Today I take an inside look at the hire of Jim Leavitt and the concept of redemption and Oregon's history with second chances.

I also took a look at the potential impact of a reinvigorated defense.

Flock Talk: Redemption

Gross oversimplification.

http://www.oregonlive.com/recruitin...mec_how_the_modern_recruitin.html#incart_2box

The Helfrich hire within experiment is over. The powers to be now realize the competitive landscape of FCB is no joke and if you want to be a top tier player you better have the best coaching staff available..... Funny thing is this approach is so obvious.... Look at the majority of any sports organization that has been successful for years and it all leads to the coach. Yes, Belichick has Brady, Phil Jackson had Michael, Kobe and Shaq.... But have you ever thought that not only are these great coaches X's & O guys, but the great players want to play for them... Jim Harbaugh, Urban and Saban are in that same league and their success is undeniable.... Common thread is the great players want to play for them because of respect, X's & O's, and leadership... Lets face it, us getting Chip Kelly and the success he had Nationally was somewhat lucky... Yes, Bellotti and others picked him and they deserve all the credit in the world, but I guarantee you they never expected the success he had and the impact he would have on college football. The Helfrich hire boxed in the powers to be since he was right in the thick of things with the success of Kelly.... Tough deal not to hire him. I bet they were clinching their teeth, praying the guy could get it done. But, lets face it Helfrich is no where close to the league of the great coaches... Great guy, super first lieutenant, but lacks all the special qualities... We are lucky to have business men influencing the coaching decision, and like I am sure with their companies they hire the best... I think that the resent hire of WT and JL are examples of how successful business owners manage their companies... Jim Leavitt may have some baggage but for god sake's it was a few years ago and he has not crossed that line since... Business owners take risk all the time and if this hire is the greatest risk they take, I'm all in!! Oregon Football is back, period... Proven winners, high energy, and the players will respect them. If we give WT and JL a couple years to bring their players in, we will be back on top again...

Early reports are alleged sexual assault, or something related to a case:

10 Minnesota players suspended

Commited to Oregon over Alabama, Notre Dame, USC

Hey all,

I just posted this video with highlights of Graham and analysis from Gorney. Enjoy!

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Sounds like they may refuse to play in the WSU bowl game.

http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/minnesota-players-boycott-football-activities-44232672

As many of you, I have read that Oregon is making Leavitt the highest paid assistant in PAC12 history and that Oregon is breaking the bank to bring him in. My question to all of this assuming the same thing happens with the OC is, do we think the plan is to spend money on the proven and higher profile top line coaches and pay the position coaches a little less? Possibly, bring in some younger and energetic position coaches with a chance to earn more through the years while also letting the knowledge of the more veteran coaches "trickle down"?

In my eyes, it might not be a bad strategy for the first couple of years but as position coaches become more experienced and matured, they possibly move on to other opportunities. In other words, is Oregon looking to top load at the HC, DC, and OC positions and willing to be a little more fluid at the position coach level?

Here is the article with some recruit reactions:

Recruits React

Jasmin Reed just started following Oregon football on Twitter....and she is not following any other college football teams.

I think that might be an indication that she knows where her boy friend is going to be committing.

article in today's RG

http://registerguard.com/rg/sports/...ball-or-transferring-for-senior-year.html.csp

Note also this line in the article:
Prevot was never charged with a crime and there is no open case against him, but he was never reinstated to the team.

Way too much cfb hysteria for my taste these days, so someone talk hoops!

I have some of my own ideas, but was wondering what people think "needs to happen" for our Ducks to elevate to pre season expectations? What/who can do better? Rotation changes, certain player progression needed? Not enough juice?

OK, and let's throw away the all too obvious-- Brooks at 100%. Last season the national media took little notice of Cook being the better of the two in the later part of the season, but let's assume Brooks gets back to as good or better than his mid-season best form of last year, or, better yet, Brooks Beast Mode vs coach K and his frustrated Dookies.

What else needs to happen?

I guess it starts by beating off Bears tonight, but that should be no grizzly feat. To beat or compete with UcLA, for instance? To improve, which they ARE doing, but faster, of course, in order to compete for the P12. reg season and tourney?

Thoughts?

