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I agree with a lot of what's being said here, particularly regarding the internal promotions and what I believe has been a serious regression in the overall quality of coaching. And while I think there are several areas that deserve scrutiny, the offensive side of the ball is where my biggest concerns lie. First and foremost, Drew Mehringer has to be squarely in the conversation. I understand the desire for continuity, especially when you've had success with a particular system, but continuity doesn't mean much if the results aren't there. We're watching an offense loaded with talent struggle to execute some of the most basic aspects of football. The play calling has been questionable, the adjustments have been inadequate, and there doesn't seem to be much of an identity. At some point, you have to stop looking exclusively at the players and start asking whether they're being put in positions to succeed. Then there's the offensive line. A'lique Terry has been here long enough that we should be seeing consistent development, particularly among the younger players. Instead, we're seeing problems with protection, missed assignments, and an inability to establish a reliable running game. Those aren't things that can simply be dismissed as growing pains. When you have the recruiting classes Oregon has been bringing in, you should reasonably expect to see improvement as those players develop. If that isn't happening, somebody needs to answer for it. The quarterback situation deserves attention as well. Koa Ka'ai was promoted from an assistant role, and while I'm certainly not suggesting he can't eventually become an excellent quarterbacks coach, I do question whether handing him that responsibility at this stage was the best decision for the program. Especially considering the expectations surrounding this team. Quarterback development is simply too important to leave to chance. And that brings me to something I've been thinking about regarding Dan Lanning himself. I genuinely believe Lanning's own upbringing in the coaching profession has a lot to do with his approach to staffing. Here's a guy who worked his way up from being a graduate assistant, moving from program to program, learning from established coaches, earning opportunities, and eventually becoming a defensive coordinator at Georgia before landing the head coaching job at Oregon. I think those experiences left a lasting impression on him. He knows what it means to have somebody believe in you, take a chance on you, and give you an opportunity to prove yourself. And I suspect he wants to provide those same opportunities to the people working under him. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact, I think it's an admirable quality. But here's where I think he's making a mistake. Giving somebody an opportunity and giving somebody a responsibility they're not prepared for are two very different things. Not everybody develops at the same pace. Not everybody who excels in one position is necessarily ready for the next. A great position coach doesn't automatically become a great coordinator, just as a great coordinator doesn't automatically become a great head coach. Some people need more experience. Some need more time to develop their abilities, learn from their mistakes, and gain a better understanding of the responsibilities that come with the next step. And that's perfectly fine. I'm not saying these coaches will never be successful. I'm saying that, based on what we've seen this season, some of them simply don't appear ready for the responsibilities they've been given. They need more time to marinate, so to speak. Unfortunately, Oregon isn't in a position where it should be experimenting with whether somebody might eventually grow into a job. Not with the resources available, not with the talent on this roster, and certainly not with the expectations surrounding this program. We're supposed to be competing for national championships, not serving as a training ground for coaches who are still figuring out how to do their jobs at this level. And speaking of national championships, I noticed somebody mentioned that nobody wins one without a blue-chip roster. Well, Curt Cignetti and Indiana might have something to say about that. 😏 Indiana won the national championship with a roster that was nowhere near the traditional blue-chip threshold. Cignetti took a group of players who, on paper, had no business competing with the most talented programs in the country and turned them into national champions. Was it an anomaly? Absolutely. But it happened. And to me, that's one of the greatest examples in recent memory of just how much coaching matters. Recruiting rankings are important. Talent is important. Nobody is suggesting otherwise. But having a roster full of four and five-star athletes doesn't mean a damn thing if those players aren't being developed, properly coached, and put in positions where their abilities can actually make a difference. We've watched USC demonstrate that for years. Highly ranked recruiting classes, talented players everywhere you look, and yet somehow the results consistently fall short of expectations. It's practically become a place where recruiting stars go to die. And unfortunately, we're starting to see some uncomfortable similarities at Oregon. That's what bothers me most. It's not simply the losses. Teams lose games. Even great teams lose games. It's watching talented