Lane Johnson: Chip Kelly’s Secret Weapon in Space?

Joe Kearns Analysis

Chip Kelly doesn’t just want his skill players to have speed. He places a high premium on athletic offensive linemen who can execute their blocks both at the line of scrimmage and in space. It is easy to see how Lane Johnson‘s rare athletic ability convinced Kelly to select the Oklahoma offensive tackle with the fourth overall pick last year. …

Chip Kelly Update: Tonka Trucks and a Media Blitz

Mark Saltveit FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Wow. After weeks of dull silence, there was an explosion of Chip Kelly news this week. The somewhat reclusive coach went over the head of the local press and swept national football reporters off their feet, while his players improved, fought and generally created genuine excitement. As near as anyone can remember, Chip has given only a single one-on-one print interview …

Like It or Not, the Pressure Is on for Mark Helfrich

Jack Heffernan FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

After just one season in which his team posted an .846 winning percentage, Mark Helfrich is under significant pressure from many fans who doubt his ability to lead the Oregon Ducks to a national title. Such is the life of a head coach of a perennial top-ranked program. The intense scrutiny is nothing new for Helfrich, who inherited the impossible …

Scott’s Turf: Unacceptable Behavior

Scott Reed Editorials

Last fall, during a game at Autzen Stadium, I witnessed a moment I am most embarrassed about; the booing of a college player. Has there ever been a more maligned player in Oregon history than Alejandro Maldonado? Criticism of players is fair game in my opinion; it is what we do. But as George Wrightster told me last week, it’s …

Chip Kelly Update: A Few Minor Incidents

Mark Saltveit FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

There is really only one month a year that NFL football is not happening, and it just ended. Players returned for the start of training camp today, and reporters returned from their vacations on Monday with a bunch of interesting articles. NFL referees returned, too, and ate a bit of crow. A year ago, they insisted that no new coach was …

Chip Kelly Journal — A Defining Moment: DeSean Jackson’s Release

Joe Kearns Coach's Opinion

Conventional wisdom dictates that a Philadelphia Eagles team whose offense earned the second-highest total yards would likely stay the course with its current personnel. Anyone who made that assumption ignored the fact that Chip Kelly does not care about conventional wisdom. The release of DeSean Jackson, the Eagles’ most dangerous receiver, this past March was a defining moment for Kelly. The …

The Past Is the Past: How Chip Kelly Comparisons Are Useless

Steven Holstad FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

For Oregon football fans, the past season has been a unique time. For starters, in the last season of the BCS era, Oregon’s incredible four-year streak of playing in BCS bowls was snapped. It was also the first year for new head coach Mark Helfrich. While he had the best debut season ever for an Oregon coach, some fans still …

While Duck Fans Cheer, Haters Pray for Oregon’s (Imminent) Collapse

Don Gilman FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

No Mark Twain quotes here. No rehashing of the great author’s famous statement about his death being overstated. Yet, as Duck fans, many of us can relate to that phrase. Every year Oregon’s detractors predict that the end is nigh, that surely this year the Ducks will face some sort of collapse and fall flat on their feathered faces. This year, the …

Chip Kelly Update: Problems on Special Teams

Mark Saltveit FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Chip Kelly and the Eagles did better last year than anyone but the biggest Eagles homer imagined. One big disappointment, though, was special teams performance. This is puzzling because, by all accounts, Kelly put a lot more effort into STs last year than Andy Reid ever did. He added some players (such as Jason Phillips) to the roster primarily for their special …

Scott’s Turf: Character Matters

Scott Reed FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Over the past five recruiting classes, dating back to the 2009 recruiting class, Oregon leads the nation in an unregistered recruiting category – percentage of prospects signed that make it to campus. Contrast that with South Carolina, which will reportedly have eight players of 24 signed to this class who are not eligible. In Oregon’s case, this is not by some …

Chip Kelly, Brad Smith and the Wildcat

Joe Kearns Analysis

It was Dec. 1, 2013. With the score at 7-7 in the second quarter, the Philadelphia Eagles marched to the Arizona Cardinals’ 6-yard line. It was at this moment when Chip Kelly unveiled a surprising wrinkle.                     If Nick Foles was there, who was lined up as quarterback? Meet Brad Smith. …

Chip Kelly Update: Silly Season, Drugs & Beefs

Mark Saltveit FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Football fans are stuck in the doldrums, and with no wind in their sails, they’re just waiting for the endless (month-long) break between mini-camp and training camp to end. Luckily you have us football writers, struggling furiously to generate enough hot air to fill those sails. Chip Kelly’s Eagles finished spring workouts full of smiles, with no drama (after the DeSean Jackson release and …