The Kamikaze Kid

Great stuff Charles! What SUC will never understand is that Lanning looks like he wants to strap on a helmet and go out there and smack people around himself while Riley looks like he’d rather be sitting by the pool at his mansion. Lanning’s passion for the game resonates with kids while Riley gives off the classic all hat no cattle vibe.

SUCs to be them.

I’m sure SUC demanded as few games against the Ducks as possible to avoid their inevitable beat downs. These would have been high viewership games but they never happened. Another foot shooting move by the PAC.

I think it’s quite probable that Lanning is a much better in game coach than he’s given credit for. in year one he converted Mario’s stale vanilla offense into a scoring machine. Unfortunately, Mario’s horrific third down stopping D was what Lanning had to work with. If not for two horrific defensive meltdowns, he could have dragged that team into the playoffs. In his first year of coaching! Year two, he replaces genius OC #1 with genius OC #2 and the offense even improves. He shores up the leaky D and now it’s top 10 in scoring. If not for back up DBs trying to deal with an #8 draft pick QB throwing to a #9 pick receiver to barely win two games, he again could have made the playoffs in year two! Now in year three it looks like he’s got the players in place at least two deep in every position group. I don’t think we’ve ever seen a Duck team this stacked everywhere. The potential for a special season is very there. As crazy as an undefeated season seems to predict, it feels like it has a 50/50 chance of happening. My coin flip says Ducks get it done.

From some of the quotes I’ve seen, I’d say Lanning sees recruiting success measured by first and second round draft numbers.As we were amazed by I think seven last year, Lanning was saying he wanted that number over ten! We have never had a recruiter able to talk numbers like that from prior experience doing it. When the five stars start feeling comfortable that he can deliver that at Oregon, the flood gates will open.

UO vs SUC, Utah vz AZ, Cal vs Furd in the conference championships. Six former PAC teams in the playoffs. A finally so improbable that it almost seems destined!

Unfortunately one of the backups for the injured corners was a five star that hasn’t played like one yet. Here’s hoping Donte Manning pulls an N’fally Donte and has a five star senior season.

These never get old. I hope they flash these quotes on the scoreboard when the fuskies and SUC show up for their regular beat downs. Maybe every time the Duck’s doing push-ups!

The Allstate 12?

Getting as far away from Mario as possible is quite understandable. I’d also expect OL recruitment to get the same attention as DL recruitment got this year.

Great points already addressed. I’d just add that Lanning seems to bring in great players that get it done time and again. Whether it’s a five star recruit, portal guy or a Juco kid, they almost always bring impact to the team. With so much successful recruiting, I just trust Dan to get it done. We don’t get them all but we don’t need to. It makes me care less about specific players. When the dust settles, they’ll be ready to compete with the best whoever happens to be on the team.

Kenny Wheaton did much more than score that day.

Mario chases paper stars while Lanning goes after field stars. Combine that with a true game plan verses leather helmet ball and the results speak for themselves.

Walton could explain the history of the Rouge River, the far out experience of a Grateful Dead show and the perfect execution of a half court trap in one paragraph. The man’s love of life was unparalleled. He was a fierce competitor, an avid scholar and a modern day shaman all rolled into one. A true one of a kind individual and ambassador of the Conference of Champions. RIP Bill.

I don’t know if I can make it or not but just seeing this forum create a big green dot in their white out would make me a proud Duck fan!

One simply does not add extra motivation to the Danimal.

One of Oregon’s greatest villains (UCLA) and heroes (77 Blazers). His place as the most colorful commentator of all time is firmly cemented in history. RIP big man!

The BIG will learn soon enough that that thing slowly approaching from the west is not a moon.

Yes. I remember the little SUC Ewoks dancing with joy until and ominous shadow arrived eclipsing their sun!

Great article. My only critique of the stats cited is there is no way the Ducks have a portal ranking of only #10. There is NO way nine other teams did better than bring in two five star QBs, a five star receiver, elite D line players and elite DBs. This year Lanning finally has the players to unleash his aggressive defense on the world. With the offense being capable of surpassing even last years results, a legit championship run is within possibility. I wish the season started tomorrow!

And another one joins. And another one joins. Another one joins the Ducks!

Superb analysis Charles. I always root for the young Ducks to grow into future team leaders but that doesn’t always work out. Dan continues to bring in the most talent he can, teach it up then let them sort it out on the field. Roberts may have become a great Duck in time but sounds like he was being passed up by some youngsters.

Going to the Spring Game is not only a fun day of spring football for me and my friends, it also helps support the recruiting machine sell that magic Autzen vibe.

I was pretty stoked with what I saw. I think we'll have a legit group of guys at every position group. The D made it pretty hard for the O to move the ball. It seems like defensive technique is usually slower to develop than offense so I'll take that as a good sign the D will be ready by the opener. All four QBs look ready for minutes I could give props to every one of them which hasn't been the case in the past. I think being in the mix to win the BIG is a legit possibility. The crowd had good energy. It won't be long until Puddles owns the BIG 10 Network!

It felt like any of the four QBs could win a BIG game. The QB room looks as solid as it's been since... maybe ever.