My Duck-Buddies, I have some observations after viewing the game a second time, but thought I would give you my conclusion right up front. This team is not like anything I pictured going into the season. With all the positions on the team--only running back is set and performing as we thought they would; all the others, especially on defense, are in flux and could progress into a nationally dominating team, or only progress nominally yet this season.

We are nowhere close to what I envisioned us as being going into the season with a No. 2 ranking. Only the offensive line should be working out the starters, yet we have issues at nearly every other position on the team. We have the upside to progress into a top-5 team, but the probability of that occurring is less than I wish it was. This team has more questions than answers at this juncture, as we are at nearly the opposite of what I pictured us being at this stage.

We are appropriately ranked at the moment, because we have so much in flux. (No. 15 in the nation) On defense, we have Brandon Finney Jr. at Nickel guarding the slot receiver--something he hasn't done before. We are starting Na' eem Offord at field corner, a crucial position for a player who has very little experience for us as a sophomore.

Peyton Woodyard

We are playing Alabama transfer Peyton Woodyard quite a bit at safety instead of Aaron Flowers as even Dan Lanning admits that too many mistakes have occurred at safety. That is even before we get to the issues that Minnesota transfer Koi Perich brought with him to our secondary. This group is in massive flux...

At linebacker we see Dylan Williams playing quite a bit, as well as Nasir Wyatt, as both been very hit-and-miss for the Ducks. Sometimes they scrape into the run-fit perfectly, and other times they are out of position, and gives up a big gap. Like the defensive backs, the linebackers are still working out their challenges.

Defensive line is underperforming--massively, IMHO. Players with this much experience should have more TFLs, and sacks than we do after four games. They are improving, but have a large upside to achieve to match their preseason hype.

On offense, we have an offensive line that has improved, but is far below what we have had the last three years. Douglas Utu at left guard is a tremendous talent, as he is a big kid with very little experience. He was replaced for almost the entire second half by Kawika Rogers, who has also played very little for us in the past. The starter at right guard in first game, Michael Bennett from Yale, hardly saw the field at all on Saturday. Gernorris Wilson at right tackle has disappeared on a almost equal basis as well.

Jamari Johnson

We have a gifted TE in Jamari Johnson, but almost no depth. (Experienced depth that is)

Wide Receivers would be ideal if Jerimiah McClellan was not hurt; but Messiah Hampton has filled in for the meantime as well as any true freshman could.

Everyone knows the issues at quarterback, and who knows where that ends up?

Placekicking and punting has been as consistent as we saw in fall practice; it is remarkable considering they are both completely new to Oregon--unlike most of the players at other positions.

We are at team growing and evolving, and not at all what I pictured coming into this season. Right now we look like a nine-win team, but could improve into an 11 win team for the regular season, but that is a low probability result. We will need to see incremental improvement in each game if we are to challenge the Buckeyes in a little over a month from now. We should not be growing, but showing off our superiority with this team...but alas, this is not that kind of year after all.

Dylan Riola

I thought OC Drew Mehringer really gained us an advantage with the unbalanced and heavily loaded offensive lines at times, and you could argue that it was the difference in this very close game that was tied at 27-all with 12:41 left in the game. The Coordinators, like the players, are in flux, but more-so than we figured we would be at this point. It was good to see some blitzes and stunts from our DC, but the results after the first drive were underwhelming.

This is a highly overrated team. If our passing attack moves up a few levels--we can become nationally relevant, but that will require our QBs to see the entire field, and do not automatically throw to the receiver in the flat as I saw both QBs do in this game again.

It is tough to reconsider my analysis of the team, but what I saw before is what I believed we would see now. But my reappraised reality of where the team is playing at--is very sobering. It can still be done, but I will have to change my expectations based upon what I am currently seeing.

Perhaps it will be much better in 3-4 games?

I think Oregon is putting up number close to top 10 offensively. I could be wrong though.

This O line is very young and has made good progress through 4 games.

They played 3 top 25 ranked teams so far and being 2-1 with new Coordinators and a new o line isn't too bad. They have also lost the best TE in the country for a bit, a dude at WR, their best RB is dinged up and the starting QB is out.

The D played a top 10 Offense in USC and did a good job imo. Safeties are horrible tho.

Held a high power O to 2-11 on 3rd down and under 30 points. Held the run game to about 3.5 yard per. Played much better than last year in redzone D.

The corners had chunks of lockdown play in pivitol parts of the game late.

AW is banged up and hasn't played like we expect from A. Washington.

The massive adversity in the second Q was pivitol. Thought this team handled it very well. Could be a turning point for this team.

Dan didn't seem to happy Wed. I don't think they are practicing well and its showing up in games.

Whatever it is I hope they get it fixed because they have a ton of talent. And like you said, they are performing like a #15 with #1talent

Charles, thank you for your observations and resulting thoughts. So much of your assessments were spot on.

