The last two playoff losses and the two losses this season - it felt like the other team knew what Oregon was going to do and how to exploit the Ducks.

The USC game was an exception to this theory.

I am guessing that the Ducks are too predictable. The opposing defense can give a certain look to force Oregon to audible and then they know what Oregon is going to do.

Oregon is falling for this from up and coming coaches previously from the lower ranks who had to figure out how to do more with less to get wins.

I think Dan Lanning figured it out and he is upset that he learned that others know more about college football than he does.

I also think the Ducks will get up to speed on this quickly.

I also don't think that Koi Perich and the O line are horrible. They are just getting burned. Once the 'fix' is put in (whatever that is), things should look like normal Oregon football again.

I have a very hard time believing that Lanning whiffed on evaluating Perich and his O line with all the coaching experience he has.

I believe that this all came about because Lanning has such a young coaching staff.

Lanning is fixing the defense. The offense is harder to fix because there are no real experts in Eugene for that purpose. Dan Lanning needs an offensive partner to help him coach.

Yes, a real partner. An equal, not in title, but in expertise. Having assistants who are learning on the job is not getting it done.

The problem is Lanning's hubris in not hiring qualified F1 drivers to drive the F1 car level talent he paid to come play and thought he could grab Jimmy Lipper from the pit crew to race the car instead. As Lanning isn't an exceptional coach he reallllllly needs to be a better CEO and hire actual coaches and not just barely adequate buddies.

On 10/16/2026 at 9:04 AM, Utki said:

The problem is Lanning's hubris in not hiring qualified F1 drivers to drive the F1 car level talent he paid to come play and thought he could grab Jimmy Lipper from the pit crew to race the car instead. As Lanning isn't an exceptional coach he reallllllly needs to be a better CEO and hire actual coaches and not just barely adequate buddies.

Reminds me of the downfall of Helfrich. He did good his first year with Chip's players, then it tanked.

Lanning can bring in the player talent, but he is garbage on offense unless he brings in a top tier OC.

I'm stressed too folks. But I am going to stand by Dan Lanning. WARTS AND ALL.

I don't like what I see, and I don't care. I am willing to be patient. I know, and I believe all of us know just how difficult it is to win a title. Indiana got incredibly lucky last year. No matter how much fanfare Cignetti gets. If Carson Beck throws that pass five more yards downfield-Mario Cristobal would have been called a pretty damn good coach.

Five yards folks. Remember that when you think Lanning has to be the most brilliant coach this planet has ever produced.

On 10/15/2026 at 10:45 PM, oregon123 said:

I am guessing that[....] The opposing defense can give a certain look to force Oregon to audible and then they know what Oregon is going to do.

That would explain a lot. Definitely worth rewatching the games to look for that. I wonder if someone stole and sold Oregons playbook.

30 minutes ago, Fair Weather Duck said:

That would explain a lot. Definitely worth rewatching the games to look for that. I wonder if someone stole and sold Oregons playbook.

I think more likely it hasn't gained many new wrinkles or changes in the past few years.

I think everyone has seen enough film now to know how this offense works and how to stop it. Or slow it.

And it takes more than a wild cat package to make DCs second guess themselves.

However, in final drive there was some great coaching. I think it was one of the 4th downs (it could have been a third down) and the Ducks show Davison wildcat. Nebraska didn't have the personnel on the field or aligned correctly so they call a time out.

Great play call because either they get the defense on wrong place and convert the down or they force the timeout burning Nebraska's options later in the game.

Now that alone doesn't convert that situation. The Ducks came out of the timeout with a DIFFERENT play call and converted.

If they came out in the same package that would have been pretty dumb because Nebraska could have adjusted.

There is some talent in this coaching staff but is there enough expirence? I don't think so.

On 10/15/2026 at 10:45 PM, oregon123 said:

Dan Lanning needs an offensive partner to help him coach.

Yes, a real partner. An equal, not in title, but in expertise. Having assistants who are learning on the job is not getting it done.

Two thoughts on this...

1. I think that was the logic behind the Mehringer promotion. Mehringer was apart of that original Lanning staff and in a lot of ways has been brought along for this job. I think it has backfired but I think that was the logic.

2. Lanning needs to talk to Bellotti because how he worked with Chip feels like the relationship needed here.

   Keeping in mind that to make Chip's offense work it did require bringing Allioti in to ensure the defense aligned with the same mission. The defense had to adjust to being on the field longer because the offense either scored lightning fast or was 3 and out fast.

   Which also changed how the defense acted and reacted to the game situation. If the Ducks were up the defense got more aggressive at trying to force take aways... If the offense was down it was about trying to avoid digging a hole and putting the team more behind. Didn't always work but adjustments in game were always needed.

11 hours ago, Mike West said:

I'm stressed too folks. But I am going to stand by Dan Lanning. WARTS AND ALL.

I don't like what I see, and I don't care. I am willing to be patient. I know, and I believe all of us know just how difficult it is to win a title. Indiana got incredibly lucky last year. No matter how much fanfare Cignetti gets. If Carson Beck throws that pass five more yards downfield-Mario Cristobal would have been called a pretty damn good coach.

Five yards folks. Remember that when you think Lanning has to be the most brilliant coach this planet has ever produced.

All Lanning has to do is hire the next Kenny Dillingham and all should be well. 2 out of 3 of his OC hires were home runs.

Some people bagged on Will Stein, but I will take last year's offense over this years with mostly the same players.

Dan Helfrich needs his Mariota

Hire Mariota...