As we count down the days until the start of the 2020s, I figured it appropriate to take a moment to recognize the exceptional quarterback, and even more exceptional young man, who carried Oregon through its darkest period of the decade. Justin Herbert grew up near the banks of Willamette River in Eugene-Springfield, Oregon, only a 10-minute drive from Autzen …
The days of long, methodical rebuilds are over. Nowadays, it’s not uncommon for underperforming coaches to get the ax early on in their tenures, even if they show subtle signs of progress. Obviously that won’t be the case for Oregon’s Mario Cristobal. After winning the Pac-12 in just his second season, it’s safe to say that Cristobal’s job is secure. …
Oregon won the Pac-12 Championship game over Utah for a variety of reasons on both sides of the ball, but the most noted tactical change in this game was the running of Justin Herbert in the Outside Zone Read plays out of the Shotgun formation. Coach Ken Woody pointed it out in his analysis article, as did Eric Boles in …
As the decade comes to a close, we as Duck fans can celebrate knowing that we just came off the most successful decade in Oregon football history. In the last ten years, the Ducks have gone to two national championships, three Rose Bowls and have won the Pac-12 championship four times. The success of the Oregon Football program can be …
It took just a couple of adjustments for the Oregon Ducks running game to take it to the next level against the Utah Utes in the Pac-12 Championship game. Against a Utah defense that had only given up a little more than 50 yards per game on the ground, Oregon managed to rush for 269 yards. Running back CJ Verdell …
Another decade of Oregon football is just about in the books. This one was a little bit different. After the long coaching tenure of Mike Belotti, the Ducks saw four different coaches at the helm: Chip Kelly, Mark Helfrich, Willie Taggart and lastly, Mario Cristobal. Each of these coaches formed their teams to have a unique identity to ensure success on …
Christmas is around the corner, but Mario Cristobal already gave Duck fans the biggest gift of all by surprising many and winning the Pac-12 in just his second season. Cristobal has gotten off to a fast start, building a roster capable of competing at the highest level in just a couple of years. But a Pac-12 title hasn’t been the …
Every year, nearly 100 underclassmen declare for the NFL draft and forgo their senior season, and every year, many of them go undrafted. For some players, the decision to declare for the draft early can be greatly beneficial. Those elite players who have shown enough in three years to warrant either a first- or second-round pick often make the decision …
As we look back on the roller coaster ride recently departed offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo and Mario Cristobal have taken us on this season, I want to share some thoughts you might not have considered. Many an Oregon fan — especially on this website — have criticized Arroyo for “dishonoring” the blur offense we so adored. One major gripe fans …
The Ducks had themselves a very successful first day in the Early Signing Period with a majority of their top-ranked recruits signing their letters of intent to continue their athletic and academic careers in Eugene. This marks the second straight year Mario Cristobal has been able to secure a top-20, nationally ranked recruiting class. Many Oregon fans are still anxious …
My GameDay article this week is not on Saturday, but today in order to ponder the results of Oregon Football recruiting with all of you. I understand some are disappointed with the results, especially with the recruiting class that Oregon enjoyed last year. The Ducks are not going to equal last year’s results, but also consider some perspective. These results …
It’s not quite Christmas Day, but for college football fans, the early National Signing Period is the next best thing. On the eve of the biggest day on the recruiting calendar, Oregon football fans are eager to see if the Ducks are able to capitalize on their 11-win, championship-winning season and secure another elite recruiting class. By now, everyone’s familiar …