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Thanks David; when you have the health of the program at heart, a gut-check, ‘tough love’ article is sometimes called for on individuals who make up that program. A person’s star can ascend faster than that person is ready to have it to do so, leaving them to chase after it in the mad rush to measure up to expectations. When one finds himself suddenly isolated in a high pressure role that normally takes years of experience to acquire, an unseen inadequacy and uncertainty can often be the outcome, especially if success is immediate. I think Dan kind of fits into that category. That’s why I wouldn’t call it complacency or getting comfortable, so much as just trying to catch-up to his star. Sometimes you just need that time to figure out who and where you are, how you got there and where you’re going. The problem for Dan is he doesn’t have that luxury. He’s going to have to do it on the run.

That's a good one. I keep looking back to 2015 and my first year teaching and just shaking my head because I was so bad compared to where I am today. Sorry 2015 students! Expirence counts for something.

8 P4 Teams are undefeated through Week 6. SI predicts that Indiana and UCLA, while noting that Nico is likely lost for the season, will not lose a game before the B1G Conference Championship game. Both the Bruins vs. Wisconsin, and Indiana vs. Ohio State could lose on Saturday. Indiana is +3.5, and UCLA is -3.5. SP+ has Ohio State ranked No. 1, UGA is second, Indiana 5th, Oregon 12th, Nebraska 14th, Northwestern 17th, UCLA 18th, USC 21st, Michigan 23rd, Iowa 24th, and Wisconsin is ranked 34th. No loss for UGA is predicted before the SEC Championship game. I agree. And a Happy NO L is predicted for 15-0 Notre Dame. I think undefeated Miami behind Baby J will defeat undefeated ND in front of TDJ. If Mario doesn't trip up and the team doesn't commit game-changing penalties, I think Miami has a chance of duplicating Indiana's record in 2025-26, finally winning an ACC title and finishing 16-0 this season with a champ game win over Georgia. With a road loss at Louisville, I have no idea why SMU is ranked 24th. And it took ranked No. 21 Wake Forest 2 OTs to defeat Purdue. Nebraska, instead of at least one of these two ACC teams, should be ranked. Wisconsin also has a case to be in the Top 25. In the AP Poll, Wisconsin is ranked 26th, Oregon 27th, and Nebraska 28th. Three B12 teams are undefeated because of weak schedules. Texas Tech does not have a ranked opponent left on the schedule. I agree that BYU will lose to Notre Dame, -11.5, on Saturday. SIPredicting When College Football’s Nine Undefeated Teams...From James Madison to Indiana, here’s when college football’s remaining undefeated teams could take a loss for the first time.

What does Lanning need to do to earn your trust back? Nothing. A) Going for 2 on the first TD, that is Thomas' call if he feels the play call had the advantage. B) The second attempt, Thomas scores except for a face mask pull. C) The second attempt 2.0, the play call from the 1/2 yard line probably works. From the 1 1/2, well ti should have worked except the OC should have realized our OLine wasn't up to it. A nice fake and rollout would have been "hindsight" nice. D) A, B, C and our D did not lose the game.

When I started my first engineering job around the turn of the millennium, I was mentored by a very senior engineer. One of his favorite quotes was: "Old age and treachery beats youth and ambition EVERY TIME." It wasn't directed at me, but stated as something to be careful of.

This is excellent. Someone get this in front of DL pronto..(I wish). It is interest to see that the OC can resolve some OL issues. Obviously some of the improved outcomes is the element of surprise that the other team couldn't game plan for the changes, but still.

And yet Ludwig did super at Utah later.....

Lanning addressed Terry in the posted press conference above as I was afraid of. "He's had 3 Joe Moore award finalists offensive lines, he didn't suddenly get bad at his job." Actually what if he is only good at getting the line to gel, but the transfers received the proper fundamental coaching elsewhere. The folks that are truly Terry's from day one just suck relative to their ratings. Yet Terry must also have been blowing smoke to DL to not bother with strong Portal OL. Now the gig should be up. DL is no dummy, so I have to hope his statement above is him trying to save a little face too with the public, but deep down knowing Terry isn't the right guy unless he can work a miracle in the second half of the season.

