The Rich Get Richer: Kirk Merritt and The Ducks’ Run Game

Noah Smith FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Monday night the Oregon Ducks won big time by getting four star athlete Kirk Merritt to commit to play college ball at Oregon. Merritt, a versatile prospect who can play WR and RB, adds another threat to a backfield already full of them. With the addition of Merritt to a backfield already boasting Royce Freeman, Thomas Tyner and Byron Marshall, Oregon’s run …

Players Who Wait Outshine Current Recruits

Mike Merrell FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Mike Merrell’s Three-and-Out Lost in the excitement of the returning stars and the hope of stars to come is the quiet backbone of any football team. For the most part, these are the guys who didn’t grab the headlines their freshman years. They’ve been in the program for a year or two or three, possibly redshirting, biding their time behind …

Predicting Next Season: Heavy Run Game?

Noah Smith FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

While everyone, myself included, loves to speculate about who the next QB will be now that Marcus Mariota has left, there is one very important truth we must remember; Oregon is a run oriented team. Yes, having a great QB this season certainly helped, but Oregon’s offense always goes through the run. The good news is, since the run game …

Running Backs: Too Much Of A Good Thing?

Nik Brownlee FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

It’s not often that a team has too much talent–especially at one position–because having depth is a good thing, right? Well, with Byron Marshall (Sr.), Thomas Tyner (Jr.), and Royce Freeman (So.) all returning; there might not be enough carries to go around next year. There is no doubt the Ducks have found their feature back in Freeman. With him …

Comparing Ducks’ 2013-’14 Season to 2014-15 Season Performances

McKalie Bellew FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

When it comes to the Oregon Ducks football season this year, the accomplishments the team and program made are unreal. For the team, for individual players, for the coaches and the university, it was more than a successful season; it was a historical one. After the 2013-’14 season ended last year, a group of writers for ESPN wrote team-by-team season …

Ducks Dominate Pac-12 All Bowl Team

Max Thornberry FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Even if the Ducks didn’t bring a national title back to Eugene we can still look back at their bowl season and appreciate their accomplishments. Which is exactly what Ted Miller of ESPN.com did in compiling the Pac-12 all-bowl team. Miller gave credit where it was due to the Ducks’ offensive standout performances, giving Oregon players five of the 11 spots. …

Do We Have Another Year With Super Mariota?

Max Thornberry FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Last night’s loss to the Buckeyes was a painful one that, as much as we would all love to forget, will not be erased from our minds any time soon. Despite golden opportunities handed to Marcus Mariota by the defense forcing four turnovers, they couldn’t capitalize against a strong Ohio State defense. So, is this the end of the Mariota …

Oregon Has Multi-Purpose Receiving Corps

Jordan Ingram FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

The Ducks are only a couple days away from their date with Ohio State for the College Football Playoff National Championship game on Jan. 12. The Ducks arrived in Dallas without the talents of wide receiver Darren Carrington II who will miss the rest of the post-season for the Ducks due to NCAA violations. And while the the players and fans will miss Carrington, the Oregon receiving …

Next Men Up: Marshall and Baylis

Noah Smith FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

As I sat in a restaurant in New Orleans last night, I’m pretty sure I was the only one beginning to seethe from watching ESPN as the the BREAKING NEWS crawl went across the screen. Then I started getting a bit concerned, as I read that Darren Carrington was not going to be able to play in the Championship Game …

Oregon Peaking At The Right Time

Noah Smith FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Ask any football analyst and they will tell you the difference between a good team and a championship team is timing. A great team that peaks too early can wind up crumbling while a mediocre team that peaks at the right time can win a championship. Oregon however is something very rare, a great team that is peaking at the …

Carrington Yet Another Weapon For The Ducks

Max Thornberry FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

The Oregon offense certainly doesn’t lack weapons, boasting the Heisman winner Marcus Mariota, Pac-12 offensive freshman of the year Royce Freeman and running back turned slot receiver Byron Marshall. As if Mariota and the offense needed any more help, redshirt freshman wide receiver Darren Carrington has become yet another factor that Ohio State will have to contend with. Chantel Jennings of ESPN.com …

Receiver Depth Makes Oregon Dangerous

Max Thornberry FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Royce Freeman and Marcus Mariota have been the talk of the sports world leading up to the first college football semi-playoff game. The Ducks’ offense thrives on being able to run the ball in order to control the pace of the game as well as keep pressure off of Mariota. However it is the receivers that are going to do …