David Marsh

Just going to shamelessly plug an earlier Marsh Duck article. https://open.substack.com/pub/marshduck/p/chris-hampton-is-the-next-evolution?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=8foswi In the post practice interviews I would say that both new coordinators feel like they understand the problems they need to fix from last season. Hampton said Red zone defense was a problem last year and Mehringer effectively said the offense needs to not stall out. Those interviews usually don't give us much to work with but in addressing those concerns they are telling us they are aware of them. Ow can they fix them? We'll find out.

Happy Monday! Here is this week's Marsh Duck Article. Enjoy. https://open.substack.com/pub/marshduck/p/five-ducks-im-exited-for-in-2026?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=8foswi

I know Azz followed Chip into the NFL and to UCLA where Chip eventually fired him. As for Helf and Frost... those guys were fantastic as position coaches and coordinators. Together they coached up the ONLY Heisman in Oregon history. Helfrich found Mariota and brought him to Eugene and coached him his first two years, redshirt and first year starting) and then when Helf became HC it was Frost who helped polish Mariota into the Heisman winner. Both were great as position coaches and coordinators at Oregon. Were they good Head Coaches? Not really... Though Oregon only made the National Title game twice... and Helfrich and Frost were at both of them. One of which Helfrich was the head coach for.. so that's saying something to. They didn't get the job done but arguably 2014 was the best season in Oregon history with a Conference Championship, a Heisman Winner, a Rose Bowl Victory, and a Title Position. Here's hoping Lanning tops that this season. But yeah I think Bellotti would have hired those two guys. I think Bellotti did a better job building a cohesive staff.

That guy was special. He was just the heart and soul of the defense. He contrasted with Herbert's leadership style in such a way that they complimented each other.

Rivalries require hate that goes both ways... Yeah USC is a rival. Washington is a rival. Oregon State has been losing rival status for awhile because as Duck fans we don't hate them as much as Beavs hate us.

Or more likely... Your team got that bye by playing an extra game so it's 16 games anyways. The "bye" just shifts their bye week. Champ games get open game at the end of the season and the winners get their bye week while the first round goes on. Losers get an extra game with no reward.

Georgia's back to back titles came with some pretty old teams that lost loads to the draft which meant they lost juniors and seniors and then reloaded and did it again the following year... And lost loads to the draft. Those teams got old back in the day because of the wait your turn mentality.

I would agree with that. Lanning has a rematch problem that I know I wrote an article about at the end of last season. I might need to republish it. But from this last season the defense was good against Texas Tech and TT doesn't have the offensive firepower their stats showed but still. But it felt like it didn't get the attention needed. I am only guessing because I am not in the know... But did Lupoi take his hands off the defense and the lack of leadership not allow for Hampton to take over more when he should have? Could Mehringer taken over more offensive duties from Stein? Or did Lanning not want to make those changes because he didn't want a chaotic loss to blemish his new picks at coordinator? Again.. I know nothing and am just saying things.

Morning everyone, This week's article is here and I'm talking about some January chaos, enjoy! https://open.substack.com/pub/marshduck/p/just-how-close-are-the-ducks-from?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=8foswi

Last season was the last season of the COVID shirt. Sure there might be a couple players hanging around. The trend since 2020 has been the oldest teams tend to win, it's hard to beat expirence. Granted the talk about eliminating the redshirt and players playing 5 years going into the future regardless. Young talent is great but it needs to mature to win championships.

The reality is that college football needs a centralized governing body. However, none of the conferences want that to be the NCAA or anyone else. They may say they want a strong centralized governing body but they really really really don't want to lose their autonomy as that is what built their massive power base and wealth.

If you like a good rant about the SEC I've got you covered today. If you also don't mind pressing a like button after you read that would be appreciated getting traction with the algorithm. Enjoy! https://open.substack.com/pub/marshduck/p/the-secs-bluster-ignores-their-privilege?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=8foswi

Could be true. Problem is geography is at it's all time low in recruiting power. Still up there ... But I'd rank the elements of recruiting right now as... NIL Coaching Relationships Mom's Approval Geography CFP potential

I always have mixed feelings... One yes... Super excited for a new football season. Two... Ughh I have to go back to work and worse still it's the begining of the the year which is always the worst part of the year. Football makes the begining of the year much much better.

He absolutely did and he came into lead an Oregon's taff that was a ton of vets and old timers. And in all honesty they kinda worked out some of the bugs to the up tempo offense under Bellotti. Alioti knew and understood that the up tempo offense meant the defense response needed to change. People tend to have strong feelings about the whole bend-but-don't-break defense but with Oregon limited recruiting strength and talent pool that was the best option to keep the defense on the field for a long time. The support around Chip at Oregon was special and allowed him to do what he was best at. He didn't have that anywhere else... Well Ohio State I guess. We'll see how he does at North Western.

College kickers are more chaotic... The best ones will take it without too much of a problem but the vast majority will not be automatic. Or just bump the starting position to the 50. I do kinda like the sudden death 2 point conversation exchange at the 3rd OT. Granted what I hate about it is that it can take a lot of time in transition as it's one play and flip sides... Repeat until winner. Annoying from a viewer experience as it's just one play. Give them 4 total plays from the 20 and see how it goes. I might have to write another article on better overtime formats.

I hate the NFL OT rules. College football falls into the shootout far more often than the NFL does and the NFL OT rules favor who wins the coin toss too much when that happens. Granted I'd be cool with backing the starting place up to the 40 yard line. Though I do prefer the college football OT rules to the NFL ones as both teams get a shot on offense and defense.

It's been in the NFL forever... As in 1920. It's super rare as it needs very particular circumstances to set it up.

Hi everyone, I have a bonus article this week as I look over the new rules for college football for this upcoming season... And rate them. Enjoy! https://open.substack.com/pub/marshduck/p/2026-new-rules-review?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=8foswi

If we're talking plurality in which the conference has the most competition from top to bottom the Old Pac-12 was the best conference as anyone could win in any given week. Now it would be the Big 12 as they have the most competition from a game-to-game and week-to-week basis. But we don't count those conferences because they didn't or can't win a national championship because they don't have a team that could win it all.

If you don't like the SEC and think they are full of hot air... Oh do I have a fun article on Monday. Stay tuned everyone! Yes... Shameless self promotion.

I don't see it happening either. Transferring is just too easy and he has the skills to play somewhere for sure. The ONLY way i see him switching positions is if being a Duck and seeing the field is more important than playing quarterback. Which doesn't feel likely.

I'd love to see how he does at tight end... The guy is freaking massive! His hands are probably good and he can run plenty fast. But the bigger problem would be blocking.

Monday's article! Thank you all for reading and the support so far. Looking forward to the season starting up soon-ish and I think we're in good hands at back-up quarterback. https://open.substack.com/pub/marshduck/p/oregons-back-up-quarterback-situation?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=8foswi

And weren't invited to the playoff more importantly.