Oregon So Close to Being 10-1 … or 4-6

Aaron Lewis Editorials

Through their five-game win streak, including their most recent convincing 48-28 win over USC, the Ducks have looked very much like the Ducks of the last few years — Duck teams that relied on almost unstoppable offenses and opportunistic defenses to dominate the Pac-12. Unfortunately for the Ducks, they they did not look like this through the first six games. As we fans …

About Vernon Adams, the Obscure, the Melancholy, and the “Feel-Good”

David Miller Editorials

I’ll be honest. I didn’t know what to write about this week. I considered several times writing to Charles Fischer and the editors and letting them know I was out of ideas, out of articles, I could write no more, I needed a break. All told, I’ve put down five articles of more than 1,500 words each since early September and had …

It Takes a Little Bit o’ Soul

Mike Merrell Editorials

Mike Merrell’s Three-and-Out With Saturday night’s loss to Washington State it is now pretty much official that this year’s version of Oregon football is going down as a bad year, the end of the streak, or some other description that is even less complimentary. The 3-3 Ducks are only a play a game away from being 5-1, but there’s no …

Between Two Teams

Nathan Roholt Editorials

Gambling is speculative at best, but if someone wanted to get rich quick last weekend, the opportunity was there. After Oregon and Alabama – the two winningest college football programs of the decade — both dropped their conference openers, they found themselves on an unfamiliar side of public opinion, or more specifically, of the Vegas odds-makers’ opinion. Oregon was a mere six-and-a-half point favorite over …

Blame It on Marcus Mariota

Mike Merrell Editorials

There are some things that everybody who has anything to do with athletics should learn, and this holds true for athletes, coaches, friends, family and fans. Two of these things are winning with grace and losing with grace. The Ducks won this weekend, taking down Colorado, 41-24. The win was a relief after the previous week’s drubbing from Utah, but …

Going for Two Is a Numbers Game

Ashley Young FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Circle below the best-fit answer: What are the chances the Oregon Ducks go for two following their first touchdown? Very Unlikely     Unlikely     Beats Me     Likely     Very Likely The statistics are overwhelming. How many times did the scoreboard read 8-? in favor of the Ducks? According to goducks.com, the Ducks were 95% in points-after-touchdown …

Ty Griffin — Playmaker Extraordinaire

Nik Brownlee FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

There is a lot for coaches and fans to focus on during spring practices, such as who will step up in the secondary, what true freshman will make an impact, and most importantly, and who will be the starting quarterback in 2015? The Ducks might have too much of a good thing at the quarterback position. Oregon has leadership experience …

Quarterback Depth Chart Taking Shape This Spring

Aaron Lewis FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Spring football is a wonderful time of year as a fan. The hype machine is in full swing heaping out-sized expectations on early enrollees (e.g., Canton Kaumatule ) and highly recruited second-year players who are looking to take a jump to the next level (e.g., Arion Springs). Additionally, as fans, you get an opportunity to read way too much into every …

Scott Frost says “I Have a Ton of Confidence in Our Process”

Omar Garibay FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

As soon as the clock hit zero, the uncertainty kicked in. While Ohio State was celebrating its 8th national championship, the Oregon Ducks walked off the AT&T Stadium field with their heads down. The Ducks soared all season long, overcame multiple injuries, and their quarterback carried them like no other Oregon quarterback had ever done before. But in the end, …

Keeping QB Battle Wide Open Fits Ducks’ Culture

Spencer Thomas FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

I think most Oregon Duck football fans — this one included — would love to see a clear leader emerge this spring from the pack of contestants vying to replace Marcus Mariota as Oregon’s starting quarterback in 2015. That leader would then be pitted against incoming transfer Vernon Adams in a clear two-man race to be the Ducks’ 2015 field …

Replacing Marcus: A Duck QB Battle for the Ages

Caleb Couturie FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

To those living outside of the 159,190 person city that is Eugene, Oregon, the name Marcus Mariota probably means very little. A dual-threat QB from the University of Oregon, Mariota and the Ducks offense were perennially entertaining to watch — unless they were playing your team, that is. Those outside Eugene probably know the QB is a highly touted NFL recruit, predicted …

Next Heisman Up? A Unique Opportunity for Ducks

Jordan Ingram FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

The Oregon football season ended with as many questions as achievements, leaving many speculating about how the Ducks’ football program will respond to the magic and disappointment of 2014. As recruiting enters its final stretch, the quarterback discussion has started to heat up in Eugene. It’s true, the 2015 Oregon football program has the unenviable task of replacing its Heisman Trophy winning quarterback, Marcus Mariota. Unfortunately, the …