The Ducks Are On the Verge of Regressing

Darren Perkins Editorials

Hopefully, Oregon isn’t there already. The Ducks went 7-5 in Willie Taggart’s first season. We all felt a little better about that because we knew with a healthy Justin Herbert the Ducks would have cruised to a 9-3 record. Coming into this season with “Slick” gone, a new coach who we trust, recruiting up, an improving defense, and a healthy …

Oregon Ducks Football: The Cougar Conundrum

Darren Perkins Editorials

Oregon’s lost to Washington State has brought Oregon Duck fans clarity on exactly where the program stands: Improving, but not there yet. The loss to the Cougars exposed, among other things, the Ducks lack of depth at receiver and lack of defensive play-makers. Most importantly, it showed the lack of experience Oregon has at bouncing back after an emotional victory …

Ducks Football: 10 Tuesday Tidbits

Darren Perkins Editorials

Some Tuesday morning thoughts as I finish taking in the Husky victory last weekend before fully turning my eyes towards Pullman and the ESPN GameDay hosting hysteria of this weekend. 1) Recruiting Per Rivals.com, the Ducks currently sit third nationally for the 2019 recruiting cycle. After witnessing the “best college game I’ve ever been to,” No. 1 overall prospect Kayvon …

Stanford Final Thoughts; Looking Ahead to Cal

Darren Perkins Editorials

We all know how agonizing last week’s loss to Stanford was, but a lot of good came out of a tough night Saturday at Autzen Stadium. Oregon’s easy non-conference slate offered a chance for the Ducks to fine-tune things and answer some key questions. Unfortunately, on the offensive side of ball, the nonconference slate not only left some questions unanswered, but raised even more. Against Stanford, the Oregon …

The Ducks Have 3 Games to Answer Many Questions

Darren Perkins Editorials

The “pre-season” starts this Saturday for the Ducks. Bowling Green, Portland State, and San Jose State occupy the Ducks first three weeks until the real action begins at home against Stanford on September 22nd. Not the typical non-conference slate we’re accustomed to, but you gotta’ play the hand you’re dealt, and the Ducks can use this soft slate of games …

Predicting Every Game: Ducks Go 10-2

Darren Perkins Editorials

It’s a fickle business trying to predict college football games. Last season, I predicted the Ducks would got 10-2 then win the Alamo Bowl. Many bashed me and called me a hopelessly optimistic Duck fan, which I found humorous, considering those close to me know I’m much more of a Negative Nellie when it comes to my Ducks. Many saw …

Will Justin Herbert be a Better NFL QB than Marcus Mariota?

Darren Perkins Editorials

As soon as last April’s NFL draft ended, the draft prognosticators began whipping up their mock drafts for 2019, with Oregon’s own Justin Herbert being projected by many experts as a sure-fire first round pick, and even going as high as the number two pick overall.   Hmmm … an Oregon quarterback getting drafted number two overall. Sounds familiar. In fact, it’s the same spot …

Decommits a Good Sign for Ducks; Viva Las Vegas for the Pac-12

Darren Perkins Editorials

It wasn’t too long ago — the Mark Helfrich era — that when Oregon lost a couple of highly coveted 3-star recruits, a symbolic ”Fall of Rome” would occur in Eugene.  In the words of the great Bob Dylan: “the times, they are a changin’.”   That’s right folks, have no fear over the recent decommitments of 3-star recruits Marques Caldwell and Cameron Williams. Not only that, celebrate these decommits as a monumental …

From Slick Willie to Super Mario, Oregon’s Recruiting Rolls On

Darren Perkins Editorials

There really wasn’t anything about Willie Taggart that I was going to miss when he decided to head back to Florida. His game planning was pedestrian, his in-game coaching was sub-par, his media persona was “car salesman-esque,” and his running of Justin Herbert up the gut as if he were Jerome Bettis was utterly mind-boggling.   These things ultimately cost the Ducks a very successful 2017 season, not to mention destroying the 10-win prediction …

Are the Oregon Olympics Uncle Phil’s Endgame?

Darren Perkins Editorials

As the debate rages on about the size and scope of the new Hayward Field, it got me thinking about what was going through the mind of the man who matters the most in all of this—Phil Knight. Could it be that building the world’s premier track-and-field-only stadium brings Oregon one step closer to hosting The Summer Olympic Games? Track …

Ducks in the Draft, Hoops, and more Ducks vs Dogs

Darren Perkins Editorials

The NFL Draft is April 26-28 and the Ducks have three players expecting to hear their name called. Painfully, that is three more than last year. Here’s a look (per NFL.com): 1) Tyrell Crosby: The fifth-ranked OT is expected to go in rounds 2-3, and is rated has having a chance to become an NFL starter. 2) Royce Freeman: The …

Oregon Hoops: Three Off-Season Questions

Darren Perkins Editorials

The 2018 Oregon Ducks basketball season ended with a big thud last weekend. And while it would have been nice to see the Ducks make a run in the NIT, I get the feeling that Duck fans didn’t lose sleep over losing in the second round. With five straight NCAA Tournament appearances, Oregon fans have become accustomed to getting more out of …