It is that time of year, here are a few reasons why the Ducks are in a better position to make a run at the national championship than last year… They Have a Loss Having a loss creates a built-in reminder to the Ducks of what will happen if they do not bring their “A” game. Indiana gives Dan Lanning ...

Oregon Enters Playoffs Better Off Than Last Year

Thanks Darren! Many good points to consider. My favorite: They have a loss, a good reminder “this is the consequence” if you don't bring your best.

The lead picture is a good reminder that the Ducks buried the huskies!

Thanks Darren for the article. I like when you said "Fans are upset about losing both coordinators. Just remember, losing coordinators is a sign of a healthy football program.” This is a true statement.

A healthy program won’t lose any recruits either, case in point, our recruiting class stayed intact.

Dan Lanning has built such a culture at Oregon with recruits and coaches alike. Oregon will not take a step back, but a step forward in improving this culture.

The defensive line is much better.

Thanks @Darren Perkins for the article.

Re: your comment about the conference championship needing to go . . . I stumbled across this yesterday. I thought it was intriguing:

Thank you, Darren. Great take.

Spot On in regards to last season's PO format that dinged the Ducks.

Worthy coordinators like Danno leave and move on up. As Lanning knows, it's all part of the process.

The time off before the first round of PO games allows Will and Tosh time to meet their new job back slapping and press responsibilities, and time to prepare for, hopefully, a G6 opponent.

I doubt that new wrinkles on both sides of the ball will be dialed up vs. North Texas, Tulane, or JMU. All three of these G6 head coaches are leaving their programs for P4 jobs. (Debatable in the case of NT's Morris to OK State and JMU's Chesney to UCLA 😁)

2024-25's fouled-up format was exacerbated by Gurus of Grapevine having Boise State with a miserable SOS, ranked higher than an ASU team, which would have defeated Texas in the 2nd round if an obvious targeting penalty had been called.

The combination dropped 6th-ranked Ohio State to the 8th seed. It was TOSU's 2nd loss 😁, but would the Buckeyes have won it all if not for being upset by Michigan and the players telling Day, and Chip via Day, to open up the offense and throw the damn ball to some 'pretty good' receivers.

Thanks, WTD, for the Gruden post, but our B1G commissioner, Tony Petitti, has previously figured out what to do with conference champ games. As part of a 16-team PO with automatic qualifiers, flex scheduling would allow conference champ and PO play-in games to be played in the final week of the regular season.

Here's to rooting for the Dawgs and the Red Raiders to keep seed No. 5 alive!

6 hours ago, Smith72 said:

Thanks Darren! Many good points to consider. My favorite: They have a loss, a good reminder “this is the consequence” if you don't bring your best.

The lead picture is a good reminder that the Ducks buried the huskies!

Negative reminders are always helpful! thanks!

5 hours ago, NJDuck said:

Thanks Darren for the article. I like when you said "Fans are upset about losing both coordinators. Just remember, losing coordinators is a sign of a healthy football program.” This is a true statement.

A healthy program won’t lose any recruits either, case in point, our recruiting class stayed intact.

Dan Lanning has built such a culture at Oregon with recruits and coaches alike. Oregon will not take a step back, but a step forward in improving this culture.

The days of it being a good thing that coaching staffs stayed together, like the majority of oregon's under brooks, bellotti, kelly, and helfrich are long gone. You want climbers at the OC positions, type-A guys who want to be a head coach.

5 hours ago, fred flintstone said:

The defensive line is much better.

With a guy named "Bear" it has to be!

Be True to Your Boss! I think Will will do all he can to fill the Stein with Natty Champagne.

Oregon Ducks On SI

Kentucky Coach Will Stein Doesn't Hold Back On Dan Lanning

Kentucky Wildcats coach Will Stein had his introductory press conference for the first time since being announced as the team’s coach earlier this week. Stein i

2 hours ago, WTD25 said:

Thanks @Darren Perkins for the article.

Re: your comment about the conference championship needing to go . . . I stumbled across this yesterday. I thought it was intriguing:

Yes, it's silly. A "championship game" is something everyone should WANT to play in. If they don't, time to drop the game.

I see a mix from last year to this year.

1. the secondary - would ANY of those guys last year start for them this year - absolutely not

2. this O line better run blocking, last year better pass blocking

3. D line - better last year, Jordan Burch has not been replaced, Derrick Harmon was a stud

4. Linbackers - Betcher is better this year with more experience, the other side mostly about the same

5. QB - I like Dante's throws, but I like Dillon's decision making better

6. Running Backs - this year is far better

7. Receivers and TE - this year is more explosive, but there are injuries, last year Dillon was 'dialed in' with his receivers

Overall, I like this year's team better. Higher ceiling almost everywhere except the pass rush.

Better run offense, better run defense

Better pass defense (worse pass rush, too many PI penalties), spotty pass offense, but can be great at times

I don't see this year's team being taken out of a game by a more physical team. That includes everybody.

The playoffs are Oregon's to win it, or blow it, depending on what they do.

I don't think the Ducks are 'crisp' enough to play enough mistake-free football, unless they somehow can put it all together.

I give Oregon a real solid chance to compete for a title. But they are going to need to clean up issues they had all season long.

47 minutes ago, Jon Joseph said:

Thank you, Darren. Great take.

Spot On in regards to last season's PO format that dinged the Ducks.

Worthy coordinators like Danno leave and move on up. As Lanning knows, it's all part of the process.

The time off before the first round of PO games allows Will and Tosh time to meet their new job back slapping and press responsibilities, and time to prepare for, hopefully, a G6 opponent.

I doubt that new wrinkles on both sides of the ball will be dialed up vs. North Texas, Tulane, or JMU. All three of these G6 head coaches are leaving their programs for P4 jobs. (Debatable in the case of NT's Morris to OK State and JMU's Chesney to UCLA 😁)

2024-25's fouled-up format was exacerbated by Gurus of Grapevine having Boise State with a miserable SOS, ranked higher than an ASU team, which would have defeated Texas in the 2nd round if an obvious targeting penalty had been called.

The combination dropped 6th-ranked Ohio State to the 8th seed. It was TOSU's 2nd loss 😁, but would the Buckeyes have won it all if not for being upset by Michigan and the players telling Day, and Chip via Day, to open up the offense and throw the damn ball to some 'pretty good' receivers.

Thanks, WTD, for the Gruden post, but our B1G commissioner, Tony Petitti, has previously figured out what to do with conference champ games. As part of a 16-team PO with automatic qualifiers, flex scheduling would allow conference champ and PO play-in games to be played in the final week of the regular season.

Here's to rooting for the Dawgs and the Red Raiders to keep seed No. 5 alive!

Great info, thanks, John!