Ever wonder what would happen to Oregon’s glorious offense if our starting quarterback went down due to injury? Unfortunately, most Duck fans will recall the 2007 season in which Heisman Trophy favorite Dennis Dixon tore his ACL on a routine read-option play shortly after a 60-yard scamper down the sideline for a touchdown. There went the season, the national championship, …
Recruiting Update: Oregon Trumps SEC Girth with Speed!
Football Recruiting In regards to The Oregonian‘s recent report, this writer will highlight two pieces of information that will put Oregon in the clear of any major sanctions. “…The (recently released) documents also state (that the) NCAA enforcement staff said they had “no finding of lack of institutional control and no finding of unethical conduct,” key points when it comes …
Oregon’s Mystery Men Linebacking Corps Will “Sink to the level of its preparation” – and that’s a good thing
Here’s what we know about the 2013 version of Oregon’s defensive line (Hart, Keliikipi, Heimuli, Armstead, Buckner): the group is likely top-ten nationally. Here’s what we know about the 2013 version of Oregon’s defensive backfield (Ifo, Patterson, Mitchell, Hill, Jackson, Dargan): the group is likely top-five nationally. Here’s what we know about the 2013 version of Oregon’s middle linebacking group …
Oregon Recruiting Manifesto Part 6: A Recruiting Blueprint
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. …
Three Rivalries That Need to Start
Feature Photo by Kevin Cline Rivalries are the best part of sports. The Passion. The Intensity. The Hatred. We all love to hate the Huskies and poke fun at the Beavers (and their stupid new logo), but don’t we all watch a game and say, “I want to play that team?” What if we could actually get teams to Autzen …
Receiving Corps Thinning, Opportunities Rising
When the news arrived Friday that Dwayne Stanford, the lanky, 6’5″ true sophomore receiver, was going under the knife to fix a potentially serious knee injury, panic began to spread amongst the Oregon faithful. With Mark Helfrich now leading the charge, it’s expected that the Ducks could be looking to the air more this season, which will require the receivers to …
“42” and Other Numbers of Cinematic Import
I’m taking my wife to see “42” tonight. The “based on history” story of racial strife, cultural change and baseball in the late 40’s is right in my strike zone. Of course, I’ve never spent two consecutive hours rooting for the Dodger, but that’s a story for another day. Thinking about this movie brought me to mind of other …
Au-Burned: The Long Con of Mark Emmert
“If you flip Montana, there’s no going back.” – University of Washington President Raymond B. Allen, 1948 Alright, I made up that quote, but a conversation to twist the knife on Oregon took place that fall. With Cal and Oregon tied atop the Pacific Coast Conference, a tiebreaking vote amongst the members was set. The legend goes that the rivalry …
Your Greatest “Oregon” Ducks
About a year ago, I wrote a post attempting to list the greatest “Oregon” Ducks of all-time - University of Oregon athletes, regardless of sport, who were either natives of the state of Oregon, or at had least moved here at a young age and thus “grew up” in Oregon. I originally planned to do a “top 10”, but early in the research it …
Offseason Stat-Plosion: The Team Efficiency Index
It’s 2013, and statistics are ubiquitous in college football: yards per play, 3rd down conversion rate, points per game, defensive efficiency, time of possession, attractiveness of fake girlfriends, turnover margin, blah blah blah blah. We’ve got all kinds of “objective” statistical methods to “measure” how “good” a football team “is.” This clearly ain’t Knute Rockne’s football. The problem with all these objective …
The Man Who Truly Did it All for Oregon Football: A Tribute to Shy Huntington
In an increasingly specialized football culture, almost all players are limited to one specific position or role. Since the return to the two-platoon system in the 1960s, college athletes have focused their efforts and development on one single facet of the game. As a result, we have nickel backs, pass-rushers, slot receivers, and numerous other specific positions that have led …
Recruiting Update: Quarterback eyes Oregon
Football Recruiting Visits/Offers A somewhat quieter front on the recruiting trail, Oregon’s D-Line brass made waves offering in-state talent Henry Mondeaux (3-Star/Portland, OR) and southwestern-based Jalen Jelks (3-Star/Phoenix, AZ). “I was down in Eugene Saturday and I spent I think around 10 or 11 hours around the school and football team,” said the 6’5″, 245 lb. Mondeaux. “I watched practice …