Haywarduck

I think it will hinge on the new OC. Last time Dilly basically brought in Nix. This time who knows, but we don't have the seasoned O-line, and a new offense may need somebody more experienced than what we will have on the sideline, so far. What we do have, as seen in the two critical games, is a couple wily offensive minds for rival coaches. That will be the bar the new OC will have to get over. Dilly and Lanning couldn't match what Smith and DeBoer brought. That is unacceptable, and the new OC will need to be able to help us rise above these two.

Interesting you don't advocate for a transfer in this age of the transfer qb. I agree we need to show we can do something with our highest rated qb up to Moore. I suppose it will come down to the next OC, and what he wants, the connections to players he has. Nix, of course, came because of Dilly. What qb will follow the next OC? The next OC announcement and the Moore signing will be huge days for the future the Oregon program. How those two decisions play out will be worth hundreds if not thousands of ponder points, discussion topics.

They are going to fire the 2021 Broyles Award winner, and that will fix it all. Yea that makes complete sense. Top assistant at another program becomes incompetent when he becomes an assistant under MariØ, hmmmmm. Last years excuse went 7-5 with the Zips, and is probably happier than ever.

Considering the O-line we will have next year compared to this year, a senior transfer would be wise. Putting a freshman qb behind a O-line still learning isn't what you want a new qb to have to deal with. I like the RB's and Receivers our qb will have. The O-line and new OC would seem to indicate we may need to bring in the competition and mentoring a senior qb would bring. A smart, competitive freshman would be wise to want that. If Nix is that guy then great, but if he isn't we need somebody who has experienced what a freshman is going through. Players often learn best from other players, and I am not sure Ty is going to provide much great advice on how to deal with the freshman jitters. I'm not writing off Ty, but he needs help too.

Absolutely loved Thornton's measurables, and hope he can turn those into NFL type productivity. Maybe it was just me, but his hands were somewhat suspect. Seldom did I see him make a clean catch, or hold the ball strongly. Franklin is money with the ball anywhere close to his hands. If he works on those skills he could be lights out, or he can just be another guy who was a china doll. Looked good on the shelf, but not functional.

I wonder if any of the guys are leaving as the best player in the room? Gonzo left Colorado so he could showcase his talent on a more competitive team, and I imagine wanted to win. The players I am seeing leaving Oregon didn't get to see the field enough. It seems to me we are getting spots opening up so Lanning can upgrade, get players who fit his idea of best for his type of football. The next step will be who does Lanning get to fill the spots. Interesting times, and I do wish all the best to every Duck who wants to find a better program for their skill set. Progress in this age of the transfer portal. We do seem to be on the side of bringing in better players, creating a more competitive roster. Some teams see an exodus of talent, not Oregon so far.

I was trying to remember who Budda Baker was and all I could come up with was this, why would Presley want to be like this guy? Slow and making highlights like this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ImdWvuzsCY

Best sales pitch is Dante will have the opportunity to compete for the starting job for an exciting offense, full of weapons. There will be great coaching and competition, both things which go into making an elite qb. Also those are the only guarantees, no guaranteed starting job. He is our top qb recruit, but he will be pushed by the staff, and players.

Agree with David, go this season when you can get drafted by a team which wants what he brings, doesn't expect him to put the team on his shoulders. Bo is a solid qb, and can hang around the NFL for a while if has the right path.

And Michigan signed Harbaugh to an extension after his worst year, losing season in 2020. They go on to beat tosu two years in a row. Let's be like Michigan, and stand behind a guy who we see has what we want in a head coach. Maybe not an extension or raise yet, but bump up his assistants pay, and support staff. We definitely don't want to be like tosu, ever!

Oregon's running game has been full of success because of Gary Campbell, and now Mr. Locklyn. Locklyn carries on the success quite admirably. Agree that we have great RB's, and the run game has always set up the passing game. I would add Junior Adams is building a wide receiver group like we have never seen before. I look for the future to have a two headed monster where defenses can't stop the pass or the run. That will be the new Oregon offense. We have seen receivers dominate us, anyone remember Kupp at EWU, it is time Oregon had an elite receiver(s) other programs have nightmares over.

A tough sell to a program use to an offense which leads and innovates. Love Lanning, but hiring an OC with that distinction would take a lot of salesmanship.

I hope he finds a stable opportunity to let his skills show. He deserves an opportunity to shine, and I hope he finds it! Butters is a class act, about all we know for sure!

