oregon has generally been defined by the word innovation. We innovated with our facilities, our uniforms and the way we play football. We even innovate the way we celebrate between 3rd and 4th quarters. I think all this innovation has helped enable Cristobal to recruit as effectively as he has. He is just taking advantage of what has come before, and done it like no other. Kids want to be like DAT, just ask multiple players, Seven and others. QB's want to be like Marcus, and Justin, just ask any of the qb's. They want to improve upon the past, and we want the same. In the past our hurry up offense became the blur. Now our offense has begun to get the nickname the prevent offense (PO), and the outcome described as Ducked again, sad. Exciting players, like Donte Thornton, aren't being highlight, just sitting idle. We are accepting mediocrity at qb, since when? This is something that killed Helfrich, Oregon always has elite talent at qb, but now they sit on the bench. It isn't just our offense, it is the players who play it, and the leadership of it. It is time to again innovate, while bringing the best, most exciting talent to the field. Did DAT sit on the bench as a freshman? There is still time, but until then, Cristobal risks redefining Oregon Football's offense as the PO, and that is Pissing Off too many fans. Fans can define the Oregon Duck Football Program through wins and losses, but what really defines it is the legacy left behind. That legacy is often the nicknames and acronyms which the fans and the nation begin to adopt. What is that going to be under Cristobal?

Wow, great point, he discarded an offense which worked, said he was going to improve it, but really hasn't put an offense on the field you can define, nicely. I look forward to the day where prevent offense is no longer the defining name to the Oregon offense, it really doesn't historically work!

I can guarantee Mario is going to get another 4 years and another contract extension before that ends. The only question is will he leave before his contract is up. Mario isn’t Mark Helfrich. Mario’s problem is he loses the games players don’t get up for. Oregon dominated after the first quarter and fell apart at the end of the game. This is what Mario often does when on the road against lesser talent, he’s what 6-6 in that situation. The Stanford game is also what happens when the turnover ratio goes against us, while we don’t have a decent 3rd or 4th down conversion ratio. I was out of town during the game and left when we went up at the end. I could see the writing on the wall, this team wasn’t going to get it done, unless they got a turnover, and it wasn’t worth watching if what happened, happened, too predictable. The crazy part of it for me is I have a larger emotional response from the beaver game than how the Ducks play. The beavers, maybe it was partly the joy of seeing the dawgs lose, play inspired, wily football. The coaching leads players to reach their potential. They are also the underdogs, and I have an affinity for underdogs. The way the Ducks play is like watching a lion play with their prey, and then letting it go because they just aren’t hungry enough to get it done. When that happens in the wild, this is unconfirmed, but comes from a reliable source, the zebra, will come in and smack the lion. This is what happened on Saturday, Oregon didn’t want it, didn’t know how to truly dominate, and then couldn’t finish, so the zebra abused him. This is the way it works in the wild. I agree many fans will fall off, but not too far. I will never root for the beavers when Oregon plays. When Oregon goes to a bowl game I will either go or be glued to the tv. I will also hope the Ducks don’t have to play in the untamed Pac-12 where the zebras can punish poor coaching, but maybe that is what we needed!

The pick, and the almost pick on the same exact pass play later were purely reading the play call. This was coached up before the game, and we will only see more of this with lack of diversity of play call with AB as the qb. His abilities are known by all DC's we will be playing from here on out. Also the receiver who is averaging 50 yds a catch and a td on every other catch for the Ducks, never saw the ball. I can agree those averages may go down, but he should be seeing the ball thrown his way, some guys just have it, he does until proven otherwise. That receiver is 6' 5", as tall as just about any Stanford receiver, and our TE's are also big targets.

The question, to me, is will the coaching staff make any changes during the bye week. It comes down to does the staff think we are just fine, the refs just made a mistake. We should be right there with Alabama and Georgia, or do they see an opportunity/need to make some changes? A bye week is an opportunity to put in Butterfield or Ty with time to get use to 1st team reps. I think it would be a bold move, but a positive move and one that speaks to the future of the program. The future will be one of these guys, it is just, will it start this week, or next season. I doubt it will happen, but what do others think will happen with the qb position going forward? Many have predicted an injury would be the only way AB gets benched, but last week showed some continued big weaknesses. Will the Cal game in two weeks be a time to let AB get his game back together, or time for a new beginning? Last year when Shough's statistics reach these depths we saw AB hit the field. Will history repeat itself with AB hitting the 30 QBR? Seems to me we are still looking for our savior behind center, will we go looking again, this week?

But it's like complaining about the opponent stars running back, just take care of your game and your won't have to play the blame game. You know he is going to be playing plan to make sure he doesn't dictate the game. You can't just say if 'x' wasn't playing we would have won. Right now Oregon is one little, or maybe not so little mistake away from having to play the what if card. We can't be that kind of program.

The Pac-12 refs have a history of being inadequate at best. This was know before the game started. Greatness never lets incompetence of another effect the outcome of their desired path. They plan for it, and never put themselves in a situation where it can effect their goal. There was much ineptitude on and off the field, we can't isolate the mistakes of the refs as the cause of our demise. The cause was on the sideline, and was on the field, it rests with the leadership of the Oregon Football Program. In order for us to have a different outcome we need to see a shift in how our program is led on and off the field. The Oregon Football Program isn't going to change, but there needs to be a metamorphosis in how we play football. A new qb will be a start, but we need to see a striking alteration in how we play the game of football at Oregon. If we blame the refs, that sea change is never going to happen. We should fear blame and accept responsibility, while seeking truth! I mean power football is fine, but how do you justify lining up your qb 5 yds away from the line of scrimmage when the qb sneak is known to have an 89% success ratio in the situation at the end of the half? You took something which had a 90% chance of success and gave it little chance, this is madness. There is a massive disconnect between intelligent power football and what we are seeing. Even if you accept power football as the answer, it is the decision making process which is the problem, plain and simple.

