Oregon quarterbacks do not have the best track record when it comes to production at the NFL level. Since 1999 and prior to Marcus Mariota, Oregon had five quarterbacks taken in the NFL Draft, two of which were 1st-round picks – Akili Smith and Joey Harrington — two in the 5th round – Dennis Dixon and A.J. Feely — and Kellen Clemens, who was taken …
Running Styles: Oregon Runners Griffin, Tyner and Freeman
It was 1993 and I was a senior in high school playing running back for the South Salem Saxons. I wore No. 43 before Darren Sproles made it cool to wear the number. The Ducks running back in 1993, Sean Burwell, finished with 457 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns on the season. Last season, Oregon ran for 301 yards in …
Top 5 Oregon Games of the Past Decade
This week we are going to look at some of the most exciting Oregon games of the past 10 years. There have been some extremely exciting and controversial games in the past decade, and some of them have resulted in losses. This is a list of the most exciting games, not the most exciting Oregon wins. Even though losses quelled some of …
Why Oregon Can Contend for a Spot in the Playoff
Oregon’s 2014 season was one to remember. Its fans witnessed another 10-win season, multiple records broken, a berth in the National Championship Game and a Heisman Trophy winner in Marcus Mariota. Circumstances, as well as players, have changed as the team heads into the 2015 season. According to an article published by ESPN, Oregon was chosen to return to the …
Duckling Profile: Justin Hollins Looks to Take Next Step
Part of the benefit of playing as a true freshman is the experience a player gets early in his college career. Such is the case with Justin Hollins, an outside linebacker who will see an increased role after limited action last season. You may not be familiar with the name, but get used to hearing it in 2015 and beyond. Hollins was …
Oregon’s Linebacking Analysis: Why It Will Be Better in 2015
When looking at Oregon’s linebacker unit from 2014, a common theme often arises — inconsistency. FishDuck.com discussed it here and here, as others did here. In my experience, inconsistency typically stems from player inexperience and mental overload, both of which seemed to be confounding factors for the Oregon linebacking crew — as they were a bit inexperienced and working under a new …
Best Ducks in the NFL: Defensive Edition
A couple weeks ago, I posted an article that listed the best Ducks to ever grace the NFL on the offensive side of the ball. Now, it’s time to honor the best defensive Ducks in Oregon history. To reiterate, this is a list of the Ducks with the best NFL career, not college. More than anything, this list serves as …
History Says Vernon Adams Will Be the 2015 Starting QB
At this point, it is no secret that the biggest question mark for the Ducks as they head toward the 2015-16 season is who will be under center come September 5th. But when considering recent history, we already have the answer: the starting quarterback for the Oregon Ducks this season is Vernon Adams, Jr. In some ways this is unfortunate, because you want …
The Art of Prediction, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying About the Ducks
I’m sitting in a car right now, heading south to my new home: Houston, Texas. This move is predicated on a number of things: family, taxes, a deep love of Texas barbeque, and work. With a certitude reserved for cult members and migrating gaggles of geese, I think that I will enjoy living in Texas as much as I’ve enjoyed …
Can Royce Freeman Give UO Back-to-Back Heisman Winners?
Last year the University of Oregon had its first Heisman trophy winner in history. Marcus Mariota finally took Oregon over the hump and won the award. There have been years in the past where an athlete from Oregon was in the running, but never the clear-cut favorite. Mariota ended that long Heisman drought. Previewing this coming football season, SI.com has already arrived …
Duckling Profile: Khalil Oliver Fights to Fill Defensive Gap
Football recruiting is often akin to the careful planning of an investor. Coaches invest capital into players whom they feel will fill larger roles in the future. Oregon is no exception, as the Ducks are known for seeking youth and athleticism to fill gaps in their roster. With the departure of several key defensive backs, freshman Khalil Oliver looks to show …
Oregon’s Offense — Past and Present
At Oregon, we have grown accustomed to outsiders disrespecting our players by calling them “soft.” Even Marcus Mariota was not safe from such descriptions, as critics in the national media called him a mere by-product of a successful system. Many Duck fans believe the labels of “soft” and “by-product” of the system started with Dennis Dixon and when the spread …