Grasu Reflects on Training, Progress, and NFL Draft at Oregon Pro Day

Austin Willhoft FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

On Thursday March 12th, more than 50 NFL coaches, scouts, and general managers gathered at the Moshofsky Center in Eugene, OR, for Oregon’s pro day. The biggest prospect that had teams within the top ten of the upcoming 2015 NFL Draft was dual-threat quarterback Marcus Mariota, who essentially took most of his snaps under center from C Hroniss Grasu. Both were an …

Oregon Freshmen Ready To Shine In 2015

Nik Brownlee FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

It’s no secret that the Ducks have lost an abundance of talent following their national title run last season. Quarterback, the offensive and defensive lines, and the secondary were all hit with key departures this offseason. But Oregon doesn’t have to rebuild anymore. The Ducks can reload. Reload they have. After Arik Armstead declared early for the NFL draft, Oregon …

Oregon Wide Receivers, Best Group In Years?

Nik Brownlee FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

I’ve been an Oregon fan for as long as I can remember. I’m 23 years old, so the Joey Harrington era was when I started becoming a real sports fan as a kid. It seems the Ducks have always had good running backs over the years with players such as Maurice Morris, Jonathan Stewart, and LaMichael James. But even with a focus on the running …

Analysts Confident With Football Ducks in 2015

Jason Selby FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Moving on from the Marcus Mariota hype train was an experience filled with immense struggle. With the recent news of Eastern Washington standout quarterback, Vernon Adams Jr., deciding to transfer to the University of Oregon for his final year of eligibility; the fear of struggle has turned into hope for next season. Recently, a bleacherreport.com article analyzed the ten teams that are a ‘lock’ to win 10 games or more this …

Chip Kelly a Racist?!

Dave Kensler FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

In one of his more ridiculous commentaries, one of many delivered over the years, ESPN First Take host Stephen A. Smith seemed to suggest current Philadelphia Eagles head coach and former University of Oregon head coach Chip Kelly is a racist, or has racist motives in how he structures the team. Nor did Smith keep this offensive suggestion simple and short: …

Recruiting Update: Marcus 2.0

Mark Flores FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Football Recruiting News Oregon’s Hawaiian connection might be one of the strongest out-of-state pipelines in college football. So strong in fact that the heralded “Mariota 2.0” is already almost a lock to end up in Lighting Yellow and Thunder Green. We, The Duck Faithful, have already begun to feel the trans-Pacific rumblings surrounding to-be junior quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (4-Star/Honolulu, HI). …

Erick Dargan Flying Under the Radar

Caleb Couturie FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

By all measures, Erick Dargan was one of the best safeties in college football last year. The senior led the Ducks with 95 tackles and seven interceptions, all while playing in the pass-happy Pac-12 Conference. Dargan was both the physical and emotional leader for a defense that, although not excellent, played well enough to help lead the Ducks to a national …

Birds of a Feather: The Philadelphia Eagle Ducks

Graham Berry FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Greetings from Phnom Penh. I just landed about two hours ago. I’ve spent a fair amount of time in Asia (comparatively, of course) living, working, and travelling. The initial culture shock involves the new environs — the traffic, the number of machine shops (seriously; so many people welding sans welding mask), and the pungency. The deeper shock, at least for …

A Fan’s Guide to Mental Health

Mike Merrell For the Fans

Mike Merrell’s Three-and-Out Mental illness is nothing to be taken lightly but like any other classification of illnesses, there are degrees — and as college football fans we (some more successfully than others) struggle to maintain our mental health through the ups and downs of the seasons and the withdrawals of the off-seasons. Like any other group of people, some …

The Truth Behind Chip Kelly’s Latest Moves

Austin Willhoft FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Ever since Chip Kelly made the bold move of trading All-Pro RB LeSean McCoy to Buffalo for former Duck standout LB Kiko Alonso, NFL executives have been calling him either an absolute genius or a total fool. As of today, a flock of nine Oregon players are on the Philadelphia roster, five of which are defenders: Casey Matthews, Brandon Bair, …

Will The Oregon Offense Change Without Mariota?

Nik Brownlee FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

The greatest Oregon Duck to ever wear the green and yellow is now preparing for life in the NFL That’s old news. So what does the future hold? Could a new quarterback bring changes to the Oregon offense we have become so familiar with? To begin, I don’t think we will be a bad football team without Marcus Mariota. There …

Vernon Adams Wishes He was Already in Eugene

Jason Selby FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

It’s not news anymore – Vernon Adams Jr., former Eastern Washington Eagles standout quarterback, has decided to transfer to the University of Oregon for his final season of eligibility. And you might think this decision is one of instant joy and satisfaction, but you would be wrong for thinking that. George Schroeder of USA TODAY Sports put together an in-depth piece on Adams, and what his life is …