Spring football is here but I still can not shake the March Madness. Seeing the playoff atmosphere for the college basketball scene gets me even more pumped for when the college football playoffs arrive! Here is a full list of when practices begin and spring games will occur…something to help plan out your spring break. Let’s get into some news …
From Hardwood To Hard Hits, Armstead’s Development Continues
As the final seconds of Oregon’s Sweet 16 loss to Louisville ticked off the clock Friday night, one member of the Ducks squad knew that while the basketball season may have come to an end, the real work was about to begin. Arik Armstead gets no rest. Back in Eugene, football is in the air once again, and the big …
The Oregon Game Plans: Kelly or Helfrich?
You knew this discussion had to begin: who WAS primarily responsible for the game plan and play calling on the field? I thought it critical because I developed a checklist of what we needed Chip’s replacement to be skilled at, and the only item on the list unresolved was GAME-PLANNING. I have detailed the unique attacks that Oregon has unleashed …
Oregon Recruiting Manifesto: What Went Right — The Oregon Brand
This multi-week series will attempt to take a reasonable, logical and unbiased look at Oregon’s recent recruiting successes and failures, while analyzing the program’s recruiting philosophy under Chip Kelly. The series will then look at how that philosophy already has and may continue to evolve under Mark Helfrich before ending with a detailed breakdown of the author’s ideal recruiting blueprint. …
Oregon Football Recruiting Manifesto: What Happened in 2012-2013?
This multi-week series will attempt to take a reasonable, logical and unbiased look at Oregon’s recent recruiting successes and failures while analyzing the program’s recruiting philosophy under Chip Kelly. The series will then look at how that philosophy already has and may continue to evolve under Mark Helfrich before ending with a detailed breakdown of the author’s ideal recruiting blueprint. …
Dog Days of Off-Season Gives Time For Reflection
As the days drag endlessly by, awaiting the arrival of spring ball, the time for reflection has arrived for Oregon football fans. Gone to Philadelphia is Charles Kelly, the man most often credited with taking the Ducks to the next level in the eyes of college football pundits. He left a blistering 46-7 record, three straight conference championships and a brazen, we-can’t-be-beaten attitude. That …
More Air-Time For Mariota in 2013?
I have been picking up on some interesting signs lately in regards to the Ducks, Mark Helfrich, and how the next era of Oregon offense could potentially go. Now, I am definitely not psychic; if I was I would have won the lottery by now and I would be paying somebody to write this for me. Or maybe I would …
Attacking is Winning, Which Oregon Plans To Continue
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 …
Heaven In The Emerald Valley
Every September fans pile into the magnificent stadium that is home to the Oregon Ducks football team. Students take the mile or so walk to Autzen Stadium and get hyped up, as they enter into what some consider the loudest stadium in the nation. Autzen has come a long way, from season after season of unwatchable football, to hosting the …
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 …
Can Helfrich Keep the Class?
With signing day less than a week away, Mark Helfrich has a chance to ace his first test as the head coach of the Oregon Ducks. When Helfrich took over for Chip in mid-January, things didn’t look particularly good on the recruiting front. For a couple of days, it looked like things could really fall apart. Fast forward to today …
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. …