Haywarduck

Dan Lanning surpassed Chip Kelly as the most successful coach in wins at this point in his career. He has us as number 1 in the nation for weeks on end. In recruiting he is the best we have ever had. The guy bleeds green and yellow, but he is an utter and complete failure in one category. Dan Lanning goes to bed, wakes up, and is reminded every day about that failure because it matters more than the wins. To say this game matters, is important only minimizes how this game is paramount to how Lanning and the Ducks define success. Success only comes when you own the rivalry's and the games that really matter to a program, Lanning knows that. As a kid when you win the state championship, but lose to the cross town rival on the way, they hold that over you for the rest of your life. It is time to take care of the business close to home. It isn't just important, it is tantamount to the definition of our programs future. We, and especially Dan Lanning doesn't want any yea but's to his march to greatness. Today is the start to a new day, and the true day of Lannings career against the hated team up north. Today isn't just important and I look forward to seeing just what it is.

The Lanning tree begins with a strong shoot. I can imagine Dilly's success will make our assistants even more enticing to other programs in the near future. While Oregon has made some coaches very wealthy after they left, Lanning seems have the golden touch with guys with real coaching chops, well done Dilly!

I love this guy. If DG gets hurt tomorrow, let's put Bryce in behind center. We play him two ways, no way we lose!

What is fascinating too is the ratio of men to women at Washington. Nationally women outnumber men 58% to 42%, more women go to college. At Mountlake 53% of the enrollment identify as men. They still can't find enough real men to win at anything. They may not need signs, although the guy has one????, they just need some real men.

Maybe there is a rule in the coaches meetings where if a coach says 'what if', everyone has to lean in and hear him out. I mean some of these ideas has to be stuff most programs would just start shaking their heads and they would send the coach on their way. What if we kick the ball at the player full speed, are you nuts, nobody does that. Maybe we put 12 guys on the field on purpose, come on, we are trying to lower are penalties, stop coming up with this stupid stuff! Hear me out, what if we hike the ball to the DE on a punt, ok stop right now! I think a backup O-lineman might be the best option on a pass play, drug test this guy and get him out of here! On a punt if we only line up the center maybe they will line up somebody on him and get a penalty, now you're just plain nuts, escort this guy out, now! No I am serious and we could have the holder take the ball and run it, it would work, sorry your just in the wrong program, maybe try getting a job at Oregon. I would seriously love to be in the room when some of this stuff is brought up. First we have 'so what, now what' for the players. Now we have 'what if, keep going, hear him out,' for the coaches? I think this is just another iteration of the Nike spirit. I mean, 'what if we use this waffle iron to make the sole of the shoe,' who does that! Mad man Dan is just channeling the original Mad man Bill Bowerman. If he is half as successful then all will be good. Great article and I think Mad Man Dan could only be who he is at Oregon, where innovation and thinking outside the box is the force that drives the program, once again!

What we know first hand, isn't widely understood. Many view Mariø as a coach in the same category as Lanning, maybe better. Ridiculous doesn't comes along too often, but when it does...

I am just grateful Phil Knight and all of us were fortunate enough to get Dan Lanning. I think it is a fit made in heaven. A program which has supported coaches through losing and dissappointment on its way to building something special deserves a loyal coach. We deserve a great coach of men and athletes. I would also say Dan Lanning deserves to have found Eugene and Oregon. He is a man of integrity and talent seldom found. That pairing of a program built with passion and devotion combining with what Lanning brings is something for all parties to be grateful for this time of year!

The kickoff has to be unreturnable, never out of bounds! If it is out of bounds, it is just like a penalty to start a drive, unacceptable. I do give thanks to having Sappington come to the program. Now Lanning has to manage these guys, and get the best out of them. I have faith that will happen, the talent is there.

I might add Charles has made it an even safer forum. The firewall he created has made it even harder for spam to get through. Also those with little else to do other than cause trouble seem less likely to post recently. This has all happened because Charles has taken on more responsibility, while enhancing this site. We may be thinking about our Ducks and the games ahead, but behind the scenes there is someone making FishDuck better every day. David thank you so much for shedding light on how great this site it. I would add a little more insight into how this site doesn't just happen. Of course nothing helps truly understand how the behind the scenes stuff just happens and I am sure how Charles feels sometimes better than a video. I also ask all those who think this all just magically just happens to give, thanks, and donate to FishDuck.

