AnotherOD

Illinois returning to Autzen? Ah, memories. (Ok, maybe don't watch the extra point)

College basketball? If I had to guess: It just really isn't the game it used to be; and, I think a lot of those who remember the better product and used to be more hardcore fans, have gradually lost a lot of interest over time, bit by bit. I think it started with the one-and-done guys and has gotten worse with the growth and acceptance of the G league as a viable (and paying) path to the NBA. With the transfer portal opening up things even wider, from what I can tell, it isn't just Oregon that seems to be turning over half its roster each year. Mostly the last several seasons I'm happy if I catch an early game and can recognize 3 or 4 players from the previous year. The teams the Ducks play? Forget about it, I'm surprised to know any of their players, let alone who on their teams are supposed to be good and ones to watch. Recruiting successes like Bol Bol, Kel'el Ware, and Louis King once were a real reason for excitement. In the not entirely distant past, possibly 2-3 seasons with an elite talent that might develop into a star. What did Oregon get from Bol? 9 games and out? Louis King? Came on during the second half of his freshman year and ended up averaging 13.5 ppg, a real reason for excitement the next season, except he was out the door to be undrafted and I think entering season 5 in the G league (ok, to be fair, while being signed and waved by 3 NBA teams, he has played in 27 NBA games). Kel'el Ware even more of a mystery (second highest rated Duck basketball recruit in the "recruiting ranking" period). I picked up a mock NBA draft before the season to see if I recognized anyone listed in the first round, and who do I see, listed around number 20? Former Duck and to be Indiana Hoosier Kel'el Ware. Now, I know how this works, he has interesting size and was highly rated in high school; but, did no one watch his what appeared to be often disinterested 15.8 minutes and 6.6 points per game at Oregon? I mean, if on paper he is one of the top prospects in the college game, where is the college game at? (And not really to bag on the kid too much, I guess he has been better this year at Indiana so far, around 14 ppg and 9 rpg). With conference tournament automatic bids, I think the regular season continues to lose a bit of luster as the quality of play doesn't stand out, and fan can pick it up late in the season. With seemingly fewer and fewer every season power programs and generally arguably more parity, a 15-13 regular season team can go on a run and win a bid over the weekend. As others have mentioned, pick it up towards the end of the season if your team has a shot, if they don't, not a lot was invested in what ends up being a not-so-interesting year (and get ready for a new batch of players next season).

I don't necessarily love the observation; but, it's not holding unless there is a flag. If there isn't a flag, shake the DBs hand and move to the next down. I've always liked Dontae Manning but he is like the opposite of JM, he gets flags for breathing on a guy wrong. An unexpected benefit of JM might be the Jedi training playing along side a guy like JM might help DM. It's not exactly rocket science but when Rodrick Pleasant (a very elite high school sprinter) was asked about fast guys on the Duck team, I believe DM was the first guy he mentioned (along with Tez and Devon J). Maybe a bit interesting.

Yes.

I gotcha. It's just so hard not to be intrigued by 6-6.

What does the DL look like, especially the interior? Ware-Hudson has played a fair amount over the years and the veteran log jam up front seems to have cleared up a bit for him. Do Ben Roberts and/or A'Mauri Washington flash? Where does Blake Purchase fit in? Really all the young DL. I saw Breland, Rushing, Sims, Grey, and Jones all listed as early enrollees (didn't see JJ listed). What's happening at FS? I think Savage looks more like a BS candidate (though that could be in error). Right now I believe on paper DeCambra and Gill are currently the top two listed FS (and neither has really played). Does somebody get moved or tried out there in the spring? In Florence, Manning, Reed, Laulu, Pleasant, Austin, Davis, plus the two incoming freshman Fields and Obidegwu all of a sudden there seem to be a number of good young CBs. Aaron Flowers also will be an early enrollee. His film sort of shows him playing all over the secondary, does he start at FS? Not as much jumps out on offense. I guess maybe the open guard spot. Does Bedford show up and claim the spot right away? Does Strother (and his 30 career starts prior to UO) push for a role? Hopeful Kasper has a good spring and maybe gets on the field a bit more next fall.

