The Jim Leavitt 3-4 Defense: Trips Coverage with Two-High Safeties

Cameron Soran Analysis

In the previous post, we explained how Jim Leavitt‘s 2-high safety coverage concepts operate for when there are two receivers to a side. Now we will be covering his 2-high safety coverage concepts for when there are 3 receivers to a side, most commonly known as Trips coverages. The Trips Coverages With 2-high safeties, Jim Leavitt will run: (a) Stubbie, …

Why Coach Mario Cristobal Won’t Outsmart Anybody

Mike Merrell Editorials

Predicting the number of wins for Ducks football this year is a tough call. One thing I can’t buy is that there’s an issue of whether Oregon’s coaches can game-day coach or not. First of all, if you’ve got a Mario Cristobal-coached offensive line, a Jim Leavitt-coached defense, and a Heisman-candidate quarterback–you’ve got some options that can make you look …

How the Ducks Are Building a Recruiting Powerhouse

Joshua Whitted Editorials

The Oregon Ducks’ blistering recruiting pace has put college football teams across the country on notice. Currently, the Ducks’ 2019 class ranks fifth in the country and first in the PAC-12. And they are in great position to land some of the top remaining prospects. Much praise has been given coach Mario Cristobal and his staff for the job they’ve done so …

The Long Road to Eugene: Cornerback Haki Woods Jr.

Mike Kelly Talent Evaluation

New Oregon Ducks cornerback Haki M. Woods Jr.’s long, meandering journey from his hometown of South Bend, Indiana to Eugene, Oregon took over four years of his life. The route included a stop at Indiana State University and Tucson, Arizona, where he was a Junior College All-American at Pima Community College. Haki grew up in a tough part of Indiana’s fourth …

The Jim Leavitt 3-4 Defense: Triangle Coverages with Two-High Safeties

Cameron Soran Analysis

Now that we have covered the general structure and defensive fronts used by Oregon defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt, we will begin delving into his coverage schemes in the next several posts. In this analysis, we will be exclusively featuring his triangle coverages: 3 defender over 2 receiver coverage concepts. (The inside “receiver” here can be either a slot receiver or …

Predicting Every Game: Ducks Go 10-2

Darren Perkins Editorials

It’s a fickle business trying to predict college football games. Last season, I predicted the Ducks would got 10-2 then win the Alamo Bowl. Many bashed me and called me a hopelessly optimistic Duck fan, which I found humorous, considering those close to me know I’m much more of a Negative Nellie when it comes to my Ducks. Many saw …

2019 Recruiting Disasters in the Pac-12: UCLA, Washington=Boise State?

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck Editorials

My friends….we are not supposed to have five articles this week, but this stuff is just too juicy. I was supposed to take a break this week, but comparing Washington to Boise State in recruiting was something I had to get out to my friends for discussion. Why? Because Oregon is in a position with recruiting that I never thought …

Assessing Risk: Oregon Football

Steven Smith Editorials

Life is full of uncertainty. Our lives take unexpected twists and turns, hence the need to assess Risk with personal and collective choices. So it also is with Oregon’s football program. Risk definitions: A situation involving exposure to danger. The possibility of suffering loss or harm. Any event that could compromise organizational assets. The probability of threat, loss, defeat and …

The New Oregon Offense: Heavy Packages

Coach Eric Boles Analysis

There are a couple of areas that the Oregon Ducks are certainly emphasizing under Coach Mario Cristobal. The first is a physical run game, a main component of offseason work. Yes, Oregon is still going to run all of the things that propelled them to the upper echelon of the college football world, but when push comes to shove, the staff wants to …

Understanding the Jim Leavitt Defense: Oregon’s Defensive Fronts

Cameron Soran Analysis

After we covered Jim Leavitt‘s overall structure in our first analysis, we will now get into where it all starts: up front and in the middle. While Jim Leavitt primarily runs what we will be calling a 3-4 Base defensive front, he has four others he can use situationally in order to put his players in the best position. These four …

Photo of Scott Frost sitting next to Nebraska AD Bill Moos.

CLEVER CORNHUSKERS? Mike Riley a Placeholder for Scott Frost?

Walter Gray Editorials

Agony & Ecstasy in Cornhusker Land  Full disclosure: I moved to Nebraska in 2016 to marry my wife Debra. My mom was born and raised in Nebraska and was a Big Red fan; but I never lived here and had only an occasional interest in the Huskers.  The “Agony“? The Mike Riley Years, Of Course.  By the end of the …

Sleep on the Ducks’ Wide Receivers at Your Own Risk

Joshua Whitted Editorials

It’s no secret that the Oregon Ducks have one of the most talented rosters in the PAC-12. However, the one position group that has given prognosticators pause is the wide receiving core. The passing game had its share of hiccups in 2017, and with a future NFL draft pick at quarterback, many blame the Ducks’ receivers for the offense’s inconsistency …