It’s amazing what one victory can do for a program. Everybody looks for “signature wins” as a way to validate premier players and coaches. Sure, beating up on poor competition is nice. But to really prove itself, a team has to show out in the big games against equally-matched, or even superior opponents. The best players and coaches earn their …
Utah had no answer for Oregon on Friday night. The Ducks got out in front early thanks to some inspired defensive play and phenomenal play calling and execution on offense, and they never looked back. Oregon went in to the half up 20-0, and when Utah got the score to 23-15 with 1:13 to play in the game, the entire …
What was your expectation of what Oregon would become when Coach Mario Cristobal took over as head coach? How different is it from nearly two years ago when his command of the Oregon program began? Consider what your vision of Oregon football was going to become in your fantasy (c’mon … we all do it), and ask yourself if that …
It’s a beautiful thing when elite talent meets proper technique. That’s what’s happening with Oregon’s all-world freshman pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux as the season nears its end. After a relatively quiet start to the season, Thibodeaux has emerged as Oregon’s best pass rusher, leading the team in tackles for loss and sacks. Thibodeaux’s physical attributes (size, length, athleticism, etc.) have …
Oregon won the Civil War 24-10 to give coach Mario Cristobal a fine 10-2 record, but left a majority of Duck fans with less than celestial euphoria. Former All-American and Heisman Trophy candidate Justin Herbert performed as the good soldier he is at quarterback; good enough to tip the scales over an Oregon State team that refused to be overwhelmed, …
It’s amazing how a coach who puts such an emphasis on being “tough” can trot out an offense that’s so weak. We get it, Coach Mario Cristobal. You want to control the ball, control the clock, dominate the line of scrimmage, and run vertically between the tackles. This is great when it works, but when it doesn’t, you simply look …
Hey Duck fans, it’s that beautiful time of year again. A time dedicated to stuffing yourself with turkey and pumpkin pie, spending time with family and friends and, most importantly, showing our little brother who the king of Oregon football really is. After a playoff-crushing defeat last week against Arizona State in the desert, Oregon looked to regroup and refocus …
I cried “Wolf” last week with good reason, as my concerns about the inexperience of the current coaching staff mentally preparing the team were well founded. Should we be worried about Oregon State coming to Autzen today as well? Oh yeah. My friends, I grew up in Corvallis and am a Beaver fan except in Civil War, and thus have …
After months of anticipation and expectation, Oregon football and coach Mario Cristobal have finally landed their top recruiting target, inside linebacker Noah Sewell. Noah is Oregon all-world sophomore left tackle Penei Sewell‘s younger brother. Although some have argued that Sewell is oversized for an inside linebacker — he is listed at 6 ft. 2 in. and weighs 266 lbs. — …
If there’s one thing that this Oregon Ducks offense does better than any before, it’s the screen game. Not only has Coach Marcus Arroyo designed some very effective screen plays, but he also has an uncanny feel for calling them at just the right time. This kind of success leads to even more effective constraint plays. Multiple times this season, …
Oregon was shocked by Arizona State’s Jayden Daniels, an 18-year old freshman quarterback, who blitzed the Duck secondary for 408 yards passing, including going 5 for 5 on deep bombs. Three such bombs resulted in touchdowns, paving the way for a 31-28 win and an end to the Sun Devils’ four-game losing streak. Oregon’s defense looked lethargic, and it showed …
In the three games leading up to the showdown with Arizona State, Oregon committed 26 penalties for 320 yards. Against the Sun Devils, the Ducks committed only three penalties for 21 yards. Typically, that sort of improvement would be associated with a win. Not giving the opposing team extra yards and opportunities is usually a sign that a team is …