(IMHO)

The preseason or off season hype about the 2026 Duck team was way over the top. It created a very high and perhaps unrealistic expectation for the fans. I was one of those fans.

Granted, I was excited that Dante and the big front 4 on defense were all coming back. This Duck fan was certain this would be the year the Ducks captured the elusive national championship. Afterall, I am a fan so i ignored the fact the oline would have new pieces that needed to have time to jell. The best QB's and RB's go nowhere without the big boys up front. And the D would be without Boettcher at LB and many #2 players on D transferred out.

Warning signs, big red flags. And the BSU and OSU games validated that. Players need game film to view to work and improve.

Charles astutely pointed out the D line can not get home when the linebackers and DB's leave gaps in coverage. Those gaps allow all those 3rd and long conversions. Short QB drops and quick releases can capitalize on those gaps.

Moving the chains has been easy for our opponents. The D is giving up 30 points a game. That does not reflect the PSU game/scrimmage.

Our QB's and running backs cannot excel without run blocking and pass protection. All be it, things have improved with the O line the PSU scrimmage game and against USC.

I have rewatched the USC game 3 times and against the classless trojans the RB's had some holes for positive gains. I lineman were downfield blocking. Thats improvement.

DR had pressure but he slid or side-stepped that pressure. DR kept his eyes downfield and found his open receiver.

In the last 2 games their were big chunk plays. That does not happen without improvement.. However, take out the 84 points scored in the scrimmage game and the Ducks are averaging about 35 points per game. That is not top 5 production. Won't cut it against tOSU, IU, Texas, Georgia and others. This Duck does not see our team winning against the big boys 35-30.

More improvement is needed on both sides of the ball. As the coaches help the players improve we should see the offense score more points.

As for the defense, the back seven players cannot close those gaps or wide open spaces in this scheme. The defense should take advantage of the players skill sets. Maybe?

I believe in DL, his staff and his players. This current team can finish 10-2. This current team will be destroyed in The Shoe by tOSU.......

This leaves no room for a bad game against the other 7 teams they play.

Go Ducks. Keep improving and beat the Bruins.

No worries!

During the bye week, my minions are on the road in their DeLoreans, searching for Doctor Emmet Brown and the Flux Capacitor. Others are scouring our planet for enough plutonium to provide 1.21 gigawatts of energy.

I'm optimistic that by 11/7, OBD will reach at least 88% efficiency, return to 2021, and once again Flux Ohio State. 😁

Seriously, Charles, what a terrific and insightful look at the season to date. I was hoping we Ducks fans would have an easy ride on the Lazy River. Instead, we're on the Kingda Ka roller coaster.

A terrible way for it to happen, but after the vicious hit on Dante, I think the team galvanized, and I hope the troops are ready to play to their potential and play as a team.

Your Xs and Os review of the team to date is, as always, enlightening. I don't have the skill to detail deficiencies; I do know that the team better show up with a bad attitude and ready to ball out.

Before the trip to Columbus, Oregon plays No. 23 UCLA, No. 33 Nebraska, then Illinois on the road, with the Illini having two weeks to prepare, and Northwestern at home. No easy day before Ryan Day.

UCLA and Nebraska are the two back-to-back home games remaining on the schedule. Beginning with the Illinois game in Week 8, Oregon will be on the road every other week.

This is a back-loaded schedule. Eight games without a break, with one trip to the Central and two trips to the Eastern time zones.

Again, Charles, thanks for the detailed off-week analysis.

Beat the Bruins!

I think a lot of this comes down to the inexperience of many of the position coaches. They just have failed to prepare these guys for the season in the off season. We are discovering now just how badly off this team is.

I remember reading in the off season that they were "ahead of schedule" in their playbook instillation. I am going to say that that was now untrue even if they believed it at the time. It probably points to the coaching at the time failing to evaluate how well players were integrating the playbook.

I am not saying these young coaches aren't talented but they lack experience and they are frantically working to try and make up the gap of preparation that formed over the off season.

It makes me wonder if the weakness on defense is primarily due to changes in scheme from last season. Feels like Coach Hampton has moved stuff around just for the sake of it (it's not uncommon for a new boss coming in to want to put their stamp on things even if it's not necessary).

Dan on needed improvement -

Oregon Ducks On SI

Dan Lanning Identifies Biggest Fixes on the Oregon Ducks...

The hit and ensuing injury on No. 15 Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore stole headlines in the win over the No. 18 USC Trojans, allowing the Oregon defense to

1 hour ago, David Marsh said:

I think a lot of this comes down to the inexperience of many of the position coaches. They just have failed to prepare these guys for the season in the off season. We are discovering now just how badly off this team is.

I remember reading in the off season that they were "ahead of schedule" in their playbook instillation. I am going to say that that was now untrue even if they believed it at the time. It probably points to the coaching at the time failing to evaluate how well players were integrating the playbook.

I am not saying these young coaches aren't talented but they lack experience and they are frantically working to try and make up the gap of preparation that formed over the off season.

