We now have a chance to get some top quality coordinators. Both Stein and Lupoi got out-coached in another big game. Stein has been benefitted by great skill players and has not been particularly good at calling plays. Any suggestions?

We already have their replacements in Mehringer and Hampton. Had you not heard?

We may need to look outside .... if the new coordinators are rubber stamps, then our situation won't change

I'd say we d best get Mehringer some quality help, Dan knows better than is the only thing I'm certain of.

I was not and am not sad to see Will go. Just my opinion. What a stupid call on first play of game and qb who looked nowhere else and still threw it to the wrong team.

Very least would be a viable QB whisperer...

We definitely have had the opportunity to recognize their value!

A David Yost type would be a good starting point/baseline.

Edited January 10Jan 10 by woundedknees

Bring in a top QB coach capable of being the next OC in a couple years.

Geoff Schwartz

"My biggest wish for the offense under Mehringer is an expanded passing game. It's difficult to be built via the OL/run game while also having an extensive passing game. Normally have to pick one lane to major in but the passing game just needs new concepts and formations. It needs to have answers for the better defenses that we face. I am curious if there's another add to the offensive staff now that there's time to make those additions. "

My add...I would just say that sometimes the limitations of your passing game is based on the limitations of the recognition and mental processing speed of your QB. If it is limited, or your O-line is limited, the play calls gravitate to short throws. And, against better defenses with good DBs that can stick with the WRs, that takes longer for the WRs to get open, and for the QB to avoid the rush and find them.

more Schwartz: https://x.com/geoffschwartz/status/2010015034600980990

Without knowing the capabilities of existing coaches why would you already replace them. Changing a major decision at the first sign of adversity is not a good way to gain much respect from existing staff, or future hires.

1 hour ago, Jemangi said:

I'd say we d best get Mehringer some quality help, Dan knows better than is the only thing I'm certain of.

I was not and am not sad to see Will go. Just my opinion. What a stupid call on first play of game and qb who looked nowhere else and still threw it to the wrong team.

It was a good call that was poorly executed. If DM continues his progressions he sees a wide open JMac for a TD. I watched the video and the safety on the right side flew up to the line of scrimmage to stop what he thought was a pass to the RB. He blew his coverage and left JMac wide open. The safety on the other side had the deep half on Benson’s side. That’s why #5 jumped the route and picked it off.

Definitely coaching weakness. Mental toughness

1 hour ago, DrJacksPlaidPants said:

It was a good call that was poorly executed. If DM continues his progressions he sees a wide open JMac for a TD. I watched the video and the safety on the right side flew up to the line of scrimmage to stop what he thought was a pass to the RB. He blew his coverage and left JMac wide open. The safety on the other side had the deep half on Benson’s side. That’s why #5 jumped the route and picked it off.

I don’t see it as a good call.

Progressions? Was there time for that?

It appears to me that Moore was going with the quick out as soon as he received the snap, never looked elsewhere, and the DB anticipated it. Great play.

There was plenty of time to look for other open receivers. Also, Dante focused entirely on the quick out and his eyes were easily read by the defender. Another predictable Stein call that cost us much.

I hope that we will get a new coordinator who will drastically change the Stein model, the model that never works against quality opponents.

I realize that our offensive line has and has had some injury issues.. Nonetheless, this qb performance was concerning.

I do not believe Dante is another Thompson.

Will he develop as Herbert or Dixon? Let's hope so!!

23 minutes ago, DUCKED said:

It appears to me that Moore was going with the quick out as soon as he received the snap, never looked elsewhere, and the DB anticipated it. Great play.

The fact that there were two open receivers (JMac and RB with a blocker out front) tells me it’s a good call. The fact that Dante never looked elsewhere and stared down Benson tells me it’s poor execution. I think we get into the habit of blaming Stein, but he makes the play call with the assumption that his QB will make the correct reads.

For example, Benson had a CB to his side with a safety over the top. The other side had JMac, Sadiq, Johnson and Hill (in the flat) being covered by a CB, a safety and a OLB. If Moore reads that side first he sees the safety come up to cover the flat while JMac blows past him as he is likely coached to read deepest to shortest route.

Assuming DM stays, keep Mehringer coaching the tight ends (huge success) and get a QB guru for Dante. Not blaming it all on him, but unfortunately he has had his worst games when it mattered the most. That's on the coaches IMHO.

