FishDuck Article Administrator No. 1 Share Posted October 9 After the tough loss in Seattle last year, the teeth were gnashing in Eugene about some fourth down-short yardage play calls by Oregon Offensive Coordinator Will Stein. While it was true that quarterback Bo Nix missed an open receiver in one of those plays, the focus of the blame from the Duck fans were directed at Oregon’s young OC. In ... Oregon Offense: Will Stein Backs Up His Vow | FishDuck FISHDUCK.COM After the tough loss in Seattle last year, the teeth were gnashing in Eugene about some fourth down-short yardage play calls by Oregon Offensive Coordinator… 9 2 2 Two Sites: FishDuck and the Our Beloved Ducks forum, The only "Forum with Decorum!" And All-Volunteer? What a wonderful community of Duck fans! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smith72 Moderator No. 2 Share Posted October 9 Wow! Thanks Mr. FishDuck, excellent teaching of this progression of Coach Stein's growth in short yardage situations. Man oh man I love this offense! Motion, misdirection, power looks... Be still my fluttering heart 1 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyToBeADuck No. 3 Share Posted October 9 Thank you Charles for another great article. The time you spend in study, breakdown and snalysis is only surpassed by your love and passion for everything "DUCKS"..... This Duck fan is excited to see these new plays that depart from the standard 4 and 1, smash mouth football, cloud of dust attempts. Against tOSU there will be a handful of critical situations that in a normal game would require near perfect execution to be successful. The Buckeyes may very well be the best defense OBD's face in the regular season. I hope you are correct that Stein has many new, short yardage plays in the play book. Because there will be a number of critical situations arise against the Buckeyes that may very well determine the outcome of the game. Both defenses have played outstanding against lesser opponents. Now they each face very talented offensive players... NFL type players. This game should be very close. Winner of the critical play situations should win this game...... Go Ducks......... 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandpa Duck No. 4 Share Posted October 9 (edited) You say: "hack-analyst"? And a few days ago your article was: "too long"? At the risk of violating the rule pinned at the top of the page, your self-deprecating comments reveal that: "Thou dost protest too much." Thank you three times over. You simply are the best sports writer covering OBD, maybe the best covering any team anywhere. Happy's second sentence above well-expresses the appreciation we readers feel for the time it takes to put together an explanation that lets us understand what you knew when you first saw the plays. When I saw them executed I knew that I had not seen that before, and not much else. After reading your dissection of Will Stein's work I have a much better appreciation for what he and his players are doing. This is why I read FISHDUCK.COM! Edited October 9 by Grandpa Duck 1 1 1 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NYDuck No. 5 Share Posted October 9 Incredible insight as always. Many thanks. And keep it up coach Stein!! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuackyQuack No. 6 Share Posted October 9 Excellent article like always! Appreciate you Charles. So I was thinking about the playbook and how its been said that we will finally "open it up" and have full access to all the plays. I have been thinking about this and mostly have agreed, but then I remembered our coaching staff and how this is chess not checkers. This is looking like the 1st of potentially 3 games against tOSU. Do the coaches make a cognitive decision to not show all their cards in this game knowing the next game against tOSU (and the potential one after that) will be the more important games? Something to consider as we watch this heavy weight fight. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OregonDucks No. 7 Share Posted October 9 On 10/9/2024 at 10:10 AM, QuackyQuack said: Do the coaches make a cognitive decision to not show all their cards in this game knowing the next game against tOSU (and the potential one after that) will be the more important games? Something to consider as we watch this heavy weight fight. Coach Lanning said that the coaches made the decision to hold back some things in the second half of the UCLA game due to the score. I'm assuming that it was the same with the Michigan State game. Hopefully, we see more of an intermediate passing attack and some counters off of the bubble/wide receiver screens against the Buckeyes. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OregonDucks No. 8 Share Posted October 9 Very good examples, Charles. It's great to see our young coaches learning from past shortcomings and making adjustments. It's also wonderful to see Oregon run the ball on those critical 3rd or 4th and short plays, as I believe that they have a higher conversion rate. In the first play you highlighted, it appears that the Michigan State defender (#27?) would have been in a position to make the play, if he didn't bite on the misdirection or was more athletic to recover. I'm sure that Ohio State will be coaching the backside help to freeze and, even if they take a step in the wrong direction, their 5-star athletes will be quick enough to recover (then it's a just a matter of who wins the 1:1 battle). It'll be interesting to see if Coach Stein has a counter to this play against Ohio State. As I mentioned above, I'm really interested to see if Oregon opens up a more intermediate passing attack or has some counters to the wide receiver bubble screens. I would expect Ohio State to crowd the line of scrimmage and play press coverage with their CBs until Oregon proves that they can beat them. Go Ducks!!! Saturday can't come soon enough... