Having to head to class the day after watching the almighty Ducks fall to the No. 4 team in the country was heartbreaking to say the least. To make matters more interesting for some Duck fans, Oregon lost two of its key players in DE Arik Armstead and Heisman QB Marcus Mariota to the NFL Draft. It’s been one eventful week for the Ducks and it’s evident that things are quickly changing for one of the best college football programs in the nation. Without further ado, here are the top three essential questions that Oregon needs to answer heading into the off-season:
1. The Next Great Oregon Quarterback. Who Will It Be?
It’s evident that filling Mariota’s shoes is going to be a hard task, but it’s definitely possible. Some of the player’s Coach Mark Helfrich and his staff are going to evaluate are Ty Griffin, Taylor Alie, Morgan Mahalak and Jeff Lockie. All these candidates originate from within the program, while incoming freshman QB Travis Waller is coming in fresh off the California boat. As with most Duck fans, I’m very curious to see whom the program decides to hand the keys to. However, whoever it shall be, it’s important that all of us support him during his tenure with the Ducks.
Veteran OT Jake Fisher has been a mentor to younger Ducks throughout his tenure at Oregon.
2. How will Oregon Construct a New and Improved Offensive Line?
One of the main reasons that Oregon lost the National Championship was due to issues originating from both the O-line and D-line. What makes the Duck offense such a powerhouse in most of their games is the O-line winning the battle of the trenches. Recently, Oregon has been facing very physical defensive line teams such as Ohio State’s DL Michael Bennett. Next year, Oregon will need to fill in key positions in the O-line as players such as C Hroniss Grasu and OT Jake Fisher are heading to the NFL Draft.
3. Will Oregon Carry This Season’s Momentum Into Next Season?
There is no doubt that the success the Ducks had this season will always be remembered in the record books. However, what Oregon needs to focus on is how they are going to convert this disappointing end to a great ye into something even more stunning next season. When Oregon lost in the 2010 BCS Championship Game, many thought that the Ducks would never have such another amazing run such as they had with Darron Thomas. Contrary to this belief, Oregon got back on their webbed feet and had a historical season in 2011. All in all, the Ducks need to come back stronger than ever if they want to make a possible second appearance in the College Football Playoff.
Top Photo by John Giustina
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Hey! My name is Austin Willhoft and I’m currently a freshman at the University of Oregon studying Journalism. I lived my whole life down in sunny and beautiful Laguna Beach, CA where I completed all of my prior education. I always have been into sports writing/reporting mostly due to the fact that I love watching, analyzing, and playing all kinds of sports. However, if I were to narrow it down between two sports, it would be basketball and football, both of which I played heavily in high school. I’m thrilled to be working for FishDuck.com and most importantly being a third generation to attend the UO. Sko Ducks!