Pennsylvania Duck

Lanning, Lorig believe consistency will determine special teams roles The 2023 season is fast approaching. Only a handful of weeks separate Oregon and its first game against Portland State. However, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning and special teams coordinator Joe Lorig are in no rush. And when it comes to special teams performances, they know every rep they can get will help them determine who will start against Portland State. A key phrase Lorig has thrown out this year, Lanning last year, is "consistency." Consistency from their punters, long snappers, returners, and everyone involved with that side of the ball. Consistency was lacking last year. Thus, four different punters were used over the season by the Ducks. Initially, the player expected to be a kickoff specialist, Alex Bales, was the punter in Oregon's dreadful collapse and loss to Oregon State. Now, in Fall camp, Oregon has another three-man punting battle with Luke Dunne, Ross James, and Matthew Rigney. "We chart it every day. I don't think there's a clear leader so far," said Lanning after practice on Tuesday. "And then again, you have to get more punts with pressure too. Once we have that happen I think we'll have a more clear picture of what's going to happen." Lanning, Lorig believe consistency will determine special teams roles 247SPORTS.COM With just mere weeks remaining until the 2023 season, both head coach Dan Lanning and special teams coordinator Joe Lorig...

The first scrimmage of fall camp will take place on Saturday inside Autzen Stadium. The practice will act as the team's ninth of camp, and provide the staff a better sense of who is ready to play under the bright lights. The scrimmage will be closed to media and fans alike. Head coach Dan Lanning is slated to address the day's happenings following its conclusion. Oregon's coach isn't looking to be blown away this weekend. Establishing a game-like operational speed is pivotal, he says. Though you won't be able to see it, you can come to OBDF to read about it... Ducks to hold first scrimmage of fall camp on Saturday 247SPORTS.COM Oregon will hold its ninth fall practice on Saturday, and it will also act as the first scrimmage of camp. Oregon coach Dan Lanning...

The Ducks add a lot to the chart below...Click to enlarge

The Oregon Ducks will face better competition and become far more accessible for fans to watch when they move to the Big Ten next year. That in turn will lead to more money via the conference’s media rights distribution compared to what UO has received and could’ve received had it stayed in the Pac-12. But joining the more prestigious and successful league based overwhelmingly in the Midwest also comes with logistical burdens that will be felt across Oregon’s 20 sports teams. Asked whether Oregon has made commitments for charter flights when its teams have to fly as far as New Jersey, Maryland and central Pennsylvania, UO athletic director Rob Mullens said those details are still being sorted out. Oregon Ducks react to move to Big Ten, longer travel to games WWW.OREGONLIVE.COM Joining the more prestigious and successful conference based overwhelmingly in the Midwest comes with more money for...

NCAA approves changes to softball illegal pitch, obstruction rules It will no longer be illegal for softball pitchers to have both feet off the ground at the same time according to changes approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel. The illegal pitch rule was one of several changes adopted by the panel for the 2023-24 season. Others include changes to the obstruction rule, video replay, and park configuration for new fields. MSN WWW.MSN.COM

Great coaches building the PROGRUM...Click to see entire post

Ajani Cornelius improving his craft by facing better competition in practice Ajani Cornelius chose to leave Rhode Island in part to improve the caliber of competition he played against. After playing three years of FCS football, Cornelius says he's improved this offseason just by facing Oregon defenders in practice. "This is exactly the reason I made the move," Cornelius said after Wednesday's practice. "Obviously, it's adaptation just like it was in spring and just keep on going and competing with these guys. It's making me better and I love it." Battles with Jordan Burch, Brandon Dorlus and Mase Funa have stood out to the 6-foot-5 offensive tackle, who is slated to start at right tackle this fall. Ajani Cornelius improving his craft by facing better competition in practice 247SPORTS.COM Oregon offensive lineman Ajani Cornelius says he's gotten better this year simply by facing improved defensive players in practice...

Ben Roberts turning heads at DT in second year with the Ducks Oregon has a loaded defensive line heading into the 2023 football season, which has led to a hot and contested fall camp as players push for playing time and a slot into the rotation. The depth and talent on Oregon's roster will make it harder for some younger players to see the field, but there are names starting to emerge from the unit that could help Oregon in 2023. One of those underclassmen recently got a shoutout from his position coach. "Ben Roberts is one that definitely taken a big step from coming in as a young guy," said Oregon defensive line coach Tony Tuioti. "He's taking some, some really good reps even against the ones and he's showing up. So he's a lot more stout in the run game and he's been able to push and collapse the pocket in the pass game." Ben Roberts turning heads at DT in second year with the Ducks 247SPORTS.COM Oregon sophomore defensive lineman Ben Roberts is turning heads and drawing praise early in fall camp.