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lono No. 9 Share Posted October 9 On Gabriel's TD run, shouldn't he be placing the3 ball in the other hand closer to the sideline? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DUCati855 Moderator No. 10 Share Posted October 9 Thank you Charles. Always great to see the complexities of this offense. It takes slow motion for me to recognize them. But, these plays are beautifully designed at multiple levels. Will Stein does seem to be playing 3D chess while my mind is looking for checkers. Great stuff! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
30Duck Moderator No. 11 Share Posted October 9 On 10/9/2024 at 8:36 AM, OregonDucks said: Hopefully, we see more of an intermediate passing attack and some counters off of the bubble/wide receiver screens against the Buckeyes. Both teams have great WR's, so far Ohio State hasn't shown a TE like Ferguson. I can remember a lot of games, specifically against Arizona with Gronk, when the Duck D had no answer to the TE. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Fischer Administrator No. 12 Share Posted October 9 On 10/9/2024 at 4:31 AM, Smith72 said: Man oh man I love this offense! Motion, misdirection, power looks... Be still my fluttering heart Thank you Coach, and I do have to say to everyone concerning what I wrote near the end of the article....everybody missed this as they watched the game....and so did I. Because of the emotion associated with the game...I do not see analysis items until a day or two pass, the emotion subsides and I can see things clearly. When I went back a day and a half later--I could not believe what I saw. The powerful formation with Conerly at H-Back? A defensive tackle at tight end? Perfectly timed motion the opposite direction? A new play, the Straddled Double-Option? I LOVE that play! Anyway, the point is, none of us are perfect and I have an ex-wife who would attest to that. But upon film review later--you know me well enough to know that I was truly hopping in my chair upon seeing these plays. Will Stein is very quietly doing an incredible job, IMHO. 1 2 Mr. FishDuck Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Fischer Administrator No. 13 Share Posted October 9 On 10/9/2024 at 7:23 AM, Grandpa Duck said: You say: "hack-analyst"? Well, that is what they call me on other Oregon sites! The truth is, I know some stuff that fits my wheelhouse, but a typical high school coach knows a TON more than I. This has been gently shown to me before, hence why "I know my lane" and offer analysis where I can, and stay away from the majority that is unknown. You and others here are very kind, and it makes the hours spent on it worthwhile when getting this feedback. THANKS to you and everyone again... And do pass this article on.... So MANY interesting things going on here! Mr. FishDuck Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Fischer Administrator No. 14 Share Posted October 9 On 10/9/2024 at 8:10 AM, QuackyQuack said: Do the coaches make a cognitive decision to not show all their cards in this game You make an excellent point that is step beyond what most of us would consider. To your thought...I agree. I believe (now) that in the off-season the coaching staff made a very careful analysis of the Playoffs, and how it would impact game-plans. It has taken long enough to soak into me, but I finally realized that the coaches were playing this MUCH different than in the past, and it is not something we have seen at Oregon, and thus an adaption by yours-truly. It could be a very long season, and thus a very gradual unfolding of the offense with leaving sweet stuff for crucial times in December games. This means a couple of changes, and one was having a much bigger playbook, with tons of new plays, constraints and sequentials figured out in advance. A game-plan for each game embracing certain plays, and their complementing plays unlike I've seen before. Finally, a part of their "Slow-Roll" of the offense is duplicating what Chip used to do in his glory years here; get a lead and then go into "Turtle-Time" where the players get up to the LOS, get ready to run the play, and they pause and look to the sideline as the play clock finally counted down. Then they run another Inside Zone Read into line, or another running play to not only burn clock, but shorten the game and make it impossible for the opponent to have enough remaining possessions to score enough to win. That last point above is hard to accept, as it means that we sacrifice high scoring...we will not be a leader in scoring offense! But it also means that we will have surprises kept in Will Stein's back pocket for key moments late in the season. Our coaches are truly thinking of the Long-Game within the season, and I might need to do an article about it after I expand my thoughts on it sooner. It means games are not quite as entertaining with low scoring, but it could mean winning more games, which is what we all want. Great stuff! 