players struggle with things that should be getting better through coaching and development. Which brings me back to Lanning. I like Dan Lanning. I think he's done tremendous things for Oregon, and I still believe he's capable of leading this program to a national championship. I don't think anybody should ignore what he's accomplished simply because we're having a disappointing season. But I also believe that Dan Lanning needs to own his job, not his relationships. Loyalty is important. I respect loyalty. I think it's one of the better qualities a person can have, whether in football, business, or life in general. But loyalty cannot come at the expense of the responsibilities you've been hired to fulfill. Lanning is one of the highest-paid public employees in the state of Oregon. He wasn't hired and isn't being compensated at that level so he can surround himself with friends, reward relationships, or make sure everybody gets their turn. He was hired to build and maintain a championship-caliber football program. That's the job. And sometimes doing that job means making difficult decisions involving people you genuinely care about. Sometimes it means acknowledging that somebody you believed in isn't ready. Sometimes it means going outside your circle and bringing in somebody with more experience, a different perspective, or a proven ability to get the results you're looking for. That's not betrayal. That's leadership. And frankly, anybody who genuinely cares about Lanning, the program, or even their own coaching career should understand that. Think about it from the perspective of the assistant coaches themselves. What good does it do somebody to be promoted into a position where they're consistently struggling? How does that help their career? Nobody wants their resume to show that they were handed a major responsibility at a nationally recognized program and then watched that part of the team regress under their leadership. They want success. They want to develop their abilities, build a reputation, and earn opportunities to advance. Sometimes the best thing for somebody's career is to spend another year or two learning before taking that next step. There's no shame in that whatsoever. But there is a problem when personal loyalty starts taking precedence over the success of the organization. And let's not forget about the players. These young men committed to Oregon because they believed in what this program was building. They believed in the coaching staff, the opportunities, the development, and the chance to compete for championships. As long as they're putting in the effort and holding up their end of the bargain, they deserve a coaching staff that's equally committed to giving them the best possible opportunity to succeed. They don't have unlimited time. Their college careers are short, and for many of them, their performance at Oregon will have a tremendous impact on what opportunities they have afterward. They deserve better than being caught in the middle of somebody else's learning curve. And the same goes for future recruits. Oregon needs to remain a destination program. A place where talented young athletes want to go because they know they'll be developed, challenged, and given every opportunity to reach their potential. Not a place where highly rated recruits arrive with tremendous expectations only to watch their development stall and their opportunities diminish. That's how programs lose momentum. That's how recruiting starts becoming more difficult. And that's how all the progress made over the last several years can begin slipping away. I don't want to see that happen. I want Lanning to succeed. I want these coaches to succeed. I want every player wearing an Oregon uniform to succeed. But wanting somebody to succeed and accepting results that fall short of expectations are not the same thing. At the end of the day, I think Lanning has reached a point in his career where he needs to demonstrate that he's willing to make the difficult decisions necessary to take this program to the next level. That doesn't mean firing everybody or abandoning the culture he's worked so hard to establish. It means taking an objective look at every position, every coach, and every aspect of this program and asking one simple question. Is this the best person for this job, right now? Not whether they're loyal. Not whether they're a good recruiter. Not whether they've been here since the beginning. Not whether they might become a great coach someday. Are they the best person to help Oregon win football games and compete for national championships today? If the answer is no, then something needs to change. Because ultimately, the responsibility for the success or failure of this program rests with Dan Lanning. And if he's going to receive the credit when things go right, he has to be willing to accept the responsibility when things go wrong. I still believe in Lanning. But that belief shouldn't come with a free pass, and it certainly shouldn't mean ignoring problems that are becoming increasingly difficult to overlook. There's still an opportunity to turn this season into something respectable, learn from what's gone wrong, and come back stronger. But that starts with accountability. And sometimes the most important thing a leader can do is recognize that loyalty to the people around him can never be more important than loyalty to the program he's been entrusted to lead. Well, that's my two cents. Go Ducks. 🦆

