History Says Vernon Adams Will Be the 2015 Starting QB

Steven Jackson FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

At this point, it is no secret that the biggest question mark for the Ducks as they head toward the 2015-16 season is who will be under center come September 5th. But when considering recent history, we already have the answer: the starting quarterback for the Oregon Ducks this season is Vernon Adams, Jr. In some ways this is unfortunate, because you want …

The Art of Prediction, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying About the Ducks

Graham Berry FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

I’m sitting in a car right now, heading south to my new home: Houston, Texas. This move is predicated on a number of things: family, taxes, a deep love of Texas barbeque, and work. With a certitude reserved for cult members and migrating gaggles of geese, I think that I will enjoy living in Texas as much as I’ve enjoyed …

Can Royce Freeman Give UO Back-to-Back Heisman Winners?

Tyler Timm FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Last year the University of Oregon had its first Heisman trophy winner in history. Marcus Mariota finally took Oregon over the hump and won the award. There have been years in the past where an athlete from Oregon was in the running, but never the clear-cut favorite. Mariota ended that long Heisman drought. Previewing this coming football season, SI.com has already arrived …

Duckling Profile: Khalil Oliver Fights to Fill Defensive Gap

Forrest Welk FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Football recruiting is often akin to the careful planning of an investor. Coaches invest capital into players whom they feel will fill larger roles in the future. Oregon is no exception, as the Ducks are known for seeking youth and athleticism to fill gaps in their roster. With the departure of several key defensive backs, freshman Khalil Oliver looks to show …

Oregon’s Offense — Past and Present

Henry Swift History

At Oregon, we have grown accustomed to outsiders disrespecting our players by calling them “soft.” Even Marcus Mariota was not safe from such descriptions, as critics in the national media called him a mere by-product of a successful system. Many Duck fans believe the labels of “soft” and “by-product” of the system started with Dennis Dixon and when the spread …

Where Are They Now? Danny O’Neil (1991-1994): Bigger Than Life

Jerry Thompson Men of Oregon: Players and Coaches

Oregon Duck fans everywhere can always be grateful that former Oregon assistant Nick Aliotti stretched the truth when Aliotti was recruiting high school quarterback Danny O’Neil in 1990. Twenty years ago, O’Neil led the Ducks to the Pac-10 championship and 1995 Rose Bowl game vs. Joe Paterno’s Penn State Nittany Lions, and in that game O’Neil broke the Rose Bowl passing record …

Analysis: “Pre-Freshmen” — Who Impressed at the Oregon Spring Game

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck Editorials

Most of the buzz from the 2015 Oregon Spring Game centered around the superb performances of quarterback Jeff Lockie and Uber-dude, Charles Nelson – and rightly so. Typically, at FishDuck.com, we like to analyze the areas that most analysts do not examine, and I found some amazing performances buried in the trenches by none other than the “Pre-Freshmen” enrolled at Oregon early …

Charles Nelson Should Be an Early Heisman Trophy Candidate

Ben Salaman FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Most school’s spring games have come to a close, which has given us an idea of who should be on the radar for the upcoming 2015 season. Much speculation has been surrounding the quarterback position for the Ducks thus far. However, one player has exploded onto the scene since the end of Oregon’s 2014 season. Charles Nelson has proved himself …

Rodney Hardrick Interview

Daniel Kantor FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

With the departure of linebacker Tony Washington, Oregon’s linebacking corps needs a new leader. Redshirt senior Rodney Hardrick has the ability to become that leader. I met up with Hardrick to discuss what the future of Oregon’s linebackers looks like. Daniel: It is a very young linebacking crew with [Tony] Washington gone. What are the young guys doing in order to get ready? …

Three Reasons Marcus Mariota is NFL’s LeBron James

Jordan Ingram FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Every so often, an athlete emerges whose abilities exceed the boundaries of convention and provide a new bright-line of distinction. Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and LeBron James are among the special few whose personal contributions, sportsmanship, and competitive drive forever altered the landscape of professional sports. They became legends who brought hope and championships to their loyal fans. And they were fun to watch, too. So, who will be this generation’s …