Haywarduck

La Mike #2, come on, and no mention of Russ Francis at TE, do your homework. Penei didn't really play that many games at Oregon either, but talent is talent. I would also put J-stew up at number 2 behind LaMike, his recruitment was part of the wall falling down on highly rated recruits coming to Oregon. Ngata was a massive signing, but J-stew also broke the ceiling on elite talent coming to Oregon, and he was from Washington, particularly nice get.

A game of football and house of the Ducks fan personally!

When analyzing greatness you can break it down into two elements. There is raw physical talent which is often measured, built and ogled over. The other, more important item is mental acuity and ability to problem solve in situations. Our previous coach could recruit the raw physical talent and display that talent in a raw way on the football field. The problem with focusing on raw talent and power is we then overlook the most important element, the mental aspects of the game. I am not talking about mental toughness, although that can be part of it. I am talking about a qb seeing the field and plays developing. Mental aspects of the game are also on the defensive side of the ball and being able to foresee what is going to happen next. The curiosity for the finer points of football was lacking in our previous coach. Every once in a while an amazing play would get through the playbook, and our coach would be a wreck on the sideline, this wasn't what he wanted, or enjoyed. This play would get buried in the playbook, and never seen again. The play to DJ Johnson for a 1st down is the best example. Our previous coaches ability to put raw talent on the field overshadowed his inability to develop any of the mental acuity needed to really compete at the highest levels. That was what happened in most if not all positions. I still remember way back when Coach Neal, our DB coach, was hired and he lamented about the lack of development of Keith Lewis at safety. The young man had so much talent, but was only drafted in the 6th round and was never made into the talent he was. This is what has been happening throughout our team recently, and is something I look forward to seeing change. I want to forget about that past and be able to enjoy the development of the mental side of these student athletes.

My take is the qb as a running threat will be key. We will need everyone as a running or catching hazard to stretch this defense and create mismatches and mistakes. I look for planned roll outs with the option to run if the defense doesn't respect Nix's wheels. Move the pocket so the defense can't just collapse on our qb, and or just stuff the run. Dilly will stretch the field, starting with the pocket, is what I am looking for. Great writing D/C, thanks!

Some great stuff D/C, and plenty to ponder. I suppose the item we don't know is who is going to be ahead in the development of the team it is going to become. Oregon, last season came out of the gate about as good as they ever were. Georgia just kept getting better, and did an awesome job of rebounding off a tough loss to Alabama. I have a hard time predicting anything with this game, but I do hope Oregon can continue to improve off this game. In our second game we play a team with a winning record last season, unlike Georgia who play lowly Samford. Oregon has to be vigilant through it's early season, no letting up or focusing on a game. This might be an edge as Georgia is at home, basically, and can focus on the Ducks then play at home again. The Ducks are in a for a wild ride early season. I just want to see an Oregon focused, executing and from my favorite Lanning quote, will they have the poise to say so what, now what! The Ducks just need to keep becoming Lannings team. I am excited to see that develop, and hope we can all be patient as it happens.

I always wondered if it was fair playing, scrimmaging against a team, your defense who knows every play, every player and tendency. I think that was our problem with the previous staff as the season went along. Our tendencies were easily predictable, and the defense had a huge advantage. I am not too worried about interceptions, it may just be our defense is that good and the DB's know what the play is. If anything it is giving our receivers some good practice on trying to win 50/50 balls. Of course I am wearing my green sunglasses whenever I read about my Ducks! The Oregon earbuds also help me hear and see everything in a positive light.

Ducks 42 Dawgs 38, but I will be surprised if the Ducks pull this one off.

Always stylish, love his retired look. Hopefully someday I can more fully embrace this look! He is legendary, and nice to see he is now celebrated, well done Lanning staff!

When you respect the past, it will help guide you to the future, well done!

The 2021 team had talent, but nobody on offense was all pac-12, 1st or 2nd team, other than lineman. We had honorable mention all pac-12, but as the winner of the north division nobody who put up points got honors. Further proof we had no offensive direction. Our qb is now on an NFL squad, pathetic. Fortunately it did end, 😉 and we got talent that is going to be released! Also I am extremely happy for Anthony who was a quiet warrior who put himself at great risk for the program.

