Scenario this Saturday:

Cold and rainy again.

Dante Moore has been Mr Happy Feet unable to see open receivers, and has taken 4 sacks on the first 4 possessions.

Does Brock come in?

No. Brock is a downgrade. Especially against the Iowa defense.

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.

Edited 7 hours ago7 hr by OregonDucks

1 minute ago, OregonDucks said:

Hopefully, Coach Lanning doesn’t get too aggressive and plays for field possession.

I hope this isn't one of those games where he goes for it on 4th down six or seven times. Oregon should be fine in the rain. Especially if they took the opportunity to practice in it this past week. I believe it's been nice all week in Iowa, so they would have to simulate wet conditions. It's not like they throw that well anyway. They're 119th in total offense.

31 minutes ago, DrJacksPlaidPants said:

I hope this isn't one of those games where he goes for it on 4th down six or seven times.

I'll admit I cringed when OBD went for it on 4th down early at mid field against Indiana. They had already shown themselves to be sure tacklers and able to stop ball carriers at the point of contact and not be dragged for extra yards. That needles gamble gave Indy a short field to kick a field goal, grab an early lead and play the rest of the game with confidence.

That game was setting itself up to be a classic field position struggle against a disciplined team and not a river boat gambling type of game. I don't mind gambles if they're properly timed and situational. Somewhere in between Kelly's stubborn bravado (Stanford, Auburn redzones) and Mario's mundane plod ball exists good coaching. Calculated gambles mixed with solid safe decisions takes time to understand. I hope Lanning gets there. We will be a regular legit championship contender when he does.

The only way that Moore is coming out is if he gets injured, he throws 5 interceptions, or the Ducks are up by 35.. Brock Thomas is most likely a below average college QB. He had 4 passes in the game against Wisconsin one of which should have been a really bad interception that the Wisconsin defender had go off his hands into the waiting arms of a receiver.

I'm sure Brock is loved by the team, but he hasn't shown anything to show he can beat a team like Iowa on the road in any way.

I think we're going to see huge dividends from the Wisconsin game. To quote AF of the O:

Early in the second quarter, the Ducks found themselves scoreless and pinned on their own one-yard line. Suddenly, after having produced minus-16 yards rushing in the first quarter, Oregon got rolling. During a 16-play, 99-yard drive, the Ducks found a formula for success in the running game that led them to the end zone for the first time. Oregon never stopped running on the way to a 21-7 win against one of the best run defenses in the nation.

“To be able to finish the game with 203 yards rushing, I think shows that we figured it out,” UO coach Dan Lanning said.

Lesson learned. Now apply the learning and reap the benefits!

Edited 5 hours ago5 hr by Chas Man

2 hours ago, Solar said:

Scenario this Saturday:

Cold and rainy again.

Dante Moore has been Mr Happy Feet unable to see open receivers, and has taken 4 sacks on the first 4 possessions.

Does Brock come in?

Are you serious with this?

1 hour ago, spartan2785 said:

Brock Thomas is most likely a below average college QB.

I certainly hope not.... because if he is, that means that Moga and Novosad are also below average.

We have already said that Novosad and Moga could easily start somewhere else (something I agree with). I take all this to mean that BT could start somewhere else also.

Will Stein and Dan Lanning didn't all of a sudden forget how to assess talent.

Zero chance of Brock playing unless Moore gets hurt. I'm more interested in seeing Will Stein dial up the offense we rolled with in the second half of the Wisconsin game from the jump on Saturday. Jordon Davison should see a healthy dose of touches. That OL should be in the face of the Iowa D line early and often.

It's rare that I will ever say this so here I go. The part of our running game during the Mario Cristobal era that I never had an issue with (not talking formations) was how we would continuously beat the heck out of the opposing defensive lines until they were worn out and broken. By the second half we were breaking off solid runs and creating "3rd and short" scenarios regularly.

We have an OC that is far better than anything MC had during his time and has more talent at his disposal. With as good a defense as Iowa claims, we need to run right at them. Moore needs to be a high level game manager. Make the necessary throws, but get plays into the right run reads. Keep the clock running and get out of there with the W.

27 minutes ago, Lrod said:

Are you serious with this?

Yeah. It's not exactly the most probable outcome, but there is definitely a world where Dan and Will discuss this contingency during game prep.

I'm shocked that people here still think Brock is some kind of charity case and not our actual #2 QB, at least in bad weather.

Does anyone actually think Moore played better than Brock against Wisconsin? I think it was close. We scored twice as many points with Brock in the same amount of game time. Does Dante handle those bad snaps that Brock handled?

Dante's advantage over Brock is only the arm talent. But if it's pouring buckets and windy and the arm talent is neutralized, and if Dante is rattled, then he isn't making efficient split second decisions.

I'd say we have to split the first TD in the 2nd half between Brock and Dante, since Dante Moore got the ball to the Wisconsin 30 yard line.

1 hour ago, Babyjesus615 said:

With as good a defense as Iowa claims, we need to run right at them.

I disagree.

If I was Iowa....I would pack the box, and make Dante Moore beat them through the air, and I believe we will see that. So relying on the run is going to create a ton of punts, and play the Hawkeye game. C'mon....we are DUCKS, and if anyone can pass and catch in the rain....it is us.

We will get a ton of man-coverage in the secondary, and we have a bunch of receivers who can exploit that. If Evan Stewart returns, then not only can he stretch the defense, but he can be a tremendous decoy to pull their best corner away from Dak.

Pass to loosen things up, and get a normal box in terms of numbers on defense, and THEN have Davison go to work, IMHO.

1 hour ago, Charles Fischer said:

If Evan Stewart returns, then not only can he stretch the defense, but he can be a tremendous decoy to pull their best corner away from Dak.

I was under the impression that Evans was done for the season. But it sounds like you are suggesting that he may be back this year. Is that correct? Because that would be awfully nice.

3 hours ago, spartan2785 said:

The only way that Moore is coming out is if ... the Ducks are up by 35...

I choose this scenario.

Iowa will attempt to emulate the Indiana defense right from the git-go. Blitz and attempt to rattle and sack Dante Moore. If they succeed, I would expect to see Brock Thomas much sooner than many think. Our Offensive line is going to have to start this game at full throttle and protect our QB. GO DUCKS!

The weather forecast is deteriorating for Saturday. The high is forecast at 45 and the low at 26 with rain, snow and wind. This might suggest a slugfest on the ground.

3 hours ago, Charles Fischer said:

We will get a ton of man-coverage in the secondary, and we have a bunch of receivers who can exploit that.

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.

Edited 1 minute ago1 min by OregonDucks

Having this discussion in Novembers is bonkers.