Oregon’s Top Five Breakout Players for 2013

Sam Arney FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Welcome back my feathered friends! With the heat rising to 116+ for almost all of last week in my city in the desert, I have been inside.  Enjoying the nice cool breeze from my air conditioner, peering out the smallest crack of the blinds to watch the sweaty people go about their days, and tearing my hair out deciding who …

2013 Breakout Players

Sam Arney FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

With the season still a little over two months away, all of the talk that’s going on is the release of the Oregon sanctions and those entailed. Of which I am very satisfied with the outcome. But I thought I would take this time to distract myself by making some predictions on who I think will be some of the …

Gut wrenching times with Chip Kelly

Sam Arney FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

With the new era of Helfrich football just over the rise, I thought it would be a good time to look back at the Chip Kelly era. Specifically the most gut wrenching parts of it.  As we are all huge Ducks fans, some of the most vivid memories we have over the last four seasons are the losses.  Chip Kelly was such a …

2013 Ten Most Important Players, No. 1-5

Sam Arney FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Welcome back for the second of my two part segment.  The wait is now over as I release my top five most important players for the upcoming season.  I know many of you will have differing opinions on who should be in the top five and where they should be ranked.  Keep in mind that this is my opinion as …

2013 Ten most important players No. 6-10

Sam Arney FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Welcome to the first of a two part segment. Now that the Spring game is in the rear-view mirror, what’s the outlook for fall 2013?  Even with a strong group of seniors departing, and several moving on to the NFL, Oregon is re-loading.  I want to show you what’s in store for the coming season.  In this two part article, I will …

Oregon Defense, Time to Worry?

Sam Arney FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

After attending Oregon’s annual spring game last weekend, there are many who were not overly impressed by our defense.  Many of my friends, and almost every media publication that I followed after the game were busy praising the offense and questioning the defense.  To all of these defensive worry warts, and any of you reading this article I say…DON’T WORRY. While …

Spring Game: Things I am Looking Forward To

Sam Arney FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Courtesy of Kevin Cline Photography It is almost upon us, folks.  Finally, we get to experience a little dose of what we all love so much, to get us through the next 4 months.  The Oregon Ducks spring football game is this Saturday at 11 am.  I will most definitely be in attendance to show my love and to check …

“Little Brother” Thinks They Have A Chance!

Sam Arney FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Courtesy of Kevin Cline Photography I recently read that many pundits think the Oregon State Beavers might actually be a contender; not just in the Pac-12 North, but in the Pac-12 in general.  I have also heard this same statement from many of my friends who are Beaver fans.  To my friends I must nod politely while trying not to smile and …

Will Helfrich unleash the beasts?

Sam Arney FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Featured Photo © Kevin Cline Photography   There are a couple of players on Oregon’s roster that make people scratch their heads.  Not the players themselves, but the way they have been utilized; or underutilized, as the case may be.  For some reason, coach Kelly liked to keep some of his more high profile players like an ace up his …

Louisville too much for the Ducks in Sweet 16 win

Sam Arney FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

It was a hard fought battle for the Oregon Ducks, who lost to the Louisville Cardinals 77-69 in the Sweet 16 Friday night.  Many analysts had Oregon as being extremely overmatched in this contest; while they were overmatched in some facets of the game, they managed to put up a valiant effort against arguably the best team in NCAA basketball …

Oregon Was In The Zone … Defense

Sam Arney FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

The 12th seeded Oregon Ducks took down 4th seed St. Louis Billikens Saturday in San Jose, 74-57.  It should be blatantly obvious to everyone after this game that Oregon got no seeding respect from the selection committee.  However, it seems to have worked out in the Ducks’ favor, as Oklahoma State and St. Louis were seeded high, and probably not deserving of …

Tyner Looms As Next Five-Star Challenge

Sam Arney FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

I have often wondered how big-time schools like USC can get so many five-star recruits, and limit them under their star potential.  For the most part, players earn their stars for a reason, but it is up to the coaches to make them realize that talent.  I would like to highlight some ups and downs of past Oregon five star …