Yeech: Do I Have to say, “THANK YOU” to Willie Taggart?

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck Editorials

Admit it, you’ve been thinking about this too. You even know what I’m about to write, but like me, you have not wanted to address it because you are still annoyed at the despicable way he dumped the Ducks. But this is Lent, a Christian time of sacrifice; of cleansing and making amends. Before we put the Willie Taggart era completely …

Mario Cristobal’s Winter Term Grade

Mitchel Simantel Editorials

Well, here we are, Duck Fans. We’ve made it to the quiet time. The games have been played, the recruits have been signed and there are only a few more loose ends to tie up before we can close the books on the first term of the Cristobal Era and stash them away to gather dust. It has been a …

Abbie Reveals the “GODFATHER” of Oregon Football

Abbie -The FishDuck.com Mascot Editorials

The things I overhear while chewing on a new toy from Mr. FishDuck! I shared with you the blustering in our household in another article, and recently I had to pause from licking to consider that someone was called the Godfather of Oregon football. I had to listen closer, as football “tall tales” are legendary at the Fischer residence, and …

Laying the Foundation: How Elite Teams Are Built

Justin Samples Editorials

After signing day I heard a lot of squawking about this recruiting class and couldn’t help but shake my head. For years Oregon fans have bemoaned the lack of elite line talent on our teams. This showed especially during bowl games against physical opponents from the Big 10 or SEC (I can still see OSU running counter trey over and …

Three Questions for Coach Cristobal from the FANS…

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck Editorials

I am delighted with the hire of Mario Cristobal as head coach at Oregon, and have been since his introductory press conference where he impressed the audience with his presence and his answers to me afterward concerning the Oregon offense. Any questions we had about his ability to recruit has been set aside considering how he achieved one of the …

The Mario Cristobal/Marcus Arroyo Offense: The Mills Concept

Coach Eric Boles Analysis

One of the strongest passing plays in the Oklahoma State Cowboys’ playbook during Marcus Arroyo’s time in Stillwater, and one that is still persistent in the offense today, is the post/dig concept. Post/dig is really just the explanatory title for the Mills Concept. Any time that an offense pairs a post route with a dig route, this is known as …

Oregon Recruiting, Pac-12 Notes and Coug-It, USA!

Darren Perkins Editorials

In the aftermath of signing day, as we try to make sense of it all, I compiled a chart (see below) covering the past twelve years of Oregon recruiting to help put things in perspective—from the end of the Mike Bellotti era to the beginning of the Mario Cristobal regime. At first glance, it’s clear that things took a dip …

FishDuck Philosophy: New Lessons Learned from Recruiting…

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck Editorials

Just as Jake Locker got schooled on a blitz in the picture above, I learned about some new aspects of football recruiting this year, none of which I particularly care for. I am developing some ways to mentally prepare for them, some FishDuck Philosophies if you will, which will help overcome the roller-coaster ride that has become the modern day norm in college football recruiting. Consider …

2018 Football Recruiting: “One of the Best Classes EVER”

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck Editorials

Lately I’ve heard and read reactions from fellow fans about the 2018 recruiting class such as, “this was an unmitigated disaster” and “pretty good considering all that happened!” In the end–both opinions are correct, as it just depends upon your perspective in addressing the results. I have a usual positive spin from the predicable context angle, but I also want …

Mark Helfrich: “The NFL BLOCKBUSTER SLEEPER Hire of the Year”

Charles Fischer, Mr. FishDuck Editorials

I know you read that title and are now thinking, “oh brother,” but bear with me and try to examine this with new eyes as we contemplate the hiring of Mark Helfrich as Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach of the Chicago Bears. I truly believe he will be the Blockbuster Sleeper hire of the NFL this year, and will fare better …

Oregon Football Recruiting is Changing and It’s Time to Accept It

Mitchel Simantel Editorials

Oregon Football has been built on a foundation of continuity, innovation and those diamond in the rough players that we, as Duck fans, have loved over the years. Our program has felt like a family, with familiar faces on the sideline and in the locker room. We were comfortable, we were confident and each year, when our recruiting class was …