Agree, for the most part. Installing a playbook is only the first stage, and they probably did an okay job of that, individually. Where I see the OC, DC inexperience affecting performance is in what must accompany the X’s & O’s: teaching how to communicate the playbook between one another which is what leads to the kind of confidence that breeds quick play evaluation and execution.

Talented coordinators - which we have - must still learn how to make their plans work correctly between 11 individuals. That takes time and experience.

When you have the potential, there’s always the chance to get it right.

5 minutes ago, Washington Waddler said:

When you have the potential, there’s always the chance to get it right.

And amazing athletes...

Oregon's athletes won against Boise State and were the only reason why the debacle in Stillwater wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been.

I still believe Lanning needs to take a hard look at his staff at the end of the season but during the season there is no point in firing anyone as it will only damage any chance at righting the ship.

Admittedly, I haven't looked into Chris Hampton's coaching background in depth until now. I figured since he had recent, successful experience as a DC at Tulane that he'd have fewer issues than Meringer taking over those duties in Eugene. Seems that's an obvious wrong call on my part. Taking a cursory look over his coaching career, he's had plenty of years as a DB positional coach but only 2 years as an actual DC.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Hampton

He was there for the 2021 and 2022 seasons (the later of which they beat USC for their bowl game win). Tulane was a pretty bad football program leading up to his hiring and is reflected in his first season stats (opponents scored 34 ppg on average on them):

https://tulanegreenwave.com/sports/football/stats/2021

They did significantly improve in his 2nd season, opponent scoring average dropped to 22.2 ppg:

https://tulanegreenwave.com/sports/football/stats/2022

I found a couple of analysis videos of the Tulane defense during his time there:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLkuGFhOiuY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7EO2hLdwjU

So I guess DL hired him on given his potential based on that 1 instance of season-over-season improvement in the AAC? I'm not informed enough to know if that was the correct decision or not. Personally I would've liked a couple more years of DC experience that showed consistent, positive impact before taking someone on.

Great comments from the forum.

On a side note i would be remiss if i didn't give Mike West a shout out for his screen shots of the gaps and wide open spaces that our defensive scheme allows.

I really feel the offense will improve and add 7 to 10 points per game.

But the defense needs some more change ups and variations, soon.

In the Texas vs Tennessee game, Texas had 8 sacks. In one game! Do the Ducks have 8 all year?

Go Ducks....

I completely agree. The massive disconnect between pre-season expectations and our actual performance falls squarely on the assistant coaches—specifically our new offensive and defensive coordinators.

The real head-scratcher here is how DL didn't see this coming. It had to have shown up in practice. If you play like you practice, anyone watching those sessions should have seen these red flags well before the first four games of the season.

Judging by some of his recent comments—and his trip up to my neck of the woods to meet with the Seahawks head coach—it seems like DL is only now realizing just how much his new assistants coaches need to be coached up.

Edited Friday at 07:49 PM2 days by John Charles

10 minutes ago, John Charles said:

The real head-scratcher here is how DL didn't see this coming.

We have NEVER had NIL to this degree before....pretty hard to know how some will react. Perhaps that is why he is talking a coach who works with professionals?

33 minutes ago, John Charles said:

Judging by some of his recent comments—and his trip up to my neck of the woods to meet with the Seahawks head coach—it seems like DL is only now realizing just how much his new assistants coaches need to be coached up.

For many of these new young coaches they don't have a safety jet anymore.

Koa Ka'ai, to pick on him as the new QB coach for a moment, apparently did most of the work last year with QBs but he still had Stein to fall back on when he needed it.

Who does he fall back on and who is coaching him up now?

Through October 1, 2026, with Oregon having played 4 games.

CFB Stats

Category	Oregon	National Rank
Scoring Offense	47.5 pts/game	#5 CFB Stats
Rushing Offense	159.0 yds/game	#72 CFB Stats
Passing Offense	346.5 yds/game	#6 CFB Stats
Total Offense	505.5 yds/game	#12 CFB Stats
Scoring Defense	23.3 pts/game	#72 CFB Stats
Rushing Defense	113.0 yds/game	#41 CFB Stats
Passing Defense	231.3 yds/game	#97 CFB Stats
Total Defense	344.3 yds/game	#68 CFB Stats

So the interesting picture right now is pretty stark:

Oregon is #5 in scoring, #6 passing, and #12 total offense, but only #72 rushing offense.

Defensively, the conventional yardage rankings aren't nearly as impressive: #41 rush defense, #97 pass defense, #68 total defense, #72 scoring defense.

Yikes!

4 minutes ago, Krsmqn said:

Through October 1, 2026, with Oregon having played 4 games.

Oregon is #5 in scoring, #6 passing, and #12 total offense, but only #72 rushing offense.

Defensively, the conventional yardage rankings aren't nearly as impressive: #41 rush defense, #97 pass defense, #68 total defense, #72 scoring defense.

Yikes!