They had a plan and will have a plan next time. There is a difference between having a plan and being prepared, and playing tough games isn't required. Being prepared is what Lanning does for his team. Having a plan is what Day does for his team. When things happen, in a tough game, you have to be prepared, not just have a plan. In a game you have to be ready to adjust, shift, have culture set, established and be ready for anything. It might not make the most sense, but that is the difference between Lanning and Day. Oh, and Saban had his players prepared to play against anybody. Sometimes that isn't enough when the other team is prepared too, but most of the time being prepared is what it takes. My bet, tosu will have a plan next time, and think they are prepared. They will find out again they weren't prepared, nor did their plan work! Even against Indy it took mistakes to get them the win. They weren't prepared for what Indy brought. Day deserves to be on the hot seat, even at #2 and at 10-1. With all that talent they should be untouchable. In the coming years Lanning will have that talent level and more, he will be untouchable!

For me it would be to make sure the language I would use when describing the dawgs isn't advertised through the media. Not sure how long I could go before what I said wasn't deleted or created bulletin board material, smart move Dan! After two losses I can imagine Coach Lanning's feelings might be stronger than mine.

I might add some of the comments in this thread didn't age too well. As somebody who loves the long shot I enjoy this story greatly. It is the doubters who empower those who dream big. Bryce is what is so great about this country. If you want something, are willing to relentlessly work at something, all the doubters in the world are just fuel to your fire! I will also add my favorite photo of the year, where Boettcher shows why he is so valuable as a LB. Kudos again to Charles for pulling this one off a video.

Agree with your analysis and some great writing once again. I do have to ask how you left out the guy who leads the team in solo tackles, assisted tackles and of course total tackles? He also shows up in sacks and interceptions. This guy doesn't even practice with the team full-time because he plays another sport in the spring. He was also already drafted in the other sport he plays. With the team littered with elite transfers and 4 an 5* talent, he is the one guy who is a walk-on, and actually a double walk-on. He wasn't recruited, given a scholarship in any sport, let alone NIL money. I would argue without this guys motor, passion for the game and football IQ on the field and off, the Ducks wouldn't be 11-0. On top of that he is a hometown boy, South Eugene High School, you can't grow up any closer to the Oregon Program. Maybe it is just the fact that I love walk-ons, and homegrown talent, that I find his impact larger than most. With football moving toward transfers, NIL money, going after the hottest recruit, Bryce Boettcher is what is still great about college football! And maybe the least appreciated player on the team?

The most dangerous, Georgia, the most deserving, none of them! The one I want to see our Ducks play Georgia. The one I am afraid of, none of them.

The most important game is always the next game, and, I will admit, this game may not be the most consequential. If we lose we still go to the championship game. So who cares about beating the dawgs next week? The only people who care are anyone with a pulse, and quite a few who don't, who are Duck fans. This game is so big winning isn't enough. We need to humiliate the dawgs program in order for this to be satisfying. Up by 50 in the fourth, and it is fourth down, we go for it, is what I say! GO DUCKS! This time harry the husky!

What I saw was Indiana shut down the nuts, and then take the ball down and score on their first drive. The nuts have weaknesses, and it isn't just #1 on defense. I would say DG should know who lines up against him every down, punish him relentlessly. Then I saw a bunch of 2 and 3 star players line up to punt the ball to a bunch of 4 and 5 star players. Any mistake in this situation was going to be tragic, and it was catastrophic, devastating. What we should take from this is even with even talent, mistakes are going to be dire. Either way the mistakes in the matchup between the nuts and our Ducks will probably determine the outcome. This will also include play calling, and execution. Not being able to punish the blitz's that will be coming will affect the outcome of the game. A punter who tries to pad his stats on distance may open up a long return. Every play caller, and every player needs to be at the top of their game. The refs will undoubtedly screw up, and our Ducks need to just let it roll off our backs like water does. The pundits will marvel at the nuts, we just have to crush the nuts! For now pound the pups, and send them back to seattle with their tales between their legs. Let's make sure they are 0 fer away from home and begin the reign of Lanning over the dawgs that will forever end the question of who owns the west coast! I have no doubt Lanning will be focused on this game, hopefully the players will be too!

