Haywarduck

But how do they pay for all those lights? Why I don't even spend a couple minutes trying to figure out who is going to win. Although I always think may Ducks are going to win. Gambling is like wrestling with a pig in mud. You may think you are going to win and it will be fun, but you are left looking like a fool and you're going to lose.

Congrats Marcus! Brilliant move by the Eagles. It will also be nice to see Marcus in green again.

I would like to nominate Pennsylvania Duck as 2022 Rookie of the Year! Comes on to FishDuck with grace, and a massive impact.

What Gonzo means to the program is a further confirmation speed is back in fashion at Oregon. Our two young Lanning LB's have speed, our newest DB is the fastest guy on the team. What Gonzo proved is speed can come to Oregon once again, and become elite football talent. I think what we will see going forward is the new Hayward is going to add fuel to this new focus on speed. You also raise a great point that he transferred into the program as under appreciated 4* and came out a top draft pick talent. Who is going to be the next Gonzo? Or should I say Gonzo's, as there is plenty of potential talent coming in, it is just about what they are willing to put in at their next stop. Great analysis, and projections Alex, well done, once again!

I would argue the question is would a team draft him high knowing he is going to play football, not would they let him. Agree his desire to play football will likely pull him off a high draft position, but the kid is the kind of talent you take a chance on. You don't want to waste a top pick on somebody who may end up playing football. Remember Tampa Bay tried to play that game with Bo Jackson. They wasted a draft choice on Bo when he went and played baseball instead of being a Buc. These kids will do what they want and with NIL money he can do alright playing college football. He, and his father have stated he will play college football. The way he would play college football would be as a preferred walk-on, if he is drafted high. Time will tell how it plays out, and if the outside chance Oregon has will come true. It is true this is a very complex situation, and I have no information other than what is available to everyone off the internet.

Best case scenario on April 1st we may get a preferred walk-on TE who is a 5* talent. If Duce gets drafted high enough in baseball he would play football as a preferred walk-on. I imagine the Ducks are doing everything they can to get this young man on campus before he commits on April 1st. The bonus would be he wouldn't count against the scholarship limit if he plays pro ball. Duce would answer a lot of the problems at the TE position, and with our scholarship limit issues. Right now our tight end position group is lacking, and needs somebody to step into a big role.

Agree completely this is a 3-4 year build. This is also why I mentioned the two second year LB's, as these guys need to develop if we are to see the vision Lanning has. We would also need to see transfer guys become who they haven't yet been, not a sure thing, to really upgrade this defense. I kept Rachel in the post because, well.....we all need a little sunshine in this springter season we are in.

The talent that has left and will be leaving may be more important and telling than the transfers in. The culture on defense just wasn't there, for whatever reason, and I look for Lanning's imprint to be on the defense this season. I also look for the young talent to be pushing for more playing time. Both Jackson and Taggart have the speed Lanning wants at LB, and should have the experience to begin to play more significant roles. I completely agree the loss to the beavs was on the defense. The special teams will also make a big leap this year, and that will be impactful too.

I can't imagine the plan for building the new Harward included a decline in the program. I think we will see changes, and developments. Great topic to keep our eyes on!

In my view we were hit by a sucker punch. Not sure how most would react to this, but if somebody hit me like that I would react. I would say Jon's direction is probably the most productive. I would agree just sitting on our tails complaining and taking a backseat doesn't sit well with me. I actually think Jon's idea is brilliant. In the past I have been in legal situations where it had to make financial sense to pursue. Jon makes a great case where the Pac-10 really doesn't have a lot to lose. There is a great deal to gain actually. I would also say it creates a lot of leverage. I'm with Jon, pissed!