If you take out the PSU game, our O probably won't even crack top 20... D is a really disgrace IMHO, with all the NFL-level talent. Something'd better change soon, starting with the next game against a ranked UCLA.

National Stats: Oregon through Week 4 - Total D 68 / Total O 12

27 minutes ago, Krsmqn said:

Through October 1, 2026, with Oregon having played 4 games.

CFB Stats

Category	Oregon	National Rank
Scoring Offense	47.5 pts/game	#5 CFB Stats
Rushing Offense	159.0 yds/game	#72 CFB Stats
Passing Offense	346.5 yds/game	#6 CFB Stats
Total Offense	505.5 yds/game	#12 CFB Stats
Scoring Defense	23.3 pts/game	#72 CFB Stats
Rushing Defense	113.0 yds/game	#41 CFB Stats
Passing Defense	231.3 yds/game	#97 CFB Stats
Total Defense	344.3 yds/game	#68 CFB Stats

So the interesting picture right now is pretty stark:

Oregon is #5 in scoring, #6 passing, and #12 total offense, but only #72 rushing offense.

Defensively, the conventional yardage rankings aren't nearly as impressive: #41 rush defense, #97 pass defense, #68 total defense, #72 scoring defense.

Yikes!

IMHO, it would be more than reasonable, and miles more realistic, to remove the PSU scrimmage numbers from your stats, and then re-analyze.

50 minutes ago, Krsmqn said:

Through October 1, 2026, with Oregon having played 4 games.

CFB Stats

Category	Oregon	National Rank
Scoring Offense	47.5 pts/game	#5 CFB Stats
Rushing Offense	159.0 yds/game	#72 CFB Stats
Passing Offense	346.5 yds/game	#6 CFB Stats
Total Offense	505.5 yds/game	#12 CFB Stats
Scoring Defense	23.3 pts/game	#72 CFB Stats
Rushing Defense	113.0 yds/game	#41 CFB Stats
Passing Defense	231.3 yds/game	#97 CFB Stats
Total Defense	344.3 yds/game	#68 CFB Stats

So the interesting picture right now is pretty stark:

Oregon is #5 in scoring, #6 passing, and #12 total offense, but only #72 rushing offense.

Defensively, the conventional yardage rankings aren't nearly as impressive: #41 rush defense, #97 pass defense, #68 total defense, #72 scoring defense.

Yikes!

It makes sense that the run game would suffer with a new O line and injured Backs

1 hour ago, Desert Duck said:

IMHO, it would be more than reasonable, and miles more realistic, to remove the PSU scrimmage numbers from your stats, and then re-analyze.

Need to take all FCS teams out of everyone's stats realistically.

But absolutely... the PSU game has padded out overall stats.

2 hours ago, David Marsh said:

For many of these new young coaches they don't have a safety jet anymore.

Koa Ka'ai, to pick on him as the new QB coach for a moment, apparently did most of the work last year with QBs but he still had Stein to fall back on when he needed it.

Who does he fall back on and who is coaching him up now?

I had that same concern. I would've preferred a most experienced QB coach like David Yost.

Thanks to Mr. Fishduck and all participants for the question and discussion. Random thoughts...

1. Oregon is ranked #15 now and has played #18, #19 and #22. Are the Ducks overrated at 15? What would our statistics look like if we had played the schedules of some other supposed contenders?

2. Is Oregon underperforming its talent? Offensive linemen are 5-6 of the 11 starters, plus or minus the tight end. Does Oregon have the offensive line talent of a top five team? Coach Terry's units have often been in competition for the Joe Moore award. Has he lost his touch or is he working with less talent this year? Or perhaps with talent that he not had enough time to develop?

3. Joel Klatt said that Oregon's defensive line is playing a "read and react" concept not an aggressive shoot the gaps concept. I cannot tell, as I do not do film study. Is the lack of TFLs and Sacks partly a result of the scheme not the players?

I think the Ducks defense is still a work in progress but playing three ranked teams (two on the road) all with good offenses probably has something to do with it. Has any other top 25 team played three other top 25 teams that are still currently ranked? After next Saturday it will be four teams. Just something to factor in while trying to understand this team. I also don't think that FCS games should count in statistics.

Man,

#72 rushing when the overwhelming number of teams ahead of them played way more FCS and gutted G6 teams. Not an accurate picture of reality IMHO.

Look at Penn State. Getting rocked tonight. Look at Michigan State. Who is Nebraska really? You don't know until conference play. Rutgers and Maryland consistently beat up G6 teams and get pummeled in conference play.

That said, I looked back to the beginning of the year after we got obliterated. We were all shocked. This is the same team practically. Sans a very solid group of defensive lineman that left because the starters stayed.

Looking at Max Browne's take had me thinking basic coverage rules have been thrown out the window all over college football. Safeties are all over the map, and sometimes 30 yards from the line of scrimmage. That's ridiculous.

