As obvious as it has been to most of us, when opposing teams start speaking candidly about the predictability of our play calling, one has to seriously consider if Drew Mehringer should have ever been given this position.

I am all for a new guy being given a shot when his moment comes. But in a year where the talent is there to make a very real run at the National Championship, how did Dan Lanning go through his options and decide a promotion was better than a national coaching search? This is not the season to be going through growing pains at the coordinator level.

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/fresh-evidence-dan-lannings-offensive-213709402.html

Going back 2 years now watching all the games I've been able to basically recognize about 50% of the offensive play calls before the snap. In fact I remember posting that here 2 seasons ago. If I can callout plays 50% of the time then what can trained coordinators call? However it doesn't matter until our O line steps up.

I don't think this is the worst time for assistant coaches who are coaching a bunch of players who will play in the NFL?

The D-line and the defense in general stinks because Tosh is at Cal?

Stein isn't around, so 4* and 5* star O-line guys can't move guys out so Oregon can run the ball?

At the end of the National Anthem, it's about the players on the field and not the coaches.

To date, the Oregon players are uninspired and undisciplined.

Would Tosh's coaching, with his defense destroyed by Ohio State in the Rose Bowl and Indiana in the Peach Bowl, make a significant difference?

Would Stein, last seen at Kentucky being blown out by Alabama, make a difference?

No coach will make a difference if the players do not give a whip. If the players don't care, it's on them for cashing checks and not being invested in winning.

The stats tell the story. To date, Oregon's loaded roster is simply soft. This is a top-down player and head coach problem, not an assistant coaching problem.

And credit to him, Dan is the first to admit it. But can it be fixed? Will Dan, with an impeccable record against unranked teams before last Saturday, be able to close the deal with a championship?

If the will to win from the players isn't there, it's on the players, and no group of coaches can fix it. If future NFL guys are fine with being beat up by the junior varsity, so be it.

There are no extraneous reasons why Oregon has underachieved to date; top-drawer players haven't shown up.

I am not sure I agree with it being only a player issue. On defense, Oregon has 8 returning starters, including several on the all BIG ten list and a freshman All American. Do they all of a sudden not care or forget how to play? Tosh was a guy who brought the juice. Players rallied around him. Is Hampton that guy? That is yet to be seen, but so far the answer appears to be no.

Dante Moore is an exceptional pocket passer, but not as accurate while on the move. So naturally on 4th and 8 you call a play to roll him out to the right immediately and take away 1/2 half of the field WITHOUT two of your start receivers in the game? The playcall is indefensible IMO.

Regardless of whose fault this is at the end of the day the fault is on the Oregon Ducks football TEAM.

11 minutes ago, GeotechDuck said:

I am not sure I agree with it being only a player issue. On defense, Oregon has 8 returning starters, including several on the all BIG ten list and a freshman All American. Do they all of a sudden not care or forget how to play? Tosh was a guy who brought the juice. Players rallied around him. Is Hampton that guy? That is yet to be seen, but so far the answer appears to be no.

Dante Moore is an exceptional pocket passer, but not as accurate while on the move. So naturally on 4th and 8 you call a play to roll him out to the right immediately and take away 1/2 half of the field WITHOUT two of your start receivers in the game? The playcall is indefensible IMO.

Good post, Geo.

But if Dante had dropped back instead of rolling out, would Oregon have won the game? This game should have been over at halftime. If the Tulsa coaches were on the sideline, would Oregon have won the game?

Oregon got punched in the mouth and couldn't get off the canvas against a bunch of G6 athletes.

I respect your thoughts and the similar thoughts of other Forum friends.

But I don't believe the Oregon players are failing to perform because of the coaching; I see an entitled group of athletes who are failing to show up and play disciplined and inspired football.

If they are not coached up and not fired up, that's on Lanning more than it is on in-game coaching.

Dan is moving into James Franklin territory. He has won a lot of games, but not the games that win titles.