Five Important Aspects of Tonight’s Civil War Game

McKalie Bellew FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

It’s game day and the anxious butterflies in my stomach are going crazy! Not only is it the last game of the regular season for our Ducks but it’s the Civil War game. I have heard people say that this is not a rivalry game but I can’t think of any reason it wouldn’t be, and it seems to be …

Don Pellum Says Defense Will Be Key Against Oregon State

Omar Garibay FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

While the whole country enjoys turkey, pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes tonight, the Ducks will be up bright and early in the morning in preparation for Saturday night’s game against their rival Oregon State. Although the Beavers haven’t had a successful season, expect them to play hard and physical. Oregon State has absolutely nothing to lose, and the Beavers would …

Don Pellum Makes Civil War His Priority

Tyler Robinson FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

“It really won’t be anything too extravagant this year because I really don’t have time for that,” coach Don Pellum said in reference to what he’ll be cooking for Thanksgiving dinner. Coach Pellum is focused on the task at hand, and that’s putting the shackles on Oregon State’s offensive attack this Saturday at Reser Stadium. I spoke with coach Pellum …

Nelson Spruce is Pellum’s Top Concern

Caleb Couturie FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Defensive Coordinator Don Pellum is no stranger to preparing for top offensive weapons. Just this year he has readied his Ducks for the likes of Ty Montgomery, Kaelin Clay, Jeremy Langford — and the list goes on. With that said, few (if any) are scarier than Colorado’s WR Nelson Spruce. Spruce’s long list of accomplishments is enough for an entire article, but to keep …

Don Pellum on Preparing for Stanford

Tyler Robinson FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

“We’re really fired up.” Those were the first words out of a cheerful Don Pellum‘s mouth when he addressed the media today following Oregon’s practice. Asked about Oregon’s past struggles with Stanford against the run and how he planned to address the issue, Pellum responded, “When you’re playing teams that run the ball, first you have to play with a better …

Defenses Win Championships: Can Oregon’s?

Max Thornberry FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Any sports fan knows that “defense wins championships.” In the case of the College Football Playoff, defense doesn’t just win championships, it  gets you a spot to contend for one in the first place. In professional sports, regular season rankings don’t matter, it all comes down to a team’s final win-loss record. The Ducks need to convince the nation they deserve a …

Recruiting Update: Preps Watch “11-Straight”

Mark Flores FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Football Recruiting Visits Oregon’s 11th straight victory over the “not-so-noisy northern neighbors” paid big dividends along the recruiting trail as several big names were in town to take in the spectacle that is Autzen Stadium. Among the visitors, tabbed athlete Tevis Bartlett (3-Star/Cheyenne, WY) found himself smack in the middle of Oregon’s plan going forward. “Coach (Don) Pellum and coach …

Ducks Success Hangs in the Balance

Alex Towne FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

“Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm, and harmony.” – Thomas Merton After attending college for three years now and absorbing as much enlightening knowledge as a naive 21-year-old is capable of, I feel that I can say one thing for sure. Life is about balance. Balance of work and play. Health and vices. Pleasure …

Recruiting Update: A Brutal Hook

Mark Flores FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Football Recruiting News There’s something to be said about the concept of family pedigree in the world of sports. Oregon’s newest target on the recruiting trail has quite the strain of athleticism running through his roots, even if it’s not readily known on the gridiron. Running back Elijah Holyfield (4-Star/College Park, GA/Rivals250) may be the next in a long line …

Winning the Trenches: The Key to the Oregon Ducks and Philadelphia Eagles’ 3-4 Defenses

Joe Kearns Analysis

There is a reason why defensive line guru Jerry Azzinaro was the one Oregon position coach who joined Chip Kelly on the Philadelphia Eagles’ coaching staff. The 3-4 defensive scheme and two-gap technique are just as important to Kelly as the fast-tempo, zone-blocking, and packaged plays. Azzinaro was Kelly’s right-hand man in installing the 3-4 as the base defense at …

Recruiting Update: “Abominable Snowman” Set to Visit Oregon

Mark Flores FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Football Recruiting Visits Fueled by Heisman-frontrunner Marcus Mariota, the Ducks rolled over hapless Wyoming, 48-14, in Autzen Stadium. In attendance was longtime Oregon-connected linebacker Mike Tafua (3-Star/Honolulu, HI) and per our friends at DuckTerritory, may be poised to flip a previously held commitment to BYU in favor of the Ducks. Standing 6-foot-3, 225 lbs., Tafua is the hard-nosed, sideline-to-sideline defender …

The Eyes of the Defense — A Farewell to One of the Best in the Game

Ashley Young Men of Oregon: Players and Coaches

It was an announcement that made headlines nationwide, one that left many Oregon Duck football fans with their jaws wide open. Defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti announced his last game before the 2013 Alamo Bowl. For the last 15 seasons, Aliotti ignited a spark in the Ducks’ defense, which led to multiple conference championships and a winning streak Oregon Ducks fans …