Haywarduck

Upon reflection these are 1st world Duck affairs. As Duck fans we can get away from what is really wrong with the world, even within our small lives and dwell on this interesting fandom of thought. We live in a zero sum game world as fans. If the dawgs lose, we win, and if we win, the dawgs lose. There is delight in both winning and others losing. I'm glad I live in a non-zero sum game world. It is a wonderful life to live. On a day like today it is hard to go negative on the dawgs, but I did crack a little smile, I have to admit.

A little uniform advice to the Utes, put a little yellow on your uniforms, helmets, or at least a little on the mascot for the game. The yellow seems to be the nuts kryptonite. Gold doesn't work, it has to be yellow! Crush the nuts Utes!

As we all know, it isn't what we do that is easy which defines us, it is what we do which we struggle with. FishDuck is a great place to work on better defining our inner self. I have stated I struggle, at times, with coming off too harsh. I have to reflect on, is what I want to write going to have the impact I want, and sometimes I get it wrong. I appreciate the curious, and understanding family type atmosphere we have here. It is a safe place to grow, and learn about what is socially acceptable, while sharing opinions, and feelings about our Ducks. In this day and age I am grateful to have a safe place!

Wow, they lose to one Pac-12 team and they give up, well done Ducks!

I agree with Logger29 on this one. The idea a kicker is working out, studying film, working on the playbook like a linebacker is comical at best. They are incredibly important, but it is a completely different position and situation within the team from a real player. Maybe there should be a different level of scholarship available to kickers, punters, and longsnappers unless they actually play in the game, the real game.

A D-lineman can be invisible, at times, but each players impact is well known by the opposing teams and the pundits. I think KT had the respect of both factions, and should have the respect of the fanbase too. I think back to Ngata and how his statistics weren't all that amazing. His impact on every play was astounding when you really analyzed the game. I will admit the qb is the most important position, and that one is easy to see.

I know, I hated using those terms, but they seemed to be warranted with what we are seeing with George. I suppose, 'Just Do It,' is more warranted on this move.

I look forward to seeing the talent and new leadership. There was some rot occurring within the ranks and it will be important for the next group of Ducks to step up and take over, in a healthy way. These Ducks need to compete, and a win would go a long way to helping Lanning guide this group going forward. The talent is only a part of what I will be watching, as the leadership of this team will be developing before our eyes.

I can agree asleep, but just seems to be on the snooze button. Can't wait to see George get up and do something to help the Pac-12. I get it he wants to get a feel for the conferences needs, but it is time to make something happen. The low hanging fruit is the 8 game conference schedule, get it done George! The 8 game switch is just waiting to be flipped.

The kicker, punter and long snapper are an important job, and skill. It is also very critical and programs which don't prioritize the position are punished. These positions have their own camps, and coaches. Parents, probably play the scholarship game harder for these kids then just about any position other than qb. Affluent white kids go to these camps to get scholarships and positions on football teams. Programs then feed off these camps, and suffer and thrive. Some thrive when they can find an elite kicker out of the camps. Others suffer when they rely too much on the camps recommendations and then don't coach up a kicker. I think the other way is to find a Kattleman, and coach him up. The NFL is littered with ex-soccer players who took up kicking. No camp, just years of practice, refocused on football. As far as more scholarships for these positions I am not sure about that. I think it is just another way of providing competition between programs. If we give more scholarships the elite will just get more of the 5* talent. I think the 85 scholarship limit has been one of the better rules the NCAA created. If we mess with that then the big boys will just rule even more. I do think you bring up a great subject. Some programs see the importance of their special teams. Others it seems it is an after thought. I think Oregon's special teams suffered under Cristobal. These positions, and the special teams weren't a priority to the tough guy football Mario wanted to play. This is another area it will be interesting to watch Lanning take over. I hope he wants to be elite in this area too, and makes it a priority.