Also there was more than one positive, but how about Nate Heaukulani, 8 tackles! A young man who could't get a look from any college out of high school, but worked, worked some more, then kept working and is now getting it done for Oregon, love, love this story! CJ Verdell, just a warrior, I hope he gets back soon! I haven't been his biggest fan, but how can you not respect his work ethic, and just bleeding green and yellow!

On AB it is only going to get worse. When you have those kind of glaring holes in your game any defensive coordinator worth his salt is going to destroy Oregon's offense. AB was almost picked by the same guy on the same play twice, and that will only be the beginning of his downfall. Much like a pitcher who fools teams when he first plays them. Teams start to figure out his game, and unless he is extremely wily the honeymoon is over and the pitcher is doomed. Anthony Brown's game isn't dynamic and he isn't crafty at all. Many were impressed with Shough's ability to run last year, I was one of them. It then became clear he was just panicking. The game was way too fast for him, and maybe he was just put in too fast. It is becoming evident AB is also panicking, not making reads and just running. He has gotten lucky, but he is also down to less than 3 yds a run, teams are figuring him out. We may have the same experience with one of the young guns, but we are going to have to work through the angst. It is time for the future, even if it is like Kellen Clemens first pass straight to a linebacker. We can't have anymore 1-6 starts with an interception without an expected upside down the road. With AB there is no upside next year. He has given us, luckily, a good start, but it is time to move on to our future.

I don't know if most have seen Ted Lasso, but Oregon is AFC Richmond if Ted actually coached. Ted isn't a soccer coach, just a great leader of men. He has no idea what a formation in soccer is or even how the game is played. Mario is much like Ted Lasso. He is a great coach who is a leader of men. The difference is Ted knows he can't coach the sport. Until Mario steps aside and allows the coaches and the players he has put together to blend and mesh we will have the same outcomes Ted would have had if he wasn't so astute. The great news is this is infinitely possible. Moorhead is a very good coach. I think DeRuyter is a good coach, we just need to see them coach. We also have the players they just have to be led on the field with the skill they deserve. Mario needs to take a lesson from Ted and let the players play and the coaches who know what is going on coach. He needs to become that shrewd coach, or we are a bunch of screwed fans. Right now it's not looking good, Mario is the Peter principle in spades, but it doesn't have to stay that way. When I was watching the end of the dawg, beav game I saw two coaches playing chess. Oh how I yearn for that type of thinking and those type of thought processes happening on our sideline, and that was one of the hardest statements to make so far on FD.

Like I try to say, I think Moorhead was tired of Mario making calls and Moorhead taking the blame. I think he finally just said then 'go for it, call the whole game.' One scenario which doesn't seem too far off from what I could see happening. I mean really, 4th down at the end of the half, and you line up your qb 5 yds from the line of scrimmage, and expect him to run it in, really? You are a great Head Coach, amazing recruiter, but you are way over your skis when calling the game. The players love you, the fans want to love you, but seriously, ask somebody you trust if you are a good game day coach. Tell them you want the truth, straight up. You have to have way to many yes men around you. My hope is Moorhead did what I stated, set him up to fail.

Thank you Stanford, I would rather you expose our weaknesses than any other program. When Moorhead said ‘then you call the game I not going’ you should have apologized and let him call the rest of the season. I hope you learned your lesson Mario. A qb who can only throw the out, is going to get intercepted even more. I know he can throw a couple other throws, but he is like a pitcher who the batters figure out, AB is only going to look worse going forward. I also think I may have won the best guess on game day score, if the 12 tree hadn’t put taken off his stripes and put on the Cardinal uniform at the end of the game. Basically I think this was the best case scenario. This was a wake-up call, now will the Ducks wake up?

Thanks for the homer alert,

25-17 3 turnovers, but a negative turnover ratio. This leads to a new qb starter, and a new start to the season ahead. 4 sacks, a rattled Tanner Mckee leaves and we end up seeing Jack West back under center, running for his life too. Both qb's have PTSD and can't hear the name 'Thibodeaux' without breaking out in a cold sweat. 160 yds passing, pathetic. Our RB's get it done!

What we are seeing is what Shough did, and he was benched in favor of Brown. We now see the same thing and will Brown be benched? Where does the problem emanate from, is the question. Is it the qbs, or is it the coaching? Moorhead was at Penn State from the start of McSorley career and elevated the offensive output of the Penn State offense. McSorley had some growing pains, but became Penn State all-time leading qb. I think Moorhead is a very good qb coach. He also gave their RB Barkley plenty of touches. I just hope one of the young guns is developing into our next great qb. I also remember he recruited Robby Ashford, who was considering going to MSU. The arrows seem to continue to point towards the guy we want to stay in the corner office and be the CEO! Quit messing with the offense!

In another article it mentions, 'DeRuyter is the daughter of Tim and Kara DeRuyter. Her father is currently the defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach at Oregon.' You may be right, Michigan is just trying to catch up to Oregon and others. It is pretty cool to see our DC's daughter as an important piece in a recruiting team.