Marcus Mariota and the Nonbelievers

Nik Brownlee FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

I don’t get it. Maybe I’m wrong, or maybe my football knowledge isn’t what I thought it was, but I can’t understand the constant negativity toward Marcus Mariota and his transition to the NFL. Last night I read something on Twitter so shocking to me I had to do a double take. NFL Media analyst, Daniel Jeremiah, said, “Look, just …

Spring Practice Begins

David Koh FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

The Oregon Ducks open spring football practices on Tuesday, and the team is bound to look a little different from the dynastic dynamo that came up one game short of a national title in January. Gone are Heisman field general Marcus Mariota and line anchor Hroniss Grasu. Here to stay (hopefully) are a slew of fresh faces headlined by line-beasts Canton …

These Ducks Have Answers For Defensive Questions

Max Thornberry FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Only four of Oregon’s top 10 tacklers from the 2014 season will return to Autzen Stadium this year. Thankfully for Duck fans those four, Reggie Daniels, Joe Walker, DeForest Buckner and Rodney Hardrick finished 3rd-6th on that list. Along with their physical skill they bring leadership and experience to a defense that is still defining their style of play. Daniels …

Chip Kelly Update: The Mystery Coach Explains It All For You

Mark Saltveit FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

For the second year in a row, Chip Kelly has tortured the Philadelphia press by not saying a word more than he has to during the off-season. Not surprisingly, this just makes reporters even more desperate to find out what the Mystery Coach is thinking. To be fair, Kelly hasn’t been quite as secretive as he was last year during …

3 Reasons Oregon Ducks Rely on Running Backs in 2015

Jordan Ingram FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

The college football off-season has seen an immense trove of educated guesses as to how the Oregon Ducks football program will adjust to life without Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Marcus Mariota. Today, we are exactly 1/2 year away from opening kickoff. Never too early to start counting down is it? #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/bA1eWYQyTc — QuackCave (@QuackCave) March 6, 2015 Indeed, the future looks bright …

Oregon Spring Football: A Look at the Linebackers

Nik Brownlee FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

On Monday — March 30 — Oregon will begin its spring practices and the page officially turned from the greatness that was the 2014 season. There are several key story lines to keep an eye on as the Ducks begin preparation for the new football season. The offense often gets the majority of the accolades, and rightfully so, but the …

Vernon Adams Jr.’s Feature to Appear on SportsCenter

Jason Selby FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

So, the whirlwind of an offseason for former Eastern Washington quarterback, Vernon Adams Jr., continues. It was reported yesterday by oregon247sports.com, that ESPN  started a project that will feature the new Ducks quarterback in his transition from small school football to a national powerhouse, the University of Oregon. Many people were concerned with the Ducks chances to remain competitive, solely based on the void left by Marcus Mariota. …

Mariota — From Saint Louis to New Orleans?

Noah Smith FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

We all know that NFL “experts” don’t like “gimmicky Oregon spread offense players” such as Marcus Mariota right? Well, if you didn’t, then let me be the one to tell you – they don’t. This can be clearly seen in the fact that two of NFL.com’s so-called experts have Mariota going outside of the top 10 picks, with Bucky Brooks having him going …

Enough Already, Coach!

Dave Kensler FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Bret Bielema is a very good football coach. At the University of Wisconsin, he won 17 of his first 18 games, among many other accomplishments. Now, he appears to have Arkansas headed on a similar path to success. Bielema is not very good, however, at arguing against hurry-up offenses. He advocates a 10-second “waiting period” rule on each play before the ball …

What An Amazing Run

Dean Davis FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Incredible. That’s the only word that describes the 2014-15 Ducks’ basketball season. I’ve never seen a team projected to be one of the worst in its conference play at such a high level during league play, and then at an even higher level during the NCAA Tournament. The growth of this team has been remarkable, and the Ducks deserve to …

Could this be the best distance team Oregon has ever assembled?

Isaac Gibson FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Earlier this month, the Oregon men’s track and field team returned home from the indoor NCAA championships with a 74 point victory, winning the team title. Most of the points came from the distance events, causing one to harken back to the days of when legendary coaches Bill Bowerman and Bill Dellinger led the team. Back in the ’70s and …

Ken Whisenhunt Says Mariota Would Start for the Titans

Caleb Couturie FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Ken Whisenhunt, the coach of the Tennessee Titans, believes Marcus Mariota would unquestionably be the Day 1 starter for his team. In an article by Jim Corbett of USA TODAY, Whisenhunt said, ”If we pick him at No. 2, you definitely think he can be the Day 1 starter.” Whisenhunt went on to say that, “In watching him at his workout with …