Definitely needs someone to work with Dante on seeing open receivers and responding to pressure. He's likely to get better next year, but how long will it take, and what if the improvement is only marginal? Mendoza had fewer starts to start this year than Dante had going into yesterday. Need someone who can really work with him.

And its pretty clear we got outcoached in last years Rose Bowl and yesterday. I'm not that familiar with how experienced our new coordinators are, but if necessary, bring in some more help. It seems we've been strong enough schematically against the bulk of our schedule, but not against the top teams.

Edited January 11Jan 11 by MikeJ

High quality QB coach who can also be the passing coordinator.

Lanning seems fine going out and getting the best possible players in the portal but when it comes to getting the best possible OC and DC he apparently uses different logic. These dudes better be great because what a roll of the dice when Lanning clearly needs coaching upgrades.

5 minutes ago, Utki said:

Lanning clearly needs coaching upgrades

Disagree. Last year we lost one game to the eventual National Champion.

This year we lost two games to the same team... the team that will probably win the National Championship this year.

We have one of the best offenses and one of the best defenses in the country -- in several categories. The Ducks have not lost a single game the whole time that Dan Lanning has been here to an unrated team (if I'm remembering correctly).

I trust Dan Lanning to continue to make good hiring decisions. That, of course, does not mean that he will always make the best hires.

Lost, to the Beavers, in '22, I think... Lanning's growth spurt was just beginning! 😝

2 hours ago, Jon Sousa said:

Disagree. Last year we lost one game to the eventual National Champion. This year we lost two games to the same team... the team that will probably win the National Championship this year.

I read somewhere today it's been 1161 days (3.2 years) since the Ducks lost to somebody who didn't play in the National Championship game. That's pretty good.

2 hours ago, AnotherOD said:

I read somewhere today it's been 1161 days (3.2 years) since the Ducks lost to somebody who didn't play in the National Championship game. That's pretty good.

Don't quote me on this (without a re-check), but the longest streaks I could find not losing to a team that eventually played in the National Championship for some recent coaches:

Lanning: 1,161

Smart: 1,121

Swinney: 1,098

Day: 1,022

Saben: 798

Since the Ducks don't play for 238 more days, Dan is going to extend this streak to at least 1,399 days.

7 hours ago, woundedknees said:

Lost, to the Beavers, in '22, I think... Lanning's growth spurt was just beginning!

The Beavers finished that year at 10-3 and ranked 17th just a couple spots below the 10-3 15th ranked Ducks. Washington finished that year at 11-2 and ranked 8th. Lanning's never lost to an unranked team and only lost once to a team outside the top ten.

It is great to look for the positives, but I simply observed that OBD were seriously outplayed and out coached in the 2 most important games in the last 2 seasons. In most of the games against better teams, our offense struggled. Our stats got improved playing Montana State and Oklahoma State, and we get Portland State next season, but against decent foes we were less than impressive. Looking forward to a new OC.

Dante’s natural ability is unquestioned, but the longer his lack of development lingers, the more his coach-ability comes into question.

On 1/10/2026 at 10:34 AM, Jemangi said:

I'd say we d best get Mehringer some quality help, Dan knows better than is the only thing I'm certain of.

I was not and am not sad to see Will go. Just my opinion. What a stupid call on first play of game and qb who looked nowhere else and still threw it to the wrong team.

He threw the pass late and behind the ER. It was an inaccurate pass. It wasn't a poor call, it wasn't a poor decision. It was simply poor execution.

My opinion of course.

I think it would be wise to conclude that Indiana is simply a better team than Oregon, at least this year. Different coordinators wouldn't have made a difference.

It might have helped if Oregon had had its full complement of running backs. That way the Ducks might have have run the ball on the first play from scrimmage instead of throwing a sideline pass. That first play, possibly chosen because the coaches were unsure of the running game's strength, set the tone for the whole game.

But I still don't think Indiana could have been beaten. The Hoosiers may be a team of destiny. They played a nearly perfect game and deserved to win.

It's not a bad thing to finish in the top 4, even when Oregon fans are frustrated at not being able to "win the big one."

13 hours ago, DVH69 said:

The Hoosiers may be a team of destiny.

If this wasn't evident by the way their early miscues and fumbles bounced safely back into their possession, I don't know what to tell anyone, ha.

Regarding the success of OBD this season, I kind of forgot that we started this season with a lot of new starters, and there was a lot of hand wringing over how many wins we could get. It was a FANTASTIC result this year in spite of the heart breaking end. How many teams finished better than OBD?