Our assumption is there are unlimited funds for our roster and coaches. Maybe that isn't the case and maybe it's a shared bucket. Experience cost money. If we can afford a $50M player roster, maybe that is because DL is paying lower salaries to the coaching staff which as low experience is internal hires are happy to take the gig. Perhaps someone can dig up our assistant coach salaries to compare with other public universities using AI.

Has Dan The Man reached his ceiling? I don't know. Is the Oregon offense predictable? You be the judge. Might as well call Andy Ludwig back to call sideline passes for no gain...

Lengthy Monday media press conference, quotes: Oregon Ducks On SIDan Lanning Promises Oregon Changes During Tense ExchangeThe Oregon Ducks’ second loss in five games has raised a plethora of questions about the program’s preparation and the job security of members of the coaching s

I think we are seeing that the masterminds behind Oregon's success over the last 3 years were due to talent and the COs.

Damned by Faint Praise? Oregon Ducks On SIOregon Coach Dan Lanning Makes His Stance On Dylan Raiola...EUGENE - Oregon coach Dan Lanning used a simple metaphor to explain the Ducks’ quarterback competition. "Football is is like renting a house. It's not owning a

Not every player is ready to play coming out of high school. But in this case it makes you wonder if they weren't coached up enough. Jack Smith a new coach (at least very young) and tight end has regressed this season. Terry has a mounting record against him at this point that he has done well with transfers coming in and done well with special players who seem to figure things out themselves but he has a TON of players on the roster who aren't developed enough to play. I've been hesitant to call for heads in the past but now I have enough evidence from where I sit.

Agreed. When all your hires have gone so well....it is natural to begin to believe that you make better decisions that anyone else. So this set-back is part of going with a young coach who is still learning...and he will.

UCLA pre-game:

Bravo! While I feel that the Ducks just don't have the internal options at their disposal to pull off a mid season change, I think the research put into this post was outstanding!

No one other than Curt Cignetti. 😁

David, you didn't want to write it, but I'm happy that you were driven, despite the sword, to do so. Thank you! The truth hurts, but it's time for Lanning to look in the mirror. Complacency was this offseason's watchword and is now this season's nemesis. David, you nailed the coaching and scheme issues; how about player evaluation issues? Everyone who pays attention to the program knew that four starting O-linemen had to be replaced. One player was signed out of the portal, a player from the FCS Ivy League. Before he disappeared, he briefly won a starting spot. Unfortunately, two touted OL recruits and a touted TE recruit are not ready for B1G time football. If you cannot run the ball, you will not win most Power 4 football games. Perhaps too much money went to retain NFL talent on the D-line? Talent that seems to have suffered senioritis-driven overconfidence. As poorly as the Oregon offense played against UCLA, the team's reliable kicker, after a great effort from Evan Stewart, tied the game with an extra point. Brock Thomas is playing well at QB, and the UCLA D is also gassed and down to its second-string QB. In OT, Oregon wins the ... But Wait A Minute! For some inexplicable, unjustifiable, going-against-the-analytics reason, Oregon goes for two after its first score. Why? Especially with a backup QB in the game. My biggest concern? Dan Lanning seems incapable of learning from his mistakes. Bitten on off-the-wall in-game decisions, but never twice shy. And a visit to Seahawks HQ did nothing to help with another meltdown after a bye week. New to the Power 4, Bob Chesney is 1-and-1 in Autzen Stadium, and a once-dismal UCLA team is ranked 12th in the AP Poll. We all make mistakes. Goodness knows that I have made more than enough. But most of us learn from our mistakes. I'll give Dan some slack for playing a much more difficult schedule than anticipated. Four out of five games were played against currently ranked AP Top-25 teams. I do question whether Dan has the moxie to take Oregon to a title. Hubris seems to be getting in the way of common sense decisions. Learned folks on the Forum have pointed out deficiencies in the systems being used on both sides of the ball. Can't Dan read a stat sheet? Of course, it doesn't matter what I think, but what big boosters think does matter. Husk the Huskers!