I might add, never really got there!

I tend to think Lanning wants greatness, out of the gate at the qb position. This will truly be an interesting decision and process to watch. Seems like Lanning is doing what you described at the Jack position, recruiting big numbers, and then letting the competition bring the cream to the top. He actually seems to do that at many position, RB is another. The sales pitch seems to be come to Oregon and find out if you have greatness. A guy like Jay Harris made that choice and is sitting on the bench during game time, but I would bet is pushing it to get ready during this redshirt year. He will find out what he is made of while at Oregon, and may just be another transfer out, or maybe, just maybe, find his greatness. Seems like the Alabama process. I remember Najee Harris going there, over our Ducks, and then sitting on the bench. He wasn't just sitting on the bench, he was working harder than anyone else. That culture brought them the Naty's, and that underbelly culture is what Lanning is just beginning to fully develop. Another one of the important elements of an elite program.

This will be the biggest decision, once the season is over, for next years team. It doesn't seem like Lanning has trust in either guy on the bench right now. Maybe I wrong, again, but I see another transfer coming soon. It is almost like Oregon needs a farm team like baseball has. You bring in Dante Moore and he goes and plays for osu until you need him, he develops into the refined product we need. Kind of a perfect job for the beleaguered beavs, and we benefit too. Just an idea, but who knows what college football will look like in 5 years? Making some programs farm teams could really elevate college football. Players need playing time to develop. I would love to see some of these freshman LB's get more playing time too. Maybe farm out a couple receivers too? Without a game this weekend, I say bring on the crazy ideas!

The recruitment at this position is relentless and creative. When Jordan Burch took the fake punt against the terps, an elite edge rushing recruit was on the sideline. Kind of reminds me of how we got DAT. You want to be on offense, come to Oregon. You want to be just another defender stay in Compton. Back then the explosive playmaker was the focus position, now it is the edge position. Hopefully we also see another rocket in the lineup too! After our first season, where there was seldom edge pressure, to what we see now makes one realize we may not be where Lanning wants us, but we can see it from here.

At CU he could end up playing for another head coach. Deion turned Jackson State around and left. He has now turned CU around and his kid is graduating, nothing keeping him in Boulder after this season. Travis Hunter will be gone too. I wonder if Deion gave him a promise to stay, but what is that worth?

Once again Mr. Marsh sheds light on our Ducks like no other. This was the BIG game many were worried about. Could the Ducks grind out a win and have the defense play the pivotal role? The game allowed us to see the chaos defense overshadow the lights out offense Oregon is known for. The question going forward is can we have both the chaos defense and the high scoring offense in the coming games? It will take both, along with a cleaner execution of the game plan. It is nice to know we have the elite defense so many of us have hungered for since the gang green days. A top ten defense is a dream come true, right? We still need that high scoring offense to take us to the finish line. Seeing our offense drop out of the top 20 just seems wrong. The game against the dawgs is the perfect moment to rekindle the offensive firepower that is lined up on every down this year. The players are there, we need to see the execution and play calling to get us back to 30, 40 or more points against the dawgs. We only win the big games coming up playing Oregon football, not BIG football.

I grew up in the age of Oregon as the long shot. I also love the idea of proving it on the field with a chip on our shoulder. Both of those situations speak to my roots as a person and Duck. I can definitely agree to disagree on this one, both scenarios are pretty nice!

Love the see the hoosiers jump the Ducks in the rankings, absolutely dream scenario! Would there be a better scenario for the BIG Championship game for the Ducks?

Seems like to me we witnessed something special last Saturday. I suppose I should say somebody special really coming into his own. I think this tackle on the Wisconsin WR should be named, 'The Hit'! We have 'The Pick' and I would add this to the common language Duck fans use, maybe not as important, but it was a just wow moment. Matayo is a sophomore who is taking over games. My take he is becoming one of the greats right before our eyes. This instagram reel from his father really highlights just how impactful this guy is as a sophomore! He is on his way to becoming the MVP if his play continues on this track. David Uiagalelei (@bigdave.uiagalelei) • Instagram reel WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM 67 likes, 1 comments - bigdave.uiagalelei on November 20, 2024: "Every game, Matayo seems to be unlocking different levels to his game. He’s coming into his own as he progresses through the...