We are now on Duce's radar, warm on the watch front, where we use to be off the chart. Anyone have any news on a visit, just saying, I wouldn't count the Lanning charm out. The position is WIDE open. His signing date April 1st, could Oregon be the joker in the deck? Two-sport standout, baseball and football. Baseball Offers: Oregon, Oregon State, Arizona, San Diego, Stanford, Cal, Georgia, Florida State, Georgia Tech,... 247SPORTS.COM summary

To me who are going to be 'the guys' are the best ponder points of the spring. To reach the programs potential guys are going to have to step up. Which of the players will become the biggest difference makers. Which guys will seize that opportunity? The other element is which freshman are going to begin to wedge themselves into Oregon legendary status? Maybe the most interesting thing to see which freshmen have the it factor. As Charles likes to say, greatness reveals itself early. Whether it is rumblings from the practice squad like we have heard from in the past, or maybe someones prodigiousness rears it amazing head in the spring game, I want to know. This is Lanning's first class that is full of guys he wanted. Who is going to provide the new culture leadership, and who can make the difference on the field right away? Probably most important, right away, is who is going to be the Nix, Gonzales type of transfer? On defense we don't just need the 1st round talent, but a leader. Last season Nix provided that leadership, Gonzo only brought crazy talent. Can we see someone take over the expectations on the field and drive us to an elite defense? The last group that needs to develop is the special teams. I look for an influx of speed, size and strength on special teams. Guys like Devon Jackson, sub 11second 100 guy, will inflict their will on this group now that their redshirt is over. A few guys will earn a starting role in the future by becoming special on special teams. Mostly it is just going to be exciting to see Lanning teams emerge in this transition year. We are transitioning from the previous coaches guys to a Lanning led team. What young guys, transfers, and already entrenched guys are going to become the face of the Lanning program. Nix will certainly be this years face of the program, but I look for guys to begin to cast some big shadows if not outright oversized impacts on the program this year.

It may not be easy, but the best life lesson is consequences. The more protections we put in for those who fail the more of a disservice we do for them in the end. One of the big problems is almost every student athlete believes they fall into the first category you described David, they're all superstars. If they don't make it the coach had it in for them. This is a big reason the portal is full, and superstars aren't getting a second chance. Maybe each full ride athletic scholarship should include tuition for 4 years, (130 credits) the rest is on them if they fail to live up to the athletic side of things. I do like the carrot approach where if you succeed you get even more. The benefit to a program is immense when a player has completed 4-5 years at a school.

Life is tough and the sooner young people learn tough lessons the better. If a student athlete makes a mistake they should learn a lesson. The game will teach them the same lesson, which is one reason I love the game. While I don't agree with the scholarship idea I do think athletes who get a bachelors degree deserve more. I would like to see Universities extend the ability of an athlete who earns his bachelors after competing 4-5 years the right to earn a masters free of charge. If they get a masters, then a PHD free of charge. The more soft landings we give our young the softer the generation will become. Athletic competition helps teach what we need in the next generation, and so does tough life choices. Let's continue to reward success, let our young learn to struggle and become stronger from the experience. It is the struggle which teaches us the most. Great ponder point, and I just respectfully disagree with how we should reward these student athletes.

You raise a great point on, qb's especially, players need the right franchise to really thrive. Not sure what player could make it work anywhere, but qb's need the right situation to reach their potential. The last thing a qb should be looked upon is a savior to fix all a franchises issues. He definitely shouldn't be drafted by a team who isn't going to highlight his strengths. The Titans seldom used Marcus to his strengths, nor did they support him well enough with the players he needed.

No plan by George and no plan by the Big for the LA schools. I suppose it all comes down to how those plans come together. I would say neither is looking too good, but it ain't over. Sadly both plans come down money. There is little in these plans to help the student athletes, or the athletes experience, especially with the Big and the LA schools little short sighted move. Hopefully George can put together something with a little more thought to it. Lord knows he has had enough time too.

I think there is a song by Beyonce, 'single ladies' that speaks to putting a ring on it. It seems like all the teams have been single for a while with the lack of leadership at the top. George needs to put a ring on it, or he is liable to lose it all. Compete with the big boys for the Pac-whateverisleft, or you might be the biggest loser. What program in their right mind is going to sit around while the rest are getting their golden rings. George seems to be out talking to everyone, not getting it done. Maybe losing usc and ucla wasn't enough to get George off his hiney. In the end Oregon will be just fine, but it is sad to see the once proud, conference of champions, fold up like a cheap suit.

