Drake

We have seen some incredible play at QB for many years. Some of that play can be viewed in the highlights section of the “repository” which is located on this website. Always available for Ducks to get their winter “fix” of well played football. I always thought Chris Miller got the ball rolling (or with football maybe bouncing?) back when we were in dire need of help. With maybe a few hiccups over the years, there is a long list of very capable QB’s that wore the Duck jersey.

Justin Herbert, the NFL ROY, ran out of eligibility. BTW, Oregon’s weight room beats Alabama by a long shot...now we need to beat them on the field.

I agree Charles. The quality of Hayward Field and the other facilities available to Oregon’s student athletes is amazing. Walking into Hayward Field just screams this is “big time” athletics. Phil Knight’s love of sports shines on the facilities he has been involved with on Oregon’s campus. This is his “ Crown Jewel”.

I like the Oregon Football Vault...treasures are locked away inside the repository? Kind of rhymes with lavatory as well...Lol Sorry Charles just following the gist of Notalot’s comment.

Track Town USA... The most Iconic track in the USA...Remember moving from Mac Court to the Matthew Knight Arena? This is like that, but even more impressive.

Cristobal is perfect for Oregon, his work ethic sets a very high standard, and is an example for everyone associated with the team. He is recruiting at a level never seen before in Eugene. He is bringing in high caliber players that may give us another shot at a National title. Will he win a championship? I don’t know, but players and coaches are noticing his recruiting success. That makes the Ducks an attractive destination for both. I say don’t change a thing.

What do I want as a Duck fan?...never lose to the Rodents is high on my list. It just makes Rodent fans even more annoying. However, I have to admit that I always cheer for OSU whenever they play UW. Young players make mistakes and we certainly had a lot of them on the field last year. So many variables contributed to make 2020 a disappointing year for Duck football. What excites me now is the number of young players that now have game experience, they should play much better as a team going forward. The coaches are definitely bringing in young talent with a lot of potential. I am very interested in watching how far that potential can take us. Go Ducks

I think Herbert’s interviews make him even more lovable as a fan. This guy just had the best NFL rookie QB season that we have ever seen, and he steers all the questions about his success towards his surrounding teammates abilities. I think Herbert’s struggles to win games as a freshman while at Oregon, and his teams subsequent success afterward, better prepare him mentally for the tough losses in the NFL. My guess is that Herbert’s success in the NFL has a much higher ceiling than Tua, and many other young QBs. If you look at rookie highlights, Herbert’s last for over 30 minutes...Tua, maybe 3 minutes...lol

I agree with the reasons to be optimistic. His reasoning makes sense. I believe that we have both players and coaches that are capable. The biggest factor that will decide whether this team will have a “monster” season is also our biggest unknown. Who plays QB?...and ultimately, how well they play, will determine how far this team will go. I really think this team will see a lot of improvement on offense and defense. Realistically, I am thinking we are still probably a year away from a monster season.

Always an inspiration...I want to go on a run, and I am not a runner...and yes, Nike now has a couple of statues on its campus in Beaverton.

“Fixing” the PAC 12 will require time. Whomever had oversight of Larry Scott is also largely responsible for the problems that are being faced by the conference. Long term contracts, poorly managed expenditures, and ownership of a network that has not delivered the type of revenue projected, are signs that bad business decisions were made by more than one person. The conference needs capable leadership and oversight. The conference will be preparing to renegotiate network contracts in a few years. Therefore, it will see an increase in revenue from that source. However, while money can help eliminate red ink, it doesn’t solve all the issues faced by the conference. If money solved all issues in sports, Paul Allen’s Portland TrailBlazers would have won a championship. There are underlying issues that need to be managed beyond money. Whomever is hired will have their hands full.

Good article. The timing of Tyler Shough’s transfer surprised many of us. His date with stardom at Oregon was short lived. I thought both our offense and defense started to unravel during the UCLA game. So many variables led to the Ducks sporadic play during the shortened season. I am optimistic that 2021 is a better year in so many ways.

Pritchard can come off the bench and provide offense with his outside shooting. He is the type of player that can help spread the floor because teams need to respect his jump shot. It’s looking like he was a great pick for the Celtics.