Check this toss out, and we wonder if he would have been allowed to try this pass in our offense. Highlight: Makai Polk Snags Dime Between Defenders WWW.BALTIMORERAVENS.COM Undrafted rookie wide receiver Makai Polk pulls in a tough catch on a perfect throw from undrafted rookie quarterback Anthony Brown.

Anthony Brown is a very good example of what happens to a qb under the previous coach. Right now he is taking over for an 8 year NFL veteran, Brett Hundley on the Ravens roster. Brown was given the opportunity to play in the preseason opener for the Ravens and was impressive. Brown played most of the second half in relief duty and went 10-of-15 for 117 passing yards and ran twice for 14 yards. After his career at Oregon, few Oregon fans guessed he would make it this far on an NFL roster. Many wondered if Justin had been held back because there was no viable alternative. We now see a second qb who was held back, but it would seem it was just because there wasn't any development at the position, nor any ability to use a qb. It would be interesting to have a beer with these guys and get the straight scoop, but all we can do is ponder what could have been and watch what is done this season to Van Dyke at Miami. Van Dyke's completion ratio last season was 62%, qb rating 160, avg. pass 9 yds. Will their coach apply his magic again to the qb position? He was also ACC Rookie of the year, and ACC offensive rookie of the year. I would say strike two for the coach, and with Van Dyke it could be strike three in qb production. Another item is maybe we are lucky are young guys never really saw the field last season, as their confidence may have been destroyed. We wanted AB benched, but he was in the process of being destroyed, and we are lucky our other qb's didn't go through that on the field. AB was actually pretty good, and just needed better guidance.

I doubt there is too much panic, there are still some O-lineman available, and there is always the portal. I would imagine the staff is on it, trust to Lanning! Also Klemm has a history of picking and developing talent. I will wait to get too worried.

Excellent article, but no prediction on where Oregon ends up? We don't have a number one qb, and now we don't know if we will be part of the traditionalist league or the semi-pro. So much unknown, I suppose it is time to get on with my day, thanks for the article, well done.

The TE you might want to learn about on Oregon is DJ Johnson. He had seven tackles, five tackles for a loss, and four sacks in the spring game. Oh yea, he does play TE anymore, but he can probably cover your TE's too. Offenses and defenses have trouble with DJ, but mainly offenses now. I do agree, what Lanning knows about Georgia will be the secret ingredient come game day. I do have a feeling whatever you throw at Lanning he will have an answer. I am not saying we will run away with the game or even win it. I just don't think there will be much overlooked. I think the defenses will have the largest impact on the game. The question is will Georgia's defense be as good, or good enough this year?

The word, statement royalty speaks volumes about the program up north. Royalty means you were born better than anyone else, and don't have to necessarily work to achieve greatness. I think this mentality has led the program for most of it's recent history. From slick rick, to the sark up to the mistake of lake, they always stepped on the field thinking they won already. I suppose a couple years ago they laid down and thought they won, but that is another story. I love the uniform and the idea they are royalty. I think it brings out the best in our program, playing guys who think they are better just by putting on a uniform, pathetic. Another reason I despise them!

All we know is Bo thought he could do better in the Pac-? with Dilly and Lanning providing guidance. Dilly and Lanning also thought he was worth a shot at helping us at qb. We don't know how any of it is working out, other than what we saw in the spring game. In the spring game nobody ran away with the competition. I will add we don't play PSU at Beaver Stadium, nor Texas A&M at Kyle Stadium, or LSU in Tiger Stadium, and undoubtedly playing against Alabama every year is more than we see in our schedule. They also played Georgia and a few other tough teams last year. The competition will be different, but can Nix rise up and lead the team, we will see. I do think Nix not being named starter does say something positive about the guys behind him, or dually him for the starting job.

