Haywarduck

Chico makes some great points. I do think Brown is the guy who is on the sideline in case our qb position melts down. You need a guy in clutch situations to just go through the progression without distraction. What we saw was the qb position break down. Brown was brought in to finish the job, as the coaches lost faith Shough could finish. I think the coaches will continue to look for the guy who can start and finish. My hope is the history of Ty winning multiple tight games in high school will translate to the college level. We need a clutch qb, something Oregon has had in the past. There is nothing like knowing the qb behind center is going to lead the team to victory. I look forward to that sentiment again!

I think we have a lot of talent at the qb position. It will be imperative to develop more players than Ty at the position. Another player will lead the program early in the season and Ty will take over after the OSU game. Playing the Stony Brook Seawolves at Autzen will be the perfect start for Ty to take over the program. He may surprise us all and lead us from day 1, I hope so, but I think he needs to watch a game or two from the sidelines and he has at least 3 years to be on the field going forward. So I think he starts against the Seawolves, but if we throw him to the wolves, I mean Bulldogs, early then he truly must be something else or we don't have much behind him.

I really don't like the use of the next, insert name here, the guy is going to be Seven, good enough. I suppose this is where we can all differ, respectfully. I will agree we need the next speed threat, as that has been missing. Not sure DAT will ever be replaced and maybe that is why I am not a fan of the whole next thing. DAT is almost a sacred Duck to me. I also don't remember anybody ever really catching DAT. The guy just moved fluidly, at speed, through and around people, and nobody caught the guy from behind. Certainly not like Metcalf caught the husky, Budda Baker, from behind.

I think you just verbalized the sentiment of the fans, and most importantly, the coaches. Without the spring game and more scrimmage time it is hard to tell who has it. There is something about game speed and the dynamics of the games rhythm that separates those that just look good from those that play good. Without game speed, college game speed, there are a multitude of players who have looked good, but just didn't have it at the next level. We need to find out who has it at the next level. I personally like Ashford, but he will need to compete this spring if he really wants to win the starting role. We do need a strong back-up and maybe he thinks he can come and win the job as a back-up. The one who is really exciting is Ty Thompson. The kid has a 4.3 GPA and has been called Mr. Clutch. He won a multitude of games on the last drive. Supposedly the kid has ice in his veins. We need a kid who doesn't get rattled, while having the skills. I think we have the support around a qb to make the offense really special. It may take a year to jell, but one of these guys is going to rise up and take this job and run with it, exciting times coming up!

As stated the husky is a proud breed and Nick the Siberian Husky won best in show in 2020. Nick beats out all of the mens programs for a national tltle. The dawgs may want to hire Nick to consult on what it takes to win a national title. What a real champion husky looks like, because we have never seen one before.

The University of Washington isn't a school where a men's program thrives or ever really wins anything. They have never won a NCAA title, they do 'claim' some, but they haven't officially won anything. Oregon has won 33 National title, 19 men's titles, 14 women's titles. Until the men at Washington step up and win something, they just aren't relevant. Also remember last time we played they were laying down on the field before they even got the ball. I would imagine any self respecting huskie probably doesn't appreciate being call Washington's mascot, it is a proud breed.

2020 made Oregon stronger, 6th place, in the recruiting rankings, stronger. That is really all that matters in this truncated preseason, season and how the program should be measured. As far as usc getting much stronger, haven't I heard that before? I hope somebody in the Pac-12 gets stronger, but I wouldn't count on the trojans, with Helton at the wheel. What will help Oregon going forward is the DC hire. We also need to see some decent transfer action and maybe another recruit. This is what will make the Oregon program going forward. The season was a joke, which Oregon made the best of. The best thing which can help all of the programs in the Pac-12 is to get rid of the comedian in charge. The guy who is making a joke of the Pac-12, lavish Larry, needs to go.