Really a bit wild and unexpected. It will be an interesting follow to see how things turn out. On paper, unless the spring portal brings in some high profile guys, a guy leaving a lot of rFR snaps as a Duck -- possibly starting reps -- on the table. I wonder if there is a missing piece that fans, as of now, are unaware? No clue what that would be though.

Pulling for Alabama and Texas. What a strange day indeed.

In 6 seasons (four at Oregon and two at Miami) how many coordinators has Mario ran through? Leavitt, Avalos, De Ruyter, Arroyo, Morehead, Gattis, Steele, Dawson, Guidry? So, not a single coordinator that has lasted longer than two seasons? So, I went back to Florida International and looked at there coordinators while MC was there (2007-2012) and I found: 2007 OC: James Coley DC: Phil Galiano 2008 OC: Bill Legg DC: Phil Galiano 2009 OC: Bill Legg DC: Phil Galiano 2010 OC: Scott Satterfield DC: Geoff Collins 2011 OC: Scott Satterfield DC: Todd Orlando 2012 OC: Tim Cramsey DC: Todd Orlando So, 12 seasons as HC, I'm detecting a pattern. Three thoughts. 1. Only one coordinator who survived over two seasons with Mario. 2. How long will it be in MC's coaching career will it be before he has another coordinator that lasts three years? Anyone betting on Dawson or Guidry right now? 3. Who is this Phil Galiano and how did he survive three seasons with Mario? I guess he was a grad assistant at Rutgers in 2003 when Mario was there coaching OL. Apparently FIU wasn't too great on D in 2007, made significant improvements in 2008, and fell back in 2009 and his contract wasn't renewed. In 23 years coaching he has had 14 stops, and currently is special team consultant to the New Orleans Saints special teams coach Darren Rizzi. Looking at his bio, surviving three years as a coordinator with Mario possibly is a bullet point. It would be interesting to get Coley, Legg, Galiano, Satterfield, Collins, Orlando, Cramsey, Arroyo, Moorhead, Avalos, De Ruyter, Gattis, Steele (and probably eventually Dawson and Guidry) all in a room and see how many might agree with Leavitt? It's certainly fair if one is uncomfortable with how things turned out at USF for Leavitt (as well possibly fair to mention USF paid him a $2.75 million dollar settlement and he went on to be hired 6 more times in his coaching career, I don't really know). Also, 95-57 career record and 3-2 in bowls as a head coach (Mario is 74-73 and 3-4 in bowls). Leavitt is said to have started the USF program from the back of a van and went 95-57 (and was reportedly offered jobs at Alabama and Kansas State). I've read when Mario arrived at FIU, it was a program a lot like operating out of the back of a van, and he went 27-47 and was fired (and took five years to be hired as HC again).

(Peyton Bowen) who I believe went on to play in every game for Oklahoma and ended up second team freshman All-American on many lists (33 tackles, one sack, five pass breakups, one forced fumble, one QB hurry, and two blocked punts). Win-some-lose-some I suppose.

The last time Oregon went to Hawaii was 1994 and while that ended up being a memorable season the Hawaii game was pretty much a disaster. (Going off memory) the game was televised on one of the oddball cable networks of the time; and, as the "last game of the night" sort of thing, kicked off at 8pm in Hawaii and 10pm on the West Coast (back then, any TV game was a good TV for the Ducks). The eventual Pac-10 champion Ducks lost 36-16 to a Hawaii team with a QB starting his first career game (Glenn Freitas). Oregon would go on to the Rose Bowl and Hawaii would go on to only win two more games the rest of the year (finishing 3-8-1). I remember the game not only for being miserable for Duck fans; but, also because it drug on for over four hours to about 2:00 am (as the Ducks had I believe two separate players carted off the field -- and I think lost for the season). Just a long ugly game, and, along with the loss the next week at home (34-16) to a Utah team (who of all things, ran a fake FG in for a TD) left most Oregon fans feeling like a season that started with a lot of optimism, was close to possible collapse. With the expanded playoffs and opening B10 season, I agree I don't see a bunch of benefit to playing an extra game. Beating Hawaii won't really move the needle anyway I can see and I believe Oregon would still have Idaho to open up with. It seems like a sort of "no win" game (as well as extra travel for a season that is going to rack up a lot of miles). Found this little 1994 Oregon/Hawaii gem on YouTube:

