This off-season feels different than previous years under Head Coach Dan Lanning. For the last three seasons, rematches have kept Lanning and the Ducks from a shot at their ultimate goal, and in the little media availability Lanning has had since Oregon’s loss to Indiana, it is clear Lanning is making some changes. Our Mr. FishDuck took a pause from ...

Is Change Coming to Oregon

Refine and sharpen the offense.. Improve receivers’ fight for the ball. Improve penetration and pass rushing skills. Emphasize tackling and ball stripping techniques.

After seeing Miami last night, pretty clear our pass rush was the biggest weakness this season imo. Mendoza with time = game over. Might have done it this year with more rush…I don’t know if it was scheme or an altered scheme reflecting personnel issues.

32 minutes ago, JabbaNoBargain said:

After seeing Miami last night, pretty clear our pass rush was the biggest weakness this season imo. Mendoza with time = game over. Might have done it this year with more rush…I don’t know if it was scheme or an altered scheme reflecting personnel issues.

Hard to say.... Matayo was definitely not as good this year that last year in terms of the stat sheet.

The backend of our defense felt pretty good for the most part... But was picked apart when QBs had time.

Thank you, David.

Whatever the secret sauce may be, I'm hoping next season ends with a bang and not a whimper.

Last night, the Good Guys advanced into enemy territory and won. Why not OBD? Please?

Thanks again, David, for the terrific article.

Competing for titles in college sports today certainly requires change -

On3

Adapt or Die: Systemic issues in College Sports demand fu...

There are real, systemic issues in college sports that must be addressed over the next three to five years.

2 hours ago, David Marsh said:

Hard to say.... Matayo was definitely not as good this year that last year in terms of the stat sheet.

The backend of our defense felt pretty good for the most part... But was picked apart when QBs had time.

With 5 DBs and 2 inside linebackers and only 2 big defensive linemen, the edge players have to do two jobs: be a defensive end when needed and be an athletic blitzing outside linebacker when needed.

It is a tall order. The inside linebackers need to be faster and react quicker, which would help.

When the edge players get locked up in a wrestling match with the offensive tackles, the QB has a lot of time to scan the field.

I think the key to winning games is having the best offensive tackles and edge players on your team. Which is why I feel that the 2019 team was such a disappointment because they had the best O tackle and best edge in all of college football that year.

A 3 man D line will not work because you always need a blitzer and option plays will pick that apart. Oregon needs to recruit to fill the prototype of the edge player because not many top edges make it to the portal.

I also think that aggressive DBs can help on the run game, taking some of the pressure off the edge players. Oregon edge players need to be sack machines.

Another interesting piece I'm seeing these days is the Jordan Seaton transfer portal recruitment. The Ducks sound like they are in it, for whatever that's worth and the number going around for his services is 3mil-ish.

That's as much as our two newly promoted coordinators combined (more or less) for one player.

In the past I think Dan would have given this a pass but I wouldn't be surprised to find out that the NIL budget might have been given a bit of extra juice after the last loss.