EastBayDuckDad

Lincoln Riley selling the U$C AD and the donors on his contract extension while branding the team. Ok, I'm done now...

Seems to me that condoms and U$C go together like... Trojan-ENZ and Trojans! I see a fever dream where Oregon, after the 2025 win, goes on to beat Trojan ENZ in La-La-Land this fall, then wins the rubber match in the B1G CG. Disgruntled Troy fans, wearing their prophylactic raincoats in anticipation of foul Indianapolis weather leaving Lucas Oil Stadium, just saw Tommy sheath his sword for the last time. Sorry, had to do it...

I don't blame the kid, Baton Rouge is a lot closer to his Wash DC home and likely comes with the biggest bucket of NIL cash from the Geaux Tigers donor base. Shame he has to have Lame Kitten as a role model. Yes, Oregon could have used him at LT to protect Dante's blind side. He is a notch better than the talent there currently, but one never knows how he would have fit with Pancho and the crew. Crader and Wilson are solid tackles and starting them avoids the dropoff in efficiency that afflicts an entire O-line when transfer players are added. There is solid depth behind them. Incoming freshmen Iheanacho and Tofi are huge and talented kids, and it's possible that one (probably 'Nacho) could start inside at OG, or at least provide additional depth while they develop. Every day the O-line will match-up against four future NFL, and probably two first round, players in practice. That will expose any weaknesses so DL and the Law Firm can then adjust and shift personnel to get the best starting four around Pancho. Pregnon will be tough to replace, but World and Harkey maybe not so much. I'm 'glass half full' in my belief that the 2026 front can be as good, if not better, than the 2025 version.

Track fast and football fast are related but not the same, particularly for WRs. Those ten pounds of helmet and pads make a difference. In line speed is great and in the open is the deciding factor. Football fast takes advantage of that little shimmy fake, tight break, precise route running and stop and go to create separation. IU's Becker (Sarratt and Cooper as well) impressed with football fast moves and the use of the back shoulder throw. It quite honestly won them the NC. You don’t need to vapor trail past the DB, but do need to run a precise route, sell the defender on the go and not telegraph where the ball will be until the last second, have a QB that can deliver it there and go up and get it through contact. Mendoza did a good job at that throw. Moore has the skill to do the same but needs the judgement to know when it is the right play. Oregon has the WRs to make those plays but has underutilized them to this point. The addition of Bair gives them the 6'3" player they need, but he will have to learn the position and how to use his size and speed. If he is football fast and not just track fast.

Well, that was fun!

I don't know how IU blocks those punts but they do!

For IU it's execution, execution, execution. Cignetti was right that there should have been a couple of PFs on Miami for slobberknocking Mendoza after the ball was out. More of the same in the 2nd half for Indiana and they'll close this out. It's not a Cinderella story anymore if she's wearing a Kevlar gown, barbed wire tiara and Muck boot slippers. Go Hoosiers!

Jon, you rank right up there with the other giants of sports prose, Yogi Berra and Bob Uecker Great take on the impeccable insight and wisdom that the football pundit gods display when ranking teams early. How long would they hold a job with that accuracy rate if they were pilots, surgeons, nuclear physicists or the person who cuts your hair? I know this is all unbridled sarcasm, and I never would have predicted Indiana at #1, a Heisman for Mendoza or Mariø in the title match-up. But I don't earn my living at it. Then again, who doesn't want to see Paaawwll F. with steam coming out his jug ears as his can't lose SEC misses another NC game. The bloviators far, far too early 2026 rankings have Oregon at #5 and DM 6th or 7th in the Heisman odds. Please, please keep them there as it sounds about right for a bit of facial egg on the pundits come next fall. Keep 'em coming, Jon!

This makes sense as he will be the 2nd or 3rd safety drafted after Caleb Downs, likely later in the second round. He probably wouldn't have elevated his stock much with another year at Oregon. Best of luck to him in the NFL, some team will be getting a true baller.

Interesting to me that Moore and Theinemen have waited to the last day to decide. I don’t think it is for dramatic effect. I believe both of them, especially Dante, are getting as much input as possible from family, coaches, agents and even NFL teams that could potentially draft them before making the decision.

Mike, that is the perfect summation of the season we just witnessed. I keep going back to the 10-2 and 9-3, or worse, predictions from the talking heads. Some that had Oregon missing the CFP altogether. An O-line replacing two tackles and a guard. A defensive backfield with few proven performers. A transfer QB with great skills but erratic freshman play. Plenty of youthful 4-5☆ depth but not a lot of experience. I've been an Oregon fan since I moved here in 1987. Attended tons of games at Autzen, three Rose Bowls, a Fiesta, Cotton and a NC (Dyer was DOWN!). I've watched Brooks to Bellotti to Kelly to Helfrich (sigh..) to Taggart to Cristobal to Lanning. What Dan Lanning has accomplished with OBD is remarkable. The culture, recruiting, assistant coach selection and leadership are arguably the best ever. And he is still a very young head coach who would probably be the first to tell you he has a lot to learn. The sniping about the bad endings to the last two seasons will continue and there is much valid criticism to be had. But I would challenge any and all critics to propose an alternative head coach and system that will get Oregon it's first National Championship ahead of the current one.

Isn't it foundationally inaccurate to put Oregon State and the word 'intellectuals' in the same sentence?