When it looked like MC was leaving, I'll admit, I was pretty happy. Though eventually I read enough opinions suggesting, "He's an ace recruiter and if at some points he hires the right OC and DC and leaves them alone, it's going to be gold." And yeah, reluctantly I felt I must change view. What if Mario leaves and the Ducks hire a Wilcox or a Taggart? It can get worse. The pool of available coaches isn't so great to not stay the course; and, I'll admit, I (somewhat reluctantly) I got a bit on board. Couldn't be more happy to have my first opinion be correct and be a Duck fan outside MC's shadow. I do wonder how long he has at Miami? I tend to doubt the "waiters and believe" will outweigh the others for very long. It's not such a bad gig being a good recruiter and a solid position coach. Beats a lot of occupational career path for sure. And Mario if he is smart will have the $ to tell those coaches who might want him on the "OL"? No thanks, I'm good.

I wonder sometimes if Helfrich gets at least a bit of a bad rap with recruiting. I believe he is generally associated with four classes: 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. They finished ranked a not totally unreasonable: #19, #21, #16, and #28. Those classes brought in a number of Ducks who had successful careers at Oregon, including guys like: Cameron Hunt, Carrington, Mundt, Joe Walker, Vernon Adams, Royce Freeman, Devon Allen, Charles Nelson, Jelks, Crosby, Brooks-James, Mondeaux, Hollins, Lemieux, Throckmorton, Hanson, Amadi, Breeland, Mitchell, Dye, Herbert, Breeze. What kind of stands out about this set of classes is the amount of high profile, highly rated busts, including: Canton Kaumatule, Taj Griffin, Malik Lovette, Alex Ofodile, Morgan Mahalak, Travis Jonsen, Thomas Tyner. (I debate a bit about Tyner but generally he ends up on these lists). Also what kind of stands out to me is the number of guys in these classes that ended up in trouble (off the top of my head): Tyrell Robinson, Oshay Dunmore, Torrodney Prevot (didn't he end up murdering someone?), Austin Maloata, Kirk Merritt. This I tend to wonder about a bit more? Having to take the good with the bad, I recall also reading that many of the veteran coaches on Helfrich's staffs, at that point in their careers, didn't really like to or travel much to recruit. Couple that with a couple of the younger coaches at the time that didn't exactly have a reputation as strong recruiters, and it appears there may have been some (mostly) unobserved obstacles. Greatwood always seemed to get his guys but I remember reading one of those years that Chinander and Helfrich himself did a huge amount of the travel legwork recruiting. I don't personally know to what degree this is accurate but, I think if at least to a degree, I think Helfrich maybe deserves a degree of credit for the hustle?

