Gizmoduck

As a side note I’m not superstitious but I hope they never wear the Grateful Dead unis again. They looked great, but counterculture and football don’t mix and the that game proved it.

I think the writing is on the wall for Novosad, and Moga to hit the portal. I think Dante comes back next year and Smith jr might be looking better than we think. If all that shakes out the roster still has Moore 5* Smith jr* Thomas 3* and Beavers 4*. Almost identical to the roster this year.

This season has already brought so much joy, and surprise I’m already over my own “Hoosier hangover”. These coaches know how to recruit kids that “want to be great” every coach says that, but the proof is in the rep count on Saturdays. These players want to be coached hard because they know it is being done with a level of actual love. Weird when you think about it. This symbiotic coach/player relationship that has so many father/son parallels. This is what drives recruiting. The word of mouth from players about the reality of love/development that they get. The bells and whistles of facilities and uniforms and Nike are great don’t get me wrong, but football has always been, and will always be, a people/relationship business. GO DUCKS!!!

I could see a scenario where Novosad, and Moga, transfer which would leave Moore, Smith jr, Thomas, and Beavers for next years roster.

Charles I humbly disagree with you. At some point a young qb is going to get overwhelmed. Trying to guess who is going to be successful out of the portal isn’t sustainable imho. Who remember Dakota Prukop? Hythloday at addicted to quack has been screaming since Pregnon transferred in that every team that has started three transfer linemen has seen significant drop off in their line play. Isiah World hasn’t been getting it done since Northwestern. Yes Dante had his issues, but if he had 1.5 more seconds to set his feet, or if the outside run game was just a little more consistent. We are having a much different conversation. Go back and watch the film of our tackles, especially against Penn State. It might change your perspective, it certainly changed mine. I know coach Terry can get em improved going forward. It just cost us one game. Those are the breaks. Here’s hoping the picture clears on what this team is and isn’t. I’m happy to be wrong, this is only my opinion. Go Ducks!!!

We lost to a good team, sucks, but you can’t win em all. I trust they’ll grow from it and come back stronger. There’s no way this team has seen its best football yet.

I don't when it will happen, but we all know Miami will drop a game that they shouldn't. Will this be the year Mari Cristbal leads his team to 0 losses? I don't think so.

I’ve been waiting for this so I could finally let go and move on to Indiana. Just the little behind the scenes of insight we are provided make me wanna run through a brick wall for these young men. Every time I see coach Lanning behind the scenes reminds how close we were to hiring someone else, and how many of us on this forum were skeptical. I thought he was gonna bail for sure when Alabama came knocking. When he stayed I decided then and there that all the ghosts of the past were dead and buried. It’s not if he can win a championship, but when he wins it I’m never calling it a “natty”, that’s what the old Ducks fan in me would have called it. I’ll call it a “chip” because it’ll just be a little piece of the legacy he builds here.

I hope he stays, but if he does transfer I’d like to see him go to Dilly at ASU.

It looked like the defender was leading with his helmet but I could be mistaken.

Great question Charles, I don’t think that whatever I say will stand up to the standard coach Lanning has. I have to remember that the starters have yet to surrender a touchdown. I would love it if the younger subs could play up to the starter standard but that’s just my druthers. If anything I would like to see the O-line play to the normal Oregon standard which they haven’t to this point in the season (and they still haven’t given up a sack). The level of play that this team has show. Has blown the roof off of any expectations that I had preseason, so it’s hard to adjust realistically as to who or what this team is. Beat the Beavs, cover the spread, no injuries is about as good as I can ask. Go Ducks!!!

With all due respect to each poster on this thread, and the one about Dakorian Moore, I humbly think we are all asking the wrong question. I think we should be asking “Did we underestimate Dan Lanning?” And “Expectations of Will Stein.” Coach Lanning has shown an obvious talent for learning from his mistakes, and coach Stein is one of the most innovative and dynamic coordinators in college football. Finally in year 4 Lanning has a full roster of “his guys”, who are familiar with his defensive scheme. On offense, he and coach Stein have a returning QB who is familiar with the system. With a dynamic WR who was here in the spring. All of these things are a 1st this year, which is why I believe we are seeing such great things so early. As a greybeard myself(52 and born and raised in Eugene) trusting a staff to have the best roster, have them prepared, and have them play to their dynamic potential is something I’ve never had the opportunity to do. The Kelly years were great, but we knew if we came up against the big boys, it was usually not gonna go our way. I’m trying not to care about the results and “trust the process” as coach says. I remember at his introductory press conference he said something like “Don’t judge us on what we say, but judge us on what we do. He’s done a whole lot from recruiting, to being a great spokesman for the university, to turning down Ala-freaking-bama!!! My friends the sky’s the limit and yes, I think even we have underestimated Coach Lanning!!! God bless you all, even if we disagree I know we agree on our beloved Ducks!!! Saturday can’t get here fast enough.

Alex, great article as usual. Managing expectations this early in the season with a team that still has so many questions surrounding it isn’t something we’ve had to worry about for awhile. I just have to remember to breathe, and that we are just watching, while these young men are actually living this in real time. What a time to be a duck.

I like what I see, this team has a great foundation to build a season on. Rooted in substance for sure. That substance being length, and speed.

I’m hoping Dante gets to start the 3rd, but I’d like to see some backups around the middle of the 3rd

That was a great opening drive!!!

45-9 is what I want it to be, but I’ll go 34-10

Alex, great article as usual. I think the only way the Ducks floor is lower than 10-2 is if they are snake-bit by injuries. If Dante is comfortable running the offense by the time they head to Penn State, I think the game will be electric. We all have to remember that this is only the 2nd time that this staff has had a QB that has been in the system for more than a year. The last time that happened Bo Nix was a Heisman finalist. If he stays healthy, this season will be special. GO DUCKS!!!

I’m not worried about it. If there is a battle I think it’s a battle of true qb1’s. I think coach Lanning isn’t worried what anybody thinks, I’d even go so far as saying I think he wouldn’t announce it just to start rumors. He’s always preaching about ignoring the outside noise and rumors would help to unify this team against the hype. If we don’t find out who the starter is until the game starts I won’t be upset. If whoever is under center can’t move the ball or the defense can’t stop them from moving the ball, then I’ll get worried. So far this staff has given me reason to trust the process, and understand there is method to the madness. Gameday can’t come soon enough though.

I don’t think this was an outlier season either. I believe the nation is going to come to an understanding of how challenging the Pac-12 really was, and the story of its complete mismanagement will be one of the most tragic cautionary tales in sports history.

The season cannot get here fast enough!

Charles I love how you never miss an opportunity to take a playful jab at Mari-no-O. This is what makes college football the best.

Just my two cents after watching maybe 5 mins of tape on this kid. DO! NOT! SIGN! HIM! Arm talent did not impress. Carson Beck 2.0 in my eyes but hey I’m not paid to make these decisions.

Agreed Charles.

This will be his 3rd year I think. And if Moore or Novasad win the starting position, then it will be his first coaching a starter for more than a single season.