Recruiting Update: Oregon Behind Enemy Lines

Mark Flores FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Football Recruiting News Oregon’s marquee pre-season commitment is undoubtedly running back Royce Freeman (4-Star/Imperial, CA/Rivals250).  Nonetheless, Head Coach Mark Helfrich & Co. remain vigilant and are hot on the trail of another 2014 speedster; all-purpose back Tony James (4-Star/Gainesville, FL/Rivals250). A master of motion plays, James models his game after another player with his namesake; former Oregon tailback LaMichael James. …

The Inherent Unfairness of Sanctions

Don Gilman FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Sanctions. You either love them or hate them.  We love them when the teams we hate get leveled by them, and hate them when teams we love get the same treatment. Ironic, isn’t it? But there is something inherently unfair about the way sanctions are carried out, no matter what team we are rooting for.  I began thinking of this …

DEEP WATERS: How Oregon Uses Tempo To Drown A Defense

Brian Flinn Fish Reports

Have you heard the great expression about winning the late rounds of a prizefight?  In the post-fight interview you’ll often hear a boxer talk about how he took the “opponent into deep waters and drowned him.” No-huddle offenses want to do the exact same thing, combine speed and conditioning to push a defense past its breaking point.  The elite level …

Pac-12 Talent Rankings: What Does It All Mean?

Chris Charbonnier FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

“Recruiting rankings don’t matter”. Typically, this is said by fans after their favorite team picks up a commitment from a two or three-star player who is “underrated”. So, is it true? Do recruiting rankings act as a good predictor of on-field success? I defer to Matt Hinton, who wrote a great five-part series called “Star Power.” A part of the …

Led by Ifo, Oregon ‘D’ Takes the Offensive

Bryan Holt FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

When someone mentions the Oregon Ducks, most people think of a fast-paced explosive offense that leaves defenders in a whirlwind searching for their own jock straps as the band strikes up “Mighty Oregon” and the Duck starts doing pushups.  Lost in the offensive storm is a secret scarcely ever uttered east of the Oregon-Idaho state line: Oregon has a nationally prominent defense as well.  While there are some …

College Football Notes: The NCAA is crumbling and a HUGE Suspension

Jeff Hostetler FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

What a week for college football. I saw so many football highlights of hard hits this week on television that I thought the season was already here. The biggest debate this week was who should be ejected for certain big hits over the last few seasons? Of course the controversy was South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney from last year’s Outback Bowl. …

Huff Doesn’t Need Hype To Be Dangerous

Victor Flores FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

The names of the top Oregon offensive players since 2010 are easy for even casual Ducks fans to rattle off: James, Barner, Mariota, De’Anthony, Darron Thomas, Maehl, Tuinei, Paulson, Lyerla. Others can certainly be put on that list, but those nine are probably the most recognizable. Receiver Josh Huff doesn’t get quite as much hype as those guys, and while …

MUST WATCH Oregon Football in 2013

Sam Arney FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Practices are about to start at Oregon, and the season is just over a month away.  I have been driving myself crazy with anticipation for this year.  It got me thinking about which games I am most excited for.  Which games are the “must watch” games for me this season.  So of course, Fishduck.com happens to be the perfect outlet …

Chip and the Eagles: Attack Like Navy Seals

Mark Saltveit FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Chip Kelly’s first training camp hits full stride today, which is exciting, but it started Monday for rookies and selected veterans like center Jason Kelce, new tight end James Casey, and the quarterbacks. If you want a sense of whether veterans are buying in to Kelly’s system, Kelce and Casey showed up early, which is allowed under league rules only …