Spot on take. I'd add (not so) special teams as another group that failed to perform last season.
I also like the love shown to Nicky A and the D he ran. As you noted a D that shut down Cam and Auburn's offense.
IMO, that game was lost by Chip Kelly being stubborn and calling run plays into the strength of the Auburn D instead of passing the ball. The passing game was lighting up the Auburn back 7.
The 'Dyer' call/non-call was unfortunate but Oregon should have been 2 scores ahead at that point in the game. Unlike the playoff champ loss against Ohio State, Oregon was not out-manned vs Auburn.
No sugar coating, that sucks in every aspect. It is a disappointment because of the defensive background Lanning brings. I don't give two wiggle sticks on what Dan says or wants to tell us. What I want/expect is a top 20 defense. Geez, I would accept a top 50!
If the offense is similar next year, and the defense improves to be in the top fifty, they should be a playoff team.
Hi John the National Championship game played in Arizona in 2011, was a real nail bitter. Oregon couldn't punch it in from the 1 yard line, do Auburn took over. Oregon did score 2 touchdowns and made 2 point conversions on both of there touchdowns. The score was tied with just 2 seconds to play and Auburn kicked a field goal for the win 22 to 19. Thomas threw 2 interceptions and Cam Newton threw 1. John I do believe that Coach Lanning and his staff, as well as his players, will Phil Knight and the Oregon Ducks a National Championship. At 82 and a diehard Duck Fan I t to would love to see this happen, before my pink slip comes floating down.
I recall that when Oregon opted for Lanning, his inexperience was brought up often. His defensive prowess was honed from his time at Georgia; lets be honest, Georgia talent goes a long way to making a DC look like a guru. In his first season he never willed his defense to be what most thought it would be. You have to have it before you can teach and demand it. The school does have recruiting down and therefore the talent.
As a Cal fan, I find it hard to criticize anything about Oregon's season. As with USC, the offense was great but there's some work to do on defense. Not a surprise. The Ducks lost three games to three really talented, well-coached teams. The Georgia game was a blowout, but I think Oregon did better than TCU. Lanning had an outstanding recruiting class.
I'd love nothing more than to see Oregon play Utah in the Vegas Championship matchup. What a way to lead into the next phase of the PAC's future, setting these two up as a rivalry in the coming years. The PAC has a bright future, especially with annual access to the playoffs.
Spot on Johnny! Defense was the most disappointing aspect of last season. Curious if Chris Hampton will make a huge difference this year? Is he calling the plays?
Aliotti was a unicorn. Such an underrated part of the glory years.
I chuckled a little when you said you "took" a call from Dan Lanning, making it sound to me as if it were some kind of unwanted intrusion into what you were otherwise focusing on, and implying that you considered the option of NOT taking the call. My guess is you answered before the first ring was done!
Oregon can sign all the 5-Stars in the World, but when the lights come on the stars mean jack. Oregon DOES need to find itself defensively, because the past three seasons have been lackluster and underwhelming. Coach Aliotti's units took pride in winning the turnover margin. If the Ducks want to rekindle the Chip Kelly days of yesteryear, the Defense has to do more than ride Bo Nix's golden arm.
A billion dollar investment by Knight in building the Oregon brand has elevated their market value $11 million a year over neighbor Oregon State (Canzano:Geeking out on the media value of Pac 12 Schools, August 25, 2022). That is a 1.1% return on investment. Since the financial return is almost nonexistent I'd say they owe Knight multiple national championships. And the best place to do that is in a Pac 10 conference. Going to the Big 10 would be nuts.
All we heard about when Lanning was hired was his defensive genius and what he contributed to Georgia. He leaves and they don’t skip a beat and Oregons D actually regressed upon his arrival. He made a preseason 260lb LB literally disappear. Lost to BOTH his rivals. Lost the biggest QB recruit in program history to Chip freaking Kelly. Made the cringiest, lamest selfie vid I can imagine as a HC to flex signing a couple 5 stars only to lose one of them literally hours later. I think he’s got a lot of growing up to do and is vastly overrated- as an SC fan Jonathan Smith commands much more respect as a HC. And of course if he ever actually delivers a playoff season he will do what every recent coach at Stepping Stone U does: bounce for a better gig. So there’s that.
Obviously he had the best players in the country at Georgia. His defensive front could play two gaps . He doesn't have those kind of guys at Oregon now. He needs to do what Nick did and be creative and move people. Yes Nick was one of the best. He should have been the Head Coach also. He wasn't a sexy enough coach (offense) for the admin.
Nailed it. As a Duck fan, I’m looking forward to the next FB season, and see how Lanning does in his second season as HC. I like him, a lot. I’m sure he learned some lessons from last season. Let’s not judge too harshly until he has an opportunity to get the players on board with the team work ethic, discipline, expectations, and the ability to play four solid quarters…keeping in mind the mental and physical stress these young men face on game day.
And to uscforthewin, me thinks you make too much of the cigar…lest you not forget about Sarkesian…
Spot on take. I'd add (not so) special teams as another group that failed to perform last season.
I also like the love shown to Nicky A and the D he ran. As you noted a D that shut down Cam and Auburn's offense.
