Recruiting Update: Coaching Changes Mean Drama for Football Recruiting

August Howell Recruiting

The sudden yet not totally unexpected firing of former head coach Mark Helfrich means more uncertainty for the Ducks’ 2017 recruiting class. With the Pac-12 North schools of Washington, Washington State, and Stanford all looking stronger, Oregon has to step up its recruiting strategy. The looming question for this Oregon team is what to do about the defense. How does Willie Taggart recruit players to a defense that …

Coach’s Comments: “Oregon will have TWO New Defenses….”

Coach Morris Analysis, Fish Reports, Learning the Jim Leavitt 3-4 Hybrid Defense

In the past I’ve frequently criticized peoples’ attaching far too much importance to the defensive front used by a team — and several other schematic suggestions. “It’s not important WHAT you do, but HOW well you do it” has been my standard axiom. Well … that’s not always true. An offense could run nothing but “perfect” QB Sneaks for the …

Cleansing of Coaches: Is this what Oregon Needed?

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck Editorials

The change of coaching staff has brought about an unexpected vibe beyond what I could have imagined (it figures since being a season ticket holder for 30 years), as I am used to coaching continuity at Oregon, and clearly not used to wholesale change. Oh sure — I anticipated the excitement of the unknown and the hopes of Oregon football …

The REALITY of Oregon Returning to Elite Team Status

Amanda Brenner Analysis

There isn’t a single college football team in history that has had great seasons year in and year out. Although I have run into several fans who seem to think their team has always been great and can do no wrong (I’m looking at you, Bama and OSU fans), it simply isn’t true. Every elite team goes through cycles of …

New Dream Team Coaching Candidates Excite GOC, FishDuck

Coach Morris Coach's Opinion

WARNINGS: 1. Most of this article involves “speculation” – some coaches named might eventually have nothing to do with Oregon football. 2. All of the speculated coaches’ names were stolen from the incredible research of Justin Hopkins at 24/7, Duck Territory. 3. This article is being written Wednesday morning, December 21. By the time it’s printed and/or you read it, …

Oregon Football: Time to Wake the Sleeping Giant

FishDuck Staff Editorials

The end for Mark Helfrich was written long before the second half rains in Corvallis washed away any hope of his redemption. There was no artistry to that second half bludgeoning by Oregon State. No intricate scheme or innovation was required. It was straight ahead football, 27 consecutive running plays by the Beavers, and the Ducks had no answers … …

Oregon Fans: A Glimpse of a Jim Leavitt 3-4 Defense

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck Analysis, Fish Reports

Remember the announcement recently: I will continue to write as will a few other writers, but we will only be running two or three articles per week. Sign up for the newsletter above so you won’t miss any of my or the GOC’s articles, and to make sure you don’t miss upcoming videos!  –Charles Fischer It was fun in yesterday’s …

Coach’s Comments: “Taggart assembling my Defensive DREAM TEAM”

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck Editorials

The Grizzled Ol’ Coach was on a roll, as he was extolling the credentials of the defensive coaches that new Oregon Head Coach Willie Taggart has assembled for Oregon, and  those who are rumored to join the staff shortly. The GOC (Mike Morris) was very excited about Jim Leavitt becoming Defensive Coordinator, as he felt that the strengths of Leavitt matched …

New Oregon Football Head Coach’s Top 10 Recruiting Prospects

Jason Fowler Recruiting

I realize its been about a week since the new head coach was announced at the University of Oregon, but we fans have had his itinerary for him for nearly a month. There are some things that must be covered amongst all the signing of contracts and creating a staff and meetings and photo shoots, etc., etc. Recruiting for the …

End of an Era: The CK Oregon Spread Offense and FishDuck.com

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck Editorials

It is only fitting that both the original Chip Kelly Oregon Spread Offense and the website FishDuck.com are fading from view right now; both will remain in some minor variation, but neither will ever again be the same. Coach Willie Taggart runs a Spread Offense, but it will not be what Chip began and what Mark Helfrich refined at Oregon, particularly through the memorable Marcus Mariota years. …

A Plea for Oregon Head Coach Taggart: “KEEP ‘EM ALL!”

Coach Morris Coach's Opinion

It just hit me from out of the blue, and this revelation would significantly impact Oregon football. You see I was pondering about how the press conference is over and everybody’s had a chance to express their feelings about the new head coach for the Ducks. Coach Willie Taggart is on the road recruiting without any assistant coaches until today, …

The College Football Playoffs! Brought to You By An Arbitrary Committee of Experts

Matt Bryant Editorials

What the hell is wrong with college football? How is it possible that we have college football playoffs. So. Completely. Wrong? Let me first preempt the inevitable retort from Ohio State Fans: I like Urban Meyer. I like how his Bucks play. This is not an anti-OSU piece. If we are going to debate who the best college football coaches …