I'd just go with UW best 7-8 players outplaying Oregon's 7-8 best players? The other 14-15 guys? Balanced enough. Penix, when it mattered, outplayed Nix. Johnson outdueled Bucky, and Odunze made more plays than Franklin. Fautanu, Rosengarten, Brailsford were a bit better than Cornelius, Conerly, and Powers-Johnson. Trice, Letuligaseno, Olofoshio, and Muhammad were a bit better than Dorlus, Popo, Bassa, and Jackson. On the coaching end, the UW appeared regularly ready to know where and when to press their advantages; and, on defense really remarkably seemed ready for the Duck's offensive tendencies. I don't hate (but don't absolutely love) the Duck's current "dink and dunk" offense but, as long as it's running the ball successfully, it's money. But, it seems somewhere after the USC game, it lost its magic (was Bucky hurt and the staff rolled with it?, something else?). They finished after USC with 140 yards, 113 yards, and 124 yards rushing (an offense I believe was about 200 yards a game). And, with the running game under control, the UW was able to crowd the box and dare Oregon to throw the ball at least 8-9 yards down field and it just didn't happen sufficiently. I posed some thoughts on a Gabriel thread suggesting a slight amount of optimism moving from Nix to Gabriel might bring a bit more of a gunslinger mentality to those spots but it didn't play too well. Despite trying to suggest I wasn't getting on Nix, it just came across like Nix bashing which wasn't the intent. In that regard, Marcus was a lot like Nix, both guys to the end just didn't like the dangerous throw or to drop balls into tight windows (and when there was a game in the balance other Oregon QBs were maybe more comfortable in that moment). Oregon finished #2 in total offense (527 ypg) and #2 in scoring offense (44 ppg). Washington finished #91 in total defense (397 ypg) and #49 in scoring defense (24 ppg). Oregon's offense was #2 in the nation in fricken+ (if this autocorrects to "fricking" I can't help it) while the UW's "D" was a bit better #38 (probably in large part due to it's success in two Oregon games). On paper Oregon should have put up close to it's average of 44 ppg against UW, yet scored 33 and 31. Scoring near their average against a middle level ranked defense -- wins both games. The UW had more guys make more plays and looked to regularly be in better spots to succeed schematically more often. All things that can flip easily in a season; and, even if they don't flip, if the UW can't match its talent level in Penix, Odunze, Trice, etc.? It won't matter as a repeat of the same level of Duck execution will be sufficient (let alone Oregon improving upon the 2023 games).

In two classes, this is pretty crazy: DT: Ayden Breland (#16) ***** Jericho Johnson (#108) **** A'Mauri Washington (#246) **** Tionne Grey (#394) *** My'Keil Gardner (#494) *** Tevita Pome'e (#717) *** DE Elijah Rushing (#17) **** Blake Purchase (#129) **** Johnny Bowens III (#186) **** Terrence Green (#211) **** Xadavien Sims (#211) **** Aston Porter (#240) **** EDGE Matayo Uiagalelei (#47) **** Teitum Tuioti (#213) **** Jaxson Jones (#365) *** Jaeden Moore (#724) *** I can't really recall any season in the recruiting rankings era where Oregon ever had more than about 5 top 250 recruits in their whole DT/DE/EDGE group of players. DL has brought in 11 in just two classes. I've read some posts expressing a lack of enthusiasm for "recruiting rankings" (and I get what they are expressing); but, the way I look at this is there is almost no chance about 6 really, really good players don't emerge from this group (whichever combination of players it ends up being). I think 2024 is still a lot of these guys still end up mostly getting their feet wet (no Duck pun intended); but, 2025-2028 is something to be a bit excited about IMO.

He chucked that UW sweatshirt too. I think he is going to be a fan favorite.

I'm not going to suggest it isn't about "scoreboard"; but, 3 wins by 3 points over two seasons can change in a heartbeat. Give me either a slight coaching advantage going forward, or give me a mess of kids that Washington would (very) happily have accepted commits from, where instead the UW has to fill from "developing" consistently lower rated kids that themselves felt were lower on their "board" and a high % of portal successes? I'll take the bringing in the kids. I respect the DeBoer "love"; but, give me the players and odds -- absolutely statistically favoring those having the better players -- will reduce significantly those standard deviations from the norm that do happen. Doing "more" with "less" just isn't supported by the data over time. Suggesting having a mass of highly rated kids over a smart and (slightly) ahead coaching staff tend to yield results over time isn't especially supported by the data (and Oregon is a place where doing "more" with "less" should be understood). Roll with the better players with a slight coaching disadvantage over time IMO is a safe bet. Oregon made a living at it for a number of years but what has been the solution when it hasn't happened? Largely get more dudes (and who is to say the coaching "advantage" won't get figured out?, it usually is). It isn't a lock but it is a solid play. And yeah, who is to say over time the "DeBoer Magic" might look a bit more ordinary and the coaching not entirely the same when the pieces just don't come together quite the same. I guess we will see. I'm not recruiting expert; but, I would imagine the UW coaching staff would be much more happy looking forward with commits like Ayden Breland and Elijah Rushing I stead of Ratumana Bulabalava and Keona Wilhite? Obviously I guess we will see. Who knows, maybe 3 years from now Bulabalava or Wilhite might be top NFL picks picks but I can say I will roll with the odds?