Lanning has absolutely made great hires. I keep going back to the idea here that he has become complacent and comfortable with those within his staff and has not looked outside. He wants to keep the good thing going but with every coach that leaves he promotes a young coach from within is a net loss in experience. I think most of these young guys Lanning has promoted may yet turn into great coaches but is Oregon the place for them to cut their teeth in these expanded position roles? I don't think so. And at the end of the day each of these promotions from within with inexperience has finally hit a critical mass. There is too much inexperience (or lack of ability) to hide anymore and everything is coming undone. It's clear Lanning is upset with this turn of events. He doesn't want to throw his guys under the bus, nor should he, and no one is getting fired until the end of the season. But we saw what an expirenced and veteran staff can do with scheme and the transfer portal.... Indiana built a program quickly and managed to win it all with the right talent. Lanning has made some great hires and he just needs to do that again. One of the popular names right now for Lanning to go get is Norvell as OC (when it seems he is inevitably fired at FSU). That could be a great get for the offense. But Lanning needs to go out and get some experienced coaches from outside the program.

Why? Has he shown much promise? I missed the spring game.

While mid-season coaching changes are often an act of desperation, several notable college football programs have successfully turned their seasons around by switching offensive coordinators or play-callers midway through the year. 1. Boise State Broncos (2022) The Change: Following a historic and sluggish 27-10 upset loss to UTEP in Week 4, Boise State fired offensive coordinator Tim Plough. Head coach Andy Avalos elevated former NFL and college head coach Dirk Koetter from analyst to interim offensive coordinator. The Improvement: The transformation was immediate. Koetter completely restructured the offensive approach, leaning heavily into a power-running identity and starting dynamic freshman quarterback Taylen Green. Prior to the change, the Broncos ranked 106th in the country in rushing (120.2 yards per game). Under Koetter, that metric jumped significantly as the team vaulted 40 spots in the national rankings. Boise State rattled off wins in seven of their next eight games, went undefeated in regular-season Mountain West play (8-0), and capped the turnaround with a 35-32 victory over North Texas in the Frisco Bowl. 2. Wisconsin Badgers (2012) The Change: Just two games into the 2012 season—and following a highly scrutinized, uncharacteristic performance against Oregon State where the offense generated only 7 points—head coach Bret Bielema fired offensive line coach and co-offensive planner Mike Markuson. The Improvement: The decision directly impacted the team's identity. Matt Canada took full control of the play-calling parameters and simplified the blocking assignments. The offensive line play dramatically improved overnight. The rushing attack—featuring a historic backfield of Montee Ball, James White, and Melvin Gordon—unlocked its full potential. The mid-season course correction allowed Wisconsin to secure a spot in the Big Ten Championship game, where they completely dominated Nebraska 70-31 to secure a Rose Bowl berth. 3. California Golden Bears (2026) The Change: Stagnating heavily with an offense averaging just 18.3 points against FBS opponents, Cal head coach Tosh Lupoi executed a sudden mid-game change at halftime during their matchup against UNLV. Lupoi stripped offensive coordinator Jordan Somerville of play-calling duties and promoted passing game coordinator Pat McCann into the live role. The Improvement: While the change occurred in a tight loss to the Rebels, the strategic adjustment quickly allowed quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele and the rest of the unit to work out of a more balanced scheme, sparking immediate improvements in drive efficiency and playbook variance during the subsequent weeks of the season.

JDuck Great post. I agree that Lanning has had some great coaches on his staff. The problem is a lot of them have left for promotions and have been replaced with guys with far more recruiting chops than actual coaching experience before joining the staff.

Oregon sending a lot to the NFL lately, 4/5 star talent must be getting some coaching up to do that. Nobody wins the natty without a blue chip roster, recruiting is key to that. Coaching the synergy to put those talented players in a position to play as a championship caliber TEAM is the missing piece. Lanning's overall record as a HC is pretty good, we won 2 playoff games last year. Injuries late season were terrible, but...teams have figured us out and it's mostly on poor coaching. I don't know if DL is the right guy to do X and O but neither was/is Mari, Miami is on the verge now because Mari hired a great staff (and he is a superb recruiter too like DL) and Mari learned to let his staff (and coordinators primarily) scheme the wins. Mari won the locker room (remember the team petitioning for him after Taggart bailed?). Lanning is a guy who can win the locker room ("they're playing for clicks...") and be the "CEO" but a good CEO has a good team of assistants running the operations

Lanning needs to leverage the resources at his disposal and surround himself by verified talent. Oregon is a destination job opportunity. He should be conducting a national coaching search for every high end position on the staff. Promotions from within should only come after it is abundantly clear the person in line deserves the promotion. They should have other high end job offers on the table to prove their worth as well. The "Ol' Boys Club" hires need to end, period.