2018: Is This THE YEAR (Not 2019) for Oregon Football?

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck Editorials

I am not so sure about the conventional wisdom surrounding our beloved Ducks as to when they will fly back into the national consciousness again. The process of working on my season prediction (next week’s editorial) made me pause about not just the year that Oregon re-emerges, but why. For me, this Oregon Football roller-coaster of expectations just ruffled my …

Why Oregon will NOT Finish in the 2019 Recruiting Top Ten

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck Editorials

No, my friends, the title is not “clickbait.” What I wrote is true. You all are acquainted with me well enough by now to know that I am frequently guilty of sizzling titles, but I also back them up with facts and reasoned arguments. I do not present a title to lure a reader in and then pull the bait-and-switch …

Why Coach Mario Cristobal Won’t Outsmart Anybody

Mike Merrell Editorials

Predicting the number of wins for Ducks football this year is a tough call. One thing I can’t buy is that there’s an issue of whether Oregon’s coaches can game-day coach or not. First of all, if you’ve got a Mario Cristobal-coached offensive line, a Jim Leavitt-coached defense, and a Heisman-candidate quarterback–you’ve got some options that can make you look …

How the Ducks Are Building a Recruiting Powerhouse

Joshua Whitted Editorials

The Oregon Ducks’ blistering recruiting pace has put college football teams across the country on notice. Currently, the Ducks’ 2019 class ranks fifth in the country and first in the PAC-12. And they are in great position to land some of the top remaining prospects. Much praise has been given coach Mario Cristobal and his staff for the job they’ve done so …

2019 Recruiting Disasters in the Pac-12: UCLA, Washington=Boise State?

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck Editorials

My friends….we are not supposed to have five articles this week, but this stuff is just too juicy. I was supposed to take a break this week, but comparing Washington to Boise State in recruiting was something I had to get out to my friends for discussion. Why? Because Oregon is in a position with recruiting that I never thought …

Assessing Risk: Oregon Football

Steven Smith Editorials

Life is full of uncertainty. Our lives take unexpected twists and turns, hence the need to assess Risk with personal and collective choices. So it also is with Oregon’s football program. Risk definitions: A situation involving exposure to danger. The possibility of suffering loss or harm. Any event that could compromise organizational assets. The probability of threat, loss, defeat and …

The Cristobal Staff is About to Break TWO RECRUITING RECORDS at Oregon

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck Editorials

An axiom we savvy Oregon fans and readers of this site know, part of College Football 101, is that when it comes to talent … “Great coaching can help players outperform their recruiting ranking, but to win championships — you must have a roster full of superior talent.” We are all keeping up with the recruiting battles occurring and, while we are …

The O-Line Relay: Cristobal’s New Weapon to Win the Pac-12?

Mike Merrell Editorials

Anyone who’s ever had to compete single-handedly against a relay can tell you that it’s not a level playing field. Could this concept be formulated into a strategy that Coach Mario Cristobal utilizes to win and, ultimately, dominate the Pac-12? Let’s look at some unknown aspects of the offensive line and see if we can determine the unique new tactic …

Off-Season Surprises that Bode Well for the OREGON OFFENSE

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck Editorials

Admit it — after the bowl game, weren’t you were worried about the future of the Oregon offense? I was and I wrote about it, as did retired college coach and former Oregon player, Ken Woody. It was an ugly showing that got us all wondering, but as you know about me — I truly spend a disproportionate amount of time …

The Stunning Cristobal Recruiting that DOES NOT COUNT

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck Editorials

Photo above of Elkanah “Kano” Dillon by Dennis Akers of SoFloBulls.com I know you are rolling your eyes at that title, and newer readers to the site would probably accuse me of “clickbait,” and while there is some merit to that — the rest of you know my shtick. I write something semi-outrageous and then go about backing up the …

Could Oregon Football Become LINEBACKER U?

Steven Smith Editorials

The hiatus between spring practice and fall football camp allows us time to ponder possibilities regarding our defense, specifically the LBs, who are vital to stopping our opponents. Creating turnovers and getting off the field are crucial for a double-digit win season in 2018. We get that! Do we have the talent, coaching, athletes or recruits coming in to fulfill …

Oregon’s Offensive Transition: Insane or Ingenious?

Joshua Whitted Editorials

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. When it comes to Oregon’s offense over the past decade, this is certainly a good philosophy to follow. Under Chip Kelly, Mark Helfrich and Willie Taggart, the Ducks’ offense has been among the most exciting and innovative groups in the country. Apparently, Mario Cristobal didn’t get the memo. We got our first look …