Sorry for screaming but,

I think Chip was destined to define the Peter principle. Anyone who is as cocksure, arrogant and self assured was going to end up underperforming. I also agree he was magic in a bottle we had the privilege to see. I would add Bellotti was the one who let the magic out. He could've stayed and never let it happen at Oregon. Another item we should appreciate about Bellotti, maybe he is worth that PERS payment! Curiosity is the secret sauce often missing from an older coach, and something Saban looked like he lacked. Saban ended up surprising many with his ability to shift, and embrace something Cristobal, undoubtedly won't ever be able too. You have to be able to be critical, accept criticism and adapt. Cristobal can't accept criticism, really think critically or adapt. He wants what was, and fortunately his alma mater also wants that, and think he will bring them there. Sorry for the Cristobal rants, but I don't think many really see who he really is, an elite recruiter with weaknesses as wide as the Mississippi is at its' mouth.

Isn't that the truth! Too often an experience or a way of thinking glosses over a weakness, and it is never addressed. Either that or their strength becomes a shield to facing the reality of a weakness. I think youth can sometimes allow for really facing a weakness, and not being afraid to look at things with a critical eye. I hope that is Lanning's super power, because he is going to need some super powers. I can tell you his shtick resonates with me, in a much more sincere way than the previous two coaches, some more truth!

It has been gone over many times what was Mario's kryptonite. Number one was game management. This became evident early on. The offensive deficiencies which were becoming evident, could always be played off as just needing more time, his guys, the right qb. In the end it was obvious Mario is an amazing coach, but his kryptonite was too strong and plentiful to really get a team over the hump. Helfrich's kryptonite was blindingly evident too. He couldn't lead a team or recruit. The program was destined to continue to go down hill, and it came to an end. There was another coach whose kryptonite was so multifaceted I won't even go into it. Chip's kryptonite, was sadly, really just his aloofness. Not about football, but many of the things a coach needs to do to be successful. He didn't recruit well, manage alumni, or really know how to put or keep together a staff. He was another one of our greats, but his time was, also destined to come to an end at Oregon. This brings us to Lanning. It will be interesting to see what his Kryptonite is. Youthful mistakes may slow him down, but I wonder if he has a flaw which will hold him back. I tend to think he will have too many strengths which will mask any kryptonite flaws. In the end we all have flaws and it is all about how we work through them, problem solve. I tend to think his youthfulness and curiosity will allow him to reach even higher than any coach we have had. There will be kryptonite moments, but I think Lanning will be able to put them into a box and not allow it to be his downfall. At least that is my hope!

Bingo, some coaches don't start the GOAT because they can't see the greatness. Other's don't recruit the best talent, because they rely on recruiting services, false pretenses or just don't want that dynamic. It will be interesting to see what Lanning is able to see, develop and then who he picks. The previous leader had a different view than what was communicated, and then put on the field. I could definitely see an extremely talented qb languishing behind Cristobal's criteria. I hope the men on the bench continue to have patience, the future looks bright!

I hope we don't see too many of Machiavelli's ideas, but I agree, a new staff is warranted. I also hope we aren't seeing the Peter Principle again. I think the gamble on Lanning is exactly what the Oregon Football Program is all about. We aren't about settling for an assistant. We also aren't about going backward, or copying what has already been done. It is an exciting time again. I love it! Hope is winning over fear, the gamble is winning over the staid way, uncertainty and innovation is, freshly, what the Oregon Football Program is defined as, and the others are afraid, again!

Alabama knows how to recruit, develop, scheme and now use the portal. Everyone else is just playing catch up. Even when programs think they have caught up, they end up getting run over.

Those who criticize, like that.

Either prosecute him for crimes, or step away. This idea a 'governing body' can be judicious in their decisions is flawed at best. Alberto was a legend, it is too bad that legend is being tarnished by bureaucrats. If he is guilty, then throw the book at him. Simply having a group of individuals become an echo chamber isn't justice. It will be interesting to see how PK allows this to end.