There are two main ways programs stumble, one is definitely a qb injury, or lack of qb depth. The other is not trusting the process a new coach goes through in building a winning program. I don't think we are at a point where the fanbase doesn't have the patience to allow a coach to build a foundation, and then the structure needed to support long term success. I do know many programs just expect success, and if it doesn't come it is on to the next coach. Oregon has been successful because we support coaches through this difficult periods, even when we lose to rivals. I know there will always be disappointment, my dog ran out of the room as Bo tried to get the yardage needed on 4th down, and I am guilty as any. I do know, in the end, I will always support my Ducks win or lose. That is why we stumble, but never stay down.

Last December Bo Nix transferred to Oregon. I would imagine in the coming weeks we will have a new OC, and then the work begins on the team we will see next season. We can definitely focus on the recent past and wallow in what could have been. We can also look forward to what could be an exciting next few weeks as we build for next season. We have the new OC, recruitment, signing, transfers and a bowl game. I would love to see Bo come back and be part of that future. The future is going to be bright, so I am not holding my breath on Bo, just excited to see who is going to be part of it. Great times ahead!

It is just a game, and everyone is just doing their best. The item I loved how you highlighted was how people were so grateful in a time when things where so difficult. How we react when things get tough can teach us a lot. While you went through a tough experience, you came away a better man. So too will we, although this isn't too tough of an experience as compared to that time. That is the amazing thing about the coach and staff we have at Oregon right now. They are grateful for the opportunity and just want to improve, make Oregon better. I won't miss a minute if it, my perspective.

I understand he wants the positive to help the program, but he will need to handle the negative as a head coach. Seems kind of fragile to me, but I do like his emotion. Can he be the CEO, I wonder. Should be an interesting game next year when Lannings team heads to Tempe.

Uncertainty creates chaos, I hope Lanning can create clarity on the OC side soon. Maybe Thornton didn't like the feedback on the work he needed to become great? His hands need some work, but the ceiling on the guy is yet to be seen. He will get plenty of interest as just about every school wanted him, and you don't see his speed and height combo too often. I imagine Lanning is working hard to tighten up the players, and get somebody onboard soon.

I was surprised I didn't see Brady on the list yesterday. He wouldn't be here long, but that could be an exciting ride. The one ingredient the Ducks have never had, the elite receiver, is now on the roster and lining up to get on the roster. The Duck offense is set to take off to greater heights, yet seen. For Duck fans this choice is going to be like a Christmas present one can't play with until next fall. It will provide plenty to ponder, and Brady could create a day after Christmas feel for months to come.

The only coach to leave after one season. Even MariØ stayed through the first Miami head coach hiring. The money was pretty sweet for waiting a couple years.

I would put it at 2 in a row coaches leaving and OC's leaving for head coaching jobs. The first OC and coach have lost their dream jobs, Taggart and Arroyo. The second two MariØ and Dilly are still to be determined. The trend isn't their friend though. Many programs look for the coach to be their savior, or they are fired. Oregon looks at coaches as able to be successful, and then how can they help them be successful. Most coaches don't seem to understand that difference, but they learn.

Sure seemed like Dilly was making, or thinking about making this call when we were up by 21 last Saturday. I only wish we had coaches who could show the focus Lanning had while still coaching at Georgia and taking over the Oregon job. Loved Dilly while he was here, but once his foot was one step out the door it seemed we didn't have the same OC.

The list of coaches who have struggled in their first year was telling. Not just Smart, but Saban at Alabama in his first year there, and Meyer at Florida. My take was always a Rose Bowl win would be the highest Lanning could rise in his first season. The key there is I want a bowl game win. That is still possible. The idea this young team should have gone to the playoff was wishful thinking. We would have been slaughtered 8-9 out of 10 times in a playoff game this season. The slow build is what we should expect, and we should support Coach Lanning on that journey. I know I am all in with where he is taking us. Failure is just part of the learning process.

Whoever Dan Lanning thinks will work, end of story.

Great point, but Nix was just part of the new qb equation. You recruit the 5* and bring in a transfer. The transfer and 5* battle it out and you have another strong qb. How many programs were successful with their qb recruit, and how many were successful on the back of a transfer? As much as I hate this trend, the new future, for the elite teams, is the bring in somebody else's qb who is ready to lead. My bet is next year, if we are successful, a couple of the important cogs to that success will be transfers. This will become the new normal in college football. The real difference in teams is their transfers.