On Oregon Live, Andrew Nemec bashes our Ducks recruiting lapses by failing to employ modern media techniques. Whether you agree with it or not, there seems to be more of a complacency argument here that reliance on uniforms and facilities, which won't cut it when others have embraced social media with a lot of sophistication and have done it successfully.

http://www.oregonlive.com/recruitin..._the_modern_recruitin.html#incart_river_index

Wonder if this will help with Tua?

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I have been excited about our chances in Florida with WT being hired, especially this year, but now Charlie Strong and Lane Kiffin are headed there. How do you guys think this competition will impact our efforts this year?

Per ESPN

http://www.espn.com/college-footbal...-kiffin-next-head-coach-florida-atlantic-owls

What say you? I would think he would take it if offered, considering he coaches LB/Co-DC at ARKANSAS of all places.

He is one hell of a defensive mind, maybe not so much as a HC.. but he definitely has the juice to be a great DC.

Thoughts?

Per 247sports.

the number of times I've read a Duck fan comment on recruiting challenges for Oregon since Coach Taggart was hired. I am thrilled that Coach Taggart does not think in those terms.

There can't be other teams with fans that dwell on perceived problems as much as Duck fans. Do you think Cal fans say "we have a losing record since WWII in football, even though we are located in one of the major population centers," ASU fans say "why in the world would anyone ever even consider playing football in an oven," or UCLA fans say "we'll always be SC's little brother" when recruiting comes up?

We're playing the same game as Texas, Florida, and others, and we have to compete with them. We don't get a handicap. And we have had better players and better teams than Texas and Florida for much of the recent past and won more games than either of them in and after 2000.

Oregon fans are like the Portland media. The idea that Oregon "isn't supposed to be good" seems to run deep with a lot of people.

Scott's review of offensive coordinators is well worth a careful read:

https://oregon.rivals.com/news/oregon-coaching-search-offensive-coordinator

The thought of TJ Weist moving as a possible OC is encouraging in that he was the bringer of the spread that brought USF into notoriety....and if you don't believe it , believe the stats.

But combining him with Greenwood is a very imaginative concept and would please many here who have strong sentiments.

But most of all, Weist may become available after the Birmingham Bowl on December 29th as a result of the Strong hire and his own staff preferences at USF.

Weist looks like the real deal and I don't thing we'd miss a beat in magnum scoring with him as OC.

As would be expected, we are seeing an instant increase in Florida recruiting. Could we also see a long term change in our national strategy that could be more productive and cost effective? With the right keeps from this staff (I'm thinking of Campbell with his ties to Texas and SoCal as a transition guy until he retires-introducing the younger staff guys to his high school contacts, and perhaps Greatwood who I believe is responsible for Hawaii) and the strong background in the deep south that coach Taggart and his staff have might we focus our recruiting energy and money on SoCal, NorCal, Phoenix, Hawaii, the deep south and Texas? Butting heads with tOSU, Mich., and Penn St. doesn't seem like a productive way to spend our resources with the next staff. If we could get 3-5 from the south every year to go with our California and northwest groups (including Hawaii) we could consistently have top 20 classes.

The other new opportunities I am thinking of is the possibilities of more open doors in homes and high schools (or doors that are open a crack being fully opened) in SoCal, as well as, the deep south because we now have an African-American head coach. It may make more families consider Oregon as a long distance option despite our reputation (rainy, white, rural, hippy--take your choice). I am thinking of the group from LA with Lee and Farmer that all loved UO but none came (at least I remember it reported that way). That high school was a SC farm team. I also remember the response when DAT chose us. It couldn't have hurt our image for recruiting when Snoop was shown on TV on our sidelines during home games.

Here we are at MKA as the Ducks are about to tip off with Alabama in 8 minutes. Flying solo here on press row so help me out with commentary!

http://www.ustfccca.org/ustfccca-awards/the-bowerman


Track Heisman Trophy will be live streamed free of charge on flotrack. The following areticle has the link:

http://www.ustfccca.org/2016/12/featured/espns-john-anderson-to-host-the-bowerman-2016

You never know who you might see at an Oregon track meet...
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Ellis Brooks 4-star LB from Virginia. Fourth offer out since Taggart took over.

