When Calamities Collide

Wow, It is almost impressive how absolutely abysmal that spectacle was. This morning as we all try to process what we just witnessed, I think there is a convergence of factors that need to be addressed separately and then added together to understand what is so wrong with the Ducks offense.

Starting at the top, Lanning's gambling addiction needs to be addressed. It stopped being fun pedal to the metal go big or go home stuff years ago. Why in the world does he take so many potentially game changing risks so early in so many games? Last year in the first game with Indiana, on the first drive, he decides to go for it on fourth down on the short side of the field. Why? After failing, the Hoosiers kick a field goal and settle in and control the game the rest of the way.

This week it's going for two in the first quarter. Both times it's high risk low reward decisions that set a negative tone for the rest of the game. Not only is it poor strategy, I think gambling shows a lack of confidence in the team that sets the negative tone mentioned earlier. It needs to stop like with an intervention, counseling or a life changing moment. Whatever the answer is, it needs to happen soon.

The OC promotion has been a disaster. Mehringer seems like a good tight end coach but nothing on his resume screamed OC potential. His results as OC at Rutgers were bad and we're now seeing why. This team has been assembled with some of the best skill position players in the country which gets negated by some of the worst play calling in the country. The simplistic route tree the receivers run negates their physical advantage. Running up the middle has been this teams most glaring weakness and yet continues to be their favorite play.

With the game and playoff hopes on the line, with a last chance opportunity to escape with a win in OT with a successful two point conversion what gets called? Yes the Ducks worst and least successful play all year. Right up the middle. Inexcusable. One of the few successful drives the team had was self destroyed with a way too cute wildcat hand off fumble. When it ain't broke, don't fix it.

It also needs to be asked how can the offensive line be so terrible? A quick look at the OL two deep shows ten players rated 4-5 stars. How in the world in year five with that much talent can the Ducks have one of the worst O lines in the country. Since everything starts up front, everything gets derailed at step one. Something is appallingly wrong and someone needs to deal with this ASAP.

To summarize an inexplicably bad OL with great talent is setting up plays doomed to fail by an OC in over his skies. All this is setting up a delicate chess match that needs to be strategically navigated by a river boat gambler who never wants to be told the odds. Welcome to Oregon Duck football 2026. Buckle up.