Small things aside, Virginia trip was a huge success

Jackson Long FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Andrew Shurtleff The bad news: Marcus Mariota is struggling with accuracy, the inside run game looked pretty pathetic against a sizable defensive line, Byron Marshall couldn’t find any room, offensive play calling was highly questionable and third down conversions didn’t come as easily this time around. The good news: none of that matters at this point. As one pundit put …

Five Revelations from the Nicholls Game

Jackson Long FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Craig Strobeck Disclaimer: The Oregon Ducks played a very weak opponent on Saturday, and while the boys finally got to hit someone not wearing green and yellow, Nicholls was about as far as it gets from the caliber of opponent Oregon will face later this season.  With that disclosure out of the way, Oregon did play 60 minutes of football for …

Ducks Plaster the Nicholls Colonels, 66-3

Mark Saltveit FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Craig Strobeck The Oregon Ducks demolished FCS doormat Nicholls as expected Saturday afternoon, by a score of 66-3, but the game gave the plucky Colonels some reasons to feel proud, and the Ducks’ coaches areas to improve this season. Speculation that the Ducks would pass more under Coach Helfrich proved unfounded on Saturday.  For the first time in history, three …

Christmas comes in August!

Josh Hall FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Kevin Cline Tonight is every red-blooded American male’s version of Christmas Eve: It’s college football eve in America. We lay our heads down tonight with visions of Michael Clay laying out for that Rose Bowl fumble, while Chip reveals his white socks/black shoes fashion faux pas in the background.  We yawn with a smile and settle into bed as we …

Offensive Positional Units: Scenarios, Predictions and Three 1,000-yard Rushers?

Jackson Long FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Steve Francis With a returning offense capable of ridiculous stats, expectations run high across the college football landscape for Oregon’s 2013 campaign.  New head coach Mark Helfrich and his team have set a high bar for themselves, and as is the natural tendency for sports fans everywhere, the Duck faithful also have soaring hopes for their team.  While perfection is …

Are the Ducks in for a Letdown Season?

Don Gilman FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

On paper, this Oregon Ducks football team looks strong. Marcus Mariota, DeAnthony Thomas and Josh Huff all return as starters. The offensive line looks tough, as does the defensive secondary. In fact, there isn’t a single position that looks particularly weak, yet there are some vulnerabilities that should be troublesome to Duck fans. One of the issues Oregon fans should …

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 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 …

What Spring Football Reminded Us About the Relevance of Recruiting Rankings

Chris Charbonnier FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

  This week, we take a break from the Oregon Recruiting Manifesto to take a look at some of the emerging talent on the Duck roster. It didn’t take Jake Rodrigues long to lock down the back-up QB job.  Halfway through Saturday’s 2013 Spring Game, it became clear that it’s Rodrigues who the coaches will turn to in the event …

Ahh…Spring (Game) Is In The Air!

Carl Blackwell FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Featured Photo Courtesy Gary Breedlove Photography   The weather forecast earlier last week called for partly cloudy skies on Saturday, with a chance of some showers.  That gloomy prognostication never materialized, and yesterday’s spring game by the Oregon Ducks was held under clear and warm conditions — as perfect an April morning as you could hope for. Once again, two …

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 …

No Barner? No Problem; Marshall Has Things Under Control

Joel Gunderson FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

The lineage of running backs coming through Eugene has been almost mythical the last 10 years. From Jonathan Stewart to LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner, the Oregon running game has been in good hands. In 2013, despite losing Barner, nothing will change, and that has nothing to do with De’Anthony Thomas, or the two highly touted recruits coming in. That’s …