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Does Kirby Smart have control of his Georgia team?

This wired (un)social media world takes what may be a fact and turns it into a legion of troubles and worries. This is not new for our species; gossip doesn't need an accelerator. It's children playing the game of Telephone. And the media that used to be a guardian of reporting the truth simply wants to be the first to report and damn the consequences. All of the above may be true, but get the facts; facts are inconvenient things.

I have challenges with this defense. Are they as good as I thought they would be? I watch a game with my heart in my throat, convinced this unit is hanging on by a thread. Then I analyze the box score and find out they statistically dominated. This is the paradox of the 2026 Oregon Ducks defense. Entering this season, DL’s unit carried massive hype as a potential all-time great group. Six games into the season, sitting at 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten, I think we have enough tape and data to ask the ultimate question: Is this defense actually an elite, championship-caliber machine, or are they a vulnerable unit getting saved by a few star players? To find the answer, I had to put aside the “eye test” in favor of statistics. So, what did I learn? I am going to share it with you! If you are a pure data analyst who evaluates football strictly from a spreadsheet, the metrics paint the picture of a highly disciplined, efficient unit that ruthlessly terminates opposing drives. Third-Down Dominance: Statistically, Oregon boasts one of the most lockdown defensive units in the country when everything is on the line. They have limited opposing offenses to a measly 25.8% conversion rate. This tells a story of a defense that knows exactly how to get off the field when it matters most. Trench Warfare Efficiency: The math absolutely loves Oregon’s front. Opponents are averaging just 3.4 yards per carry against the Ducks. They have managed 13 sacks on the year, and this defense has successfully squeezed opposing rushing attacks down to a strict, predictable crawl. The Big Ten Blueprint: If you look strictly at the final scores of conference play, holding USC to 27, limiting UCLA to 17, and grinding out a brutal, offensively ugly 17-14 win over Nebraska, the statistics suggest a championship-caliber team that strangles the game in the second half. What about the "eye test"? Now, I shut off my laptop and turn on the tape, and watch the game. My eyes will tell me a completely different, much more chaotic story. Watching this team live is a paradox between a vulnerable unit that is capable of elite flashes but frequently looks prone to collapsing entirely. Maybe this explains my rise in blood pressure. Against Nebraska, the eye test saw an Oregon defense trapped on the field for nearly 19 agonizing minutes in the first half alone. Because the Ducks' offense couldn't sustain drives, the defense was forced to scratch, claw, and looked physically exhausted before halftime even arrived. Then, we have my secondary anxiety. While the defensive line features absolute physical marvels, watching the game reveals a secondary that makes me hold my breath. We see flashes of brilliance and then the Ducks give up massive chunk plays through the air. They are routinely allowing opposing quarterbacks to generate momentum on long-developing downfield concepts combined with scrambles that make me think the defense has their helmets on backwards. My eyes vividly remember the Oklahoma State game, where the defense simply looked lost, surrendering 39 points and over 550 total yards. The tape doesn't show a flawless machine; it shows a gritty, bend-but-don't-break unit surviving on pure elite individual talent on the defensive line rather than collective perfection. So, which one is it? Is the spreadsheet right, or are my eyes telling me the truth? The truth is right in the middle. The 2026 Oregon defense is not an all-time great, flawless unit, but it is an incredibly elite "clutch" defense. The statistics perfectly capture the moments where Oregon wins the situational chess match, like third downs and goal-line stands. Meanwhile, the eye test captures the stress of an inconsistent offense forcing this defense to play an unsustainable number of high-leverage snaps. This HAS to change. This unit has the playmakers that come alive and make incredible plays at times, and they will probably give me and fans a few more heart attacks before the season is over. But, when their backs are entirely against the wall, this group can refuse to break. And in the grueling Big Ten, that MIGHT just be enough.

Go talk to the kids.

Imagine what he could do with quality coordinators.

Springfield police don't agree with your street racing speculation.

I'm hearing everything beyond the Stewart arrest is all smoke no fire. Sometimes where there's smoke, there's someone smoking.

Where is this reported? Everything you stated other than J-Stew was just the rumors flying around yesterday.

Why not bring him in on some 3rd and long RPOs? There is no way that could be worse than 7 TOs against UCLA or a 50 yards and 2 first downs 1st half last week.

Most physically imposing runner. Teammates have compared him to Cam Newton due to his massive frame and ability to escape the pocket and run through defenders. Coach Dan Lanning has noted that Smith offers a entirely "different package" offensively because his feet are a legitimate weapon.

It seems that a qb that can scramble and create would be what wee need. Dante isnt great at scrambling but good enough occasion. He was hurt running the football. Is AS junior even available this year?

Dakorian bailed Stewart out yesterday. Jamari, Mesiah Hampton and three others were racing. Hampton got away…the others arrested is what is reported. Idiots. I would suspend all for the Illinois game. Time for life lessons. This team has issues. They sound like USC. Enough is enough!

