EastBayDuckDad

As much as I never want to see him field a KO or punt again, he is a solid WR with good hands who can get open. Lanning's sideline attitude readjustment approach seemed more effective than MC's 'light you up like a road flare' technique. I hope he stays and just gains some maturity.

It was interesting to me why so many DL/Edge players went into the portal. At first I thought it was a worrying trend but it all seems well thought out. All recruited by the Cristobal staff, they really must not be a fit for Lanning's scheme. Looking at who was brought in last year by DL and Lupoi for the middle of the D-line (Taki, Rogers and Riley), big bruisers plugging the gaps to stop the run seems to have worked for the most part. I suppose the next step is recruiting and/or getting transfers that fit the fast and aggressive edge players Lanning had at Georgia and wants for Oregon. Ones that can get to the QB and create havoc. Although this leaves the Ducks with a bit of a bare cupboard for the bowl game, it seems the coaches are working the long term.

This portal business, both in and out. is like watching a roulette wheel spin while trying to predict where the ball will land. Going to take a deep breath now and do something else for the rest of today, like put up the Christmas tree, and check a few things off the to do list.

Oh well....

Funny you should ask. Louisville HC just jumped to Cincinnati this morning so they are going to hire a new coach asap. And it won't be Stein. Figure three years for success or failure for the new coach before they look to poach Oregon's OC.

Listening to Stein talk in that video, he sounds like a lightning quick offensive version of DL. Pushing the ball down the field is a priority. His WRs at UTSA are near tops in FCS for yds gained and TDs. One of those stand out receivers is a 6'4" kid named Joshua Cephus. Duck fans should remember his older brother Quintez from the 2020 Rose Bowl. Now with the Detroit Lions he was a wrecking ball WR in that game who gave the very good Oregon secondary fits. Not that the younger Cephus will follow Stein to Oregon, but it's fun to look at the connection. I don't know why, but I see this as good karma.

Wait and see if this is legit. Checks a few boxes: Young and bright (it seems). Successful offense at UTSA Former D1/P5 QB QB developer Coached Texas QB Hudson Card in HS who is now in the portal

This new rumor just out via Bleacher Report and on3, but who the heck knows what's real and what's not.

Yowza! That's a Neon Deion bull in the china shop. He will definitely attract some talent to Boulder in the portal. A competitive Colorado will be better for the Pac1? going forward. But with the money not lined up yet to make it happen, it's big hat, no cattle (bison) until then. Oregon needs to lock in it's own high level portal talent now.

Thanks to DznC for another great analysis of Oregon's needs on defense. I noted this morning that DL has offered a blue chip DB at Alabama that he recruited at UGA. The DB position was spotty this year but Gonzo was the lock down corner that kept it from being a lot worse. His development after transferring from Colorado will have him drafted high in round 1 and will be a beacon for potential transfers. The graduation and mass exodus of edge/Jack LBs creates a real challenge for the Ducks. Lanning was asked about it relating to depth for the Holiday Bowl and he more or less brushed it aside. It seems that there may be more to it than we see on the surface. I wonder at what point the coaches sit down with players to give them honest assesments of past performance and future opportunity. Do the transfers indicate a reality of limited future playing time? A perceived mis-fit of skills and the defensive scheme that DL is implementing? After a less than optimal year, perhaps those electing to hit the portal know that Oregon will be bringing in players that better fit Lanning's vision. Regardless, I would anticipate the next several days will reveal a stream of defensive portal talent committing to Oregon. Go get a couple Gonzo level players and find the second coming of KT! Go Ducks!

Lanning just announced that Nix would play in the Holiday Bowl. They are close to announcing a new OC

A bit surprised by this one, LaDuke's playing time in 2022 was significant and effective. Figured to play more next year. Is it possible that Sewell and Flowe are sticking around and he saw his role as static?

Fine with that. Glad TCU didn't get dinged too bad by the narrow B12 Championship game loss and especially glad that Saban's tired old 'Alabama deserves it because' shtick got shot down. I think a Georgia-Michigan final could be a doozy.

Mr 'Freaked up by Utah' manicure for Heisman? Nope. Just watched Duggan's gutsy performance against KSU in an exciting B12 championship game. Even though TCU lost and spoiled a perfect season, Duggan left it all (including a lot of his hematologic DNA) on the field. I really hope he still gets a shot at the CFP. Night and day difference to the Primadonna of Troy.

I'll bet the bloom is off the A grade Riley rose after that U$C showing in last night's second half. Couldn't happen to a more worthy fellow.

This article deserves a read. Canzano's noting the behavior of Utah, Oregon and U$C QBs is very telling about the culture of the three programs and their field generals. A gimpy Bo catches up to a dejected and less than 100% Cameron after the Duck win at Autzen to give him support and respect. It's obvious from the video that the Utes QB responds in kind. The U$C QB writes F... UTAH on his fingernails with a sharpie. When brought to Rising's attention at the post game media conference, his response is very direct and telling. No love lost there. There is no other interpretation than: Rising (Utah) and Nix (Oregon) ......Class and mutual respect Williams (U$C).....um, not so much I am of course disappointed that Oregon choked away it's chances to face U$C last night. But I am very happy that Utah took a first half shot (watch that hachet job on Rising's head that should have been called targeting) from $C then proceeded to curb stomp them out of the CFP and Rose Bowl.