I think if the program was on a teeter totter we would have barely fell to the side of a winning season this year. We could have very easily fallen to the losing side, and there would be more questions about the program. The question going forward is which side of the teeter totter will we fall going forward. The recruiting has most convinced we will continue the accent to the elite status. I know I am extremely excited to watch the massive infusion of talent on the program. The biggest question is how is Oregon going to stop the teeter totter from falling to the weaker side, when it really shouldn't? For those too young to know what a teeter totter is, it was a piece of equipment deemed too dangerous for most playgrounds. It does give one a pretty good lesson in physics, but the world is more than just physics, especially the football world.

Two things have to happen, we have to recognize the talent, and develop the talent at the qb position. Once these two things happen all will be good at the Oregon Football Program and their qb. Tom Brady, the GOAT, wasn't utilized at Michigan as one would think he would have been. He didn't start the first couple seasons, and was way down on the depth chart. Even when he started he was always under pressure by a back-up who never became the GOAT. The first item is Oregon needs to recognize who has it, even if he is way back on the depth chart. The next item, which is of concern, is we need to develop the qb. With Justin Herbert, the front runner for the NFL rookie of the year as an example, we haven't done the best job of developing the talent at qb. Moorhead has to show he can lead the next great Oregon qb to his potential. Can Moorhead develop a guy with potential into a leading college qb? It isn't the battle that will have a longterm impact, it is the process which will have a longterm impact on the Oregon Football Program. Can our coaching staff pick the next great one, and develop him. The other item is making sure we have a viable back-up, but the primary job is the process of who the next great one will be. My number one fear is we do what was done with Herbert. We don't see the guy, even if he is way back on the depth chart, and pick him because he has it. We can't just go with the experience and the safe choice. This battle needs to be wide open, and the choice needs incredible support along with a road map set out to create the next great one!

I agree we go for most pounds per transfer, at this point for our needs.

I think we are all appreciating what Gary Campbell brought the program, more and more! He is also one of the truly great humans, people, amazing man.

I would be interested in what the experts say, but I think we didn't have a qb who could make the throws needed at the college level. A college qb needs to be able to throw over LB's and into zones. It seemed like Shough didn't have these throws in his repertoire. A college qb also needs to be able to see these zones and defensive players in game time, game speed. I remember Kellen Clemens and others struggled at this initially so all is not lost. We do need a qb who can put the ball where it needs to be and can see that in real time. For a go to receiver to make catches he needs a qb who can make those throws. I tend to think Kris Hutson could be the guy, but it is hard to tell when our qb's weren't making the throws to expose defenses and show who the go to receiver might be. I think this is what was said about Justin Herbert from day one. He made the throws and could read the defenses. So far we haven't seen the next guy who can do that.

Is Auburn in the hunt?

I am pretty sure most seasoned fans will balk at any talk about a bend don't break defense, lining up way back for the line of scrimmage, or having our DB's play behind the first down markers on 3rd and long. I look forward to hearing the new DC describe his defense. I am even more excited to see what he can do with all of this talent. I just ask that he build, don't break the defense! I am also hopeful the players will excited to play for the guy, probably most important.

My big fear is any of the older guys are going to have flaws, or the new guys generally means, fraught with mistakes. We need another generational talent, or the qb position is going to be an area of weakness. I have to pick our new guy to be the next generational talent, Ty Thompson is our next great qb! I have to say I still like Ashford, so who really knows?

Great point and maybe be straight up with the guy. If you really want to play basketball, you better go after the TE position. We will support you like no other school in reaching your goals, just let us know what they are. You can even be on a NCAA championship caliber Track and Field team at shot put, 3 sport athlete.

Not to worry, if history holds true, we will be doing what Alabama is doing in about 5 years. Alabama will be doing what Oregon is doing is about 5 years. All will be good in about 5 years. As far as Najee, he saw the train wreck we were at the time and never really considered us. Gary Campbell was retiring and we didn't have a chance. We do need a RB coach who can identify and recruit elite college talent. I do like Seven, and Sean, but would defer to what Campbell thought.

