Hi everyone,

This week I look at my concerns for the 2026 season. I don't actually have that many.

https://open.substack.com/pub/marshduck/p/three-causes-of-concern-for-oregons?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=8foswi

Let me know what you are concerned about heading into next season.

Thank you, David.

With many experienced defenders returning, Dante back at QB with experienced WRs and a solid TE, I think it makes sense to promote both Hampton and Mehringer. Old Ducks do not need new tricks. I hope.

Pancho and Nacho?

I prefer Portland State in Week 1 instead of Boise State, but the Vikings game in Week 3 is a quasi-bye before Week 4 vs. SC in LA.

It's a Wild West start: Bust the Broncos and Corral the Cowboys!

Thanks again for another Monday visit.

"Corral the Cowboys..."

That will be the first home game for Oklahoma State with their new coaching staff and a bunch of transfers including QB Drew Mestemaker. The Ducks better take along plenty of rope.

It’s all relative. Clearly we have one of the best rosters in football…but relative to that strength our LB and Oline units/depth is lacking proven talent and will need some dudes to step up imo. I’m pretty sure they will, but time will tell.

Should be running a lot of 4-2-5 I’d think, but that does get tricky in our conference.

Edited July 13Jul 13 by JabbaNoBargain

I am in agreement about the settling of the offensive line, and how starting with Boise State makes it tougher to figure things out. I believe we will be "OK" in the first three games on the OL, and things really jell in time for our big game in LA...

I am excited for this defense. Most of these guys have been in the system multiple years. The base should be set in stone at this point.

Multiple years of practice, film study, game play, strength/conditioning and what not should create a cohesion and understanding not seen at Oregon in a long time.

Hopefully Lanning and Hampton open it up and let this defense eat. There is no reason not too.

If this D cant play well into the playbook, cant play above base defense, there is a problem. A problem only Lanning can address.

This defense, on paper, looks nasty. Let them fly and live with the results.

1 hour ago, JabbaNoBargain said:

…but relative to that strength our LB and Oline units/depth is lacking proven talent and will need some dudes to step up imo.

Seems like under the current NIL/portal rules, hanging onto much experienced depth for current top ranked recruiters has become difficult for everybody. Saw this yesterday:

Average age of roster (1-138):

#93 Oregon (20.18)

#114 Miami (20.06)

#117 Alabama (20.04)

#122 Texas A&M (20.01)

#126 Notre Dame (19.97)

#128 Ohio State (19.95)

#134 Texas (19.86)

#138 Georgia (19.81)

2 hours ago, AnotherOD said:

Seems like under the current NIL/portal rules, hanging onto much experienced depth for current top ranked recruiters has become difficult for everybody. Saw this yesterday:

Average age of roster (1-138):

#93 Oregon (20.18)

#114 Miami (20.06)

#117 Alabama (20.04)

#122 Texas A&M (20.01)

#126 Notre Dame (19.97)

#128 Ohio State (19.95)

#134 Texas (19.86)

#138 Georgia (19.81)

I feel the age component on Oregon's roster is why I don't have that many glaring worries on the roster.

This is kinda a situation like year one of Will Stein where Bo Nix covered up a lot of problems by being a 5th year starter.

Biggest concern is walking back to the car at the Coliseum.

3 hours ago, Drake said:

Biggest concern is walking back to the car at the Coliseum.

Won't the lot be empty?

USC fans are usually gone by the end of the 3rd when Oregon comes to town.

Oh no, why did you bring up kicking? I haven't thought about kicking in a long time. Please let us have reliable kickers!

My biggest concern is if Dante is really THE guy. Who would you rather have leading this team this year?

A. Herbert

B. Mariota

C. Nix

D. Moore

Or How about:

A. Dixon

B. Harington

C. Akili Smith

D. Moore

If Moore can replace even half the names on this list as the preferred QB to win a natty by the end of the year, then winning a natty should be a realistic possibility.

8 hours ago, The Kamikaze Kid said:

Who would you rather have leading this team this year?

Too early to compare! Do we compare the current Dante Moore, or the finished product after being a starter for two years? Do we compare him to a Bo Nix after one year, or after his huge leap in the second year?

I think we need to let Dante Moore perform his second year at starter before we place a rating for comparison upon him...IMHO.

9 hours ago, The Kamikaze Kid said:

My biggest concern is if Dante is really THE guy. Who would you rather have leading this team this year?

A. Herbert

B. Mariota

C. Nix

D. Moore

Or How about:

A. Dixon

B. Harington

C. Akili Smith

D. Moore

If Moore can replace even half the names on this list as the preferred QB to win a natty by the end of the year, then winning a natty should be a realistic possibility.

Remember when non-Oregon pundits were questioning the leadership of Mariota and Herbert? Moore is built in their mold of leadership. He's not going to be a ra-ra guy in front of the camera but I'm sure he's leading the team in more subtle ways that are just as impactful.

Let's see what Moore has in store this year. I'm sure he has developed and progressed more than we know.

I'm really looking forward to this season. As I picked OBD to win it all in an earlier post, I would side on the expectation that Moore does take that leap into Herbert, Mariota, Nix level comparisons. His end games against Iowa and Penn St last year showed he has that potential. Road games at SUC and tOSU will give him an opportunity to lead the Heisman conversation and I think that's exactly what he'll do. Still, until it happens, it is an area of concern to me.

How far we’ve come! Moore was good enough to lead us to 11-1 last year with a playoff win…even if he hasn’t progressed at all, that’s a decent starting point.

On 7/13/2026 at 1:46 PM, Charles Fischer said:

I am in agreement about the settling of the offensive line, and how starting with Boise State makes it tougher to figure things out. I believe we will be "OK" in the first three games on the OL, and things really jell in time for our big game in LA...

And boy do I hope we sport those same colors for the USC game. I like the Darth Vader in Black theme (or even the Storm Trooper white seen in Ann Arbor and the Coliseum last decade), but it is time to show the college football world that green and yellow IS the color when we win the Natty. I hope that starts with every marquee regular season matchup this year. I want to see the colors Rich Brooks and Mike Bellotti inspired Phil Knight into supporting in the first place.