OregonDucks

Not looking good for the Ducks.

Oregon’s schedule this year did them no favors, nor did Penn State completely falling apart. I don’t think that we have to go 11-1 every year (although that would guarantee a playoff spot ever year, coming out of the power 2).

He could make millions and be a first round washout, like many before him. If he wants to be a successful NFL QB he needs another year (or two). If he can’t figure out pre-snap defensive disguises and zone blitzes/simulated pressures in college from the likes of Indiana (let alone Ohio State), how’s he going to handle NFL defenses. Dante has the talent but a lot to learn, which will only come with game experience.

I was under the impression that Iowa plays zone defense and does a great job of eliminating explosive plays making a team drive down the field. For them to come out and play man with no safety help would definitely show disrespect to Oregon’s passing game (even if it has taken a step back this year). “Iowa’s base structure is “Cover 8,” which in short is a conservative approach designed to limit big plays − with eight of the 11 defenders dropping into pass coverage. But that can easily morph into a “Cover 3” (with three defenders – typically two cornerbacks and one safety – responsible for one-third of the deep part of the field).” https://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sports/college/iowa/football/2025/06/19/iowa-football-defense-phil-parker-defensive-coordinator-kirk-ferentz-hawkeyes/84154081007/ Phil Parker has been at Iowa for 27 seasons and 14 as defensive coordinator. Iowa’s coaching stability reminds me of Oregon’s Bellotti era.

I would expect Oregon to run the ball early and often; hopefully, with Davison. This appears to be the strength of this year’s offense (unless something drastically changes) and the weather will limit the passing game for both teams. Hopefully, Coach Lanning doesn’t get too aggressive and plays for field possession. Oregon does not have a QB controversy. We just need Dante Moore to continue to learn and develop.

Now how do we get the memo to the broadcasters and commentators?!

Just like last year’s Alabama team, these teams never talk about the other teams they lost to. Don’t lose to a Florida team with a losing record, if you want to make the college football playoffs. If Texas and Ole Miss were both, 10-2 then you can make the case that Texas had the harder schedule and they should get the nod.

Our offensive and defensive lines are full of veteran starters but we have youth spread all across the starting depth chart. Six of the 22 starters are sophomores or younger, including our QB, #1 WR and both corners. That’s not even including the true freshman (Davison) who should be starting and getting the majority of carries at running back. Jeremiah McClellen and other young players are also playing more and contributing. George’s point is that we should expect those young players to be inconsistent (note: he was referring primarily to our passing game). It’s part of their growth and development. And, with the transfer portal, who knows what the composition of our offensive and defensive lines will be next year.

I travel quite a bit and am currently living on the East Coast. Oregon football is known from coast to coast. I’ve had people yell “Go Ducks!” at me DEEP in SEC country. We are known for our flashy uniforms and electric offenses. Coach Lanning is respected nationally. People know that we are a good team but, fair or unfair, question whether we can get over the final hump and beat one of the traditional big boys to win a national championship game. Hopefully Coach Lanning can continue to put us in position and we eventually break through. Our team is certainly built differently than the last few times we played in a national championship game. We just need the pieces to all fall into place.

I haven’t seen George Wrighster’s “midseason” verdict posted. He has a long but good take. Oregon fans, including myself, have gotten a bit spoiled. We have a young and talented team. It’s therefore understandable why the have been inconsistent at times this season but they have positioned themselves for a playoff spot and they should continue to get better as we head into the stretch run and post season. As good as we are this year (top 10 in offense and defense), next year we should be even more dominant with a QB who has a whole year of starting experience under his belt.

It’s ironic that you are questioning a guy who evaluated and developed two current NFL QBs, who were both 3-star high school football recruits. One won the Heisman trophy and led Oregon to the national championship game and the other won the Rose Bowl and may be a future NFL Hall of Famer. QB was not the problem under Coach Helfrich at Oregon.

Those are good names to keep an eye on. I wonder if Ross Douglas, Oregon’s WR and passing game coordinator, would get a look or if Lanning would want someone with experience calling plays. Ross seems to be an up and coming coach…

Why couldn’t the PAC-12 have had a top heavy conference with national title contenders just like the B1G? Oregon has more than held its own over the past 10+ years. Where has USC been since Pete Carroll left for the NFL? Why hasn’t Washington been consistently good ala Penn State? There were more than enough quality brands in the PAC-12 but for whatever reason they continuously under performed which affected the national perception and ultimately the TV value.

There is a big difference between humbling/teaching and humiliating a player (or subordinate).

Is there a better offensive coordinator position in college football than at Oregon? We are known for high scoring offensives, dynamic skill players and have as good of a track record developing QBs for the NFL as anyone. Just look at some of Oregon’s recent offensive coordinator’s who went on to get head coaching jobs: • Bob Toledo (UCLA) • Mike Bellotti (Oregon) • Dirk Koetter (Boise State/Arizona State) • Jeff Tedford (Cal) • Chip Kelly (Oregon) • Scott Frost (UCF/Nebraska/UCF) • Kenny Dillingham (ASU) It’s just a matter of time before Coach Stein gets that opportunity and I’ll be rooting for him, except when his team plays the Ducks. Hopefully, Coach Lanning is keeping the list of potential OCs updated in his notebook but I don’t think he’ll need to make too many calls since it’s one of the best coordinator positions in all of college football.

I wish Jahlil Florence the best and believe that he is talented enough to start and thrive at another program. Hopefully, it’s not a conference school (unless it’s UCLA). Oregon is absolutely loaded at CB.

Great article. I feel the same way. I realize that the PAC-12 was a “dead man walkin’” and that Oregon had to make a change to survive as a perennial national title contender. However, I don’t understand why the Pac (the only major conference West of the Rockies) could not survive. I miss playing at Stanford and at the Arizona schools (hopefully we can start scheduling these teams OOC). I still find myself rooting for our old PAC-12 conference foes (except for Oregon State or Colorado). The ironic thing is, if the LA schools invested in and had more success on the football field, I believe that the TV money would have been there (perhaps not quite at the B1G or SEC levels but enough). Instead they took their underperforming program and the LA media market to the B1G for the payday. Now they are just part of the mediocre group that you mentioned in your article.

I’ll never forget Cristobal’s reaction to the Kris Hutson penalty. As an Oregon fan/alumni, I was embarrassed at the time by our head coach’s behavior and would not want my kid playing for him.

Just like the game, this episode was boring. No behind the scenes from meetings and practices. No message of the week from Coach Lanning. Pretty much just Oregon game highlights with some audio from the coaches sprinkled in. More like a Greatful Dead music video with Oregon football highlights. Worst Ducks vs. Them episode that I’ve seen.

Don’t focus on the years or dollars always look at the buyout. Matt Rhule’s reported buyout is only $15M. Does anyone think that will prevent a school that just paid $50M from hiring him? Same with Cig.

I completely disagree. Ohio State is the best team in college football and the question is who deserves to be #2. Oregon better bring their A game or they will lose to a good Iowa team.

I hear you but with Helfrich I think it was a deeper feeling that the program was regressing and there was little change of a turnaround under his “leadership.” Recruiting was in the toilet, IIRC. It was evident that Helfrich was a great evaluator of QBs and a good offensive mind but he was not head coach material. There is nothing wrong with that and he seems to be doing well now on TV.

With NIL, the big dawgs are just mad that Oregon can now pay as much or more than they do, which has leveled the playing field.

Hopefully Oregon remembers its past and never becomes like those programs. I would hope that a coach would always have the opportunity to turn it around at Oregon (like Coach Bellotti was able to do) before being shown the door. Commitment is a two way street.