Safeties are supposed to shut down deep routes first, dig routes next. I rarely see a safety in position to stop a dig route when deep routes are not an issue. That is criminal in my book.

Furthermore, I watched a lot of Mint Defenses this week. They are ALL getting shredded. OCs are directly attacking every weakness the Mint provides. All of them. It is the equivalent to everyone figuring out Chip's Zone Read Offense. My opinion of course.

I believe the Mint is trashing basic coverage concepts. I also believe OCs have discovered exactly how to manipulate number advantages to gash the system when they run the ball. The system is nearly ten years old. It should not be a surprise.

Is it any wonder talent deficient teams like Iowa still hold teams to 20 points per game with a more traditional defense? Including elite teams? It shouldn't. They focus on shutting down the running game, and take their chances against lethal passing teams. This is exact why I have been advocating placing this 5 guys at the line of scrimmage on defense.

Sure, the risk of 7 in the box against a bunch of gazelles is a risk. How is Iowa getting it done with "much less talent"? Give a talented guy a task, let him cook. Force him to find solutions.

On offense I am flustered. But this team is scoring points looking awfully disjointed. That is a good problem to have. Again, scheme is my issue. We're way too predictable in my opinion. And when your OL isn't functioning as you want it to, do something different damn it. It is not that hard to figure out.

Our OL looked much better against USC. I see problems fundamentally. Guys are standing instead of keeping their pads low. Some of that is lack of quickness, some of it is pure basic flaws.

I also didn't have a problem with putting six lineman on the field. Often. It worked. And just to be stupid, I have no problem teaching one of them how to catch a ball. It would be hysterical watching a 300 pound guy running after a checkdown catch. I'd pay 500 dollars to see that all game.

We do want we want to do instead of looking at what people give us and go after it like our lives depend on it. If you can't dominate a team, take their dominance away. For example, if chip simply passes the ball on Auburn he smokes them.

Football is basic. Teams are doing too many exotic things. The elite guys are chewing that nonsense up. Guys play harder when they're successful. They don't when they think too much. Or they experience "same as it ever was" repeatedly and are unsuccessful.

That is what I believe OBD are right now. They're trying to get too cute. Just line up and punch guys. Not literally, but make people feel pain. You do that with simple stuff. You don't have to think, you just have to hit. That has been lost on this team.

I have already said it, business as usual must go. Doing the same thing that isn't producing the results you want isn't smart. It's stubborn.

That's not a knock on Lanning for me. He STILL gets this team to win when they aren't matching what elite teams do. It's only when he faces the elite that he has problems. So he just needs to grow into being more elite. That requires looking at what they do and starting to attack it appropriately. That's it

Edited yesterday at 03:49 AM1 day by Mike West

Thanks to Mike West for the extended commentary. I was especially interested in the observation regarding the MINT.

Further thoughts from this amateur observer, on the defensive side.

1. They did play rather well against USC, considering that USC is a good offensive team with talent and clever schemes. The run defense was better. They got stops on third down. Our DBs rose to the occasion late with some timely pass breakups. And they did blitz a little.

2. I wonder whether Washington's explosiveness would be better utilized in a gap penetration scheme.

3. Someone posted an assessment from a trio of guys, one of whom is a coach named Eric. Thanks for that. He pointed out that Matayo actually did pretty well in setting the edge in the run game. Again, I wonder whether the scheme they are playing offers him the best chance to get sacks.

4. Prehm and Skopil at Duck Territory are saying that the biggest disappointment has been with the safeties. One of our safeties is a thumper who has generally struggled in coverage. That should not surprise anyone. The unpleasant surprise has been Perich, who was supposed to an all-league quality player. Buried in the comments at ATQ was the statement that Hampton has tried to use him close to the line of scrimmage, as he did with Thienemann, and that is not working. According to that theory, Perich would be better as a deep safety focusing on coverage. This is possibly the biggest mystery about the defense to this point. Thoughts?

11 hours ago, Mike West said:

Man,

#72 rushing when the overwhelming number of teams ahead of them played way more FCS and gutted G6 teams. Not an accurate picture of reality IMHO.

Look at Penn State. Getting rocked tonight. Look at Michigan State. Who is Nebraska really? You don't know until conference play. Rutgers and Maryland consistently beat up G6 teams and get pummeled in conference play.

That said, I looked back to the beginning of the year after we got obliterated. We were all shocked. This is the same team practically. Sans a very solid group of defensive lineman that left because the starters stayed.

Looking at Max Browne's take had me thinking basic coverage rules have been thrown out the window all over college football. Safeties are all over the map, and sometimes 30 yards from the line of scrimmage. That's ridiculous.

Safeties are supposed to shut down deep routes first, dig routes next. I rarely see a safety in position to stop a dig route when deep routes are not an issue. That is criminal in my book.

Furthermore, I watched a lot of Mint Defenses this week. They are ALL getting shredded. OCs are directly attacking every weakness the Mint provides. All of them. It is the equivalent to everyone figuring out Chip's Zone Read Offense. My opinion of course.