A Battle of B1G Receivers when No. 4 Ohio State visits No. 5 Indiana. https://apnews.com/article/indiana-hoosiers-ohio-state-buckeyes-receivers-9b30bc19835557f3df359c3791ee83f1?user_email=c7d8647c6247db8d08c59fe44bc30380a147aa90b9e33099045cd46ddc6a485b&utm_

Follow the pattern. Bst win. Okst loss Pst doesn't count. USC win UCLA loss Neb win.

Sure….Matt Rhule has a habit of stepping on himself in games like this one. Nebraska should win…he usually tanks these types of games. Feel better? Did not think so.

Lanning does poorly after a bye week. When opponents also had extra time off, Oregon is 3-4. Losses came against Kalen DeBoer’s Washington, Curt Cignetti’s Indiana, Chesney’s UCLA, and Ryan Day’s Ohio State. (Each coach played the Ducks twice, although Chesney’s two were 10 months apart and with two different teams.) Texas Tech got shut out, but maybe they don’t have the coaching depth? So our offense looks to be too easy to scout for elite coaches. And maybe Lanning doesn’t convey clearly to his 20-something millionaire players what “rest and recuperation” actually looks like.

I’m a new guy here. My primary allegiance is to the Ducks but I have a masters from Boise State and live in Boise. I’ve also been very close to that program in the past and can be a source of pretty good information if anyone is ever interested. I’m still kind of testy about that Stephens hit on Dante. My vengeful self says he should have received a two game suspension for the hit and another additional game just because he’s a Trojan. The Nebraska game is scary. They played Indiana really tough and honestly I still don’t have a good feel for the Ducks this year. I see the Nebraska game as a game that will define the rest of the season. Win it and there’s a chance for a pretty good year. Lose it and maybe the wheels fall off. Dante’s being out again is really concerning. I thought Raiola was an excellent backup. But now? Not so sure. Can someone comfort me a bit?

Dante Moore’s absence gives 3 Oregon QBs a shot, but one should start SaturdayAutzen ZooDante Moore’s absence gives 3 Oregon QBs a shot, but one...The Oregon Ducks head into Saturday Night's clash with Nebraska missing Dante Moore for another Big Ten clash. Wednesday Night's injury report revealed that Moo

Loyal to a fault: These 5 teams are paying the price for sticking with familiar faces in 2026Unproven internal offensive coordinators and standing pat under center have turned two preseason top-10 powerhouses into the biggest busts of 2026 https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/texas-a-m-oklahoma-oregon-texas-clemson-loyal/

Big Ten Releases Initial Availability Report for Oregon vs. NebraskaThe initial availability report for the Oregon Ducks against the Nebraska Cornhuskers was released Wednesday evening. Oregon quarterback Dante Moore will miss his second straight game since sustaining a concussion against USC in Los Angeles. Starting safety Aaron Flowers will also be unavailable and is “Done for the foreseeable future,” head coach Dan Lanning said Wednesday after the defensive back underwent surgery for a shoulder injury. Wide receiver Evan Stewart is a new addition to the report and is listed as questionable. The Ducks are already without Jeremiah McClellan, potentially for the rest of the season, after he suffered a broken foot in warmups for the Portland State game. The Ducks and Cornhuskers kick off at 8:00 PM PT in Eugene. The game will be broadcast on Fox. On3Big Ten Releases Initial Availability Report for Oregon v...The latest Oregon Football injury updates ahead of the Ducks facing the Nebraska Cornhuskers at home in Eugene this week.

Oregon reveals uniform combination for Nebraska gameSee the Oregon Ducks' newly-revealed uniforms ahead of this week's game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. https://247sports.com/college/oregon/contentgallery/oregon-football-uniform-combination-for-nebraska-game-reveals-ducks-291280051/

Oregon rules out Dante Moore for Nebraska game, Evan Stewart questionableOregon quarterback Dante Moore will not play against Nebraska this weekend. The Ducks will not have their starting quarterback for a second straight weekend, as he works his way back from the concussion suffered at USC last month. https://247sports.com/college/oregon/article/oregon-rules-out-dante-moore-for-nebraska-game-in-first-injury-report-of-the-week-evan-stewart-questionable-291280214/

There’s simply no excuse for lack of fundamentals for the O line. That is 100% coaching. These are players who have been in the system. This is coaching 101.

Coaches getting frustrated with the O-Line? Hmmm who recruited and coaches the O-Line? Ahhh yes the coaches themselves.