1 1 Mr. FishDuck Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Fischer Administrator No. 15 Share Posted October 9 On 10/9/2024 at 8:43 AM, OregonDucks said: I would expect Ohio State to crowd the line of scrimmage and play press coverage with their CBs until Oregon proves that they can beat them. Agreed. And I think this is the game where the passing attack opens up more and becomes much more aggressive. As good as the Buckeye defensive backfield is....completing passes on them with our elite receiver corps will be easier than trying to run often on that NFL defensive line we will face, IMHO. 1 Mr. FishDuck Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Fischer Administrator No. 16 Share Posted October 9 On 10/9/2024 at 8:51 AM, Lono said: On Gabriel's TD run, shouldn't he be placing the3 ball in the other hand closer to the sideline? Sure, but I don't think he runs enough to remember that, or he is so darn fast, and the play occurs so fast? Or he was not sure how the blocking would develop; in case he had to pause and cut way inside....or who knows? I think another coach here might be better to address this one! Mr. FishDuck Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Fischer Administrator No. 17 Share Posted October 9 On 10/9/2024 at 9:15 AM, DUCati855 said: It takes slow motion for me to recognize them. You and me both. To make this all happen, I MUST have slow-motion available in my DVR, and available in the video-editing software. It took me a long time to find the right combination, and then I am paying through the nose for them. But being able to watch in slow-motion without blur, and then create videos in slo-mo is crucial for us all. Watching blocking develop in slow-motion is a thing of beauty, and can almost make the eyes of this old-fart offensive lineman glisten. 2 Mr. FishDuck Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Joseph Moderator No. 18 Share Posted October 9 Great Article, Mr. FD. Here's a Look at Will's QB, Gabe, From ESPN. Will Oregon's offense tailor-made for Dillon Gabriel pay off? - ESPN WWW.ESPN.COM Though Dillon Gabriel is well on his way to another prolific season, Oregon isn't quite operating the way it was last season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wood Duck No. 19 Share Posted October 9 On 10/9/2024 at 10:12 AM, Charles Fischer said: Sure, but I don't think he runs enough to remember that, or he is so darn fast, and the play occurs so fast? Or he was not sure how the blocking would develop; in case he had to pause and cut way inside....or who knows? I think another coach here might be better to address this one! Remember he is also left handed, but at least he should use both hands when he gets into traffic. BTW, it kind of bugged me when Dan Lanning said he hoped to make the other team play "left handed". Hey that's our QB you're talkin' about! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Marsh No. 20 Share Posted October 9 On 10/9/2024 at 10:07 AM, Charles Fischer said: Finally, a part of their "Slow-Roll" of the offense is duplicating what Chip used to do in his glory years here; get a lead and then go into "Turtle-Time" where the players get up to the LOS, get ready to run the play, and they pause and look to the sideline as the play clock finally counted down. Then they run another Inside Zone Read into line, or another running play to not only burn clock, but shorten the game and make it impossible for the opponent to have enough remaining possessions to score enough to win. The biggest difference now from the Kelly years is that I feel we have the linemen to make this actually work now. The problem with the Kelly-Helfrich offense was that once it slowed down opposing teams could get stops more regularly, even on plays that were ripping them to shreds earlier in the game. Oregon's high scoring offense back then was interlocked with its speed because we didn't have the big and bruiser offensive linemen that could run as much consistent power plays. Now... we can slow things down and still get chunk yards and keep the team on the field. I believe a series last week went for eight minutes of game time! (if it wasn't last week it was the week before). That's just insane because those are constant chunk plays that kept the Ducks ahead of the chains but also relatively few explosion plays (if any) because of the amount of clock it burned. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solar No. 21 Share Posted October 9 On 10/9/2024 at 10:10 AM, Charles Fischer said: Agreed. And I think this is the game where the passing attack opens up more and becomes much more aggressive. As good as the Buckeye defensive backfield is....completing passes on them with our elite receiver corps will be easier than trying to run often on that NFL defensive line we will face, IMHO. A perfectly executed offensive pass play cannot be stopped by perfectly executed defensive play, all else, including talent, being equal. If we can make this game come down to Howard vs. Gabriel we'll win. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OregonDucks No. 22 Share Posted October 9 On 10/9/2024 at 11:29 AM, 30Duck said: Both teams have great WR's, so far Ohio State hasn't shown a TE like Ferguson. I can remember a lot of games, specifically against Arizona with Gronk, when the Duck D had no answer to the TE. I really hope Coach Stein involves Ferguson heavily in the passing game against Ohio State. He is such a good weapon and is nearly unguardable. Oregon had a long string of TEs that had successful careers in the NFL. T. Furg. is as good as any of them, especially as a down field receiver. