Lost in all the discussion about Oregon Head Football Coach Willie Taggart possibly leaving to coach at Florida State is whether or not he is even ready for the job leading the Seminole program. I don’t think he is, and this article serves as a statement of my reasons why. I invite your feedback–the best group of Oregon fans out …
Ducks, Taggart Punish Beavers; Earn Bowling Trip
First-year coach Willie Taggart got with the spirit of the 121st Civil War and personally led the Ducks to a 69-10 massacre over the hapless Oregon State Beavers at Autzen Stadium. Taggart had no pity on OSU, even calling a time out right before halftime to ice a kicker who was attempting a 47-yard field goal with the Beavers down, …
Flash in the Pan: Oregon or Chip Kelly?
It was only a year ago that Oregon fans might have just have had confidence in Rob Mullens‘ and Phil Knight‘s ability to deal with the challenges that were on the plate with the football program. After all, Mullens is one of the top athletic directors in the country. And Phil Knight is the most successful athletics-related businessman in the …
Season One: Bumps, Bruises and the Case for Optimism
Sitting here after the Civil War, I️ can’t but help to think, “what a difference a year makes.” Yes, there are some entitled myopic fans shouting “we could have been 10-2!” Or “we should have been X and X!!” Well, to be honest, if that’s your response to what you saw this season, I’d prefer you jump on that Husky …
Textbook Defense, Herbert’s Return Energize Duck Victory; Civil War Next
In one of the most complete games played by an Oregon defense in years, Jim Leavitt’s defensive unit put the kybosh on the most explosive player and team in the Pac-12, and Duck quarterback Justin Herbert returned to action prompting a surge of adrenaline that awoke a somnolent offense for a 48-28 Dad’s Day win over Arizona. The win gave …
Herbert Returns and Ducks Roll
With that very first play from scrimmage — a ten yard completion from Justin Herbert to Dillon Mitchell — you could feel Duck Nation let out a collective sigh of relief, as if to say: “Our long offensive nightmare is over.” Good times are here again as the flash n’ balls of the Oregon offensive showed up for the first …
Charles’s FishWrap: Taggart Tactics Topple ‘Cats
Takes you back to the old days doesn’t it? You know, Oregon scoring 45-50 points, the other team scoring 27 to 34 points and the fans screaming at Nick Aliotti for allowing that much? Boy, has our perspective changed! That was the biggest darn victory that I did not see coming, and yes … my perspective has changed, and I …
Ducks (Coaches and Players) Need to Focus Against Arizona
Last week, the Ducks came to Seattle to play tough, hard-nosed football and scored on their first possession for a 3-0 lead. After stopping the Huskies on their next possession, they marched down the field only to fumble on UW’s 16-yard line. This mistake was the first of many to follow that would undo the Ducks, mistakes they could not …
Power on the Edge: Buck Sweep in the Willie Taggart Offense
With it being a bye week for the Oregon Ducks, I have decided to go back a couple weeks and take a look at a play Oregon used against the Utah Utes. The play is Buck Sweep, often referenced by Mr. FishDuck on the site as the Sweep Read. This is a play Gus Malzahn has famously run at Auburn; former Duck …
How a Bowl Game Could HURT RECRUITING at Oregon
As a devoted Oregon fan, I’ve been thrilled at the class Coach Willie Taggart and his staff have been putting together as a recruiting class for signing day in February 2018. However, there was one strategic timing decision he made that I had questions about. Recently, I was wondering out loud with a few Duck-Buddies of the potential impact from …
Husky Nightmare Over; Time to Heal for Arizona
After a five-week glimpse of medieval offensive football, many Oregon fans are looking forward to quarterback Justin Herbert’s return at the helm of the Ducks offensive. The latest indignity was a 38-3 thrashing at the hands of Washington that conjured up visions of last year’s 70-21 humiliation. In both years, Huskies coach Chris Petersen mercifully called off the players in the …
Ducks Don’t Play to Win and Get Romped
Good ole’ figures of speech such as “going down swinging,” “take a roll of the dice” and “gotta’ be in it to win it” didn’t apply to the Ducks on Saturday. The Ducks offense was the equivalent of a baseball team whose batters stood at the plate all game long with the bat firmly resting on their shoulders. They were …