Haywarduck

I suppose the new equation is get the top recruits, keep the top recruits who develop, and keep recruiting coaches. Seems like Lanning knew what he signed up for, but what a daunting task. Lanning knew exactly what he hired in Lupoi, a great recruiter who wants to move up. I would add to Plaids comment that coaches know if they do well at Oregon they will have greater opportunities. Oregon isn't a career crusher like the majority of schools. Both head coaches, and assistants can move up, and most of the time do. I would like to see a couple guys become Lannings foundational guys. He needs all the help he can get.

Brock, hmmm for some reason I love that name for a qb. Wish we had recruited another Brock a few years ago! He could also transfer out, play for a JC, transfer back and then lead us to a couple national titles. I know sounds crazy, but..... As far as conference talk, I am ready to move on. Time to react to what happens, and take the occasional shot at the two schools from down south.

Not sure if anyone else noticed the dawg staff is much like our old staff, back in the Brooks, Belllotti era. Beboer has a group of loyal assistants and a consistent product to put on the field. There are strengths to this system, but without elite recruiting it won't add up to a title. Oregon has moved to new model where we are bringing on coaches who can recruit, and hopefully coach. So far we have the recruiting part down, but it would seem, we need a little more consistency with our coaching? Maybe just having Lanning for an extended time will allow for the system to be put in place. I am willing to give it 5-6 years, but do hope we can create a core group of coaches who are loyal to Lanning and the university. Maybe it is too much to ask, and we will just go the way of Saban. You just reload coaches and have strong leadership?

I think I have this streaming game down already. Just lay it out there, and let it go gently down the stream. Sorry, a bit of a Monday!

Against Notre Dame, sc is 0-5 over the last 10 years when traveling to South Bend. Going forward about half their games will be at that distance, good luck with that.

There are still things to enjoy during this quiet time in college football. Oklahoma's new coach out recruiting Riley at sc, brings joy to my heart. MariØ losing assistants just further confirms how lucky we were. It would have been nice to have seen the dawgs lose their OC, but we are going to need some good competition in the new Pac-? conference. As much fun as it was to watch the dawgs go 0-fer, it will be even more fun to break their hearts going forward.

We have the NIL, fancy uniforms, the transfer portal, and now streaming! I have no idea why they matter, or how they work. I suppose if my Ducks still put on their uniforms and play football, whatever they look like, all will be good in the end.

I see some great thoughts. The offense needs to be great, without needing Bo to be the third leading rusher, and almost having 3X's the rushing TD's as the next guy. The next guy is a running back, the guy who should be leading the team. He still needs to pick up a few 1st downs, and score on some qb sneaks, but the RB room needs to finish more often. He also probably needs to tack on 1k passing yards, and ten touchdowns through the air. While I agree the SEC plays some tough games, they don't play a tough schedule. I think this is where too many people are missing the point on how to win the championship. It takes a build up and a recovery to win big games. You also don't want to count on college kids to win big on the road. We don't just need to build an SEC like program, we need the SEC schedule. Lastly we need depth and competition at all positions. Lanning has started us down this road. This might take a couple seasons to complete. That competition will take elite starters who know what is expected, and have the bodies to get it done. It then takes these starters to train the next guys, and for them to be ready to step up, you then have depth. We don't even have the starters yet, it is going to take time, or a miracle

I wonder what the payout will be for winning the larger playoff format? Maybe it would be smarter to stay in a smaller regional conference and go after the big prize? The SEC already has an advantage by playing a shorter league season and the top teams, more home games. A brutal travel schedule against some tough competition may not be the best plan if you look at the long game. If you want to win the National Title, in the larger format, you will need to recruit depth, and come out of your league ready to play a few rounds of tough games. This is where sc, and cla may have made a mistake. Chase after the short term money, and become marginalized.

With an expanded playoff, depth of talent will be even more critical. We came up short back when we had a scheme advantage, and it was a depth problem. This will be even more important with a longer playoff schedule. If you don't have depth in the new format you'll never win. The elite recruiting schools will rule the college football world even more. I suppose those programs which recruit along with developing talent will be the real winners in the new world of college ball. I would think this was part of his putting the Ducks up with the others. You might get in and maybe win one game, but the teams with depth are the only ones who will get through a larger playoff.

Simple question for me, Pleasant and the speed he brings back to the program. I have wanted speed since DAT left, and Pleasant leads the way. I would also say Pleasant has a higher football upside than Harbor. I think Pleasant is going to surprise us all with what he brings to the football field. The guy is, like DAT, a baller!

It ain't done until Duce is signed. I wonder where that would put this class! And in this day and age, it isn't ever over for the coaches and support staff.