AMEN! Thanks, Another OD, for the detailed information. Many Oregon players making big money have not played to their potential in 2026. DUH! In today's CFB, success in roster building from season to season is the critical component. And loads of money does not necessarily equate to on-field success. In 2026, the play of many big-spending programs, including Oregon, has not ipso facto equaled success. So, Oregon, with a more difficult schedule than expected, is not alone with a bad roster ROI to date. LSU, with a $50 million-or-so roster, could finish 8-4. CFB is not a fair fight. Hand OBD Miami's or Notre Dame's schedule to date, and the Ducks would likely be undefeated. In addition to roster-building muffs, the schedule has not played out as expected. I believe Oregon is the only P4 team to have played four AP Poll-ranked teams. Heading into Week 7, who knew Oklahoma State and UCLA would be ranked? No Easy Day, so the SEALS say. Saturday's night game is against a 1-loss Nebraska team coming to Eugene with a resume that should have the Cornhuskers in the Top-25. Wake and SMU ranked, and not Nebraska? Ole Miss was destroyed by an unranked team and is ranked 9th. Nebraska lost to the defending champ and is ranked 29th. No one can predict the loss of a future NFL QB. But the evaluation of the O-line roster was way off the mark. Saturday night, I hope we see a fired-up Oregon team. Oregon's PO hopes rest on this game and every other game on the schedule. No margin for error. Shuck the Cornhuskers!

I don't know man. When some FCS O lines are better than ours that is full of 4 and 5 stars, there is a very serious problem. We can try to blame the talent evaluators instead of coaches but it's not like everyone is a freshman , although perhaps the hope was the true freshmen would be ready to go which is why they didn't hit the transfer portal hard. My two cents is to simplify the blocking schemes and put in the road graders at guard. Just put the guy in front of you on their butt. The extra blocker unbalanced set thing thing worked against USC but it tips our hand that we are running the ball, as does wildcat formations.

I have to disagree here, as I've seen this sentiment posted a lot. Yes, they are paid extremely well. And yes, that brings expectations of return on investment.. But no, that does not magically make them older or more knowledgeable with money. The NBA and NFL have classes and resources to help the young newcomers deal with sudden wealth. I assume the college teams are now doing that as well but I don't know that. Regardless, they are very much kids. They just get paid a lot of money and have huge weight on their shoulders. That's a recipe for mixed results. Some will handle it well. Some will not. Hopefully the coaches are doing everything possible to help them navigate new wealth and pressure. But the fact that they're being paid a bunch of money doesn't mean they're ready to handle it. If anything it makes it more difficult for them to navigate, at least in terms of handling finances and dealing with internal motivations.

I was wrong on everything I thought the Ducks would be this year. It is not the first time that has happened in my long support of them. They are all still my Ducks, always will, be all of them as long as they are Ducks. I would imagine they will win this week-- probably 42-6

I can see them rising to the occasion and having a “get right” game. I’m not putting my eggs in that basket at the same time either. I’m hoping and optimistic that Lanning is humble enough to realize what he has let slip through the cracks. I can see him having serious accountability meetings with staff and players. I’m hoping they take it out on Nebraska!

Regardless, OBD are going to roll Nebraska. You heard it here first. Honestly, I feel like this is a decisive game for OBD. They either wilt and the season goes off the rails like PSU last year, or they suck it up and start playing to potential. I'm betting on the latter. I'm not saying they win at OSU and make the playoffs, but I think they'll turn it around and it starts this week. Go Ducks!