I believe the Mint is trashing basic coverage concepts. I also believe OCs have discovered exactly how to manipulate number advantages to gash the system when they run the ball. The system is nearly ten years old. It should not be a surprise.

Is it any wonder talent deficient teams like Iowa still hold teams to 20 points per game with a more traditional defense? Including elite teams? It shouldn't. They focus on shutting down the running game, and take their chances against lethal passing teams. This is exact why I have been advocating placing this 5 guys at the line of scrimmage on defense.

Sure, the risk of 7 in the box against a bunch of gazelles is a risk. How is Iowa getting it done with "much less talent"? Give a talented guy a task, let him cook. Force him to find solutions.

On offense I am flustered. But this team is scoring points looking awfully disjointed. That is a good problem to have. Again, scheme is my issue. We're way too predictable in my opinion. And when your OL isn't functioning as you want it to, do something different damn it. It is not that hard to figure out.

Our OL looked much better against USC. I see problems fundamentally. Guys are standing instead of keeping their pads low. Some of that is lack of quickness, some of it is pure basic flaws.

I also didn't have a problem with putting six lineman on the field. Often. It worked. And just to be stupid, I have no problem teaching one of them how to catch a ball. It would be hysterical watching a 300 pound guy running after a checkdown catch. I'd pay 500 dollars to see that all game.

We do want we want to do instead of looking at what people give us and go after it like our lives depend on it. If you can't dominate a team, take their dominance away. For example, if chip simply passes the ball on Auburn he smokes them.

Football is basic. Teams are doing too many exotic things. The elite guys are chewing that nonsense up. Guys play harder when they're successful. They don't when they think too much. Or they experience "same as it ever was" repeatedly and are unsuccessful.

That is what I believe OBD are right now. They're trying to get too cute. Just line up and punch guys. Not literally, but make people feel pain. You do that with simple stuff. You don't have to think, you just have to hit. That has been lost on this team.

I have already said it, business as usual must go. Doing the same thing that isn't producing the results you want isn't smart. It's stubborn.

That's not a knock on Lanning for me. He STILL gets this team to win when they aren't matching what elite teams do. It's only when he faces the elite that he has problems. So he just needs to grow into being more elite. That requires looking at what they do and starting to attack it appropriately. That's it

Thank you, Mike, I always enjoy reading Charles and your educated thoughts. (Instead of my WAGS 🤪.)

Is there a program or programs, out there today, running schemes you like on O and on D? WAG Warning: Boise State, OK State, Northwestern, Indiana?

Is Georgia still using the MINT D?

Has the game slowing down and analytics calling for more tries on 4th down impacted Os and Ds both? The HUNH has been replaced by using much more time between play calls.

One reason Ohio State lost to Miami, the Buckeyes couldn't pick up the tempo and score points.

Thanks again!

Changing the coordinators may have really upset the team in so many ways. Whether it improves or goes the other way is the big question. Given Lanning's talent with defenses you would think it should improve as the year progresses.

19 hours ago, Desert Duck said:

IMHO, it would be more than reasonable, and miles more realistic, to remove the PSU scrimmage numbers from your stats, and then re-analyze.

Fair enough, but just to clarify, I didn't personally tally and rank 138 teams. 😂 I posted the national rankings directly from CFBStats.

That said, CFBStats actually has a “vs. FBS only” filter, which is probably the fairest way to do what you're suggesting because it removes FCS games for everyone, not just Portland State from Oregon.

Under that filter, Oregon is #19 scoring offense, #98 rushing offense, #11 passing offense and #30 total offense. Defensively they're #93 in scoring defense, #70 rushing defense, #115 passing defense and #103 total defense.

Category	FBS-only average	National rank
Scoring Offense	35.3	#19 (CFB Stats)
Rushing Offense	115.7	#98 (CFB Stats)
Passing Offense	311.7	#11 (CFB Stats)
Total Offense	427.3	#30 (CFB Stats)
Scoring Defense	31.0	#93 (CFB Stats)
Rushing Defense	150.0	#70 (CFB Stats)
Passing Defense	274.7	#115 (CFB Stats)
Total Defense	424.7	#103 (CFB Stats)

So there you go. PSU removed, and thankfully I didn't have to spend my weekend rebuilding the national statistics database. 😆

Edited yesterday at 04:55 PM1 day by Krsmqn

2 hours ago, Krsmqn said:

Fair enough, but just to clarify, I didn't personally tally and rank 138 teams. 😂 I posted the national rankings directly from CFBStats.

That said, CFBStats actually has a “vs. FBS only” filter, which is probably the fairest way to do what you're suggesting because it removes FCS games for everyone, not just Portland State from Oregon.

Under that filter, Oregon is #19 scoring offense, #98 rushing offense, #11 passing offense and #30 total offense. Defensively they're #93 in scoring defense, #70 rushing defense, #115 passing defense and #103 total defense.

