Oregon Duck fans everywhere can always be grateful that former Oregon assistant Nick Aliotti stretched the truth when Aliotti was recruiting high school quarterback Danny O’Neil in 1990. Twenty years ago, O’Neil led the Ducks to the Pac-10 championship and 1995 Rose Bowl game vs. Joe Paterno’s Penn State Nittany Lions, and in that game O’Neil broke the Rose Bowl passing record …
Analysis: “Pre-Freshmen” — Who Impressed at the Oregon Spring Game
Most of the buzz from the 2015 Oregon Spring Game centered around the superb performances of quarterback Jeff Lockie and Uber-dude, Charles Nelson – and rightly so. Typically, at FishDuck.com, we like to analyze the areas that most analysts do not examine, and I found some amazing performances buried in the trenches by none other than the “Pre-Freshmen” enrolled at Oregon early …
Charles Nelson Should Be an Early Heisman Trophy Candidate
Most school’s spring games have come to a close, which has given us an idea of who should be on the radar for the upcoming 2015 season. Much speculation has been surrounding the quarterback position for the Ducks thus far. However, one player has exploded onto the scene since the end of Oregon’s 2014 season. Charles Nelson has proved himself …
Rodney Hardrick Interview
With the departure of linebacker Tony Washington, Oregon’s linebacking corps needs a new leader. Redshirt senior Rodney Hardrick has the ability to become that leader. I met up with Hardrick to discuss what the future of Oregon’s linebackers looks like. Daniel: It is a very young linebacking crew with [Tony] Washington gone. What are the young guys doing in order to get ready? …
Draft Analysis: Armstead to the 49ers
Day 1 of the NFL draft is in the books, and Arik Armstead has found a familiar home in San Francisco with the 49ers. Armstead was taken 17th in the first round by the Niners, with the intention of replacing major holes left in their defense from the offseason. My first thought is that I owe a friend of mine 20 bucks, …
Three Reasons Marcus Mariota is NFL’s LeBron James
Every so often, an athlete emerges whose abilities exceed the boundaries of convention and provide a new bright-line of distinction. Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and LeBron James are among the special few whose personal contributions, sportsmanship, and competitive drive forever altered the landscape of professional sports. They became legends who brought hope and championships to their loyal fans. And they were fun to watch, too. So, who will be this generation’s …
10 Reasons to Attend the Spring Game…Other Than Football
Well it’s almost May again. That means it’s almost time for the Oregon football team’s annual Spring Game. On Saturday at 11:00 a.m., Autzen Stadium will open for a football game for the first time in over five months. All of the position battles will be on display for Duck fans everywhere to get a glimpse of. As Vernon Adams’ …
A Tale of Two Chip Kelly Quarterbacks: An Analysis of Bryan Bennett and Marcus Mariota
Past accolades do not matter to Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly. He has never been afraid to find an upgrade at the quarterback position. Jeremiah Masoli, Darron Thomas, Michael Vick, and Nick Foles can attest to this. Though Kelly acquired former Rams starter Sam Bradford and insisted he will not “mortgage our future,” reporters like Tony Pauline and Mike Florio …
Slot Receiver Candidates for 2015
There has been a lot of speculation surrounding the wide receiver situation for the Ducks this offseason. The return of Bralon Addison, along with promising 2014 seasons from numerous receivers has left many fans questioning the current status of this position. Let’s be a little more specific and talk about the slot receiver position, though. Slot receiver’s should be fast off the …
Freeman Speaks Volumes on Progress With Few Words
Last season, freshman sensation Royce Freeman took Autzen Stadium by storm. The freshman, from Brawley, Calif., became a household name in Tracktown within the first two games of his college career, posting back-to-back multiple touchdown performances against South Dakota and Michigan State. Even with veteran backs Byron Marshall and Thomas Tyner in the stable, Freeman managed 1,365 yards on 252 attempts, …
Coach Helfrich Has Faith in ‘Next Man Up’ Mantra
Oregon’s spring game is less than three weeks away, and there is still much to be done to prepare, but head coach Mark Helfrich seems far from worried. My colleague Ashley Young met up with Helfrich to discuss what comes next for Oregon’s practice. Naturally, the first thing brought up was the impending quarterback battle. At this point, there has …
Oregon Football Success is by Committee
We have all heard it from coaches and players at some point: “If everyone just does his assignment, the team will succeed.” Despite the understanding that football is a team game, fans still have their favorite or preferred individual players. In a sense the coaches pick favorites as well, because at some point they have to name the starters. Essentially, …