Legendary Minnesota Vikings coach Bud Grant was once asked what it takes to be a successful coach. He answered: You need a good wife, a good huntin’ dog, and a good quarterback … and not necessarily in that order.” If there was ever a team that quip applied to, our beloved Ducks fit the “bill” because some of the most …
Judging by the numbers, the Philadelphia Eagles had one of the best NFL offenses last season. They ranked third in scoring, fifth in total yards, sixth in passing yards, and ninth in rushing yards. However, PhillyVoice writer Jimmy Kempski persuasively argues the fast-tempo positively skewed the Eagles’ offensive statistics. Apparently, Eagles head coach Chip Kelly also decided the numbers didn’t add up, …
We love Oregon football gossip, as that is the basis of most message boards where fans share their opinions of current and incoming players for the Ducks. As FishDuck, I get the privilege to talk to small college and high school coaches around the nation on a regular basis. They might know a coach who attended a practice, or know …
Analysts love to dissect Oregon’s many packaged schemes and option runs, offensive plays designed to take advantage of whatever the defense throws at them, with an answer for just about anything and everything. There is, however, another part of any offense that is just as crucial, sometimes referred to as constraint plays. Constraint plays force a defense to hesitate, to think a little …
The Oregon Ducks defense last season was very inconsistent, both dominating opponents and being dominated by opponents. The most obvious example is the juxtaposition between Oregon’s destruction of Jameis Winston and FSU and their own destruction at the hands of Ohio State. While the defense didn’t always play up to their potential, they did pretty well most of the year, …
The system that the Oregon Ducks employ, in theory, allows for any player to come in and be successful. Years of recruiting less-talented athletes than other elite universities forced the coaching staff to adapt to what they were given. This mindset led to developing one of the best offensive systems in college football. None of the above would be possible without the stellar play …
For this 2015 Spring Game analysis, I will focus on some of the odd things that emerged in the game and some of the single plays that amused me. These do not have a theme like last week’s analysis, but more of random curious plays that I believe you will find interesting as well. It was tremendous fun seeing our …
With the challenge of replacing of dynamic offensive starters such as Marcus Mariota, Hronis Grassu, and Jake Fisher, offensive coordinator Scott Frost has plenty on his mind going into spring practice. Our reporters met up with Frost at Oregon’s spring practice to pick the former national championship quarterback’s brain. Naturally, the quarterback battle was brought up. “It’s a new day for …
Although Marcus Mariota won the Heisman Trophy in 2014, it is not a stretch to say the man protecting his blind side saved the Ducks’ playoff hopes. Jake Fisher was not supposed to be Oregon’s left tackle last year. However, an ACL injury to the slated left tackle Tyler Johnstone forced Fisher’s move from right tackle to left, where he had …
With the NFL draft rapidly approaching and mock drafts coming in from every analyst with an internet connection, Oregon fans are getting used to the bittersweet feeling of seeing star alumnus Marcus Mariota top nearly every board in the country. Sweet because we love to see a young Duck take wing. Bitter because of the empty nest he’s leaving behind. Mariota owns nearly every …
It is recognized that Ohio State beat Oregon in the National Championship game due to its superior run game, and last week we covered the first of the two major running plays that hurt Oregon, the Wham/Trap play. This week we will cover the one primary play that the Buckeyes destroyed the Ducks with, the Counter play, of which had …
The late, great Bill Walsh, former head coach during the glory days of the 49ers with Joe Montana and Jerry Rice, made a living showing opponents something they hadn’t seen on tape in the days leading up to the game. Oregon is no different. As a staff, Oregon coaches love to talk about how simple their scheme is, and how …