OregonDucks

Jordan - Game 6!

Some to the key takeaways: • Oregon should have an advantage on the defensive line against Indiana’s offensive line, particularly in the middle where they dominated the first match • Oregon’s young secondary has improved throughout the season • While Oregon hasn’t lit up the scoreboards against the best competition, neither has Indiana

This person claims that Oregon is the favorite to land A.J. Harris from Penn State. Not sure if he would play corner, nickel or safety for Oregon but he looks like a heck of a player (wish we had him available tonight).

Wishing you a smooth surgery and a fast recovery. Thank you for all that you do on this site. I enjoy your takes. Go Ducks! Win one for Mike!!!

I don’t know how he walks back in that building. The damage is done. How are his teammates and coaches going to respect him? He should just transfer. However, he is damaged goods now and many teams would not touch him. Hopefully this is a painful learning opportunity for him and others.

Kenyon Barner on his podcast said that Coach Lanning was not happy after the James Madison game and “was on everybody’s head” (3:05 below). He let everyone know from the coaches to the players that they did not play up to The Standard. Hopefully Coach Lanning lit a fire under Coach Stein and company’s behind this week and Coach Lupoi and company can continue to dominate on D. We are going to need all engines firing to win the next two games, starting with the one one Friday evening. Go Ducks!!! Just Do It!

My post and GW’s podcast was not about Williams or the high profile transfers looking for million dollar NIL deals. Those are the exemptions but are the ones that get all of the media attention. Most of the transfer portal players are looking for a better situation for themselves (e.g., more playing time, an opportunity to prove themselves at a higher level of competition, a change of scenery, somewhere that can develop them better). IIRC, it sounds as though GW’s son was injured and then was passed on the depth chart (by a younger player?). He had a conversation with his coach and is looking for an opportunity to play but it’s been hard because he doesn’t have a lot of game film to show the new potential teams/coaches. We’ve seen examples of players transferring to Oregon to get an opportunity to play at a higher level (Bucky, Tez) and/or increase their draft stock (Gonzo, Bo). It’s not all bad but the system definitely needs an overhaul.

Oregon great George Wrightster (GW) has an interesting take from a parent of a player looking to transfer in search of more playing time. While the headliners get all of the attention, GW said that it’s hard for players without a lot of playing time to transfer because they don’t have game tape. It’s easier for blue chip players, who have relationships with other coaches from their recruitment to get another opportunity. Obviously it’s easier if you go down to a lessor school or level.

Brendan Sorsby should send Coach Lanning and Coach Lupoi a thank you note for the $5M NIL.

Oregon Ducks On SIDan Lanning Makes Unprecedented Move With Oregon Running...Despite entering the transfer portal earlier this week, Oregon running back Jay Harris is available for the Ducks in the College Football Playoff Semifinal matc This is great news given the Davison injury. He is listed at 6’2” and 224 lbs. giving Oregon a short yardage/power back.

I know this won’t be a popular point of view but Oregon’s 2025-26 offense is not that good. Oregon has scored under 20 points per game against the best 6-7 teams we have played this season (e.g., Indiana: 13 offensive points, Penn State: 17 points in regulation). Despite the national accolades, Oregon’s offensive line is not very good and is exposed by more athletic fronts (Big Suke said we have 5 guards playing on the line). Dante Moore is not seeing the field or is not willing to pull the trigger. He also tends to try to escape the rush vs. stepping up in the pocket leading to big losses. Oregon will have to manage the game offensively (like we did against Penn State, Iowa, etc.) and rely on its defense to win the game against Indiana and win the national championship. A former NFL player said we have 7-8 future NFL players starting on our defense. We have the talent and they seem to be peaking at the right time. Perhaps this is what Coach Lanning envisioned when he accepted the Oregon job… Perhaps the thing that gives me the most hope in the Peach Bowl…Oregon plays its best football under Coach Lanning when we are the underdog and no one thinks we can win (e.g., Penn State White Out, Ohio State at Autzen last season). FEBU!

Multiple outlets are linking LSU’s Lane Kiffin to Desmond Williams, Jr. https://www.profootballnetwork.com/cfb/lane-kiffin-lsu-demond-williams-jr-transfer-portal/

I hear you but Oregon’s championship window is open now. We need a QB under center, who our coaches believe gives Oregon the best chance to win a national championship next season. If that QB is on the current roster, great. If not, you find the best experience college QB available.

