Babyjesus615 No. 1 Share Posted January 6 (edited) This is something that has always perplexed me with the Will Stein hire. Both starting QBs that he has coached during his tenure at Oregon have been described as mobile and athletic; more than willing to pick up yards with their feet. Now, don't get me wrong, I am well aware of the risk that is incurred every time a QB tucks the ball and takes it downfield. But in a program with an offensive mentality that has for the better part of 15 years, in some way involved the threat of a QB keeping it, I find it curious that some of the lowest QB rushing statistics at Oregon have been during the Will Stein era. Let's first look back at Bo Nix. His 2019 and 2020 seasons at Auburn both saw him run for over 300 yards and, if it weren't for injury in 2021, was on pace to post similar numbers. His first season at Oregon, under Kenny Dillingham had Nix running 510 yards! Yes he got hurt, but clearly this was a risk that was seen as acceptable at the time. Then came his one and only season with Will Stein. Although he posted a historical 77.4% completion rate, his rush number dipped to 234 yards. 4 out of 5 seasons saw him posting or at least on track for 300+ yards per year. Now for Dillon Gabriel. His 3 seasons at UCF saw him intentionally put into a passing scheme where QB runs weren't favored so much as a QB's ability to extend the play was; which he did well. Then he gets to Oklahoma in 2022. In a system much more designed to allow a QB to pick up extra yards we see him posting 315 yards and 373 yards in consecutive seasons. He then gets to Oregon for his one and only season under Will Stein (the longest season of his college career FYI). The 2024 season saw Dillon Gabriel rush a measly 149 yards in 14 games. We really only saw Dillon Gabriel snag yards in the most absolute clutch of scenarios (Boise State, Ohio State Pt 1). We rarely saw designed QB runs and when we did they were very far from effective. Bo Nix, in my opinion, only got above 200 yards his last season because he was given absolute command over the offense and changed plays as needed. I hope this is not the beginning of a trend for QBs at our school. We have often done so well and caught so many defenses flat footed by employing ALL of the legs on offense. Again, I understand the inherent risks associated with a running QB. But this school has been taking those risks for 15+ years. My worry is that Will Stein has trouble calling an offense that utilizes a ball carrying QB. We should be adding wrinkles to the offense, not taking them away. Edited January 6 by Babyjesus615 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Fischer Administrator No. 2 Share Posted January 6 I think using the QB for runs as he did was an optimal blend. How many ruined seasons from injured QBs do we need? Bo Nix Justin Herbert Dennis Dixon 1 2 3 Mr. FishDuck Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babyjesus615 Author No. 3 Share Posted January 6 On 1/6/2025 at 2:51 PM, Charles Fischer said: I think using the QB for runs as he did was an optimal blend I only see two games this season that it was used optimally; but even those looked more like QB scrambles than actual designed plays. Why did Gabriel get to run in the first tOSU game but not the second? Were they genuinely concerned about injury potentially derailing a playoff run? If that's the case then why didn't we see more of it in the second half of the Rose Bowl, when they should have had the playbook completely wide open? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Fischer Administrator No. 4 Share Posted January 6 As I wrote in the Pinned Post at the top of this page, when you are down 34-7....the other team knows you are going to pass. Too many running plays by Oregon burns clock and reduces the number of possessions you have in the second half, thus not enough time to come from behind. What is the highest priority? To me, it is to avoid what you see in the pictures in my post above. We can win without a QB who runs often. I believe a limited number of QB runs should be used; a QB Draw, a Zone Read, a Speed Double Option play, (as done against Beavis in Corvallis) and a scramble when nothing is open. Can't really do that when you are way down and have so many points to make up, IMHO. We can disagree. No big deal... Speed Double-Option Mr. FishDuck Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirklandduck Moderator No. 5 Share Posted January 6 After Bo got injured in year 1 I think it was a deliberate decision by DL to ask WS (or potentially any incoming OC) to greatly minimize QB runs which I can completely understand. I do think they dialed it back a bit too much through. Some games Bo and DG didn't run at all and I feel like just 3 or 4 designed QB runs per game would be just enough to keep opposing defenses honest. 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DuckFan93 No. 6 Share Posted January 7 Sorry, but I am beginning to doubt all this "insider" wisdom that some seem to have. The beatdown was simply a game that we (coaches and players) didn't prepare well for. WS didn't have the play calls to counter the fast scoring of the Buckeyes and couldn't adjust at HT. DL had looked brilliant all season planning for the 16 wins, until this game when Tez still ran out of bounds early to avoid hits and DG didn't run much at all. There needs to be a balance between avoiding injuries and making the big plays when we absolutely need it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrJacksPlaidPants Moderator No. 7 Share Posted January 7 Get used to it because Dante Moore is not a dual threat QB. He’s considered more of a pocket passer. I’m sure he’s got some athleticism, but he’s not fast. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
VegasDuck No. 8 Share Posted January 7 I Hate Steins offense. Doesn't anyone want him as a head coach? 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OregonDucks No. 9 Share Posted January 7 On 1/6/2025 at 6:20 PM, kirklandduck said: After Bo got injured in year 1 I think it was a deliberate decision by DL to ask WS (or potentially any incoming OC) to greatly minimize QB runs I also believe that Coach Lanning is instructing his OCs to limit QB runs and the potential for injury. Will Stein had a super athletic QB, Frank Harris, when he was the OC at UTSA (see clip below). Harris rushed for: • 2020: 528 yards and 9 rushing TDs • 2021: 566 yards and 6 rushing TDs • 2022: 602 yards and 9 rushing TDs Harris did miss substantial time due to injury earlier in his career (not sure if it was the result of him running the ball). Of course, I also believe that you have to allow your QB the ability to make critical plays in critical situations (Masoli running over the Oregon State defender for a critical first down) and that especially applies to the post season. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColoradoDuck No. 10 Share Posted January 7 Mostly I'm tired of WR screens behind the LOS when we have 10 yards to gain... it hasn't worked well all year, but the play keeps getting called. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OregonDucks No. 11 Share Posted January 7 On 1/7/2025 at 3:30 PM, ColoradoDuck said: Mostly I'm tired of WR screens behind the LOS when we have 10 yards to gain... it hasn't worked well all year, but the play keeps getting called. I completely agree with this. The wide receiver bubble screens do not work against faster, more athletic defenses and Coach Stein hasn’t shown any counters off of them, if the secondary is being too aggressive. When the wide receiver bubble screen gets blown up for a loss on 1st down it puts our offense behind the chains. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