I only wish the kid had said he looks forward to recruitment when he is a junior. For now he has baseball in the spring, basketball in the winter, and of course football in the fall. He also likes hanging out with his friends. Instead he is talking about training with his football team, sounds like, year round. He probably has trainers, camps, and will suffer overuse injuries and be burned out by the time he hits his sophomore year. By senior year he will be a mess, and we will read about what went wrong. Maybe I am wrong, but I have seen this play out too many times with the way sports are promoted to our young. Identify early, specialize, and work toward one thing while young. For every one young kid it works out for there are hundreds whose body and young mind can't handle that kind of pressure and activity. We then repeatedly see the under recruited become stars. I only hope we continue to dig in the weeds, and find the next Justin, or Marcus who haven't been to all the camps, and have all the stars. We need to find the players who have it, not necessarily the ones who have been told they are it since way too young.

Agree completely, Justin has proven he is an elite talent, but if his franchise doesn't build around him he will never reach the level the three you mention have. Justin will become another Dan Marino, Warren Moon type of talent, or another Duck like Dan Fouts who wowed, but the franchise never stepped up to his talent level. At this moment Marcus has to make a decision on the route he wants to take. I just hope he doesn't just keep trying to make a franchise, that doesn't know the formula, and isn't committed. That may begin as a back-up, and a rebuild of his skillset, but I do wonder what the next step is. He will always be an Oregon Legend, the next steps, who knows. I will say I have complete respect, and admiration for who Marcus is and always will be in my mind. He is the ideal every Oregon Duck qb, player should work towards.

Marcus, like Joey has been with three teams and both ended with Atlanta. Neither was given a decent team to play for. Both had flashes of what they could do at the NFL level. Will, should Marcus hang it up, or try to get on a decent team, with the right scheme, talent and wait for his opportunity. I hope he doesn't continue putting himself at risk trying to prove he can succeed in a less than ideal situation. I don't see him as a longterm back-up like Kellen was. He should either hang them up, or figure out the 2 or more franchises he will play for, go after those, and not compromise. At 30 he should know what he needs, wants, and if it is football, the franchises he can excel at. I would love to see him back-up Mahomes, and see what that franchise would do with him. From there he may get an even better opportunity to start with another franchise. What franchises would seem best in your opinions, or should be hang them up?

While I agree he is smart not to show his hand, it leaves us wondering what he has. I would say he has an Ace, OBD, a program which is always in the hunt. He also has a program which has always viewed themselves as a king, but has never won anything. Fortunately we got rid of a couple jokers, which will be turned into lowly number cards. The rest are tough to call. How he plays that hand is purely speculation. All I see is a poker face, but we are yet to see him really play anything. The other side is also pure speculation so who knows how our hand will do. Or is it a game of chess where two pawns jumped the gone and were taken. The king really can't do anything, and again never has. What is left is the queen who holds the most power, and probably should act that way. From the crazy mind of Hayward.

Hate to hear about this, getting older isn't easy. I know the water is what keeps me young. Being Mr.FishDuck you should be in the water too. Maybe some warm water therapy, exercise. All I know is we all appreciate what you do seated, and hope you get your stride back soon

Wouldn't it be amazing to see the hiring of an old OC, head coach as an analyst. If there was a coach who could handle that hire it would be Lanning. Not sure if Helfrich would be ready to take another role, but it would be something to see that kind of move by both men.

I imagine it was a factor, but more like the....

Also Stein's college program (Louisville) just hired a very good coach, Jeff Brohm, and he hired his son, Brian Brohm as the OC. Maybe the draw Dilly had to his home program won't happen for a while with Stein. Maybe Lanning had that figured out too? Agree other programs wanting our assistants is a good sign. Also Lanning track record of bringing in very good coaches is another awesome sign. All these things along with Charles analysis, hopefully, add up to stellar results.