Devoted Duck fans who follow the football team closely have been impressed with the superb hiring of assistants by Dan Lanning over the years. It truly seems that with many new assistant coaches hired–he improved the position that was already coached well. But I had to pause after downloading a superb betting app, the MelBet iOS app to reflect upon the massive risk that Lanning is taking by hiring the coordinator positions from within.
I suspected that these were not coaches who have extensive experience and track record, although Chris Hampton (age 39) has served as Defensive Coordinator at Tulane and moved them fifty places up from No. 82 to No. 32 in scoring defense at 22 points per game. Still, I am surprised that a bigger name from the outside was not considered when you see all the proven high-quality coaches on the move with the extensive number of coaching changes in this offseason.
I sense that this is a coach-with-upside move again, although we have not watched what Hampton will do in defensive play-calling as yet. One area he has excelled is in recruiting of defensive backs, and has been consistently listed as one of the best recruiters in the nation. We have an experienced secondary returning that was enhanced with two portal transfers as well. But the pressure to match and improve upon the 17.9 points per game given up this year has to be immense.
Chris Hampton has coached corners, safeties and been a DC before at Tulane. (Photo by Gary Breedlove)
The pressure on new Offensive Coordinator Drew Mehringer is palpable already. Fans were stunned with his elevation from Tight Ends coach to becoming the OC. (Age 38) That position is one of the most glamorous and sought-after spots for all assistant coaches in CFB, and to turn it over to someone who has been the Tight Ends coach? Don’t we want more experience?
Risky, very risky.
Well, call me fooled as I did not know the full and extensive background of Coach Mehringer. I have been concerned about whether Lanning will bring in a quarterbacks coach, since Mehringer’s title still states, OC and Tight Ends coach. Yet he was a college quarterback himself until he was injured at Rice, and he coached quarterbacks at New Mexico, James Madison, and at Rutgers for a season. He has been receivers coach and passing game coordinator at New Mexico and Texas, and his coaching of tight ends at Oregon has been the exception in his career and not his focus.
I was concerned about his lack of experience as an offensive coordinator, but he was an OC at Rutgers, and was co-offensive coordinator at James Madison, at Florida Atlantic, and of course for Oregon the last couple of years. So with that information–this appears to be more of a natural move, an elevation on his career path that he has prepared for at the normal learning levels. His recruiting at tight end has been exceptional with two 5-Star TEs joining the Ducks to complement a superb group already assembled.
Drew Mehringer has the confidence given from the most important people who count. (Photo by Tom Corno)
I assume he assisted with quarterback recruiting because Dante Moore knew Coach Mehringer was going to be here, and that had to play an important part in his decision to return. It speaks volumes about that confidence in Mehringer as OC and QB coach that has not been mentioned in other media reports or interviews. That is a quiet but huge endorsement from Moore, and certainly the commitment of QB transfer Dylan Raiola, along with WR transfer Iverson Hooks points to the respect of Coach Mehringer, and shouts again to his recruiting skills.
I recognize that in the end…we fans must have confidence in the Lanning’s judgment. After all, both the OC and DC were on the headsets talking to these coaches who were up in their spot in the press box, and Coach Lanning could listen to the suggestions and decisions of both. Of course he has been able to see them coaching and recruiting for a couple of years, so many would say that he has mitigated the risk much more than an outside hire.
What say you? Let me know your confidence or concerns in the only free, civilized, Oregon football message board out there, the Our Beloved Ducks forum because…
“Oh, how we love to discuss Our Beloved Ducks!“
Charles Fischer (Mr. FishDuck)
Eugene, Oregon
Top Photo by Max Unkrich
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Charles Fischer has been an intense fan of the Ducks, a season ticket holder at Autzen Stadium for 38 years and has written reports on football boards for over 26 years. Known as “FishDuck” on those boards, he is acknowledged for providing intense detail in his scrimmage reports, and in his Xs and Os play analyses. He is single, has a daughter Christine, and resides in Eugene Oregon where he was a Financial Advisor for 36 years.
He now focuses full-time on Charitable Planned Giving Workshops for churches and non-profit organizations in addition to managing his two Oregon Football Websites, of FishDuck.com and the Our Beloved Ducks forum. He is a busy man!
He does not profess to be a coach or analyst, but simply a “hack” that enjoys sharing what he has learned and invites others to correct or add to this body of Oregon Football! See More…