I have to hand it to Nebraska. Their defense was better than good. Looking at the tape their middle lineman especially, who must weigh a zillion pounds, kept pouring into the backfield like a determined road grader. It was a good thing Dylan was able to get off his passes as quickly as he did because the backfield was often filled with red and white uniforms. Going forward, our QBs simply won't have the luxury of time to make a good passing decision and then get the ball off. Those with the ability to move, avoid trouble and still complete the pass will help make up for the current OL issues. Clean pockets are a rarity these days.

Maybe. Not the best hiring job?

Get injured get drunk?

"Springfield Police told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Sunday that online rumors of street racing involving Oregon football players were unfounded, and that several Oregon players were contacted by police early Sunday morning because they were in the area of a separate pursuit. That pursuit, which resulted in Springfield Police discovering an abandoned vehicle, was unrelated to Stewart's alleged DUII arrest. Springfield PD is no longer pursuing the case involving the abandoned vehicle, an official said."

As was pointed out after Saturday’s game. The OL struggles, the QB issues, the OC problems, the assistant questions, it starts with DL, but with all of that we have lost two games by a combined 10 points to two very good teams despite all of the struggles. So yes, this may be DL’s best coaching job yet. We are still in the hunt. Go Ducks!

So many good points here. Thanks. Us old timers have to come to terms with the new world of college football: 1) Recruits generally not willing to wait for playing time. “Start or move on” mentality. 2) Parity is the new world caused by number 1 above facilitated by NIL and Portal. 3) Coaching carousel seems to be accelerating. 4) Fan impatience accelerated because of immense increase in dollars donated and corresponding expectations. For those who read Canzano he had a very good article today about the state of Oregon football. Bottom line: Lanning screwed the pooch when he hired his coordinators from within. And he knows it. (Canzano’s words not mine.) Worse than that is that there’s nothing Lanning can do but ride this lame race horse all the way to the finish line. Next offseason could be entertaining.

While you certainly want to limit turnovers, you don’t want your QBs playing tight / not taking calculated risks, when the situation warrants it.

Dylan Raiola showing maturity as a team player. Oregon Ducks On SIDylan Raiola Shares What Was Going Through His Mind Again...If Oregon Ducks quarterback Dylan Raiola’s football career could be described as an object, it would be a roller coaster. The 2026 season has been turbulent, to

I don't remember his going for it on 4th Oregons side of the 50 over the past few games. He also kicked FG in the Neb game that kept us in striking distance. 7 turnovers in the UCLA game have me a crippling fear about ball security also. With the way this D has been playing, I would definitely go for it on 4th and 2 from my own 40 more than I would punt. Lanning punted the ball a lot v. Neb around mid field and pinned them deep in their own territory. I could be wrong but it seems that Lanning has been much more conservative the past few games.

One thing I don't think can be overlooked is the impact of the timing of the playoff last year as it relates to the transfer window. As we all know, we lost both coordinators. We were heads down focused on beating Indiana in the playoff. And I don't think it's easy to grasp the competing priorities at that time of year. Not only are you trying to focus on winning a game. You're also trying to focus on retaining your players, which we all know didn't work out well for so many who left. You're also trying to keep those players from leaving to the coordinators that they know. And then you're trying to attract new talent or compete for transfer talent as well. With both coordinators leaving, the vast majority of that all falls on one man, Dan Lanning, something has to give, and you saw a disproportionate loss of talent as well as underutilizing the portal... and I believe that is catching up to us now, especially with the O-Line...

It’s time Oregon Ducks fans dragged this into the light and addressed Dan Lanning’s coach speak. Throughout his tenure as a Ducks coach, Lanning has been more than willing to take risky gambles—going for it on fourth down deep in our own territory, dialing up fake punts, and executing onside kicks. You name it, he’s acted as the ultimate riverboat gambler, leaving us all scratching our heads and wondering what the hell he was thinking. Yet, out of the other side of his mouth, Lanning preaches discipline with the ball, demanding that his quarterbacks limit turnovers. Most recently, following Dylan Raiola's struggles and two interceptions against UCLA, Lanning has been rattling on with talking points and an incessant mantra about protecting the football—even going so far in his post-game conference to mention he told both quarterbacks that he was watching them closely in practice and whichever one protected the ball best would get the start. Looking at it plainly, it's a giant contradiction. Personally, I see it as a glaring sign of immaturity in coaching on Lanning's part. You can't gamble with reckless abandon in your own territory and then handcuff who is going to be your QB #1 under the guise of safety without being a hypocrite. Lanning started a QB with less talent for ball protection, and he barely got Raiola into this game in the nick of time to lead us to the comeback to the win.

(1) Coaching (2) O line, but see (1)

Another teaching moment! "Several UO players arrested"? Would like to know more about that. If true, it would explain the season. Does this bring into question Lannings control of this team?