Marshall Lucky

Ok, but...does anyone have that picture of Neuwiesel wearing Duck gear at Autzen? Just for jump scares and giggles.

Erin Andrews has moved on to the NFL.

Helf’s offenses continued to improve. Defense and QB development went from Excellent to WTH!? In 18 months.

There is something systemically wrong with the traditional “blue bloods” (jeeebus, the irony of that phrase). Few coaches can fix that. UCLA 30 year highpoint was eeaking out wins against Bellotti’s Ducks. USC outside Pete Carols run has been mediocre. That says more about him than USC, talk about lighting in a bottle. Nebraska, UW, Miami, Florida, FSU, etc.....Unless you’re older than dirt...like me, they aren’t even has beens. This is why it’s a mistake to disparage Chip, and assume Oregon can/should/does operate like the “Blue Bloods”.

Go look at his Twitter page as of 3:45pm this afternoon, Dec 7th. That isn’t business as usual, let the man go home.

In defense of Chip Kelly: Look at his ability to adapt his play calling to his personel: from Roper to to Masoli to Mariota. He was excellent. Innovation: far from being a one hit wonder, he brought in new ideas and continued to evolve. This site’s bread and butter was the study of that. Unless NFL means National Frontal Lobotomy....uh, never mind... Chip didn’t just bring an offense to Oregon, but an entire regime for practice and prep. Those were lost immediately after he departed...and haven’t been seen since. His recruiting classes were excellent, only bested by Cristobal. Sanctions would have diminished that record, but thats not on Kelly’s recruiting ability....or ability to hire coaches who can. The big question is: what can he do as the giant, not as the giant killer. Oregon was built as a giant killer, 40 fun years of raising hell and causing Chaos....but Mario leveraged that into something completely foreign and unexpected by any of us oldsters. We are the giant...just a baby. It’s Unbelievable...actually. So the questions are; can Chip scheme against blue bloods with blue blood talent? (Seriously? It’s a stupid question , but we all seem to wonder). And...Can he continue to build off that talent? The assumption you can’t recruit sec talent to Eugene has been proven false....now what? Imo, we’d need to continue with NFL type line play to bring in NFL bound linemen... and bring in the best DC, and OCs with position coaches that have recruiting chops in SEC. Cristobal didn’t have secret sauce: he had pedegree, honesty, and work ethic....that alone recruits the right kids. Taggert's assistants with Kelly at the helm, not Taggart. It’s not unrealistic. Q. What could Helf had done with Taggert’s budget and no sanctions? Q2. What would Kelly had been able to do with a field goal kicker. 4 NC games?

“. Risk is still part of the game plan, like it or not.” ...true this. Couple thoughts: Brooks turned the corner for the Ducks, but Bellottii established the brand. What’s worse than watching a Cristobal era Duck offense?...watching a Brooks era offense. But Brooks righted a ship that had foundered since Len Casinova (Before my time). Random thought: A coach with Cristobal’s W/L record..... Helfrich Cristobal laid an excellent foundation for his successor.

“Now, how about hiring a HC who gives a whip about Oregon?” imho, Oregon divorced itself from that aspect of it’s identity when it s’ canned it’s entire coaching staff (giving up decades of commitment, loyalty, and continuity) while they were out recruiting, and severely hamstrung by ncaa sanctions. Only 4 years after getting to the NC game with a cobled together team. Once Oregon did this, they became just like USC/UW and the mediocrity was inevitable. Our “brand” isn’t enough to compete with them at a game where their’s isn’t enough. I hope I’m wrong, but keeping Mario was blind luck after Taggart. Oregon was built off continuity, grit, and the ability to develop talent. Cas, Brooks, and Bellotii alone accounted for nearly 50 years...almost half of college football history at the time. And, it was largely done, at least the foundation was laid, without Pk’$. fire Mullins.

Consider the longterm outlooks for the state of Oregon, UofO, and the Pac12. Havana and Detroit. Recruiting coaches isn’t getting any easier.