Attacking is winning. That is a note scribbled in the margins of what became Bill Walsh’s book Finding the Winning Edge. ESPN the Magazine recently examined the impact of that book on current football coaches. The most interesting quote from the Mark Helfrich introductory press conference was this: “We will attack in all phases. We will embrace innovation. And we …
Five Things Chip Kelly Did Right and Why Duck Fans Should Be Thankful
If winning football games is your biggest priority then make it 6 things. A winning record of 46-7 is no small accomplishment; however, looking long-term there are 5 other things that, when the disappointment clears, I think will be recognized and appreciated. One Putting aside for the moment the NCAA investigation (which is likely more smoke then fire) Chip built his program …
Oregon Brings In Recruits — On And Off The Field
Since new coach Mark Helfrich has taken over for Chip Kelly, he has been very busy on the recruiting trail. Not only has he and five assistant coaches had an in home visit with every current commit, he has also added some much needed talent to Oregon’s 2013 class. Oregon is now up to 17 commitments, and looks to add …
Oregon’s In-Game Adjustment Skins Cats
This post was originally featured at PacificTakes.com, and is being shared with FishDuck.com Oregon has seen dozens of variations of defensive schemes to slow down their offense over the years. Some, like the Cover 0 defense, and Bear front were more effective in longer stretches, and others were, simply put, less effective. Those less effective schemes have included the scrape exchange and fake injuries. …
Message Board Armageddon! The Battle is Afoot!
Important decisions are being made in the athletic department offices. How to salvage a good recruiting class in the face of coaching turnover. Who will call the plays? What will be the vehicle for the transmission of play calls? (Hand signals, message board or, my favorite, carrier pigeon?) How do we replace the two graduate assistants who were responsible for…something? …
Oregon’s Success Founded On Proper Blueprint – Fundamentals of Change
Many political theorists will you tell that revolutions occur during periods of rising social expectations. Political coup d’états rarely happen in dire living circumstances. When you expect little you demand even less. However, if you feel that you are owed more than what you are currently getting or social conditions, though vastly improved, have slowed to an unacceptable pace then …
Notes From Around the College Football Nation: The Notre Dame Mess and Chip Kelly the Eagle
So what did we miss? We have Te’o’s girlfriend coming back from the dead, Oregon’s head coach finally made his exodus, and more conference realignment news. I guess that means the offseason is here, and now we can get ready for signing day. Lots of top recruits are still out doing visits, so it will be interesting to see where they …
There Are Days When Life Sucks Major Eggs
I opened Facebook Wednesdy morning and saw a sad face beside the headline ”Kelly to take Eagles job.” I felt bad for the Notre Dame fans. You see, it had to be Brian Kelly because we had already gone through this with Chip Kelly. Then, in response to the cold finger of fear that was working its way from my …
We Were Mighty Oregon Before Chip Kelly Got Here. We Still Are.
For me, it seems that a byproduct of getting older is a certain jadedness. There isn’t a whole lot anymore that emotionally stuns me the same as it might have in years past. I’m still surprised now and then, but rarely do I get blindsided and emotionally drained. I suppose that after experiencing gut-wrenching events in my life, the impact …
Is Oregon the Most Tortured Sports State in America?
Chip Kelly left town Wednesday morning, and a fan base mourned. His teams had been perennial national title contenders, going into November with a shot at a national championship in five of his six seasons in Eugene. Oregon never won it all during that time, but Chip Kelly had Duck fans believing that the law of averages would eventually prevail, …
The CK Mansion: Chip’s House by the Numbers
When the news of Chip Kelly’s departure from the U of O broke this morning, and after I cleaned the spit-up Wheat Chex I had been eating from my table and floor, my mind began racing. I had read the first report from ESPN’s Chris Mortensen on Twitter, and then I read it again. And again. “This must be an …
Friday The 13th Cleverly Disguised As Wednesday The 16th
You know that feeling in your gut when you know something really awful is about to happen but you just don’t want to face it? Yeah, that’s what I was going through this morning when I woke up and noticed I had 16 alerts in my Gmail from my Chip Kelly + NFL bookmark. At that point, I did not …