Nothing against the guy, but if he does well, the already white hot Oregon OC position will be a first stop for another program looking for the next great head coach way too quick. I want the guy to struggle, and our new OC to give us a few years. He is a good guy, but there are stronger programs, and more experienced coaches out there who will, likely, make him look like a first year coach with a bunch of new guys. What Lanning did, and continues to do, shouldn't be under appreciated. A first year coach of a struggling program probably won't light it up too quick.

I like the focus Lanning has with these talented athletes too. No longer are we just bringing in talent with the mantra of filling the sleaves, but fulfilling the potential. I look for even more talent, and even better outcomes for all, the students, the coaches, and the fans! Go Ducks!

Takes some time off coach, but we need a Duce visit. Duce would fill a need, want, and vault this class through the roof! I have no doubt Coach and his staff are on it!

Feels right with what Roderick wants out of our University. It seems football is number one, and track is frosting on the cake. He also has academics on his priority list which important. Seemed like Harbor had three things which were a priority. I wish him well, but that will be a hard thing to pull off. I suppose it was 4 things, but oh well. It also looks like he could line up out wide and cause a defense problems when we need him. Almost seems like a DAT type of player on returns. It is nice he is focused on defense where he looks like a gamer, closer!

I agree with Charles, and will also say if Oregon figures out how to build an elite SEC type program everything else will take care of itself. The problem with almost every program is they don't have the depth Georgia and Alabama has. You might get to the playoffs, but you can't compete with the depth, it's not the talent. Once the playoffs begin it will all come down to how much depth do you have. Can Oregon build a program where we have two, three deep who can compete? If we can do this then the money and all the problems will go away. If we think going to another conference is going to solve our problems we are fooling ourselves. Our goal should be to win a national title. To do that it will take a top coach, but more importantly the depth it looks like Lanning is building so we can compete in the playoffs, not just some conference based thousands of miles away.

One thing Deboer brought to dawgtown was a pretty complete coaching staff. That continuity's impact on a team can't be overestimated. Losing your trusted OC would be a blow to a system. I just hope they don't lose their DC too!

I will be shocked, pleasantly surprised, and elevate Lanning to an even loftier status if Harbor decides to come to Oregon. I do wish him the best wherever he goes, seems like an amazing young man. I will say after flying half way around the world and back recently, the flight alone will weigh on the decision.

Love the hire, a young guy with talent, and a lot to prove. Another item which will be interesting to see is how aggressive he is, and how loose a leash Lanning has on the guy. Will we see as aggressive 4th down calls, or will having a punter, instead of 3 make us more strategic? Also what trick plays will Stein have up his sleeve? Lastly how good will he be at qb development, and will Ty and the new guy better thrive under Stein? Our future will hinge on the guy after Nix, and we need to see somebody ready to step in for a series, or even a game.

I just hope this was a unique event, and he doesn't have a larger problem. The young man was in a pressure cooker leading Georgia to a National Title. The NFL is still possible, but he needs to take care of himself first. His story is a good one. I hope it continues to be a good one going forward, no matter where it leads.

I can hear Justin, 'I don't care about how big the contract is, sell me on your plan to win. When you convince me how you're going to win, then we can talk about a longterm contract, and the zeros.' Who knows he may not sign a longterm deal and just get his contract extended, still make about $30 million. This way he keeps his options open. A 10 year contract on a losing team while getting thrashed doesn't sound like a good idea.

Successful Hurricane OC interview......

Another item is as a two sport 5* athlete who compares in the recent past? Remember JTT, wanted to play football, and play basketball? JTT is only playing football, and seems to have dropped the basketball dream. It will be interesting to see what this young man actually does after enrolling at his chosen school. There is so much money in sports right now that focusing on athletics, one sport, may be his smartest move. Keep the academics up, but how much can a student athlete do while juggling D1 sports? One item is the academic support at Oregon is second to none. This might be another hidden selling point. Any pics of Harbor at the Jaqua Center? The young man is being sold opportunities, but what is realistic? If he pulls off T&fricken, Football, and high level academics it will take a plan that is actionable. He has to have goals that are realistic, and a plan that is workable. I suppose recruits are just being sold opportunities at this point.

Love the pic of slick looking at his watch, no words needed. I just love pictures that speak for themselves, and the obvious backstory of the choice by somebody with wit and a sense of humor! The choice of the picture of MariØ looking at his wrist and not having a watch might have also been a savvy choice too. I do think the fact Lanning is the only guy in the top 5 who came into the job as an outsider, never been an assistant at Oregon, needs to be appreciated. Not only had Lanning never been a head coach, he had nobody who had ties to the program coaching for him. Every other top rated coach came into the job with momentum, and at least a foundation of coaches to help. Lanning took over talent, but a team which had lost 3-4 games, and was in disarray. The direction of the program is forward, and led by one guy, Coach Lanning.