I used to follow recruiting a bit more closely; but, I still keep an eye on it. It appears we are seeing with NIL and the portal a lot of programs choosing to essentially step back a bit from high school recruiting in favor of focusing on the portal, and the remaining teams appear to be really benefitting. It looks like Oregon is in a great spot to finish top 5, right behind a few of only the biggest recruiters (Georgia, Alabama, OSU), ahead of the likes of Texas, Oklahoma, LSU, Florida, Notre Dame, Michigan, Penn State. There always has been a concentration of top 80 and top 300 players at the top of the recruiting rankings; but, I don't know if I've ever seen such a huge concentration at the very top, that is, essentially the top schools (who also appear to be aggressive in NIL). With high school recruiting, Oregon appears to be swimming in what appears to be a pretty small pool. Kids once choosing among 3 or 4 favorites are now essentially all looking for their best offers among there favorites and adding in NIL as a final deciding factor and, it's hard to suggest it's a bad strategy (even though collage football fans almost universally decry recruits "taking the bag"). Free school and graduating with possibly a nice chunk of change, even if the NFL doesn't happen (or is only a few years), puts a kid in a nice situation to start life. A car, money to rent or buy a home, a degree, no debt. Oregon, a program that goes back to the Bellotti years often having a hat on the table but ultimately finishing #2 or #3 for a lot of top kids, is now landing more and more of them. Despite two very good seasons, history with the program, good academics, Washington rarely gets mentioned from the top kids on the West Coast. UCLA doesn't have a top 500 kid (and it's two highest rated players are two state of Washington kids that Washington didn't appear to be too interested in). UCLA can't get a top 500 kid? Even USC fans are suggesting Riley is portal focused and NIL dollars aren't generally being focused on high school kids. What a strange college football world where a blue blood like USC appears so far to not be running aggressively with those top schools who have seen the landscape (and potential advantages for those programs best situated). With the current rules, Oregon is in a great spot; and, possibly oddly, maybe Oregon fans should be pulling for the much suggested future changes to the rules take a while to kick in.

I have found it sort of interesting lately reading the concern Oregon may eventually be chasing off high school QB recruits by bringing in transfers? Didn't Washington bring in transfers like Eason (Georgia), Penix (Indiana), and now Rodgers (MSU), and move away from high school recruits they brought in like Haener, Yankoff, Gabbers, Huard, and Morris? Didn't WSU go out and bring in Ward from Incarnate Word? At OSU, didn't Christian Gebbia come from Nebraska and Chance Nolan from Middle Tennessee State? They did briefly play their own recruit in Gulbranson but seemed to want to get away from him quickly as they could and went out and got a Clemson transfer (DJU). They brought in a HS commit who they thought they could develop (Chiles), but now he is gone and apparently they are looking in the portal so they don't have to go back to Gulbranson. Before finally turning to a freshman, didn't Cal go through Plummer from Purdue, Finley from NC State, and Jackson from TCU? Didn't USC bring in Williams and send out their HS recruit Jaxson Dart? Didn't UCLA bring in transfer QBs Gabbers from the UW and Schlee from Kent State and put them ahead of the high school recruit who had been in the program since 2019 (Griffin)? Didn't ASU bring in Drew Pine from Notre Dame and Trenton Bourguet from BYU? Didn't Arizona bring in WSU transfer de Laura (and if he doesn't get hurt is Fifita still waiting)? Isn't Utah's top QB (when healthy) a transfer from Texas, who competed and won the job from a South Carolina transfer (Bentley), a Baylor transfer (Brewer), and another Texas transfer (Jackson)? Didn't Colorado start a transfer from Jackson State (Sanders)? In Ari Patu, Ashton Daniels, and Myles Jackson, we do have one program out of 12 find a QB with their own recruits (and even then they brought in a Syracuse QB in Justin Lamson). If you were a high school QB looking at a Pac-12 for a place that isn't looking at transfers, maybe you look at Stanford and stay away from Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, WSU, Cal, USC, UCLA, ASU, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado? Maybe you try the Mountain West? Boise State developed a couple QB; but, they haven't seemed too happy there as Bachmeier left for Wake Forest and Green went to Arkansas. Fresno State? They have started a UW transfer (Haener) and replaced him with a UCF transfer (Keene). San Diego State? They tried a VT transfer (Burmeister) before moving to a Mississippi State transfer (Mayden). San Jose State? They started a Hawaii transfer (Cordeiro) who beat out an Oregon transfer (Butterfield). Wyoming? Andrew Peasley (Utah State). New Mexico? Dylan Hopkins (UAB). Nevada? Brendon Lewis (Colorado). There actually are a few home grown QB left in the Mountain West, UNLV started with a guy who had been around the program several years (Brumfield) but turned to a freshman who they had recruited (Maiava), Fowler-Nicolosi at CSU, Legas (Utah State), and Schager at Hawaii. So, Stanford, UNLV, CSU, Boise State, Hawaii might be spots left for a high school QB recruit wanting to play somewhere on the West Coast but is afraid transfers might be brought in. I'd be surprised if high school recruits see Nix and Gabriel as anything different than college football these days. The opposite is probably still more true, the more successful they are, the more the UO looks like a place QBs can excel.

