Oregon Pass Defense “Coachable Moments”

Coach Morris Analysis, Learning the Jim Leavitt 3-4 Hybrid Defense

This article by the Grizzled Ol’ Coach, Mike Morris, has been edited to conform to our protocol on the site. Words and punctuation have been added or changed to match other articles, hence not all of what you read below are precisely his words, but match his intent.  Charles Fischer The Oregon defense showed excellent improvement defending the run in …

3-4? 3-3-5? 4-2-5? Understanding Oregon’s Defensive Fronts

Coach Morris Analysis, Learning the Jim Leavitt 3-4 Hybrid Defense

Charles Fischer [the head man at FishDuck.com] keeps telling me that many fans, and he, are confused about the configuration of the Oregon front 7: the defensive linemen and linebackers [LBs]. So let’s have a look. At first glance, Coach Jim Leavitt’s most used/base front, appears to be a typical 3 [linemen]-4 [LBs] defense. But the devil’s in the details; …

Ducks Defensive Backs’ New “Knock-it-Loose PUNCH Technique”

Coach Morris Analysis, Fish Reports

Earlier, we, at FishDuck.com, showed examples of Colorado’s 2016 corners using the “shadow technique” to effectively neutralize the Washington Huskies’ great WR, John Ross. Remember, this pass defense technique will now be taught by the Oregon Ducks’ new, outstanding corners’ coach, Charles Clark. Today, we’ll look at what a defensive back must do if he fails to execute the shadow …

Cornerbacks: Oregon’s New PRESS TECHNIQUE

Coach Morris Analysis, Fish Reports

My friends … we have some tremendous new techniques to learn from our new coaching staff, and this article begins a crucial area for us as fans to understand. One-on-one coverage or “man” is the most difficult for us fans to know whether if the form or technique is correct, and Coach Morris is going to help us again learn …

Analysis: A GUMBO OF SPRING HIGHLIGHTS

Coach Morris Analysis, Fish Reports

We, at FishDuck.com, have presented several analyses of Oregon’s Spring Football Game, all featuring a theme of how the new and improved Duck defense stopped different offensive plays.  This week there’s not a definite theme – other than they are “delicious” ingredients to savor. Like a hearty Gumbo’s different flavors, these three plays come together to make a delectable concoction. …

The Improved Oregon Defense: Defending the Counter Trey

Coach Morris Analysis, Fish Reports, Learning the Jim Leavitt 3-4 Hybrid Defense

For the past two weeks, we, at FishDuck.com, have shown examples of good-to-very-good Oregon defense, taken from the Oregon Spring Game.  Last week we looked at the Ducks defending their own Inside Zone Read [IZR], and prior to that we saw good examples of Oregon’s defense containing and stopping the Jet and Pistol Sweeps by their offense. Today we’ll look at …

Willie Taggart, The Leader

Coach Morris Coach's Opinion, What Coaches say about Oregon Football

Recently I had the extremely appreciative joy of attending the Oregon Coaches’ Football Clinic.  I’ve been pretty-much annually attending football coaching clinics since 1964; heard many of the all-time greats speak, while always sitting up-front, eagerly asking questions when I could.  I’ve learned a lot about football and the personalities of many coaches. But this Duck Clinic was wonderfully unique. …

The “404” Defensive Scheme is BACK with DC Jim Leavitt

Coach Morris Analysis, Fish Reports, Learning the Jim Leavitt 3-4 Hybrid Defense

My friends, we are fortunate again to have an Analysis from our own Grizzled Ol’ Coach, Mike Morris, as he will be slowly releasing information about the new Oregon Offense and Defense over the next couple of months along with our other superb coaches aligned with FishDuck.com. Do know that the defense that our beloved Ducks will be running is …

Taggart’s Smash-Mouth, Deceptive Spread Offense: The Counter Trey

Coach Morris Analysis, Fish Reports, Understanding the Willie Taggart Oregon Spread Offense

In our last FishDuck.com analysis, we showed how the classic off-tackle power blocking scheme has been adapted to the Spread Offense. While those play possibilities are interesting and exciting to me, I am more looking forward to the several ways the Oregon Ducks might merge the Counter Trey into their Smash-Mouth … with deception, offense. The Counter Trey Coach Tom Osborne …

The Evolution of Coach Taggart’s SMASH-MOUTH Spread Offense

Coach Morris Analysis, Fish Reports, Understanding the Willie Taggart Oregon Spread Offense

My Friends, to better understand the new offense that Coach Willie Taggart is bringing to Oregon–it helps to have the Grizzled Ol’ Coach, Mike Morris, give us the basics of what to look for in this new and exciting offense that blends power, deception and speed. Read it slowly and digest the pieces as it is a valuable part of …

Coach’s Comments: the Unsung Preseason Victories of Willie Taggart

Coach Morris Coach's Opinion, What Coaches say about Oregon Football

He hasn’t coached any games – or even conducted a practice session — yet, but I’m thinking most of us already have a positive opinion on the hiring of Head Coach Willie Taggart. As he, his staff, and players now prepare for spring practice in April, there seems to be a lot of rational enthusiasm being felt by almost all …

Taggart’s Solution to his Coaching Puzzle?

Coach Morris Coach's Opinion

It’s now Friday morning, Jan. 27.  With letters of intent due in a week, and Ducks fans then having their first opportunity to view, and evaluate the work of, Willie Taggart’s [possibly] entire new staff of assistants, it’s a good time to talk about how things are going for this coaching staff as we head into a very important final …