I don't think it's really debatable at this point.

We have gone against some of the best rushing defenses in the country in conditions they knew we would be running the ball and still averaged 6-7 yards a carry. Nobody does that.

It isn't necessarily the James, Barner, DAT style from a decade ago, but it works against everyone.

The big question is how to maximize that against our opponents the remainder of the year. Just because we can play Iowa ball doesn't mean we should. Playing that style 4 quarters every game is only good for convincing yourself you can hang with anybody, not actually consistently winning.

We can certainly use it at the end of games when first downs become more important than touchdowns. We can use it to retain leads and shorten games.

We can certainly use it in place of bubble screens.

We can use it to set up play action pass to keep the pass rush honest and create more space behind the LBs.

I think in short we need to go to a more pro style offense. A little spread is okay to keep defenses honest, but the rule should be to run it down their throats and pass it over their heads.

Maybe not as clever or cute or entertaining as we'd like, but we have to play to our strengths.

Edited yesterday at 04:06 PM1 day by Solar

To win in the Playoffs....we need a balanced attack, IMHO. Effective passing downfield will make it easier to open holes for the offensive line with one starter down...

11 minutes ago, Charles Fischer said:

To win in the Playoffs....we need a balanced attack, IMHO. Effective passing downfield will make it easier to open holes for the offensive line with one starter down...

Agreed.

I think there were still times in the second half when Iowa was respecting Dante's arm which gave a little more space in the box.

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.

15 minutes ago, Solar said:

Agreed.

I think there were still times in the second half when Iowa was respecting Dante's arm which gave a little more space in the box.

I think what happened was that Dante was exposed in terms of his receiver target preferences. His 1A and 1B Dak and Sadiq were out and then 2 Bryant goes out and he just looked a bit uncomfortable in terms of who throw to.

Johnson stepped up big at tight end and he'll be deadly for years to come.

McClellan is growing into a big threat but he a had a big time drop on third and long that should have been a clutch first down.

Benson, probably 2b or 3, was quiet for most of the game until he wasn't and made some big time plays.

I think Dante is going to have to work with this receivers a bit more and build some more trust outside of 1a and 1b.

Probably didn't help matters that the first series was three incomplete passes. 1 was Dante's fault, 1 was Whittington's fault and 1 was kinda a mix of both sides where the ball placement wasn't great but the receiver could have still got it.

Then wrap it up with an end zone interception and... Yeah the passing game has some work to do without Dak and Sadiq.

Also... Do we move Whittington to receiver?

https://fishduck.com/2024/10/should-noah-whittington-switch-to-receiver/

2 minutes ago, OregonDucks said:

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.

Davison was one of the names mentioned as being a bit dinged up before the game. He was going to play but I think they were going to try and limit him a bit.

Though I LOVED the two runningback packages as Davison and Hill on the field together make a great combo... It was the combo on the field that scored the only Duck touchdown yesterday.

Whittington is our go-to back. Beyond that, he can block, catch the ball and get YAC, and is the best RB at protecting the ball.

There is depth in the WR and TE rooms. I say rely on it

We need to exploit the receivers we’ve brought in by spreading the offense. If we want ti identify mostly as a running team with occasional passing attack, guys will jump into the portal. There are a number of sexy teams out there using the spread effectively as recruiting tool.

I really hope our early game play calling/ decision making vastly improves.

An early midfield 4th and go for it stop spotted Indy an early 3 points and momentum out of nowhere.

Another early 4th and go for it midfield stop helped Wisky stay in the game longer than they should have.

A three passing attempts and out started a game in a near frozen car wash before we even found out the run game was near unstoppable against Iowa.

All three bad starts were due to a riverboat gambling mentality against tough defensive minded teams where chess like strategy was required. The Ducks have the horses to compete in these smash mouth battles and I wish they would act like it early on.

Still need to outscore teams to win. When you are trying to out physical a team, with a pro set running game, it will produce less points. Inferior teams will keep games closer, and things can go sideways.

Sound familiar?

Oregon has speed and size, and not many teams match up with us very well. Hence, our record in the BIG 10. The spread offense has led to much of that success.

We have lost one regular season game in the last two seasons. Should we fire someone, and install some of you guys as a coach…lol

1 hour ago, Notalot said:

Whittington is our go-to back.

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.

1 hour ago, Duckhart said:

If we want ti identify mostly as a running team with occasional passing attack, guys will jump into the portal. There are a number of sexy teams out there using the spread effectively as recruiting tool.

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.

Edited yesterday at 06:49 PM1 day by OregonDucks

5 minutes ago, Drake said:

Still need to outscore teams to win. When you are trying to out physical a team, with a pro set running game, it will produce less points. Inferior teams will keep games closer, and things can go sideways.

Sound familiar?

Not at All!

We Need to be More PHYSICAL!

Nevermind.

(Not worth it.)

Edited yesterday at 07:04 PM1 day by OregonDucks

I agree with all the comments. It's great to have the most capable rushing attack in the country, but you have to be careful about how you use it.

I think we all agree it should be used more than it was against Indiana and not as much as it had to be against Iowa.

I think we should try to marry it with more tempo and create rushing sets where we don't sub to keep beating a defense back on their heels.

5 hours ago, Drake said:

Still need to outscore teams to win. When you are trying to out physical a team, with a pro set running game, it will produce less points. Inferior teams will keep games closer, and things can go sideways.

Sound familiar?

I do not put much stock into this due to the inclement weather the past two games, but interesting nonetheless.

This was the Ducks lowest 2-game point total (39) in consecutive games since a 32-47 bowl loss to Oklahoma on 12/29/21 followed by the 3-49 loss to Georgia in the season opener on 9/3/22.

We also combined for only 17 points in two non-consecutive Utah blowouts in ‘21.

In the same season, you have to go back to 2019 in consecutive wins against Stanford (21-6 on 9/21/19) and Cal (17-7 on 10/5/19).

I don’t miss Mario-ball one bit.

On 11/9/2025 at 8:10 AM, Charles Fischer said:

To win in the Playoffs....we need a balanced attack, IMHO. Effective passing downfield will make it easier to open holes for the offensive line with one starter down...

Also, we might not like it sometimes, but spreading out the offense and throwing screens to the outside opens up the running lanes too. This is what Chip Kelley did. He sent folks out wide to open up the middle (fewer people in the box/fewer people to block). CK's offense was a running offence primarily, but the passes outside made it easier.

I'm thinking like this. Will Stein has no excuse to have any tendencies with this offense, but if there is one tendency he could get away with, it is running the ball too much, because defenses can't stop it even if they see it coming.

We should not have tendencies of screens of any kind, trick plays, reverses, predictable pass only formations. It's great to have variety and use those to keep defenses honest, but that's about it.