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My money is on Helfrich getting an offer for OC or HC...BEFORE...Mullens wades through the muck and announces the new HC for the DUCKS!

What we know is that he doesn't have anybody...they have reached out to Schiano and Taggert BOTH today:-((

OMG...we may have traded our entire staff for a turd like Schiano

Bruce Judson 4-star ATH from Cocoa, Florida.

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Did anyone see these stats? 67% FG, 63% 3p shooting, and a curious 50% FT. UM was ranked just a few weeks ago, so aren't that bad. The P12 appears to be drastically improved, at least the top 3 teams.
Meanwhile, UO is 127th in FG % and 285th in 3p shooting. Fortunately, Brooks is back and Dorsey has been hot in the last several games. All the guys are improving and "jelling," and have time to get ready for their date with the with the Bruins on the 28th in the Matt.
Got to get some tickets to UcLA and UNLV this coming Sat.in the Moda.

How do you think he will deal with the 12 commits? If he does not like the film on some of them does he say thanks but no thanks? This would seem to be a bad way to start new west coast relationships, but they were not his kids. He also is going for players who seem like tough flips (Alabama and Florida commits). These may be players who said no him at USF, or who he didn't think he had a chance with while at USF. Florida has a ton of 4-5 star players who we have been very selective about recruiting in the past. We can certainly anticipate better success there, at least in the short term (first couple of years). In any case, it seems like keeping the 12 and making sure he has 25 letters on LOI day would be the way to go. That way he can start with cream and work his way down through January. He can sort them out through competition in the first year.

It also is very important to minimize the turnover on the current squad (especially QB) so we aren't way below 85 in his first year.

So looks like the field for a big name DC hire is getting very narrow. Also looks like Lame Kitten will be the OC @ LSU...only HC job that seriously wanted him is FAU...LOL

http://fishduck.com/2016/12/analyzi...ndidates-for-the-willie-taggart-oregon-staff/

Pretty impressive offense with some west coast ties. Defense, not as impressive and younger. As Fish says, WT can recruit coaches as well as players.

The original Duck37!!! No.....no....no...please don't make a big fuss about it! Stay seated....please!! Ok...well, go ahead if you must. I was on TOS the last year and I like this one better. Actually, did not go on any site very much as my Duck football interest was at an all time low. Not that I'm a fair weather fan. Been a Duck fan since 1964 and from 1967-1995 did not miss a game. This year though, I have to admit, I did not go to one game . First time since I was about 6 years old. Just could not see sitting on I-5 for 3 hours to watch that mess. Not when I can sit at home or at the bar, channel surfing all the games.

Anyway, my position early in the year was that Hefrich should get another year no matter what based on him being less than 2 years removed from the Natty. As I watched the last few games though, I saw players quit, and a head coach who although the players may have liked him, they did not respect him enough to play hard, and take care of business off the field, and in the locker room. I saw a decline in culture and discipline. A few in the media continue to call it " one bad year", but it was much more than that. More like a steady decline in EVERY aspect of the program. Helfrich will land on his feet, but is not a head coach

As for Taggart, I love the hire. He was my guy from the start. What I see is a guy who is younger and has way more energy. Would Helfrich have flown to Hawaii to see a guy already committed to Alabama? I don't think so. Taggart seems like both a disciplinarian and a players coach. I am really excited. The Pac 12 is way better than it was when Chip was here, but I think Taggart is going to recruit a different level of player and I don't think this is a 3-4 year plan like his other jobs. Ducks one of the youngest teams in the country and only need to bring in 5 or 6 more play makers on defense to make a big improvement, because a lot of those guys coming back on defense are going to get a lot better.Offensively, they have great potential at QB and Offensive line. They will outstanding on that side of the ball from day one

Good luck coach Taggart and welcome aboard

4-star CB Thomas Graham Jr. gave me a couple quick thoughts after coach Taggart left.

Ducks up there

Scott provides timely and interesting reading with his latest on our DC search:

https://oregon.rivals.com/news/oregon-coaching-search-defensive-coordinator

I like that he went beyond the Harbaugh connection and considered some long shots with good possibilities.

All Right AJ !

Reed Brown is dancing on the ceiling!
Huge accomplishment.
Congratulations Reed!