Back when we recruited based on potential, and the 'it' factor, not just the star factor. Time to, again, see potential arrive and develop, something sorely lacking, but I have hope again! My trust was damaged, but I am beginning again, hopefully the talent onboard is too!

My trust is in Lanning, who has a plan. He has stated he has a little notebook where he has been making notes on how he wants to put this team of coaches together. We are seeing this in action now. It isn't just a reaction, where someone is caught off guard, and now has to create a vision of what they want. Lanning has been planning this all along. My bet is he also has a list of potential transfers he wants, and recruits he wants too. All we can do now is wait and watch. We can wonder too, but until there is smoke, from a festering fire at the Oregon Football Program I will hold back my criticism. I just have optimism about the potential of the future, and each coach and athlete is part of that expectation, until proven otherwise.

What Cristobal built was an amazing group of players and potential, much like a colt waiting to run. What he produced was an amazing group of players with little production, or really development, much like a castrated, throttled stallion. The production is exactly what Mario wanted and what Miami will see. Mario wants to hit a team in the mouth and see how they react. What we saw was our team didn't always want to hit the other team and when it did the other team wasn't intimidated. Especially with our offensive output, and with the injuries to our defense. We also saw qb play where he too often led the team in running plays. Mario's latest qb recruit at Miami is a perfect match for AB. Marios loves the predictable power game. He really wants all the players to be more like an offensive lineman, or basic packhorse. Fortunately we have stallions in the barn waiting to run, one even took off because it couldn't wait any longer. We have qb's who can pass and run when needed. We have receivers who can catch and run. We also have a RB who might turn out to be one of our best. Their skills weren't a priority to use under Cristobal, he just wanted them to become what he wanted, not what they were able to become. Mario didn't just sell us on a high scoring offense and then turn to a power game. He brought in high skill guys and then had them sit, and under use their skills. This new coaching staff is extremely fortunate to arrive with the cupboard full, the barn full of stallions just waiting to be used, find out their potential. I think the transfer is great, more competition, and a player who can nurture the talent to a new system. One problem with new coaches is transferring knowledge to the players. When you have a player who already knows what to do, what is expected, getting others onboard is easier. Nix is the perfect conduit to ready our talent to the new offense. The problem in the past has been too little talent at RB, WR and a lack of creativity to use the talent we had. We have the talent at RB, WR and at QB and I hope we now have a staff which knows and wants to use it properly. While I think the transfer portal is going to be a very useful tool going forward the most critical change will be the scheme all the players at Oregon will see used. We no longer will have a predictable, power game. We are very fortunate we no longer have a coach who wants to castrate, and then stifle our stallions. It is time to train the stallions to run to their potential, each different potential. Let Mario lead his team of geldings, while Oregon, again, turns their colts into workhorses they were all meant to be without altering their abilities, for fear of where that potential may lead. I really do think Mario was full of fear, and nervousness when faced with what an unleashed innovative squad could do. Lanning is full of boldness and has the audacity to lead this program to where it was headed and will again! We have the steeds just waiting to be lead, the time is now, Go Ducks!

I wonder, if we were playing in the Sun Bowl against Miami and Miami had two head coaches on the field, would that be a fair game? I suppose we have to trust McClendon is just helping Oregon out as best he can. I have said it before, I just don't like how it looks. What isn't funny is he is making the same statements guys make when they have already made a decision, but don't want to talk about it. This one is especially convincing. "The thing that is frustrating is I haven't even thought about it as much as some people have." I'm not sure who looks worse, McClendon, Mullens, or I hope Oregon doesn't look too bad on the 29th.

If I had to choose between Mario and my wife, who knows nothing about football, to help call a game, I would choose my wife. With Joe it was choosing a job where he was going to make less than half what he was making or working with Mario, and he chose the pay cut. Miami had the choice of Mario at twice what he was getting paid or continue with a guy with integrity and talent, they chose Mario. I feel fortunate, Joe feels fortunate, Miami feels fortunate, all is good, but watch out!