OregonDucks

I just don’t think you can win in Westwood with their lack of support and would image that that would be important to Fisch. He will have other opportunities. Smith is a more logical hire, IMHO.

Nevermind. (Not worth it.)

It wouldn’t be a permanent shift but playing to the 2025-26 team’s strengths to win football games and give Oregon its best chance to win a National Championship (albeit I don’t feel this year is our year). If a player is more concerned about their stats than winning, then I’m sure Coach Lanning will not shed a tear if that player decides to transfer, as that is not the culture he has built at Oregon.

I disagree that Whittington is Oregon’s best all around back but he had a heck of a game against Iowa. We can agree to disagree.

Iowa’s two big passing plays were due to poor coverage (LB), blown assignment (safeties) and lack of a pass rush. Oregon’s corners were money, as always, and had at least one bogus PI called against them. The DL, particularly the DTs came to play and answered the call (just like the Penn State game) - perhaps they just need to be questioned to play their best. I was shocked that Oregon only had four in the box on that 4th and goal. It was apparent to everyone in the stadium and watching on TV that Iowa was going to call a QB run on that play. Why not have a sure tackling LB or safety as a spy, instead of a DE? The clock management at the end of the half and final drive left a lot to be desired and hopefully will be worked on this week. For example, the offense took roughly a minute (half the clock) to pick up that first, first-down and then they completed at least one pass in the middle of the field, short of the first down marker. There was no sense of urgency. Luckily the offense hit a few passes down the field, including that absolute dime by Moore, to set up the go ahead FG.

I’m a big believer in playing to your strengths. As you mentioned, our running game is clearly the strength of our offense this year (with a young QB who is still learning to read defenses and adjust pass protection) and we have a solid defense, overall. I would base our entire offense off the running game and then use play action to attack the defense down the field, once the opponent’s safeties start cheating up (maybe 20 passes max a game). Kyle Shannahan is a master at this and Will Stein could pick up some things studying the Niners’ offense and how he sets up a defense. I also favor using Davison more heavily, especially early in games, as he has the ability to wear down a defense opening up the gashing and explosive runs later in the game.

Some of my initial thoughts on the game: • Given the weather forecast and Iowa’s style, this was exactly the type of game I was expecting and wouldn’t have been surprised if the Ducks lost, on the road, against a good opponent. My heart would have preferred that Oregon’s defense prevented Iowa from scoring that last TD but credit to the offense for doing what they had to do to win the game, in horrible conditions and without key starters. I hate these style of games but good teams can win many styles of play, including games that they do not have their “A” game. • Coach Lanning managed the game extremely well. He realized that this was not going to be a high scoring affair and that every single point could be the difference. I’m glad that he don’t go for it on 4th down at midfield and realized that the probably of conversion on 4th and long was extremely low. He played for field position, trusted his defense, took the points and put his team in a position to win the game. • I’ve been calling for Davison to start and get more carries, but Whittigham was great last night. He hit the hole hard and ran over defenders. One of his best all around games as a Duck, against a very good defense, IMHO. • Atticus Sappington was money tonight (3-3), in terrible conditions, and my game MVP, including a clutch game winner.

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.