The Run-Pass Option: A Mid-Line Sweep Read w/Bubble Threat

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck Analysis, Fish Reports

As a fellow fan, it’s tough to lose a game – especially the way the Nebraska game transpired. Nonetheless, we wish to continue to build the “Oregon Playbook” within FishDuck.com and continue to learn from the evolution of the Oregon Spread Offense. There are ongoing permutations off of fundamental plays such as the Sweep Read, which we wish to identify and understand …

Oregon Stuns Opponents With New Inverted Veer Play!

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck Analysis, Fish Reports

The Oregon offense under head coach Mark Helfrich continues to progress and add new components to keep its attack fresh. I was pretty surprised to see a new play that seemed to have elements of an Outside Zone Read combined with a Power Play, and the Grizzled Ol’ Coach identified it as the Inverted Veer play! It was made famous …

Special Teams Analysis: Attacking the PAT Perimeter

Coach Ruskin Fiegenbaum Analysis, Fish Reports

As most know, Oregon is known for going for surprise two-point conversions during the usual PAT process. The recent game against UC-Davis provided some superb examples for us to learn what works and why, along with what does not work, and why. While I (Charles Fischer) am writing parts of this article, the primary analysis segments are provided by new …

Blasphemy! Coach Helfrich Is NOT Running the Chip Kelly Offense?!

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck Analysis, Fish Reports

The stunning preseason predictions from Pac-12 sports journalists have placed Oregon third, or even as low as fourth (courtesy of Sports Illustrated) in the North division, let alone the entire conference. For long-term Oregon fans, this is scarcely believable; how can the first nine-win season in nearly a decade of double-digit wins be the inception of upcoming mediocrity for Duck football? The answer from many …

FishDuck Analysis: Important Questions Answered From the Spring Game

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck Analysis, Fish Reports

My friends … I am excited about what I saw from the Oregon Spring Game. It has become evident to me that we are on a path that will someday take us to a National Championship. Now you know me: I am admittedly an insufferable fool for the Ducks, the classic homer fan. That said, I do have the GOC …

FishDuck’s Practice Analysis: Stunning Defensive Progress

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck Analysis, Fish Reports

I was very surprised, and pleased, by what I saw at Oregon’s open practice on Monday, and my poor Duck-buddy, Gageac (as he is known on the message boards), had to listen to me drone on about it. I wasn’t planning to write about my impressions, as I assumed that other media and message board gurus would be all over what left …

Coaches Comments: An Inside Look at the Brady Hoke Defense

Coach Morris Analysis, Fish Reports

As a retired high school football coach, I had the opportunity on a Thursday night (3-31) to hear Brady Hoke speak at the Oregon Coaches’ Clinic, and the next morning I got to watch my one-and-only practice of the season. I thought I would share what I noted, and what you might want to look for at the Oregon Spring Game. Some …

The 4-3 vs the 3-4 Defensive Analysis: Expectations for Oregon Football

Evan Markel Analysis, Fish Reports

Oregon’s spring game is just days away, and, in case you missed it, there were some major changes to the coaching staff. The most anticipated change came at the defensive coordinator position with the hiring of Brady Hoke, who has never held the position before. In his early years, Hoke established himself as an excellent defensive line coach, spending six …

I Fell in Love With a Defensive System

Coach Morris Advice for the Coaches, Analysis, Fish Reports

 [A confessional from an old, retired coach. But first a warning to potential readers:  There may be nothing in this article about Oregon Duck football. This article is about a SPECIFIC 4-3 defensive system, and the Ducks will be using the 4-3 next season. But the two systems might — probably will — differ a lot.  The system Brady Hoke …

The Oregon Edge: Duck Defense v. TCU Defense

Evan Markel Analysis, Fish Reports

Last week I investigated the Oregon defense by comparing key metrics over the past 10 years. In doing so, I was able to discover how the Ducks have evolved on the defensive side of the ball. By establishing a baseline comparison to past performance I can now confidently compare the 2015 defense to other Oregon teams. Because team offense has an …

Secondary Under Fire: The Present-versus-Past Analysis of the Oregon Defense

Evan Markel Analysis, Fish Reports

In last week’s analysis I investigated Oregon’s yards allowed per play, an important statistic by which defenses are measured. Although important, however, yards per play does not define a defense. So this week I continue on my quest to discover how the Oregon defense has evolved over the past decade. In future articles I intend to compare Oregon’s defense to other …

Analysis: The Trend Line of Oregon’s Defense

Evan Markel Analysis, Fish Reports

My friends, we have a new writer, Evan Markel, who will provide some statistical information about our beloved Ducks. For now he will focus his study on the Duck defense in a quest for answers. He has been charged with offering the data, yet keeping it simple for those of us mathematically impaired.   Take the extra two minutes to soak …