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Thoughts on the Ducks
I’m still giddy over the Ohio State win a couple weeks ago. As a kid I was always hopping for the Ducks to get in a bowl game and be happy. Things have changed a lot from even 5 plus years ago.
Remember C.J. running for the win against the Huskies back in 2018? I do, the game against Ohio State last week is like the new big win game I’m going to remember now. Things have changed a lot since then though. Remember following the requirement of Kevon Thibodeaux? It was such big deal to think the Ducks were in the running for one of the best players in the country. Fast forward to now and we just expect to get some 5 stars every year and be in the top 10 if not the top 5 in recruiting. Duck fans are ready for a post season run as the recruiting rush of big recruits has worn-off.
We’re probably going to be rated number 1 today. While I’m excited I don’t really care. What matters is winning out or at least not dropping more than 1 regular season game and at hopefully winning the conference title game. Then, the playoffs are what really matters. Alabama was feeling pretty good a few weeks ago and they’re probably a loss or 2 of missing out on the playoffs. Beating Ohio State and being number 1 won’t mean much if they can’t follow though.
Finally we’re starting to see a defense like we all dreamed of when Dan Lanning was hired. There certainly was some fair questions of whether it was all Kirby Smart and whether DL would be more of just a good recruiter. Going back to Ohio State I don’t think DL coached the perfect game nor did DG play the perfect game along with the collective whole of the offense and defense. Yet, all those factions I just mentioned did pretty darn well. The amazing thing is we beat one of the best teams in the country and we have room for improvement. To elaborate on DL more, his aggressive nature helped win the game.
I’m looking forward to next week against Illinois. I watched some of their game yesterday. They looked good, but they were playing against an offense and QB that looked absolutely horrible. Michigan looks like a shell of what they were last year. The Ducks should handle business next week. It’s like what DL preaches to the team about it’s the Ducks versus themselves every week and they just need to show up.
A few last thoughts about the last few weeks is that the transfer portal is an asset. I hear a few Ducks fans and fans from every time like to say things like you have to develop players and the portal is fools gold. The Ducks wouldn’t be where they are today without the portal. I rather develop a QB and have them play for several years like Justin Herbert. For that matter the Ducks did kind of develop Bo Nix for the 2 years he was here. The Ducks just haven’t been able to find anyone like that. The peanut gallery has been in left field as the Ducks transfers that didn’t pan out have not done much of anything on other teams. The reality is that it’s hard to predict whose going to pan out at the position.
Go Ducks!!!
- Jiffy Jeff
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Re: Thoughts on the Ducks
It's been certainly a long journey for the Duck faithful. I have been on board since 1987 when I was kicking the tires on what college to attend. Chose Oregon and my first game was in 1988 when I was a freshman. That season UO beat UW on the Obie end-around in the final minutes and from there I was hooked.
Seen some great games featuring some great players on both sides and watched how traditions evolved over time to the gameday experience of today. Crazy that Don Essig is STILL kicking it after all this time.
Really thought the program was going to cash in against Auburn for the title- damn Chip and his stubbornness to keep running our scatbacks up the middle against an incredible D-Line- and was let down again as the Duck D was not laser focused on hammering a third string QB with no arm in the next title appearance after crushing FSU a fortnight prior.
Prior to this season, being ranked #1 was a bigger deal. It meant the possibility of being voted in by writers as the champ, then later it meant securing a spot in the BCS champ game, then it became a way to jockey for a seed in the playoff to now being simply a snapshot of how the media and coaches see the field today each week as teams have more room for losses in the 12 team format. As it stands today, it is better so simply win your conference title outright as a Power team and then allowing for seeding to shake out the field. So yeah, it is nice to be recognized as the premier team in the sport this week, the Ducks could be ranked #4 and it still holds as much weight.
Lanning is better than I could have imagined. I was on the Wilcox wagon. DL has found a way to navigate recruiting HS, the portal and his own roster and allow for the NIL deals to not affect the chemistry of the team. He also has some high character guys who seem to be able to handle themselves off the field very well. Very good roster manager. His X's and O's are still a work in progress, but he knows what he wants to see from the team and they play for him and his process.
Illinois is a really good team led by a really good coach. He will have them ready to play this weekend and his teams will always contend to be in the top half of the conference. Think we are fortunate to not have to face Indiana in the regular season, their coach has them playing with their hair on fire.
The game itself is still evolving from a governance standpoint. In five years, I think we see a new governing body for the sport at the FBS level that is divorced from the NCAA. Meaning there could be some reigning in of the Wild West we see today with the abuse of the portal along with mostly unregulated NIL deals. Let the NCAA handle the rest of the sports and maybe even re-align these sports back in to geographical conferences.
Go Ducks!
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