And Evan Stewart is questionable…

I haven't known what to do with all of this NIL stuff because who really knows; but, with so much attention and so many people looking at it (and so many people involved digging for off-the-record info), the given numbers probably almost must be increasing in accuracy. So, take this with a grain of salt (and remember they aren't my numbers). A few seem mildly surprising. Not trying to pile on here, more trying to add to the discussion of whats and whys. The thought appears to be indeed Oregon spent close to 70% of its total budget on player retention; but, with such a large budget, it still had about $7 million in NIL to spend in 2026. Over half that apparently went to two players: • Perich ($2 million) and Raiola ($1.5 to $2 miilion, lets say $1.8 million to make the numbers simple) = $3.8 million • 6 players thought to be in the $400,000 to $600,000 range: Scott, Olesh, Hooks, Robinson, Williams IV, and Bennett = $3.0 million • 6 remaining players: Price, Dixon, Dantzler, Simmons, Ettridge, Emmett about $200,000-$300,000 = $200,000 again to keep it simple Total: $7.0 million (about as projected) I understand the Perich splash play (even if it doesn't work out as well as Thieneman); and, I think there are future hopes/roles for Olesh and maybe Robinson. That's $3 million that maybe you call good. What did Oregon get out of the remaining $4 million? I know Raiola was a play primarily for 2027; but, he came in with a 2026 obligation to get 2027, which now has to very much be called into question after what can almost only be described as one of the very worse performances from a Duck starting QBs in almost two decades. Just watching that game one would wonder if DR can even get to Anthony Brown levels of play from where he now is at (the lack of accuracy and velocity on many of his throws was jarring). I have a hard time thinking Oregon put $400,000 into Bennett but the sites seem to think that might even be low (but I refuse to estimate Oregon going any higher). Scott, Hooks, and Williams look like they may have already been passed by (Hooks running out of eligibility and the other two possibily on the move again to look to play). What could have Oregon done with that $4 miilion in NIL on the OL if the young OL was properly evaluated and prioritized and veterans were brought in to raise the floor? Some guys who were out there just as examples? • Lance Heard (from Texas to UK): senior with 24 career starts now starting LT at UK: $1.5 to $2.0 million • Jacarrius Peak (NC State to South Carolina): 5th year senior with 31 career starts, starting LT at SC: $1.0 million to $1.2 million • Melvin Siani (Wake Forest to Texas): senior with 27 career starts, starting RT at Texas: $1.3 million • Zavier Chaplin (Auburn to FSU): 5th year senior with 37 career starts, starting LT at FSU: $800,000 to $1.3 million • Colton Price (BC to UK): 5th year senior with 30 career starts, starting C at UK: $500,000 • Tegra Tshabola (tOSU to UK): 5th year senior with 29 career starts, starting RG at UK: $800,000 to $1.0 million • E'Marion Harris (Arkansas to Oklahoma): 5th year senior with 24 career starts, starting RT at OU: $500,000 to $1.0 million More guys were out there and obviously OL were in demand; but, in college football today, the $ rules (and Oregon's $ are as green as anyone's); and, with $4 million to spend, at least two (if not even 3) of these guys could have been in play if the staff chose its priorities differently. For example, the Ducks have a ton of trouble at LG? I think Luli played a lot of LG early in his career. For apparently $1 million in NIL, Oregon could have had the starting RG for Ohio State's 2024 National Championship team (Tshabola) and moved Luli to LG and I think the IOL would be miles better (and probably would have upset a lot of Ohio State fans along the way which would have been a nice bonus). I know one of Oregon's key NIL guys followed Stein to Kentucky for a promotion; but, that much impact seems a stetch. Sure seems like a ball was dropped somewhere; or, dare I say it, maybe just some hubris went into decision making. Was another CB really that big a priority? Was the slot really in that bad shape? For that matter, how can the veteran blocking TE you made a target not even get on the field to block? 🤷‍♂️

My brother, in all things Ducks, I, without reservation, agree with and support your great takes 99% of the time. But when it comes to going for two far too early in the game vs. UCLA, I must demur. There isn't a metric between here and what used to be the planet Pluto that justifies going for two with a backup QB on the field playing behind a suspect O-line. Would 8 points instead of 7 have influenced the Bruins' game plan? NO! There is no way in Hades that the reward this early in the game justified the risk. This early rolling of the dice came up craps. Down 1 point in the 4th quarter, Oregon scores, kicks the extra point, and takes the game into OT. Oregon is odds-on to win the game in OT. Stop making in-game decisions on whimsy. 8 to nothing would have influenced the UCLA game plan more than 7 to nothing? Would it have improved Oregon's performance on offense? This team against decent defenses is not going to put up a plethora of points. Making strategic decisions based on former performance on offense is not prudent. I'm always happy to read your posts, and as noted above, I rarely disagree with your thoughts.

Safety group's performance has already been middling at best, Aaron was on the better part of that effort ☹️ I hope one of the new guys steps up.

Radio OBD Eugene, where the hits just keep on coming in this season of discontent. BRUTAL!