Every three years since the first major redesign of Oregon’s uniforms for the 1999 season, the Ducks have changed their look after three years. On that schedule, the current look—with its signature gladiatorial-style Duck feathers on the shoulder—is in its third and, presumably, final year. Assuming a change is coming next year, what might Nike’s next version of the uniforms …
Why would Darron Thomas take off running in this game while not before? This is a question we tackled last week, but the answers became even more evident against Arizona. We have examples of THREE positions on the defense being Zone Read in the this game while being introduced to a new play utilizing the strengths of a true freshman …
Overtime rules had existed for decades in professional football, but the collegiate game was slow to come around to extending games beyond regulation. Ties weren’t commonplace, but they did happen. Oregon had in fact played in the final 0-0 tie, the 1983 Civil War game vs. Oregon State, a game so bad it was coined “The Toilet Bowl.” In 1996 …
Like their coach, Duck fans have become perfectionists. Chip Kelly, asked on Sunday about the Oregon running game, which rolled up 415 yards on Arizona after 416 yards on Missouri, and Kelly responded in his clipped New England interview voice that it could be better. The Ducks won by 25 on the road in the conference opener, and most Duck fans, …
If you needed any further proof of the thrashing Oregon was dealing Arizona on Saturday night, all you had to do was scan the stands in the second half, where there were more empty seats than not. A school record 288 yards rushing from LaMichael James will do that to foes and their followers. So will ringing up 35 points …
Oregon opens PAC-12 play with a road game at Arizona, and again the crucial thing is not merely winning but playing in a way that shows improvement and gets the team ready for October and November, an eight-week battle to defend their conference title. Here are some of the key factors in the Ducks’ PAC-12 opener: Keeping the Zona Zoo …
Well the PAC-12 season is upon us, and the Ducks’ quest for a sweep of the newly renovated conference begins in the desert against the Arizona Wildcats and their dynamic Airraid offense. Starting in 2007, when Sonny Dykes made his way from Texas Tech, the Wildcats began running the air raid offense. Most famously reflected in Mike Leach’s teams with …
“We could tell they were not prepared, they had size but we ran right past them.” -Kwame Agyeman It was the ultimate matchup of new and old. On one side Michigan, the winningest program in college football history, the epitome of success and tradition. On the other side, up-and-comer Oregon, finding great success in recent years but for decades little more than an also-ran. A home-and-home series was agreed to, with the first game being played at Oregon in 2003, and the following year a return trip to Michigan. However, Michigan requested to push the game in Ann Arbor back a few years, to 2007. […]
In this context Arizona coach Mike Stoops may be the endangered species. The Wildcats, 1-2 this year, have lost their last seven games against FBS opponents. Arizona started this season with five new offensive linemen, and they’ve struggled to protect Nick Foles. Stanford raided the Arizona backfield for five sacks in last Saturday night’s game, and they’ve given up 8 …
Predictions of new plays, formations, and strategies are beginning to emerge as the season progresses. I expected to see base plays with nothing new introduced in a game of which we are highly favored, but I was surprised to see some new concepts revealed. It was refreshing to see the passing game further refined with new receivers materializing to help …
They said he was a step slow. They said he had gained too much weight. They said his Heisman chances were virtually nil. Some said — more like whispered — let the freshman sensation get more carries. That was until Saturday. Flashing his burst of old, Oregon’s LaMichael James rambled for 204 yards and three touchdowns against Missouri State in …
Chip Kelly often says the Ducks prepare against a faceless opponent and that their focus each game is competing against the vision of how good they can be. That theory gets the ultimate test today. An occasional laugher or one-sided matchup can be a tonic for a football team in building confidence and developing depth but two of these in …