IMO, that game was lost by Chip Kelly being stubborn and calling run plays into the strength of the Auburn D instead of passing the ball. The passing game was lighting up the Auburn back 7.
The 'Dyer' call/non-call was unfortunate but Oregon should have been 2 scores ahead at that point in the game. Unlike the playoff champ loss against Ohio State, Oregon was not out-manned vs Auburn.
10 wins + bowl win + first year staff = Pass
But...
The Ducks were 71st in total defense last year.
No sugar coating, that sucks in every aspect. It is a disappointment because of the defensive background Lanning brings. I don't give two wiggle sticks on what Dan says or wants to tell us. What I want/expect is a top 20 defense. Geez, I would accept a top 50!
If the offense is similar next year, and the defense improves to be in the top fifty, they should be a playoff team.
Hi John the National Championship game played in Arizona in 2011, was a real nail bitter. Oregon couldn't punch it in from the 1 yard line, do Auburn took over. Oregon did score 2 touchdowns and made 2 point conversions on both of there touchdowns. The score was tied with just 2 seconds to play and Auburn kicked a field goal for the win 22 to 19. Thomas threw 2 interceptions and Cam Newton threw 1. John I do believe that Coach Lanning and his staff, as well as his players, will Phil Knight and the Oregon Ducks a National Championship. At 82 and a diehard Duck Fan I t to would love to see this happen, before my pink slip comes floating down.
I recall that when Oregon opted for Lanning, his inexperience was brought up often. His defensive prowess was honed from his time at Georgia; lets be honest, Georgia talent goes a long way to making a DC look like a guru. In his first season he never willed his defense to be what most thought it would be. You have to have it before you can teach and demand it. The school does have recruiting down and therefore the talent.
As a Cal fan, I find it hard to criticize anything about Oregon's season. As with USC, the offense was great but there's some work to do on defense. Not a surprise. The Ducks lost three games to three really talented, well-coached teams. The Georgia game was a blowout, but I think Oregon did better than TCU. Lanning had an outstanding recruiting class.
I'd love nothing more than to see Oregon play Utah in the Vegas Championship matchup. What a way to lead into the next phase of the PAC's future, setting these two up as a rivalry in the coming years. The PAC has a bright future, especially with annual access to the playoffs.
Spot on Johnny! Defense was the most disappointing aspect of last season. Curious if Chris Hampton will make a huge difference this year? Is he calling the plays?
Aliotti was a unicorn. Such an underrated part of the glory years.
I chuckled a little when you said you "took" a call from Dan Lanning, making it sound to me as if it were some kind of unwanted intrusion into what you were otherwise focusing on, and implying that you considered the option of NOT taking the call. My guess is you answered before the first ring was done!
Oregon can sign all the 5-Stars in the World, but when the lights come on the stars mean jack. Oregon DOES need to find itself defensively, because the past three seasons have been lackluster and underwhelming. Coach Aliotti's units took pride in winning the turnover margin. If the Ducks want to rekindle the Chip Kelly days of yesteryear, the Defense has to do more than ride Bo Nix's golden arm.
A billion dollar investment by Knight in building the Oregon brand has elevated their market value $11 million a year over neighbor Oregon State (Canzano:Geeking out on the media value of Pac 12 Schools, August 25, 2022). That is a 1.1% return on investment. Since the financial return is almost nonexistent I'd say they owe Knight multiple national championships. And the best place to do that is in a Pac 10 conference. Going to the Big 10 would be nuts.
All we heard about when Lanning was hired was his defensive genius and what he contributed to Georgia. He leaves and they don’t skip a beat and Oregons D actually regressed upon his arrival. He made a preseason 260lb LB literally disappear. Lost to BOTH his rivals. Lost the biggest QB recruit in program history to Chip freaking Kelly. Made the cringiest, lamest selfie vid I can imagine as a HC to flex signing a couple 5 stars only to lose one of them literally hours later. I think he’s got a lot of growing up to do and is vastly overrated- as an SC fan Jonathan Smith commands much more respect as a HC. And of course if he ever actually delivers a playoff season he will do what every recent coach at Stepping Stone U does: bounce for a better gig. So there’s that.
Everything revolves around the D-line...stop the run and pressure the QB.
All great defenses can do that you just need Dudes...
Obviously he had the best players in the country at Georgia. His defensive front could play two gaps . He doesn't have those kind of guys at Oregon now. He needs to do what Nick did and be creative and move people. Yes Nick was one of the best. He should have been the Head Coach also. He wasn't a sexy enough coach (offense) for the admin.
One billion dollars apparently doesn't go very far these days. I'll take the Beavers. Dollar for dollar, a more enjoyable team.
Nailed it. As a Duck fan, I’m looking forward to the next FB season, and see how Lanning does in his second season as HC. I like him, a lot. I’m sure he learned some lessons from last season. Let’s not judge too harshly until he has an opportunity to get the players on board with the team work ethic, discipline, expectations, and the ability to play four solid quarters…keeping in mind the mental and physical stress these young men face on game day.
And to uscforthewin, me thinks you make too much of the cigar…lest you not forget about Sarkesian…
Agreed 100% Jon