30Duck No. 1 Share Posted March 23, 2022 I give Wilner credit for not going with the Quarterback battle. Pac-12 spring football breakdown: Key questions for each team WWW.KSL.COM Some need help up front, others in the secondary or wide receiver. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Fischer Administrator No. 2 Share Posted March 24, 2022 Reasonable and correct about the Ducks. 1 Mr. FishDuck Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrathis No. 3 Share Posted March 24, 2022 (edited) I find it funny that last season there were 3 position groups I couldn't wait to see: the linebacking corps (Sewell/Flowe/Thibodeaux), the quarterbacks (Thompson/Butterfield/Ashford) and the receivers (Williams/Pittman/Franklin/Thornton). The funny part is that the LB's couldn't stay healthy (except Sewell b/c I'm now convinced he's super-human), the QB's I wanted to see didn't play and the receivers were non-existent in MC's lackluster play-calling. It was disappointing to say the least. Now this upcoming season I find myself in a similar position. I'm expecting HUGE production from the defense, I'm still wanting to see Thompson/Butterfield and the receivers are a big question mark. Will Franklin/Thornton stretch the field the way I'd hoped they would last year? Will we have a QB and play-caller willing to take those shots and push it? Funny enough, I have almost no questions concerning the O-line and Cardwell and just hope they stay healthy. If they manage that, I have no concerns about how productive they will be. So what are your thoughts? Will the defense and skill positions play to their talent level? Are you expecting great things or are your expectations more tempered knowing we have a brand new system with brand new people? I'm genuinely curious what your thoughts are on where we'll exceed expectations, where we'll show steady improvement and where you think we'll struggle...how I love to ponder OBD! Edited March 24, 2022 by Wrathis 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyToBeADuck No. 4 Share Posted March 24, 2022 Wrathis, my expectations are stuck in neutral until the Ducks play their first 3 games. The team is filled with talent on both sides of the ball, no doubt. 50 plus youngsters who were thrown into the mix in 2021 will bring battle hardened experience to the field. Having Sewell, Flowe, Manning, Dorlus, Swinson and others executing Coach Lannings defense is appealing But my excitement will ramp up once I see what the coaching staff does with that talent, how they game plan and how they make in game adjustments. More important, how do the players respond and execute what is taught? MC and staff took the fun out of watching Duck games. Even with all the wins. When I watch a game I want to get amped up, get excited and anticipate great things. Not repeatedly go WTH........ Just the thoughts of an old Grey Beard.......... 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrathis No. 5 Share Posted March 24, 2022 On 3/24/2022 at 8:29 AM, HappyToBeADuck said: MC and staff took the fun out of watching Duck games. Even with all the wins. When I watch a game I want to get amped up, get excited and anticipate great things. Not repeatedly go WTH........ 100% MC took the fun out of watching, even when we were winning. I mean, how do you go into the 'Shoe and beat OSU and then get beat by Stanford, only beat Cal by a score and get blown out TWICE by Utah?! I was constantly infuriated by our inability to put away lesser competition...and that's 100% on coaching. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Joseph No. 6 Share Posted March 24, 2022 Wrathis, my thought is directed to the entire team and not a position group. I want to see the Ducks show up ready to ball out in every single game. I want the team to play to its standard and not down to the level of the opponent. I echo your take on the coaching; or, more correctly, the absence thereof under Mario. I want to see Lanning et al not just talk the talk but walk the walk. I appreciate that playing 2 top 20 teams OOC and playing 5 conference road games in 2022 is a tough ask for any coach, especially a first year coach. But this does not mean that you cannot play with effort and energy in every game and on every play. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
30Duck Author No. 7 Share Posted March 24, 2022 On 3/24/2022 at 9:11 AM, Jon Joseph said: But this does not mean that you cannot play with effort and energy in every game and on every play. Fortunately, for me Jon, this is the area of the game I am most confident in Lanning coming through. "Effort and energy" seem to seep through the pores of Lanning and his cadre of coaches. I have no doubt that we'll see this is game 1, game 2, and for the whole season. The team will not get over hyped with a W or despondent after an L. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