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OregonDucks No. 23 Share Posted October 9 On 10/9/2024 at 12:07 PM, Charles Fischer said: You make an excellent point that is step beyond what most of us would consider. To your thought...I agree. I believe (now) that in the off-season the coaching staff made a very careful analysis of the Playoffs, and how it would impact game-plans. It has taken long enough to soak into me, but I finally realized that the coaches were playing this MUCH different than in the past, and it is not something we have seen at Oregon, and thus an adaption by yours-truly. It could be a very long season, and thus a very gradual unfolding of the offense with leaving sweet stuff for crucial times in December games. This means a couple of changes, and one was having a much bigger playbook, with tons of new plays, constraints and sequentials figured out in advance. A game-plan for each game embracing certain plays, and their complementing plays unlike I've seen before. Finally, a part of their "Slow-Roll" of the offense is duplicating what Chip used to do in his glory years here; get a lead and then go into "Turtle-Time" where the players get up to the LOS, get ready to run the play, and they pause and look to the sideline as the play clock finally counted down. Then they run another Inside Zone Read into line, or another running play to not only burn clock, but shorten the game and make it impossible for the opponent to have enough remaining possessions to score enough to win. That last point above is hard to accept, as it means that we sacrifice high scoring...we will not be a leader in scoring offense! But it also means that we will have surprises kept in Will Stein's back pocket for key moments late in the season. Our coaches are truly thinking of the Long-Game within the season, and I might need to do an article about it after I expand my thoughts on it sooner. It means games are not quite as entertaining with low scoring, but it could mean winning more games, which is what we all want. Great stuff! This is a great observation and I have thought the same the past two games. Coach Lanning said that he talked with NFL teams about the long season. It appears that he is rotating more players in the game to limit the wear and tear over a long season and once we have a lead, he is content in running out the clock (vs. running up the margin of victory for “style” points). Oregon could have beaten both UCLA and MSU by more, if we wanted to. Hopefully it’ll pay dividends later in the season. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Fischer Administrator No. 24 Share Posted October 9 On 10/9/2024 at 10:44 AM, Jon Joseph said: Great Article, Mr. FD. Here's a Look at Will's QB, Gabe, From ESPN. Will Oregon's offense tailor-made for Dillon Gabriel pay off? - ESPN WWW.ESPN.COM Though Dillon Gabriel is well on his way to another prolific season, Oregon isn't quite operating the way it was last season. Jon...that is a fantastic article, and the key point--a massive one is how Stein designed the Oregon offense to fit Bo Nix's talents, and now has researched what Gabriel does best, and is unveiling an offense that emphasizes his strengths. That means, and I project more downfield passing, and more designed QB runs for Dillon in this game. And they also stated that Stein will design the offense for Dante Moore's strengths next year! 1 Mr. FishDuck Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Fischer Administrator No. 25 Share Posted October 9 On 10/9/2024 at 11:51 AM, Solar said: A perfectly executed offensive pass play cannot be stopped by perfectly executed defensive play, all else, including talent, being equal. If we can make this game come down to Howard vs. Gabriel we'll win. I completely agree; we have that edge, and need to fully exploit it. Mr. FishDuck Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanLduck No. 26 Share Posted October 9 I too recognized these plays in real time as being well designed. But the breakdown in slow-mo with explanations and arrows was just awesome! I thought that long TD pass to Tez was also brilliant. The safety had to choose between 2 players so one was sure to be open. Anyway, Charles you point out something great. The game within the game. The chess match in play calling between the legendary Chip Kelly and our very own Will Stein. Both coaches will have new plays ready, and new twists to previously shown plays. This is gonna be so fun to watch. Often I think the coaching staff gets too much blame or credit for a game. But this is one game where I think coaching will have a major impact. Players are amazing on both teams. It will be strength against strength. How the game goes will be greatly influenced by the coaches and play calling, both on offense and defense (new blitz packages, anyone?) I can't wait to see your breakdown and "hack-analysis" of this game later. Thanks Mr. Fishduck. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solar No. 27 Share Posted October 9 I'd be thrilled if we didn't get out coached on our halftime adjustments this game. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PittDuck No. 28 Share Posted October 10 THIS! This is why FishDuck is the best fan forum there is. Outstanding breakdown Charles, thank you. The depth and insights you point out leads to fascinating discussion between the forum participants. I value the discussion and feedback your articles always generate. I continue to be pleasantly amazed at some of the outstanding football minds that regularly post here. Some of the thoughts I read are similar to what I have been thinking, only more eloquently phrased. While I have been somewhat anxious about the game, knowing we have not played anything close to the caliber tosu brings to the table, you remind me that they have not played anyone close to the caliber of OBD! It is precisely this discourse that keeps this old greybeard coming back for more! Thank you Charles, and Go Ducks, 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