What I noticed, last night, is Alabama put in their LB as a fullback in short yardage situations. We have a ready made LB who would be a wrecking ball as a FB. Maybe in the future Cristobal will use our LB in short yardage situations? Maybe we should ask Gary Campbell what he thinks about our RB recruit list. He seemed to be a pretty good judge of talent in the past. This seems to be a big weakness is seeing who is going to have the talent at the next level when evaluating kids at the high school level, when you look at what Mastro has done so far. We need to go after kids Gary Campbell would have, or would. Maybe put Gary on as a consultant, not that he needs the money with his PERS benefits.

If I remember correctly Iaka from SLC was on our recruiting list at one point. He ended up transferring from LSU to Baylor. It seems like we need to get on these big boys again. Time for Big Joe to show us what he can do!

If you are interested in seeing what's available in the transfer portal here is a link. I went into the DT section of this candy store, and there are a couple big boys looking for a new place to call home. Does any position or prospect grab your attention? I would take Georgia's DT, Natori Johnson at 6' 3" 330lbs to help us out for a couple years. Sounds like he had some academic issues and our Jaqua Center could be just what he needs. It is time to fill out our roster for next season, what do we need?

JT Tuimoloau wants to play football at a high level, but he wants more than an opportunity to play on the line. He wants to play basketball, and maybe even on the offense for the football team. What can we offer JT and what is Cristobal doing with his magical abilities as a recruiter? I think he needs to be given the opportunity to play on the basketball team. Arik Armstead was given the opportunity to play on the team and this should be, explicitly, made for JT. I would think it has been. The other thing that would be interesting is to make JT know we want him to play TE too. The guy, as a basketball player, has the hands to be an elite TE. It wouldn't be a stretch to make a commitment to playing him as a two way player. This is what Oregon did with DAT, offer him the ability to play offense. At the time DAT was slotted for playing defense at sc and wanted to play offense, it made the difference. What do you think it would take to get JT in green and yellow? With JT on the line with Thibs, the defense would be formidable and amazing to watch. I also think it would be amazing to see him line up at TE, and maybe as a power forward too!

They're actually pretty good at bowing down, sitting down and, of course, laying down, as shown during last years game.

One of the resources on Fishduck is ChileDuck's depth chart. Go to Fishduck's homepage, go over to the upper right corner, nine little white squares, and click on that. From there go to the 'football repository' and click on that. Then scroll down to Chileduck's updated depth chart. Or click on this https://web.nmsu.edu/~ogden/oregon/depthchart.html There are some other valuable resources there, especially the talent evaluations, too many to name all, which are fun to read.

Somebody will need to rise to the top, but more importantly will need the development to become elite. Seeing Ashford sit at 5th on the depth chart makes me wonder about his development and talent level. I too was very excited about his potential and still am, but we didn't see too much happen with him as a freshman. The question with Ashford sitting at 5th is, can a freshman take over in this program? The good news is Jay Butterfield moved up to 3rd on the depth chart as a freshman. So maybe we look to Butterfield as the guy rising and showing he has what it takes to keep moving up? Butterfield also shows a freshman can makes some noise. Can Thompson make enough noise to rise all the way to the top, should be fun to watch.

I think we live in a society that is, sadly, increasingly less willing to make the sacrifices needed for a civil society. It use to be an honor to serve our country, now lip service is about all we see. During WWII the USA sold $185 million worth of war bonds, at below market rate. Now we just tack on debt, print money, and say we will pay it back. The whole vaccine argument is a microcosm of our country not being willing to do the tough things. We can create amazing things, like the vaccine, but to make it work, too many sacrifices. Even right now we see people complaining about those who are getting the vaccine and those who are not. If you don't like helping others stay safe, stay home. Our society functions because people make sacrifices, end of story. As far as the legal issue Charles spoke of I would love to hear a lawyer take a stab at the legality of blaming somebody of spreading Covid when they also haven't been vaccinated. Do the tough thing, and live with that decision. Again, at what point does personal responsibility start to matter again?