Recruiting Analysis: Ducks Dodge Disaster

Chris Charbonnier FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

When news broke that Don Pellum was going to be Oregon’s new defensive coordinator, a number of people asked me how it would affect recruiting.  ”It won’t,” I said, “the thing to watch is whether or not John Neal stays put.”  I was worried, since I knew that Neal really wanted that defensive coordinator position.  How would he react to …

Another Amazing Oregon Feat: Avoiding Injuries

Victor Flores FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Kevin Cline The Ducks haven’t made four straight BCS bowl games by accident. When a team has elite talent and a transcendent offensive system, it’s gonna win games. Yet Oregon, like every good team, has benefited from some tremendous good fortune. Since 2009, Oregon experienced a major injury less times than their punters have stepped onto the field. Given the …

Oregon’s Underrated/Outstanding Defensive Backs

Joey Holland History

Before anything else, one word usually comes to mind when people hear about the Oregon Ducks, “Offense.” The Ducks have finished among the elite in the national standings over each of the past six years in terms of total offense, and have developed quite a reputation doing of it. However, that reputation also comes with some negatives.  Many argue that, …

RUDY. RUUDY. RUUUDY! RUUUUDY!!: Overachieving Ducks of the Chip Kelly Era

Sean Goodbody FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

National Signing Day is, by now, a distant memory.  We silently fist-pumped (probably at work) as preps across the nation used something called a “facks machine” for the first (and probably last) time to send their NLIs to Eugene.  We looked over the tremendous haul of new Ducks recruits, nodded in approval, and said things like, “THAT KID IS A …