I think we are missing the whole point of the competition. If Ty or Butters is ready then giving Nix 1-3 games isn't necessary. If neither are ready then pulling him after 3 games doesn't work either. What is comes down to is who is ready, one of them, or all of them? If they are all ready then we have a wonderful competition and we can wait to see who really has 'it' on the field, in a game. That is the competition we really want to see, and many think Bo doesn't have 'it,' as he has had plenty of opportunity to show what he has. I think the competition comes down to showing you can do everything needed as qb. Then the magic happens as we see the next Justin, Marcus, or Joey lead the team like we are use to. The question I have is which young gun has the magical 'it' factor to lead our offense back! I don't want to just have a game manager, time to go back to a game leader, and an elite qb.

What we don't know is how well our young guns have developed under Dilly, and I would think Lanning's tutelage. Nix has had his day(s) to show development and is serviceable, but the young guys now have a chance to really show who they can become. One item, which Dilly has addressed, is Nix was the only one who looked like he commanded the field in the spring game. If the young guys have learned how to lead the team from before they step on the field until the last whistle then maybe they are ready. With Nix propensity to make mistakes can one of the young guys prove a more reliable decision maker? I tend to think Butterfield may already be a better decision maker. With Ty, supposedly the proverbial light bulbs have supposedly been more than flickering, and who knows may be showing him the way by now. With Dilly in their ears, and Lanning providing important guidance as well, we are going to learn if one or more of these qbs has what it takes. I personally wouldn't as shocked as I would be excited to see one of the young ones start from day one.

Dilly may throw a few if he sees opportunities. I doubt Lanning would say no to taking advantage of what the defense puts out there. Lanning already may know some tendencies to take advantage of. That is one of the compelling stories to this game. What does Lanning know and what is he going to do with it! I look forward to not just the forward pass, but the forward thinking plays which take advantage of what is seen on the field. No more timeouts, just see and act to what is seen on the field. I look forward to Georgia not only backpedaling, but tripping over their feet with what Dilly has planned! I have no idea what it could be, but I hope Dilly fatally and fully tally's some silly points at the dogs expense.

I would expect a coach to disseminate what happened in the film room first, and then discuss it with the players and staff. The last thing I would do is speak to the press and fans about what I saw. I don't expect to see Dan Lanning dress down a player on the sideline, either. I expect him to take care of that kind of stuff in practice, create expectations, and then deal with anything in private. I think this kind of communication trickles up to how he deals with the press. You don't want a qb reading, or hearing about how he did from a news conference. We may want to hear about it, but that isn't the smart way for a coach to deal with how a player performs. I am sure he is straight up to the players and coaches first, and then we will hear about it. That is the right way to deal with what is going on in building a program from the ground up. I just think we are seeing who Dan Lanning is as a coach, and I like it!

That and the qb sneak are plays I too have been scratching my thinning haired head on for a while. Maybe that is why my hair seems to have thinned a bit more the past couple years? You have the big running qb and you don't run the qb sneak, WHAT! You have the tall receivers and you don't run the end zone fade, WHAT! I suppose throwing the deep ball is another play we need to see, but there is also the trick play on occasion too. What other play needs to be added to the play book, which was more like a comic book the past couple years.

He didn't even name a top RB, no way he is going to touch the QB situation after one scrimmage. It does sound like at least one of the pics was a decent mistake, late down pass. That is also on the WR's to compete and take the ball from the DB's. That competition is also of interest. What receiver is catching anything thrown his way, or does it have to be thrown perfect, and there needs to be separation for a pass to be caught. We are going to need at least one guy who you can count on to catch the tough passes. For some reason I am almost most excited to see how this defense fairs against Georgia and others. We have a DC as our head coach, and our team will be lead by how the defense is able to neutralize other teams. The offense will get their points, but it will be off the turnovers created by the defense, and field position also created by the defense. I am not counting on our offense to be the CK 3 downs, 70 yds, and 7 points. I have a feeling it will be a score based on a panting defense being on their heals, after a three and out. We are going to have an offense again, thankfully, but it will be led by the defense.

2008 and last year in their first game a loss at home to Montana and stomped by the Cougs at home for their last. The dawgs have been providing some gems for a while.

And I am still most excited about the young man who committed last year, Jackson Shelstad. When these highly rated kids do something for Oregon's team, other than signing I will get more excited.