Category	FBS-only average	National rank
Scoring Offense	35.3	#19 (CFB Stats)
Rushing Offense	115.7	#98 (CFB Stats)
Passing Offense	311.7	#11 (CFB Stats)
Total Offense	427.3	#30 (CFB Stats)
Scoring Defense	31.0	#93 (CFB Stats)
Rushing Defense	150.0	#70 (CFB Stats)
Passing Defense	274.7	#115 (CFB Stats)
Total Defense	424.7	#103 (CFB Stats)

So there you go. PSU removed, and thankfully I didn't have to spend my weekend rebuilding the national statistics database. 😆

Oregon has played 3 ranked teams. Thats a tough way to open a season. They have to have, by far, the toughest schedule to this point.

Stats are fun to look at but until they take precedence over the score board Im goin with the win/loss record.

Ive seen many games where the losing team had better stats than the winner.

Charles, this team has problems for sure, but all of the are between the ears, most of which will can continue to be resolved over the season.

I don't have any issues with our cornerbacks. We've got our best 3 on the field being effective in positions that fir their strengths. Finney is at his best around the ball, it's a good situation.

Our safeties are a bit mixed, Koi Perich has all the athleticism in the world but can't take a good angle and fit the right hole if his life depended on it. I believe Jett Washington will replace him permanently soon enough though. I do believe Flowers has improved his coverage a bit.

It's easy to roast USC's culture, but they played us significantly better than last year. That was a good team playing good football that we beat.

OL continues to improve, our OC is improving significantly as well with play calling and design.

As per my other article I think it is a huge thing for Dan to travel to improve his coaching instead of improving his talent. I think he is seeing that he has the talent to win but the scheme and position coaching is letting them down a bit.

He's at Oregon and Oregon innovates and he needs to innovate his schemes, especially on defense.

I think our DL is playing much closer to their potential than previously. You can expect a bunch of pressure and sacks with a gap control scheme.

5 minutes ago, Solar said:

Charles, this team has problems for sure.....

The big surprise has been how we all knew the offensive line had things to figure out, but our defense is the near-opposite of what we anticipated.

Granted, we can improve and become elite, but that is still "iffy" and would require an impressive upgrade, of which rarely happens. Our offense is scoring enough to win, but our defense has a long ways to go...IMHO.

On 10/2/2026 at 12:48 PM, John Charles said:

I completely agree. The massive disconnect between pre-season expectations and our actual performance falls squarely on the assistant coaches—specifically our new offensive and defensive coordinators.

The real head-scratcher here is how DL didn't see this coming. It had to have shown up in practice. If you play like you practice, anyone watching those sessions should have seen these red flags well before the first four games of the season.

Judging by some of his recent comments—and his trip up to my neck of the woods to meet with the Seahawks head coach—it seems like DL is only now realizing just how much his new assistants coaches need to be coached up.

Just in time for the best roster we may have ever assembled.

1 hour ago, Charles Fischer said:

The big surprise has been how we all knew the offensive line had things to figure out, but our defense is the near-opposite of what we anticipated.

Granted, we can improve and become elite, but that is still "iffy" and would require an impressive upgrade, of which rarely happens. Our offense is scoring enough to win, but our defense has a long ways to go...IMHO.'

It's funny sometimes how small differences have a huge impact. Losing Thienamann and Boetcher were really the only losses, everyone else on D should be better.

I think losing Boetcher was the bigger loss, being way more impactful on the interior, but also for creating juice. I think Tosh brought a lot of juice too. Hampton may be smart but he doesn't have that personality presence Tosh did.

Bottom line is the defense learning how to bring their own juice, and the LBs and Safeties need to do better at their vision filling gaps and taking good angles to the ball.

Certainly any wisdom DL can pick up from he Seahawks on coaching players or our scheme will lift our ceiling.

4 hours ago, Charles Fischer said:

The big surprise has been how we all knew the offensive line had things to figure out, but our defense is the near-opposite of what we anticipated.

Granted, we can improve and become elite, but that is still "iffy" and would require an impressive upgrade, of which rarely happens. Our offense is scoring enough to win, but our defense has a long ways to go...IMHO.'

I agree with you Solar. The defense has a long way to go. But I believe it requires an honest assessment of what to do with the talent that fits football. Not schemes, but simple Xs and Os. Perich is a speed demon. So is Jackson. Both of the run everywhere but the ball. Everywhere. How can that be? And why?For me, its no longer teach what everyone else does in the scheme-its teach those two to go to specific areas run or pass. Not find the ball carrier, simply run to the damn C Gap Jackson, and maybe let's design ten to eleven blitz packages to exploit all that speed Koi has and put him in the damn box.

I'll have to diagram this for everyone. I smell a transition back to fundamental, old school football going on. Formations that blow up counter blocking and edge zone schemes. And I for one have always believed you shut the edge down completely-both sides. Everything must be a fight in a phone booth. And that exploits the natural advantages every guy on the defensive line much better than read and react. My opinion of course. But I have been paying attention. Teams are designing packages that flood run zones with blockers, in some very creative manners.