He was one of the bright spots on the Stanford O-line. Center has to call formations and assignments and he is smart enough for sure. That would let JPJ stay at guard along with Harper and Jones (if he returns). I like it. Go get him, Coach Klemm

The only departure thus far that is a loss IMO, is Thornton. He is a skilled receiver and likely would have had an expanded role next year. But between the high end WR recruits coming in and perhaps one more thru the portal, I think Oregon will be fine. DL and Coach Meat gave Gonzo the opportunity to shine nationally as a lock down corner. He may not have been a first rounder and top ten prospect had he stayed at Colorado. Great decision all around. I would anticipate another good DB will see that sucess and come in via the portal. I agree that Swinson looked like he had a great future after the Ohio State game last year. He dropped off the radar some after KT came back and this season just never got beyond playing with the 2s and 3s. Hopefully he will land somewhere he can play. Perhaps one of the 4-5☆ edge players that Oregon is still in the running for was close enough to committing to sway Swinson's decision. 2022 Oregon target Elijah Jeudy is leaving TA&M and could have been a factor, or someone unknown as yet to us fans. Either way, the portal giveth and the portal taketh away. I think DL and staff will find players that fill in the gaps and importantly, want to come be Ducks.

I particularly don't want to behave like tosu fan that starts calling for Day's head after falling to Michigan a couple times. I don't have a wardrobe roomy enough to contain all of the entitlement and smugness that would ooze out of every buckeye pore. And oh yes, please bring on the sub-urban to coach after you fire Day. No bar hopping Columbus sorority sister would be safe.

Position Outlook: How future of Oregon’s RB room looks after recent transfers, recruiting news WWW.YAHOO.COM A look at how Oregon's RB room stacks up in the coming years after recent transfers, recruiting... Thanks to David for the insights on Oregon's running game identity and how veering away from it hurt the Ducks at crucial times at the end of the season. This article takes a good look at the RB room and offers a candid assessment of whether Dollars stays or transfers. I think he will enter the portal. A stable of Bucky, Noah, James and now Dowdell gives Oregon (and the new OC) a ton of options. Two complimentary hard running shifty backs and two bruisers will make Oregon one of the premier rushing offenses in the country. Adding a DAT type speedy burner hybrid RB/WR to the mix who could also return punts and KOs (prefer not to see Hutson in that role again) would make the backfield just that much better.

Gotta love the confidence these kids project. Dowell is the real deal and I think he will move right into the rotation with Bucky, Noah, Sean $$$ and James. Cozart has the same upside as Thornton, maybe not as tall but then again the stud tOSU WRs of the past two years were under 6'2" and they went early in the draft. Dickey is 6'3" and will be the Megatron type of WR that makes life tough for <6ft DBs. This is gonna be fun.

Great kid and I was sorry we never got to see him get meaningful reps in a game. He will land somewhere that can use him. I figured it would be TyT in the portal instead, but I guess that could still happen as well. Not that Butterfield would know for certain, or base his decision to transfer on it, but him leaving implies to me that Moore is still on track to come to Oregon. It makes Nix staying and/or DL bringing in a transfer more important now to keep three scholarship QBs in the room

Like most Duck fans I clearly remember an emotional Jerry Allen after the 12-0 season Civil War announcing that Oregon was going to play in the National Championship game. Oregon was one bad call away from winning it. I was fortunate to be able to attend with my two adult kids. After the initial grief, I realized I was just grateful for the experience. You can't win them all, but you can draw something positive from all of it. Win or lose.

Nearly every blue blood team has gone though stretches of irrelevance and upheaval. Nebraska, Oklahoma and Miami () are all in the dumps now but likely won’t be forever (well, except maybe Miami) Current powerhouses like Alabama, Michigan and Georgia had low points. Their coaches had rebuilding years and rarely hit the jackpot in year one. Saban, Dabo, Harbaugh and Smart are no exceptions (I pray the football gods treat Riley and U$C the same). We Oregon fans have high expectations that started with the success of the Uncle Phil and Chip eras. All well and good as the groundwork is set, but there needs to be coaching stability and experience to sustain it. Lanning in year one is not there yet, but I for one believe that he will get smarter as he goes. He showed that this year with game to game improvements and not letting the Georgia debacle destroy the season. It doesn't take much to turn success to failure. It's usually just one dinged up QB away. This has been Oregon's Achilles heel all too often, as it again was this year. Add to that a couple of rookie coaching missteps and you have a 9-3 record. So in spite of the way the regular season ended, I will watch whatever 2nd tier bowl game OBD play in. As a 35+ year Duck fan I figure I can ride both highs and lows. I will trust the process and anticipate most of the previous mistakes will be corrected. And until there is undisputable proof to the contrary, I will give Lanning the benefit of the doubt that he will ultimately flip failure to success.

I'm in this camp. Remember where Oregon was a year ago. The sky was seemingly falling. HC heading to Miami along with heaven knows how many high star recruits (and his slo-mo offensive philosophy). No Verdell, Dye, Pittman or viable QB returning. Embarrassing losses to Utah x 2, then to similarly discombobulated Oklahoma. Somehow the Ducks found a new young head coach with fresh ideas and recruiting prowess. Salvaged an at risk recruiting class. Brought in via the portal an experienced QB to lead the offense, along with some difference makers on offense (Irving, Whittington and Cota) and defense (Gonzo and Rogers). Managed to be 7 points away from an 11-1 record. Not saying it will be all sunshine and unicorns. There will likely be more portal losses beyond Thornton (Cardwell and TyT are at the top of the list). Losing Dilly may bleed a recruit or two, but likely not any 5☆s. I believe Oregon is a place that a good OC will want to come to, and DL and staff will find that guy. The framework is in place to succeed in the off-season and be competitive in 2023. All in all, the Ducks are in much better shape than 12 months ago.