Charting Big Ten Football 2021-2022 In late June of 2022, when UCLA and USC announced they would join the Big Ten, I determined that the end of the Pac-12, Oregon joining the new conference, and the need to expand my film library and player database were inevitable. In early July of last year I began acquiring and charting the tape of every Big Ten football game played against FBS opponents in 2021 and 2022 I hadn’t already reviewed, and by last month had completed the project. With this past weekend’s announcement that Oregon and UW will in fact become members of the Big Ten for the 2024 football season along with the LA schools, I prepared a simple statistical regression of the dataset from charting those games, using the same system with which I’ve been writing about Oregon’s Pac-12 and notable non-conference opponents for more than a decade. This article summarizes each Big Ten team using that statistical system, as an overview of the Ducks’ new conference. Charting Big Ten Football 2021-2022 WWW.ADDICTEDTOQUACK.COM A survey of statistical profiles from charting every Big Ten game for the past two seasons

STC Joe Lorig on punting competition: 'It'll be ongoing' Oregon special teams coordinator Joe Lorig updated the punting competition before the 2023 season. Oregon's special teams will continue to be a topic of discussion after a below-average performance last season. The Ducks rotated multiple punters the previous season and never found the right man for the job. Heading into the 2023 season, Oregon and special teams coordinator Joe Lorig went out and recruited two punters in Australian native Luke Dunne and Austin Peay transfer Matthew Rigney. Oregon also retained Ross James. Now, all three players are competing for a starting spot. Rigney joined the program this summer in time for fall camp, while Dunne and James competed during spring camp. Lorig notes the competition is ongoing, with multiple weeks left until the season starts. STC Joe Lorig on punting competition: 'It'll be ongoing' 247SPORTS.COM Oregon special teams coordinator Joe Lorig updated the punting competition before the 2023 season.

ASU’s Ray Anderson apologizes to WVU for Morgantown comments Ray Anderson, the Arizona State vice president for university athletics, apologized on Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta Wednesday for his remark about never wanting to travel to Morgantown when his Sun Devils face the West Virginia Mountaineers as members of the Big 12. “I promise I’m not going to Morgantown,” Anderson said alongside ASU president Michael Crow on Saturday. “I’m going to assign that to (deputy athletic director) Jean Boyd. He can go to Morgantown. But send me to Texas and the rivalry with Arizona and starting a new one with BYU and Utah and Colorado.” WVU represents the longest logistical road trip for the Sun Devils when they depart the Pac-12 for the Big 12 following the 2023-24 academic year. But Anderson said Wednesday on Bickley & Marotta that his comment was “in jest” and regarding the cold winter weather. Anderson added that he called West Virginia athletic director Wren Baker to personally apologize... ASU's Ray Anderson apologizes to WVU for Morgantown joke ARIZONASPORTS.COM Ray Anderson, the Arizona State VP for university athletics, apologized for a comment he made in jest about Morgantown...

Sources: Cal, Stanford to ACC hits 'significant roadblocks' After ACC presidents met Wednesday night, the pursuit of Cal and Stanford for conference membership "hit significant roadblocks," sources told ESPN. No vote was taken, but conversations about expansion among the league presidents are expected to continue as they wrestle with the best way to position the league into the future, sources said. Sources confirmed one school that has been pushing for the addition of Cal and Stanford is Notre Dame, which is a member in the ACC in all sports except football. Notre Dame does get a vote on expansion, and it has a long history with Stanford. The fit from an Olympics sports perspective is attractive, too. But multiple athletic directors have questioned why anyone in the league would listen to Notre Dame because the Irish remain so steadfast in remaining independent. Much more info in article... Sources: Cal, Stanford to ACC hits 'significant roadblocks' - ESPN WWW.ESPN.COM The ACC presidents met Wednesday night, and the pursuit of Cal and Stanford for conference membership has "hit significant...

The Oregon Ducks football program has had great running backs throughout its history going all the way back to Bobby Moore, aka Ahmad Rashad, and Mel Renfro in the 1960s. Then in the 80s, Oregon featured tailbacks such as Derek Loville and Tony Cherry. Oregon’s talent level at the position as only gone through the roof over the past decade and overall. According to ESPN, the Ducks are among the best football schools in the country when it comes to producing high-level tailbacks. The Ducks happen to be the only Pac-12 team on the list and considering the rich history of USC, that’s quite remarkable. So if there’s a “Running Back U” on the West Coast, it’s Oregon. Here’s where they stand in ESPN’s RBU rankings... ESPN says Oregon in Top 10 among best schools for running backs DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM LaMichael James, Kenjon Barner, Royce Freeman, De’Anthony Thomas…the list goes on. No wonder ESPN has UO among the...