While I'd like to see Raiola's upside in the same light as Bo Nix's, they are such different players. Bo had stability and leadership characteristics that Raiola doesn't seem to possess, at least at this stage. Raiola is a straight back pocket passer with limited run upside who's rehabbing a fractured fibula. He will not be a running threat. Maybe the plan is to sit behind Dante for 2026, but this Duck fan is not yet enthusiastic about him leading the Duck offense if Moore goes to the draft. Interesting positive sidelight is that his father, Dominic Raiola, was a Rimington award winner at Nebraska who played in the NFL for 12 years and was an asst coach with the Detroit Lions. It's a pretty good bet that he's got a connection with Pancho, who spent a year at St Louis in Honolulu, where Dad Raiola (and MM) played. I'm more excited about the addition of Yale OT transfer Michael Bennett. He's a probable plug and play RT who grades out well in pass pro. Hopefully he will be a step quicker than Harkey was.

The good news is that the front four of a top-notch D-line is returning. The bad news is that a big group of developmental players are transferring out. Sorry to see Purchase and Gray leave as they were showing a lot of promise.

Or bending one over your knee, throwing it into the adjacent fairway and observing the boomerang effect.

I think the most disappointing part of Friday was playing so far below the standard and getting steamrolled by a more mature roster and coaching staff. Hard to admit it, but I'm convinced after watching the game that even without the avalanche of OBD turnovers, coaching drama, RB injuries and transfers, Indiana likely would have won. They may not have "better" players, but they executed with near perfection and are the better team. Looking at the IPA glass half full, Oregon will be fine going forward. I'm hopeful DM comes back as he remains the best option at QB. The raw talent is there and he only needs seasoning and a good OC and QB coach to thrive. Regardless of who returns, both sides of the ball should be ok. There is a lot of talent ready to step up and portal additions will fill in the gaps. At the start of 2025, many were predicting a 10-2 or 9-3 regular season. Making the CFP was the goal. The Ducks exceeded those expectations. The focus was on 2026 and still should be. Personally I'm going to let the sting subside and leave the wound to heal.

I concur with the sentiments here about Harris staying. He would have a role as the 3rd or 4th RB after Hill, Davison and maybe Riggs. He would be past of the thunder along with Davison. I expect Tradarian Ball will play some too, but Harris has shown his true colors to Oregon fans

It hasn't helped that Oregon has shot itself in both feet and right between the eyes. Perfect storm of disasters. Game isn't over but OBD must now play for pride and to not give up. For those who haven't given up on him, Dante will likely be back and that is a good thing. Good judgement comes from experience and experience comes from bad judgement.

Word on 24/7 is that Noah looks pretty good in warmups. Also that the crowd is 90%+ Indiana. Just a Happy Valley "white out" in Atlanta. OBD has been there and done that. This team plays better in a hostile environment anyway. FEBU time!

Oregon 20-17 1 TO 2 Sacks 240 yds passing

Looking more and more like Harris will be available Friday. He's not Davison, but he can run and knows the position, playbook and is a bruiser that can block. If he elevates his game he could be a help in that backfield and improve his transfer status.

LBs Platt and Mothudi, who both played RB in HS, took reps with the offense yesterday. The former is 6'2" 230 and runs a 11.0 100m. The latter is 6'3" 240, ran track, played serious hoop and had 1400 yds rushing as a junior. Something will get dialed up for them on Friday. Run Sadiq from slot to backfield and back out again. Hell, do the jumbo, give Boettcher the rock and glue him to Pregnon's fanny on 4th and 1. Yeah, Davison being out sucks. There is a very deep talent pool to draw from that can still make a difference. Fact is the real battle will be up front. If Dante and Pancho recognize the defensive alignments, make adjustments, the O-line makes holes and Noah and D Hill run thru those holes, the depth of the RB room won't mean diddly squat.

And let's face it, the health of the RB room means diddly squat if the O-line loses in the trenches. That is where the game will be won.

No word yet on who was at practice today for the RBs. Da'Juan Riggs was out for the Orange Bowl, so it's unlikely he'll be available Friday. That Harris was present yesterday, after declaring he would enter the portal, is encouraging. He may not have the burst of Davison but is a bruiser and even if he only plays in the Peach Bowl before officially hitting the portal, he helps the Ducks. Maybe we see an expanded role for Grace as a blocker or even a decoy who can carry the ball for short yardage. Ditto lining Sadiq up in the backfield or putting him in the slot and bringing him back in. We already know that Platt has practiced with the RBs, he carried the rock in HS and that he is 230 lbs with an 11.0 sec 100m. Ditto for Kamar Mothudi, who likely has a higher upside at 6'3" 240, track speed, and rushed for 1400 yds as a junior before concentrating his senior year on the LB position. Neither burn their redshirt with bowl appearances. There is no doubt that losing Davison will be a significant loss, but WS undoubtedly has schemed something up. I doubt there will be any full house 3-1 formations but there is a lot of talent to work with using one RB and a host of other position players. Hell's bells, go jumbo, give the rock to Boettcher, stick him on Pregnon's fanny and let 'er rip.

Nothing official yet from Oregon. I doubt this news has no basis, but a "fractured" clavicle could be a slight AC (acromioclavicular) separation that would be painful but not debilitating. Just got to wait to find out.