That’s next week. The Indiana game is Friday. Furthermore, I don’t see anything preventing a player from being enrolled in multiple schools. You usually have weeks to drop classes without penalty. I’m sure there is a work around. If your new school/coach doesn’t understand or is not supportive of you finishing the season and competing for a national championship, do you really want to play for that coach/school?

I completely disagree, respectfully of course. Davison is a special player and will be missed. He is a completely different back, with a different skill set, compared to Witt and Hill. They are all complimentary to one another. Hopefully someone can step up to fill the void.

As a former athlete/competitor, I don’t understand why you would quit on your team in the middle of a national championship run. Even if you weren’t playing, contributing on the scout team and being part of a potential national championship is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Playing scared might be a bit harsh; however, Dante was probably responsible for over half those sacks in the first Indiana game. He has to read the defense, step up into the pocket (if necessary) and pull the trigger.

This is terrible news. I hope the coaches also look at utilizing Kenyon Sadiq in the backfield as a blocker and/or short yardage ball carrier. I believe that Teitum Tuioti and Bryce Boettcher also came in for a TD (USC game?). All hands on deck!

In watching breakdowns of Indiana’s defense, I wonder if the best offensive approach would be to play max protect (extra OL or TEs) - think Stanford’s offense under Harbaugh or what NE did last weekend with playing an extra OL, even using him as a full back occasionally. Run the ball down Indiana’s throat with our 3-headed monster in the backfield and protect Dante against Indiana’s simulated pressures/zone blitzes letting him pick Indiana’s secondary apart with his excellent arm talent. Move the freakin’ pocket, if Indiana starts to get pressure, as Dante is extremely good at throwing on the move. Coach Lanning likes to play aggressive but perhaps against Indiana the best approach would be to play for time of possession, which would keep Indiana’s explosive offense on the sideline and wear down their defense, as they are not as deep as Oregon and the most talented teams in the country. Also, call more plays to take advantage of Indiana’s simulated pressures - RB/TE screens, draw runs, etc. If you guess correctly, it could result in a big play.

The answer is both. However, Coach Stein is calling plays that are getting WRs/TEs open but Dante is not seeing them or is not willing to pull the trigger (see the video clip above for examples). Many of the sacks in the first game were a result of confusion/hesitation by Dante.

OBD’s Big George Wrightster (GW) provides his breakdown of how Oregon needs to attack Indiana: As many of us have said, Dante needs to play better. GW provides some clips in the below video, over halfway through, that shows open receivers that Dante missed. I’ve also seen clips where the WRs did a nice job sitting in the zone and Dante just didn’t see them or pull the trigger. Run the ball and don’t stop running the ball. Our offensive line was opening up some gashes in the first game and all of our running backs averaged over 5 yards per carry. Davison was particularly effective. Win the turnover battle, like we did against TT. When Indiana is getting turnovers the game tends to snowball like it used to for Oregon under CK. On defense, force Indiana into 3rd and long, beat the right side of Indiana’s OL, play more man-to-man coverage while mixing in some zone and contain Mendoza.

The problem is Indiana is very good at disguising pressure and coverage pre snap. Our receivers did a nice job of sitting in Indiana's zones during the first match-up but Dante either didn't see them or was scared to pull the trigger. Dante was also indecisive at many points during the game (likely due to the disguises or good coverage), which led to many of the sacks or lost yardage. Dante is going to have to play much better this time around to get the W. We should get a good indication of how much he has developed since the first matchup. What makes Indiana’s defense so great? Here’s what 5 college coaches had to say - The Athletic

Depending on how this season ends, what players decide to come back next season and what the NIL offer looks like, I would not be shocked if Thieneman decides to return to Oregon for his final season. At best, he's probably a 3rd or 4th round draft pick and, while I am not sure if he can improve it much by coming back, he seems to be enjoying himself (the coaches give him the flexibility as a 3rd safety to come up in run support or to drop back into pass coverage, like Downs does at Ohio State).

Oregon signed the top high school football player in the State of Alabama the past two years. Let that sink in.

I saw someone that predicted Leavitt to Kentucky (who knows how likely that is) but Coach Stein needs to find the best possible QB, whether he is on the Kentucky roster or in the transfer portal.