Loaded With Talent — Ducks Passing Game Set to Soar

Noah Smith FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Although Oregon has been a run-oriented football team the past few years, the number of times they have run the ball has decreased in both of Mark Helfrich’s seasons as head coach. The difference in the Helfrich era thus far has been athletic passers playing the QB position rather than runners who can somewhat throw. The Chip Kelly-type QB will always be defined …

Royce Freeman: “I’m Ready to Get Back at it And Play Some Football”

Omar Garibay FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

In an interview for FishDuck.com on Wednesday, I spoke with Oregon running back Royce Freeman at the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex. Strap on your football helmets and lace your cleats because spring has officially arrived. The Ducks returned to the practice field on Tuesday and the men in green and yellow were excited to be back on the football field; Wednesday morning marked …

Three Critical Questions Heading into Spring Practices

Austin Willhoft FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Starting on Tuesday, March 31st, Oregon will officially open up their facilities to kick off spring practices. The NCAA permits only 15 spring practices, which Oregon will take advantage of in order to prepare and showcase old, along with new, talent. So, without further ado, here are three important questions going into spring practices: 1. Who’s going to step up on the …

ESPN Poll: Royce Freeman the Next Pac-12 Player of the Year?

Jordan Ingram FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Duck fans can expect a lot of changes next season. While questions surround the Oregon football program in the post-Mariota era, it’s the return of running back Royce Freeman that gives the Ducks a legitimate shot at another post-season run in 2015. In a recent ESPN poll, Freeman is among four Pac-12 candidates projected to be Pac-12 player of the year. At http://t.co/BcNwBE0UGy — Missing Oregon Football! Simple edit …

A New Duck Speedster: Tony James

Michael Bigham FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Duck football fanboys are smiling after Tony James‘s performance in the 60-meter dash at the University of Washington Invitational Track Meet this past weekend. James, a redshirt freshman tailback, notched a 6.71 in the semi-finals, the second-fastest Duck time ever for the distance, tying Olympic gold medalist Ashton Eaton and surpassing Oregon speedsters LaMichael James and Dior Mathis. The 5’9, 180-lb …

Players Who Wait Outshine Current Recruits

Mike Merrell FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Mike Merrell’s Three-and-Out Lost in the excitement of the returning stars and the hope of stars to come is the quiet backbone of any football team. For the most part, these are the guys who didn’t grab the headlines their freshman years. They’ve been in the program for a year or two or three, possibly redshirting, biding their time behind …

Running Backs: Too Much Of A Good Thing?

Nik Brownlee FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

It’s not often that a team has too much talent–especially at one position–because having depth is a good thing, right? Well, with Byron Marshall (Sr.), Thomas Tyner (Jr.), and Royce Freeman (So.) all returning; there might not be enough carries to go around next year. There is no doubt the Ducks have found their feature back in Freeman. With him …

Scott’s Turf: It’s a Family Affair

Scott Reed Editorials

“Because we don’t know when we will die, we get to think of life as an inexhaustible well. Yet everything happens only a certain number of times, and a very small number really. How many more times will you remember a certain afternoon of your childhood, an afternoon that is so deeply a part of your being that you can’t …

Clarifying The Ducks’ Cluttered Backfield

Josh White FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

With an all-time top ten list featuring players like Derek Loville, Saladin McCullough, Reuben Droughns, Jonathan Stewart, LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner — the Oregon football program has always done well with running backs.  The way they have been used has evolved over the years, but the emphasis on stocking the backfield with high quality players remains unaltered. The iron-man-bell-cow-three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust …

Oregon Football Recruiting Analysis: Grading the Class

Chris Charbonnier FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

National LOI signing day is a lot like Christmas for those of us who follow recruiting. A few of us have rich parents and expect the world, while others come from blue collar families.  All of us wake up early and wait in agony for mom and dad to come downstairs so that we can start opening presents.  Sometimes, we …

Recruiting Analysis: The Truth About Rankings and a Full Class Prediction

Chris Charbonnier FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Kevin Cline If you’re expecting Oregon to finish high in the recruiting rankings this year, then prepare to be disappointed.  Last week, I went against popular opinion and explained why I thought Oregon would be taking a relatively small 2014 recruiting class.  Now it looks like they might take an even smaller class than I suspected. On Tuesday, Justin Hopkins …

Recruiting Update: 4* RB Tony James Trades Florida Humidity for Oregon Reign

Mark Flores FishWrap, FishWrap Archive

Steve Francis Football Recruiting Commitments Almost equally impressive as the Oregon offense, a torrential downpour — the likes of which have not seen in Eugene for some time – brought with it the Ducks’ newest commitment: vaunted tailback Tony James (4-Star/Gainesville, FL/Rivals250). “I kind of knew I would be verballing while I was on my visit,” said the 5’9, 175-lb. James.  ”All I …