With Ashford, Butterfield, and Thompson vying for playing time we are loaded with potential. Brown provides experience, and he is probably the guy to beat for the starting job. If Brown starts and struggles with passing, or his decision making, I think we see one of the young guns taking over quickly. Ashford is intriguing to me as a two sport athlete and competitor. The obvious problem is going to be some growing pains on offense, and our toughest opponent will be tOSU early. However, the team should get better as the season unfolds barring injuries to key personnel.

Oregon track and field just continues to add more names to the long list world class athletes we have seen over the years. Attending an Oregon track meet at the “new” Hayward Field is definitely high on my to-do list.

Timing for Shough starting was less than ideal, he was either going to sink or swim. He had to follow one of our very best QB’s, had an inexperienced offensive line, and new play book to deal with. Expectations were for the Ducks to dominate the PAC 12...no pressure at all. Tough decision, wish you luck in the future TS. With him exiting the program, an opportunity is presented to someone else. May the best man for the job win. Watching talented young people get beaten down is the hardest part of being a college football fan. But, that is the reality of a program striving to be the best....sigh.

QB1 for the Ducks needs to have a firm grasp on reading the key defensive players in the RPO offense. He should not feel the need to win games by himself, but could certainly lose games with bad reads and poor passing decisions. I think Shough made those mistakes in the games that the Ducks should have won. I try to always be optimistic, but until I see better play at QB and RB, I won’t be expecting the Ducks to “run the table” in the PAC 12. The exciting thing is I believe we have the players to be a dominating force, they just lack experience. Young QB’s and DB’s are prone to mistakes. It will take an amazing effort by everyone to overcome that fact.

“I always get to where I am going by walking away from where I have been.” Winnie the Pooh

A coach that doesn’t recruit well, but has a good offensive scheme, is still doomed. Helfrich, arguably one of our best OC’s, proved that. I think it is safe to say that an offensive scheme by itself doesn’t score the points. We still need capable players to execute. Remember our melt down at the Alamo Bowl? I do agree that a predictable offense can be easier to stop, and we certainly have seen that happen. However, recruiting has helped to get us back into the CFP conversation. I think when Moorehead gets a capable QB, and RB duo, that his offense will score points. Combine that with a potentially strong DeRuyter defense and you start something cooking. Go Ducks

Read an article that stated Jeff Choate’s base salary at Montana State was $206,000, with added incentive clauses. Choate left Montana State to become a “Co DC” at Texas. If Ken Wilson is looking for a better opportunity, then leaving the Ducks for Montana State is probably not a great career move. If our defense plays to it’s potential, Ken Wilson will get national exposure as a Co-DC at Oregon, and will probably get more opportunities offered.

The problem with trying to be “competitive” with other Universities, and the upgrades made to athletic facilities, is that $50 million isn’t that much. Didn’t we just spend $12m on a new video board and sound system? Kind of a crazy amount of $$$ to spend to be able to watch TV a few weekends per year....lol

DeRuyter’s blitz scheme certainly looks nasty. KT, Sewell, Flowe, etc...Looks like these guys will have a coach that can help to maximize their abilities. If they can stay healthy these guys will dominate. There will be some big hits laid on some opposing QB’s.

My “journey” with Ducks Football started in the seventies. For years, if we happened to have a decent team, we would be considered “overachievers” . The Mike Bellotti era completely changed that perception, and he helped put the Ducks into the National Championship conversation. Since that time, have the Ducks thrived? We all know that the Trophy case is missing one major piece of hardware, but I have to say that we have thrived, and so have some of our coaches.

Herbert really didn’t have the luxury of a lot of highly talented receivers while he was at Oregon. Our receivers often struggled to get open, and at times, had problems with catching a well placed ball. I think being drafted by the Chargers has worked out pretty well for him. While being a number one draft pick would mean more initial money, Herbert won’t be worrying about paying his bills anytime soon. Herbert is a class act, and it is exciting to see him excel in the NFL.

DeRuyter will be able to recruit. I think Cristobal is passionate and has a vision that connects with young athletes. If nothing else that passion and vision rubs off on the players and the coaches connected to the program. We have hired a proven coordinator, and with the players he has available, the defense will be formidable. That will definitely catch the attention of prospects that are looking to land in a top program. While recruiting may not be DeRuyter’s strength now, it will be easier to recruit to an Oregon program which is on the rise, vs. Cal.