This multi-week series will attempt to take a reasonable, logical and unbiased look at Oregon’s recent recruiting successes and failures while analyzing the program’s recruiting philosophy under Chip Kelly. The series will then look at how that philosophy already has and may continue to evolve under Mark Helfrich before ending with a detailed breakdown of the author’s ideal recruiting blueprint. …
Notes from around the college football nation: Auburn pays better and NCAA in hot water
Spring ball is upon us….for some….while others will have to wait until the end of the month to get a look at their favorite team and start making expectations for the upcoming season. Now, if the March Madness spirit is still upon you, then the Final Four will be something to help with expectations. Maybe Auburn fans can watch the …
Oregon’s Offense Explodes But Pitching Implodes Against Devils
The Ducks ended up on the losing end of yet another unexpected line score from Pac-12 play on Saturday night, as Arizona State found a way to really crack the Oregon pitching staff to win game two of their series,14-9. The line score was unexpected for two reasons: the Ducks wouldn’t seem to have an offense capable of putting up …
Spring’s awakening breathes new life into program
With the turn of another calendar month, we have finally, mercifully, reached April, which brings about the beginning of spring ball in Eugene. New coach. New hope. New beginnings. With Mark Helfrich at the helm for the first time in his career, Scott Frost getting his much deserved attempt at running an offense, and Marcus Mariota taking over the leader …
Auburn is Just the Tip of the Iceberg
The story is just now coming to full light, but according to Sports Illustrated, in 2010 Auburn coaches were only interrupted in giving hundreds of dollars to their players by the need to get busy changing their grades to keep them eligible. Gene Chizik apparently DID NOT appreciate having to call first half timeouts so that his players could run …
Duck Rally Falls Just Short In The Desert
After things looked bleak for more than half of yesterday’s game, the Oregon Ducks decided that they weren’t going to lie down and lose their winning streak. Trailing 5-1 in the eighth inning, Oregon (22-7, 8-2) put up four runs to tie things up at 5-5, and force extra innings against Arizona State (18-8-1, 5-5) in game one of the three …
Oregon’s Bullpen is Locking Games Down
To many, relief pitchers are to baseball what special teams players are to football: failed starters. Even the best relievers of all time, like Mariano Rivera and Goose Gossage, are viewed through this prism, and certain baseball analysts will tell you that these late-inning specialists provide even less value than average starting pitchers. While there’s a lot of truth to …
From Helfrich: “Why We Closed Practices”
I am disappointed with coach Helfrich’s decision to close practices, but it is fair that I give his side of it a bit more than I did in my earlier article. I wish to emphasize that while I made a joke of how we were shut out whether it was Chip or Helf, the persona of MH is vastly different …
Meet Your New Ducks: Take A “Chance” On Me
Chance Allen, alongside his hometown buddy Bralon Addison, committed to Oregon on National Signing Day back in 2012. He comes to us from Missouri City, Texas, where he was the star athlete for Fort Bend Elkins High Schoo; participating in football, basketball, and track. He really burst onto the national recruiting scene throughout his senior season and earned a 3-star …
Recruiting Update: Oregon Finding Riches in the Muddy Bayou
Football Recruiting Offers In an offense that is predicated on speed, Oregon’s recent additions of interior brawn have only continued to bolster the relentless up-tempo “Blur.” Offensive line coach Steve Greatwood is ensuring future trench battles go the Ducks way with an offer extension to Tyrell Crosby (NR/Henderson, NV). Standing 6’4″ and carrying a playing weight of 298 lbs., Crosby’s …
Will Helfrich unleash the beasts?
Featured Photo © Kevin Cline Photography There are a couple of players on Oregon’s roster that make people scratch their heads. Not the players themselves, but the way they have been utilized; or underutilized, as the case may be. For some reason, coach Kelly liked to keep some of his more high profile players like an ace up his …
The Secret I Could Not Tell…Until Now
“The media in this state HATES Chip Kelly.” I could not believe my ears as I was talking to a former television anchor sportscaster in Oregon. He was in my office in the fall of 2011, and what he told me was depressing and astounding. Remember — at that time I was just beginning to produce what now has become …