I guess it came across as attacking Bo Nix, but when there were a lot of doubters I absolutely was a guy who felt good about Nix and I think he exceeded expectations. As rough as it sounds, Oregon might be two season at 5-6 without him. Of course there is more to games than QB play. The point however goes to guys in big spots are able to make big plays -- and often those plays tend to be plays beyond 9 yards. If in all places, Reddit had a stat looking at Nix and something like (this is going off memory), 33% of his passes were at or behind the LOS, and 34% of his passes were 0-9 yards. 33% of his passes were over 9 yards. Now, being a college football fan, a 10 yard pass if far from a bomb; but, the weird thing was Nix actually graded very well throwing over 9 yards; but, he was pretty selective when he made those throws. When the situation really demanded it, did we regularly see those throws? Will it be different with a different guy at QB? Akili? Joey? Vernon Adams? Guys who were not afraid to make those plays. Another one? Michael Penix. I'm very happy with Nix and would absolutely take another season and roll the dice he continues his developmental path; but, it the Ducks must move on, I'm interested in seeing DG in that spot. I guess if somebody wants to take that as a Bo Nix shot? I can't really do anything about. Not liking the shot the team ends up taking doesn't mean it's all on the QB. Guys in those spots roll with what makes them comfortable IMO. Where that goes from here? That's a different question. Does it depend on the QB? I'm not totally sure. I think the next step is QBs who see a defense taking things away, and don't look for a 4 yard check down at 3rd and 8 because that's not in Pennix DNA. I absolutely hate propping up a Husky but you got to credit when it is due; and, at time Penix threw to guys who weren't even completely open, he just trusted his arm and the WR. There isn't anything preventing Oregon from throwing down field in situations where opponents don't respect it, and you need 7 yards and your pass, if completed, if about 4 yards and you are hoping for YAC for the play to succeed. There are other plays and I think prior Oregon OC and coaches would tend to agree. When Oregon was 3rd and 8? Mike Bellotti wasn't (regularly); throwing a 3 yard out hoping for YAC. He as looking down field for Tony Harley, Damon Griffin, or Keenan Howry. Especially if the opponent chose to crowd the line. You going to lose? At least lose throwing past the sticks. I'd be happy to see a QB who will make you pay. If you fail? At least you were throwing to the sticks. If you end up 10-2 either way? At least you took a shot. I'm happy to hear other views.

