Does Oregon’s Andy Avalos Have a Mastermind Personnel Plan?

Mike West Analysis

From the angst-filled opener in Dallas, to the dramatic finish in Pasadena, Duck fans marveled over Andy Avalos‘ 2019 Oregon defense. No amount of glowing anticipation could match the outstanding improvement Avalos’ troops demonstrated in just one year. With only two key additions, Oregon’s defense garnered 97 tackles for loss, 41 sacks, 20 interceptions, 42 quarterback hurries and yielded only …

Oregon’s Upcoming Offensive Improvement: Experience or Maturity?

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck Editorials

The Fascination Factor with new offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead is through the roof for Oregon fans with tidbits gleaned from interviews and articles on this site about the new assistant coach, plus some analysis of his offense previously run at Penn State. Oregon’s new OC has operated out of the Shotgun Spread Offense in the past, and he puts the quarterback …

Oregon’s Football Success Boils Down to a Single Play?

Jordan Ingram Editorials

What if the Ducks’ success boiled down to a single play? Let me take you back to a moment that changed the trajectory of Oregon football. It was the fourth quarter. No. 6 Oregon trailed No. 8 Wisconsin 27-21 in the Rose Bowl game. Quarterback Justin Herbert already had two first-half rushing touchdowns but struggled to find his passing rhythm. …

Oregon Unknowns: Reasons for the Renamed Rivalry?

David Marsh Editorials

My friends, I felt the same as the majority of those on the Oregon message boards last Friday concerning the announcement of the change of name of our rivalry game with Oregon State. I thought at that time that it was a knee-jerk reaction to the trendy topic of the day, and I was not happy, as a 34-year season …

Is Isaac Townsend a Future OLB STAR for the Ducks?

Zeke Lerner-Wood Recruiting

In 2018, the NCAA proposed that redshirted players could participate in up to four games in a season without burning up a year of collegiate athletic eligibility. This was a fantastic rule change in the eyes of many coaches, as it allowed for more flexibility on rosters, as well as for players, who could test playing at another level of …

Oregon’s Lombardi Pitching a Championship Strategy

Jordan Ingram Editorials

In the post-Mike White era of Oregon Ducks softball, the program under Oregon head coach Melyssa Lombardi continued its astonishing upward trend in the virus-shortened 2020 season. Lombardi appears laser-focused on turning around a program following the departure of White, one of the most successful softball coaches at Oregon. The Ducks struggled in Lombardi’s first season, finishing with a 22-30 …

Image of the 2020 CFP logo on a grass field.

Would an Eight-Team Playoff Be All That Great?

Jon Joseph Editorials

“All we are saying, is give us a chance.” In 2025, the current agreement that governs the College Football Playoff (CFP) comes to a close. The final CFP National Championship under the existing format will be played in January 2026. Concurrent with the end of the Playoff, the lucrative ESPN Playoff media rights agreement also expires. Thereafter, the majority of …

Get Real: Ducks go 1-11 in Pac-12 Network Play?

Mike Merrell Editorials

If you didn’t know Oregon routinely goes 1-11 in Pac-12 Network replays, you aren’t watching the same Pac-12 Network and its drive to preserve revisionist history that I’m seeing. I haven’t bothered to talk to anyone at “everybody’s” sports network, but it appears that they are rotating prime time by school; that is, Monday might be ASU night, followed by …

Joe Moorhead’s New Offense: Introducing the Smash Fade Concept

Coach Eric Boles Analysis

Something we have heard throughout the offseason is that the biggest changes Joe Moorhead will bring to the Oregon offense are in the passing game. Coach Moorhead hasn’t been shy about pushing the ball down the field at any of his previous stops, and that looks to continue with the Oregon Ducks. One concept that highlights the new offensive coordinator’s propensity …

Would Oregon Have Made a Four-Team Playoff in 2012?

Joshua Whitted Editorials

Of all the great Oregon Ducks football teams of the early 2010s, the 2012 team might have been the greatest. In Chip Kelly’s final season as head coach, the Ducks’ hyperspeed, spread-option offense was at the peak of its powers. For all but one game, Oregon was arguably the best team in college football. But a slip up against Stanford …

Oregon: Recruiting, Recruiting and More Recruiting

Darren Perkins Editorials

Recruiting, recruiting and recruiting are the Top 3 elements of any successful college football program. With the Oregon Ducks currently sitting (as of this writing) at No. 7 nationally with both Rivals.com and 247sports.com for the 2021 recruiting cycle, it’s safe to say the Ducks take those three elements very seriously.   Of course, this is no revelation under Mario …

Rocky Top Redshirt Lance Wilhoite is Ducks’ Next BREAK-OUT Receiver?

Cameron Johansson Recruiting

The 2019 Oregon Ducks epitomized the classic saying “defense wins championships.” Their stingy defense more or less carried the team through the season, making game-saving plays and bailing out the offense in a few games. While the offense sputtered, head coach Mario Cristobal kept the defensive momentum rolling through recruiting, grabbing some highly sought-after recruits who have since become household …