Five at the line of scrimmage (set 1) and three linebackers bolstering an above average four guys on the defensive line (set 2) shuts it all down in my opinion. And compels OCs to throw the ball. And that is where solving the puzzle of pass coverage rules and packages must be redesigned. Because the Safeties and Linebackers are everywhere but where they should be.

Again, I have to show what I am talking about. It would be much better to diagram it in video, but I suck at it. It is something I must develop (and learn how to be CONCISE which I am terrible at). So bear with me, I have seen it a couple of times out of Hampton, but it was against tight formations. My concept must handle multiple schemes. And I have seen it done with less talent. I will try this week to get something out there for you-but please be patient. What I am describing is something I am sensing and I have to find more evidence before I declare as a paradigm shift on defense (they won't do this lol-but when you see it you'll understand why it might work).

One last thing: I think the QBs have been deluged with the need to protect the ball. It may explain why they both are missing deep passes downfield. They are being instructed to be efficient, not explosive. And Ironically, Mehringer is dialing up packages that are springing our explosive WRs downfield. I'll have to show that too. Eventually.

Edited 14 hours ago14 hr by Mike West

On 10/3/2026 at 10:40 AM, Triphibius said:

The unpleasant surprise has been Perich, who was supposed to an all-league quality player.

Some people have a feel for the game and some don't, that is the part between the ears that is difficult to impossible to fix. Some like Dante Moore are unable to process his entire field of vision simultaneously, others struggle to extrapolate motion to intersection points (something Moore is actually extremely good at), or have the discipline with their eyes to recognize and react to the decision points.

For them complicated if-then responsibilities ("multiple" defenses) just increase the odds of failure.

I remember Lanning in his first year was asked what he looks for in a recruit and he said "first and foremost guys that know how to play the game of football." I think he needs to get back to that emphasis a bit more in the player evaluation.

With regards to QB conservatism, Dan's #1 philosophy is don't turn the ball over. We have 2 turnovers in 4 games with one of them being special teams kick catch interference that wasn't called, so really one in 4 games.

Secondarily there is an understanding that shorter passes are higher percentage throws, which all else being equal is true, but wide open is wide open and you should be able to see it and trigger on it without habitual reservation that it's a low percentage throw. You're at elite QB and your receivers are elite, go for it.

I think for Dante, he is always going to be scared there is a safety coming over that he didn't see, because he can't see beyond his area of eye focus.

My freshman year of highschool football my coach was an army drill Sergeant and we played 8 man football at the 1A level. I'll never forget him always yelling the word "Containment!". Never let anybody get outside of you if you're the widest players. Seems simple enough, until you aren't sure in the moment if you are the widest player or if the guy behind you is or should be the widest player on that particular play call. Not a problem in 8 man football, but in an 11 man Mint defense, maybe it's a big problem.

Again I think it's such a huge thing for Lanning to go to the Seahawks instead of only recruiting on the bye week. It really shows he recognizes there are problems that won't be fixed if he keeps his team doing the same thing. I think of our Bball coach Altman who always seemed to find a way through the season to maximize the roster he has, to keep changing things methodically until everything was clicking as best it could.

I'd like to see that become a permanent characteristic of a Dan Lanning team. Once we go to a 24 team playoff that will be the winning strategy. You'll get 3 mulligans a year, try things out that may not pan out, adjust, adjust, adjust until it all clicks.

Edited 5 hours ago5 hr by Solar

On 10/2/2026 at 12:50 PM, David Marsh said:

I think a lot of this comes down to the inexperience of many of the position coaches. They just have failed to prepare these guys for the season in the off season. We are discovering now just how badly off this team is.

I remember reading in the off season that they were "ahead of schedule" in their playbook instillation. I am going to say that that was now untrue even if they believed it at the time. It probably points to the coaching at the time failing to evaluate how well players were integrating the playbook.

I am not saying these young coaches aren't talented but they lack experience and they are frantically working to try and make up the gap of preparation that formed over the off season.

Amen brother. All coaches must step up their crafts.

3 hours ago, OregonDucks said:

Geoff is being polite. The USC game highlights were inescapable showing just how bad Perich was at diagnosing and taking good angles to the ball. It's hard to believe he's the best we have for that position. I'm expecting Jett Washington or Woodyard to take his starting spot against UCLA.

This thread may be winding down, but I will add one other thought.

I am not able to watch much film, but I am certainly willing to take the word of Solar and Schwartz regarding Perich.

The puzzle is his apparent regression from his play last year at Minnesota.

If I remember correctly, Chris Hampton is not only acting as DC, but is still coaching the safeties.

I wonder if his dual responsibilities are part of the problem.

On the other hand, this may be one of those things that is fixed during the bye weeks.

On another matter, Missouri put on a clinic in run defense yesterday.

Perhaps there is something to learn from them.