Dispelling the Myth of Time of Possession

Joey Holland History

College football’s proverbial cool kids were so ready to get rid of Oregon with Marcus Mariota out of the picture. The Ducks sat at 3-3 midway through the season. At that point, many were ready to attribute the success the Ducks have had for the better part of the decade up to an offensive system that had finally been figured …

If Oregon’s History Is Any Indication, Things Are Looking Up for Young Secondary

Joey Holland Editorials

Oregon’s 4-3 start to the 2015 season is nothing to complain about. As fans, we are all lucky to have a team to root for at all, let alone a winning one. Still, it takes some getting used to watching the Ducks play without that ranking sitting next to Oregon’s logo on the broadcast scoreboard after a 98-week streak. A dropoff in …

Recent History Puts Royce Freeman on Heisman Trajectory

Joey Holland Editorials

Over the past three years, Marcus Mariota made it easy to forget that Oregon football’s modern identity heavily revolves around a dominant running game. The Ducks have provided college football fans with some of the most explosive ground attacks in recent memory, featuring a long line of star backs. Although you could argue that there are two or three future …

Oregon’s Quiet Success Against Elite Teams Contradicts “Soft” Reputation

Joey Holland History

No college football program faces a greater disparity between reality and reputation than Oregon. One would think that having the nation’s highest winning percentage over the past five seasons in what could easily be argued as college football’s deepest conference would warrant some respect. And, in fairness, it has to a certain extent – the Ducks do ultimately earn the rankings …

Best WR Corps in School History Will Ease Transition Away From Mariota

Joey Holland FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

The quarterback may fill the most important role on the football field, but he is nothing without his wide receivers. That said, there is perhaps no receiving corps in the nation feeling more pressure than that of the Oregon Ducks, in the wake of Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota’s departure to the NFL. Every fan is familiar with this quarterback storyline. …

Ducks’ Play-Making Defense the Most Consistent in Recent History

Joey Holland History

There is no question that the Oregon Ducks have become an elite team in college football. At first glance, it would appear that the program has its offensive prowess to thank for its recent success, and this is certainly true to an extent. The Ducks have posted at least 45 points per game in each of the past five years, and …

Historically Incomparable Mariota Will Set New Standard for NFL Quarterbacks

Joey Holland History

Every spring when the NFL Draft rolls around, scouts and analysts look to compare the best collegiate players to established professional stars. This makes sense to a certain extent, as it provides a level of comfort and perspective for teams deciding between different prospects. The problem is that this process assumes every player entering the draft is comparable to someone …

Duck Running Backs Compensate for Loss of Mariota

Joey Holland Editorials

While Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota will surely be missed in 2015, Oregon’s offensive backfield remains loaded with firepower. Royce Freeman, Byron Marshall, and Thomas Tyner have the talent to be the best batch of running backs in the country in 2015 and the greatest group in Oregon’s long line of stars at the position. Mariota temporarily altered the team’s image throughout his …

First-Year Starting Quarterbacks Have Made Winning a Habit

Joey Holland Men of Oregon: Players and Coaches

For a quarterback, the leap from high school or junior college to a major college football program is significant, and those veterans who have had two or three years in their offensive systems certainly benefit from their experience, while rookies may struggle to find footing early on. However, recent trends indicate that brand-new quarterbacks have enjoyed more success than their seasoned …

Is Oregon’s 2015 NFL Draft Class the Best in School History?

Joey Holland History

When college football fans tune in to the games every Saturday, there is one team that is always easy to spot. Whether it is because of the shiny, colorful nature of the uniforms or the overwhelming speed of the team, the Oregon Ducks cannot be mistaken for anyone else. The distinct nature of Oregon football is not always seen as …

Comparing Oregon’s 2014 Season to Champions of the Past Proves Ducks’ Elite Status

Joey Holland History

Oregon football has more to prove than any other program in the country. The Alabamas and Ohio States of the world rule the college football kingdom. This group consists of the teams that have long sat at the top of the national standings, winning with strength, power and toughness. These are programs that import elite recruits and export NFL talent. As Oregon built …

Refuting the Myths of Oregon Football

Joey Holland History

Over the past five seasons, no college football team has performed better than Oregon. That is not an opinion. The Ducks have lost only eight games in five seasons and have won 60 in that same period. Not even Alabama can match Oregon’s winning percentage since the beginning of 2010. But Oregon is…different. The Ducks operate faster than other teams. They’re better …