Trade Rumors: Mariota’s New Starting Job?

Alex Heining Editorials

With the NFL’s Quarterback Carousel officially on in an unusually active offseason, it’s time that teams with doubts or substantial extra value at quarterback to start making calls about moving the most important position in football. This puts the Las Vegas Raiders and former Oregon superstar Marcus Mariota in a bind. Given the opportunity to play in place of an injured Derek …

Trading Places: Burrow Replaces Herbert at Oregon

Alex Heining Editorials

Darren Perkins, one of our own at FishDuck, wrote this past Friday about Herbert’s draft billing and its relationship to head coach Mario Cristobal’s coaching which got me thinking about the 2019 season again. Joe Burrow became the unanimous first choice of the NFL Draft this time a year ago, as Oregon star quarterback Justin Herbert followed closely behind at sixth overall …

Will 2021 Reveal a No.1 Receiver for the Ducks?

Alex Heining Editorials

Oregon’s program was successful early on in the season thanks to the vast array of new and returning contributors on offense, but this abundance of variety also had points of faltering in recent outings. Not having that “go to” player leaves the offense guessing as much as the defense on what they should run in a make-or-break situation, and potentially could …

Ducks in the First: 2021 NFL Draft

Alex Heining Editorials

The 2020-2021 Oregon Ducks may not have finished well on the football field, but they certainly are an exorbitantly talented bunch. Several of the Ducks’ best elected to opt-out of the season in favor of preparing for the NFL Draft this April which certainly had a lot to do with the lacking production on the field. After looking at many, …

The Ducks’ Surprise Standouts of 2020

Alex Heining Editorials

In the painful last month of football for Our Beloved Ducks, it’s been tough to see the bright spots in some bleak, bleak team performances. Rotating quarterbacks, disastrous special teams mistakes, losing fumbles and confidence all culminated the season on a dissonant note falling on the collective deaf ears of Oregon fans. But there were some welcome surprises in these …

Which Former Duck Would Save the Fiesta Bowl?

Alex Heining Editorials

It’s a common phrase at the NFL level to say your team is a “quarterback away” from being a playoff contender. The same could be said about many college football programs, and although the Ducks may not be particularly needy at the quarterback spot, they may be one all-time great player away from being a College Football Playoff contender even …

Moorhead on the Move ALREADY?

Alex Heining Editorials

As the condensed College Football season winds down for the nation and the Ducks, the new hires and transfer reports are starting to boil. There is now a healthy mix of both well-founded and straw-grasping rumors fluttering around the college football ether for programs seeking new coaching talents and prospects from across the nation, and those more desperate than others …

Pac-12 Championship and Beyond: Who’s Poised to Breakout?

Alex Heining Editorials

Our Beloved Ducks’ 2020 football season hasn’t lived up to snuff. It’s been a tumultuous year for the entire country, but we expected more of the outstanding recruits we were able to accumulate over the last couple offseasons. As a fan you can point to the starter turnover, loss of veteran presence, you name it. Then again, we are just fans. …

Ducks’ Recruiting Is Finally Coast-to-Coast Dominant

Alex Heining Editorials

Many fans feel unsettled by the lack of football in Autzen this fall and see this as a “cop out” season for the Pac-12 board, a “cowardly move” to avoid lawsuits. Missing out on some of our best players’ last seasons at Oregon may seem disappointing now, but head coach Mario Cristobal has prepared for this. Sure, the Ducks have …

Is There a TRUE No.1 Pick on the 2020 Ducks’ Roster?

Alex Heining Editorials

The Oregon Ducks’ football program has accrued a wealth of ‘blue chip’ talents over the past several recruiting seasons. With at least three potential first round picks set to be drafted in the next two years (depending on whether or not this postponed spring season has a significant impact on the draft), there’s a great deal of speculation on not …

Recruiting Radar: Jason Marshall Validates Cristobal’s Vision

Alex Heining Editorials

This past Friday, 5-star prospect Jason Marshall (Miami) updated the college football world on the top five programs he’s considering joining for the 2021 season.As to be expected, Marshall topped his choices with the 2010 decade’s most dominant college football program, Alabama. The middling of the list was composed with two of Marshall’s favorite in-state colleges, Miami and Florida U, as well as …

Why 2020 Is THE Breakout Year for Johnny Johnson III

Alex Heining Editorials

The Ducks need a star to emerge at wide-out in 2020. The 2019 Oregon Ducks had a versatile and effective ground game complemented by a receiver-by-committee air attack. However, despite the passing attack being orchestrated by veteran signal caller Justin Herbert, no single receiver was able to eclipse 1000 yards or catch double-digit touchdowns. Although those receiving metrics aren’t necessarily …