Ducks DC: Rocky Long … An Impossible Dream?

Coach Morris Coach's Opinion

A couple of weeks ago I wrote an article advocating for the hiring of Osia Lewis as the next Oregon defensive coordinator. Last night, I was dreaming – while awake – and had a “What if … ?” moment. Even in the reality of the next day, I have a better candidate and plan. Are you willing to come along on my …

Coach’s Comments: “My Pick for Oregon’s Next Defensive Coordinator”

Coach Morris Coach's Opinion

Ordinarily I wouldn’t do this: write about a specific new defensive coordinator when there are still several important games left in the season – games in which the Ducks could significantly improve, or the new DC’s team could get blasted. But I really don’t think either of those things is going to happen. I believe I have enough evidence to present …

Coaches Comments: GOC Suggests a Coaching Change

Coach Morris Coach's Opinion

The Grizzled Ol’ Coach, Mike Morris (a frequent contributor to FishDuck.com), has educated Oregon fans and me enormously with his wisdom and brutal honesty. He is suggesting a major change for the Ducks, but do remember that we have many guest coaches as writing contributors and their opinions could be different than the GOC as do the other writers and editors. Please …

Coach’s Comments After Nebraska: “What a Mess … “

Coach Morris Coach's Opinion

In keeping with our announcement of shifting the site toward more total analysis (including the bad plays to learn from), I offer a brutal assessment of the Oregon football team from Mike Morris (the Grizzled Ol’ Coach).  Charles Fischer  What I saw: Probably like most of you, the Ducks defense surprised me only in the number of points [not] allowed, and the offense …

Coach’s Comments: What’s not to like with the Brady Bunch?

Coach Morris Coach's Opinion

Charles Fischer asked me to express my thoughts about the Oregon defense and its new coordinator after spring practice.  They’re almost all positive. I’ll admit I was not a Brady Hoke fan when he was hired.  I wanted an “intellectual”, and I judged Brady Hoke to be a “tough-talking buffoon.”  Wrong.  Oh, the tough talking part was right — but …

MARK HELFRICH IS A STUD

Coach Morris Coach's Opinion

The title of this article was taken from the subject of a sentence. Yesterday [2-3], at the Oregon Club Recruiting Luncheon, Mark Helfrich, while eloquently praising and thanking many, uttered the simple 5-word sentence, “Don Pellum is a stud.”  The audience responded with their loudest, and warmest, applause of the day.  We got it. Well it’s time for me to …

Coach’s Comments: Brady Hoke Brings the 4-3 Defense! What’s Up With THAT?

Coach Morris Coach's Opinion

FishDuck.com has gone off an active writing schedule, but the site will remain up so that all the prior articles can be found on the web. We are also open to guest articles from writers such as our beloved Grizzled Ol’ Coach, Mike Morris. He is sharing some of his knowledge about the 4-3 defense and how the Oregon personnel could fit …

The Search (For an Offensive Coach) Continues

Coach Morris Coach's Opinion

So why hasn’t Mark Helfrich already named Matt Lubick the offensive coordinator?  Why is Helfrich making Lubick essentially “audition” for the job?  BECAUSE HE CAN. I’ve always admired patience.  Decisions are more often made correctly if all the necessary information has been accumulated.  Rushes to judgment usually don’t work out so well.  Mark Helfrich is showing admirable restraint in naming …

Searching for a Wide Receiver Coach (and Offensive Coordinator-in-Waiting)

Coach Morris Coach's Opinion

First, the news that everyone already seems to know: Matt Lubick will be the next Oregon offensive coordinator. He wants the opportunity and, as Mark Helfrich well knows, he definitely deserves it. Matt’s first game might be very interesting. The Ducks offensive play caller must match wits with arguably the best defensive coordinator in college football — Gary Patterson of TCU. …

A Coach’s Comments: “The Problem with Oregon …”

Coach Morris Coach's Opinion

The Grizzled Ol’ Coach, Mike Morris, has been instrumental in so many of us learning the Oregon Offense and Defense in the past four years. His “Skull” sessions with me in the FishDuck.com ManCave are legendary encounters in learning, and he does have some strong views about this team. Sometimes Mike raises more questions for us with his musings, and …

A Recruiting Diamond in Oregon’s Backyard: Justin Herbert

Coach Morris Coach's Opinion

The Grizzled Ol’ Coach, Mike Morris, has made a number of correct predictions about the Oregon football team and many of their players in our “Skull Sessions” at the FishDuck.com ManCave. It was he, who in June, explained the special skills of Vernon Adams that I wrote about this summer and we now see and analyze. The coach was talking about the following …

Should Ty Griffin Be the Oregon Quarterback?

Coach Morris Coach's Opinion

There’s a big banner at the Ducks’ practice field, that I’m going to have to paraphrase … “To be ordinary, keep doing things the way they’ve always been done. To be great, requires the courage to go against tradition.” This move would require a lot of courage, and I’m well aware it’ll never happen. But since when should reality limit our dreams? My …