Sure there will be plenty of stuff on twitter tonight, so people can post that stuff here, I am working on an article with reactions for tomorrow.

I for one was a huge Sager fan. Way before his illness, his soul touched mine by the loud, and unique dress ware, but mostly for his persona. What a huge loss for us all. He was truly one of a kind, and treated everyone fairly, and with care. RIP Craig Sager.

Here's the link to Scott's story:

https://oregon.rivals.com/news/ducks-to-hire-jim-leavitt-as-defensive-coordinator

Good job on the story Scott, and I appreciate your diplomacy in the article despite your distaste for the man personally. The best we can do is hope he has learned from his mistakes in the past and be a quality representative of the university while a part of the program that we love. Other than Wikipedia, I have no knowledge about the man and what he brings to the table. It sounds like his X's & O's are fantastic, any clue about what style he will bring to Oregon, his recruiting capabilities, etc.? Clearly the issue from his past will be recruiting fodder for our rivals, but it has been the better part of a decade since. If he can overcome that on the recruiting trail Oregon will be formidable on both sides of the ball.

Like it or not the Ducks have done what just about every Duck fan wanted......make a big splash hire at DC.

Near as I can tell, from browsing lots of web sites, this is a pretty big deal nationally.

The press seems to be way more lenient than some on this board about his past transgressions (to be transparent, I did not want to hire him because of his past and was actually shocked that he got hired).

However, he seems to be "moral" enough for CU and UO so I will give hm the benefit of the doubt and try to trust that the AD and the PKs have done their due diligence.

No matter what, this guy is reported to now be the highest paid DC EVER in the PAC.

We went out and bought ourselves a DC from an in-conference rival.

http://milehighsports.com/nobody-should-be-blaming-jim-leavitt-for-choosing-the-money-over-the-rise/

The Ducks stepped up big time.

So, for better or worse, I think that is time to give Mullens his due.......many bitched about the process, but, on paper at least.....this is awesome.

Time will tell but they have my unqualified support.

Corey

FYI

Will not announce as scheduled.

Has not decommitted yet.

WT has not contacted him yet.

http://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/change-of-plans-for-habibi-likio/

Per CBS Sports

Corey

..until Jan 2017; per Josh Newberg

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This is very concerning, why is it taking so long to hire these coaches? Is Taggart really keeping NONE of the Oregon staff?

Considering the talent we have on the squad right now , where do we rank? I'm curious to see everyone's opinions.

With OSU hauling in a pretty decent group of signees today I started thinking about how much Oregon has to do to "catch up" or "stay ahead" of other programs.

I don't know enough about the rest of the teams in the conference but I would guess we would be behind USC, UCLA, Washington and maybe Stanford.

Per his Twitter account, Isaiah Bolden, Florida State commit and 6'3" CB, was offered about 3 hours ago. Says Oregon was his dream school.

As excited as I am, the more frustrated I am to hear that our previous coaches failed on a colossal level. They were clearly asleep at the wheel while everyone else was grinding.

Not a bad steal from Colorado:

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I was told tonight by Yankoff's father that the 2018 four-star QB has backed off his Oregon pledge.

Geoff Collins the Florida DC is hired at Temple as HC...so probably lost our window and perhaps any salary leverage we might of had.

http://www.bradenton.com/sports/article120765128.htmlIt does seem inevitable, though, that Taggart’s move to Oregon will establish some sort of pipeline for Florida high school talent to the West Coast. Taggart has already offered Cocoa High School quarterback Bruce Judson, Armwood High School athlete Darrian McNeal, Deerfield Beach High School wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, Palm Beach Gardens High School edge rusher VanDarius Cowan and Hillsborough High School defensive end Zachary Carter since joining the Ducks.
One of the last items he detailed before hanging up the phone Tuesday is his recruiting plan. At Oregon, recruiting is national, which means Florida — and particularly Manatee County — are ripe for scouting and signing.

It can still be a tie to home for Taggart, who begins to sign off in a way that should become familiar for as long as he spends in Oregon.

“Go Ducks,” Taggart said, and then he adds a specifically tailored message for the moment.

“And 941 for life.”

David Wilson: 941-745-7057, @DBWilson2


Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/sports/article120765128.html#storylink=cpy