Thank you. I'm really not trying if it seems so to point out Bo Nix failures. Heading into both UO/UW games, I felt both would be close but I felt overall Oregon was slightly more talented (in the first game the the home field advantage being the great unknown). Even now, I'm not sure I can give that to the UW. However, at the very top end, guys like Penix, Odunze, Trice, Lutuligasenoa, Muhammed outplayed Oregon and made more big plays when it counted. Why does all this matter in the context of the original thread? I'm interested in Gabriel and his experience if he is the kind of guy who at these times maybe makes the plays. I like what I saw in the Texas game and I'll argue that one was as big a stage as the first Oregon/Washington game. Goes I guess to the original post about why some Oregon fans are excited about their new QB?

I don't wanna get in any trouble and I will look forward to the article. Football at the highest level just often comes down to QB play. There is an ebb and flow the whole game, with I'm sure each side hoping something that might have changed the game did happen, or something that did change the game didn't happen. A couple links: Start about the 13:10 mark. And about 14:15-14:45 (arguably two UW throws where the coverage isn't even that poor). QBs and WR making plays with everything on the line. That isn't meant as a criticism of one QB not making a play; but, rather of the other guys getting it done. Is this bad to point out? I totally agree the UO side is trying. The UO 4th down play to seal the game is "Ugh". The UW drive to won the game is "Wow". Guys making (or not making plays). If the further analysis changes my mind, I am sure I'll feel better.

I knew I was going to get myself in trouble. I'm really not trying to get in trouble here but I must say 49-3? Same season Kent State played Georgia to 39-22, Missouri 26-22, Kentucky 16-6, and Georgia Tech managed 37-14. Even 6-7 Florida managed 42-20. Where was Oregon? 10-3? I'm absolutely a Bo Nix fan but leaving all the stats behind, I'm gonna say sometimes a guy needs to make a play. People down on Gabriel might wanna check out the drive he made to beat Texas. Duck football could have used that a few times in 2022 and 2023 (and not the D making a huge play against Texas Tech or WSU). Not a knock on Nix, I'm sure it seems so, but it's not. Guy was good. I'm not sure how one watches both Oregon losses to the UW, Oregon leading both games second half, and sees Penix and the UW late make the plays behind their team, and suggest a QB making those plays might not be (at least in part) the next step for Oregon. Is it Gabriel? I don't know but I'm interested to see. That's all.

This may get me blasted; but, I was one of those guys who felt really good when DL and KD brought in Bo Nix. And I think he responded by being a very good college QB. Heck, if he could come back I'd be ok with another year. HOWEVER, it could be argued he faced 4 HUGE games as a Duck (Georgia obviously, OSU to get a spot in the Conference Championship game in 2022, and Washington twice this year - not going to hold 2022 Huskies game against him as he got hit). And in those games he was 0-4. Absolutely doesn't take away from Bo as he isn't by himself; but, I'm ok moving to DG. A lot like Nix he is a guy who has seen a lot of college football. When Oregon took the lead in both games in 2023 and the UW was crowding the line begging the UO to take a shot? It just didn't happen. Sometimes college football comes down to making a play. Am I not a UO or Bo Nix fan because it didn't happen? No. But will I roll the dice with a guy like Gabrial. Sure. Penix at the UW, despite all the rumors (and injury conjecture heading into the game)? Made the plays. Will DG be better in those 1-2 massive games a Duck season in 2024 might turn up? I don't know but I can roll with it. He certainly is a guy who has put himself in the spot -- to be in that spot (much like Penix - who before coming to the UW, wasn't such a lock). The Texas game this season for OU was absolutely huge in the moment and he looked solid.

High school QB recruits since Marcus (11 classes) Jake Rodriguez Jeff Lockie Damion Hobbs Morgan Mahalak Travis Jonsen Kristen Wallace Terry Wilson Justin Herbert Braxton Burmeister Tyler Shough Cale Millen Jay Butterfield Robby Ashford Ty Thompson With the exception of Herbert, "finding and developing" high school QBs hasn't really been too successful in quite some time (and the Herbert story generally has him pretty much coming to the UO ready to play at a high level). If the coaches and staff are able to hit on 2/3 or 3/4 portal or graduate transfer QBs, the numbers/history (since 2011) sort of suggests it's a no brainer.