Quack Minute

After significant weight gain, Devon Jackson is ready for breakout season with Ducks A year ago, Devon Jackson came to Eugene as a slender linebacker who was known for his speed. He had been recruited by a coaching staff that was no longer with the team but stayed committed to the Oregon Ducks despite the overhaul in leadership. Throughout his first season, Jackson played in just five games, tallying one tackle on the year. Now, going into his sophomore year, the Omaha native is primed for a massive breakout, and he’s been the talk of the team going through fall camp thus far. Oregon Football: Devon Jackson is ready for breakout season with Ducks DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM After putting on over 20 pounds of muscle, sophomore LB Devon Jackson is ready to have a breakout season with the Ducks.

Oregon Ducks fall camp practices observations: Reserve receiver absent An Oregon receiver was absent from Wednesday’s practice. Redshirt-freshman Justius Lowe was not with the Ducks on the field for their seventh practice of fall camp Wednesday afternoon at the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex. Lowe’s absence was the only significant change from Tuesday and he joins receiver Josh Delgado in being out. Oregon Ducks fall camp practices observations: Reserve receiver absent WWW.OREGONLIVE.COM Redshirt-freshman Justius Lowe was not with the Ducks on the field Wednesday afternoon at the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex.

FOOTBALL PRACTICE RECAP: AUG. 9 The Oregon football team was in shells Wednesday as preseason camp continued on the program's outdoor practice fields. The Ducks have an off day Thursday, then are scheduled to resume practice Friday before holding the first scrimmage of preseason camp Saturday. Football Practice Recap: Aug. 9 - University of Oregon Athletics GODUCKS.COM Preseason camp continued for the Oregon football team with a practice Wednesday afternoon.

Kyler Kasper glad he made decision to enroll a year early Oregon redshirt freshman receiver Kyler Kasper is pleased with his decision to join the program a year early. Kasper played sparingly in 2022, but has a leg up on this year's crop of frosh. Kyler Kasper would be taking part in his first fall camp this month had he not elected to skip his senior year of high school and enroll at Oregon this time a year ago. Kasper wound up redshirting in 2022 anyways, but the year within the program allowed him time to get some of the growing pains out of his system. "I'm definitely glad I made the decision," he said following Tuesday's practice. "I could've been coming here now with all these freshmen guys. I've been here. I know what's going on. I already know how to go about things." Kasper was nudged to forgo his final year of high school by his father Kevin Kasper, a former standout wide receiver at Iowa and Super Bowl champion. Kyler Kasper glad he made decision to enroll a year early 247SPORTS.COM Oregon redshirt freshman receiver Kyler Kasper is pleased with his decision to join the program a year early. Kasper played sparingly...

How will the Big Ten schedule change this time? Good question. The Big Ten expanded to 18 teams for 2024 with the addition of Washington and Oregon last week. What does that mean for the Big Ten schedule? That is one of the questions considering the conference unveiled its Flex Protect Plus nine-game schedule for the 2024 season. That featured uneven protected rivalries from school to school. ESPN's Adam Rittenberg reported the schedule will not change drastically despite the addition of the Ducks and Huskies. Why Big Ten should adopt a 10-game conference schedule for 18 teams in 2024 WWW.SPORTINGNEWS.COM There will be some changes given this is the first 18-team power conference in college football. The Big Ten could be another...

When it comes to quarterback play, there are several programs in college football that could legitimately say they are “Quarterback U.” The Ducks have had their fair share of elite quarterback play, especially since Chip Kelly came to town and transformed the Duck offense into mostly what we see today. Even before then, Oregon may not have been an elite team, but the quarterbacks generally were with quarterbacks such as Joey Harrington, Chris Miller, Dan Fouts, and Norm Van Brocklin, just to name a few. So where do the Ducks rank in ESPN’s QBU rankings? Here are the Top 10 schools historically with the best quarterbacks... ESPN says Oregon is one of the best programs for quarterbacks DUCKSWIRE.USATODAY.COM Marcus Mariota, Justin Herbert, Joey Harrington, Dan Fouts… Oregon’s rich QB history has them among ESPN’s top ‘QB-U’...