Yes. I was critical in the Fifth Quarter piece because I think that there were some things that needed to be said.
Do I purposely soften criticism for access? No. Am I personally more of a 'glass half full' guy? Yes. I tend to find positives as much as possible. As someone who has had to make firing decisions far too frequently, I never take them lightly; that has more to do with my thoughts on that concept than anything else.
I don't see the tell-tale signs that would require anyone on the current staff be fired. Are there some philosophical changes that might need some tweaking in the off-season? Yes. But I will say that what we have seen from Shough tells me that Marcus Arroyo is a good coach.
But these thoughts are with me this morning:
- Justin Herbert has had Matt Lubick/David Yost; Willie Taggart/Arroyo and now solely Arroyo as a play caller and has had multiple offensive philosophy changes
- Herbert has far exceeded what was expected of him when he signed
- This team is still 9-2 with a very real shot at a 10th win next week
- While beating Utah seems like a long shot, Oregon still has a legit chance to go to the Rose Bowl making a 12 win season still possible
- This is only Cristobal's second season as head coach, he does not have a team of 'his philosophy' yet; when he does, we will have a much better idea of how to evaluate the program; but obviously it looks a lot better than it did just three seasons ago
- 2016: 4-8
- 2017: 7-5
- 2018: 9-4
- 2019: TBD
- Prior to last night, the defense had been really good all year;
- The defense was on the field entirely too long
- I wonder why, if Redd was out, there was no attempt to use Delgado or someone else in a similar fashion. Redd on a motion to the boundary side of that fourth down play would have changed the complexion of what was run. Since Redd is out - use someone else to take away one defender from the middle; if he does not leave, then that player will be open for a quick out that would have garnered a first down.
- Mykael Wright will be a star next year
- The team DID NOT QUIT last night and I think that is my biggest takeaway; last season in the same scenario, I think the team basically gave up against Arizona. The fact that they were able to claw their way back into this game shows something about the culture of the program and the identity
Do I purposely soften criticism for access? No. Am I personally more of a 'glass half full' guy? Yes. I tend to find positives as much as possible. As someone who has had to make firing decisions far too frequently, I never take them lightly; that has more to do with my thoughts on that concept than anything else.
I don't see the tell-tale signs that would require anyone on the current staff be fired. Are there some philosophical changes that might need some tweaking in the off-season? Yes. But I will say that what we have seen from Shough tells me that Marcus Arroyo is a good coach.
But these thoughts are with me this morning:
- Justin Herbert has had Matt Lubick/David Yost; Willie Taggart/Arroyo and now solely Arroyo as a play caller and has had multiple offensive philosophy changes
- Herbert has far exceeded what was expected of him when he signed
- This team is still 9-2 with a very real shot at a 10th win next week
- While beating Utah seems like a long shot, Oregon still has a legit chance to go to the Rose Bowl making a 12 win season still possible
- This is only Cristobal's second season as head coach, he does not have a team of 'his philosophy' yet; when he does, we will have a much better idea of how to evaluate the program; but obviously it looks a lot better than it did just three seasons ago
- 2016: 4-8
- 2017: 7-5
- 2018: 9-4
- 2019: TBD
- Prior to last night, the defense had been really good all year;
- The defense was on the field entirely too long
- I wonder why, if Redd was out, there was no attempt to use Delgado or someone else in a similar fashion. Redd on a motion to the boundary side of that fourth down play would have changed the complexion of what was run. Since Redd is out - use someone else to take away one defender from the middle; if he does not leave, then that player will be open for a quick out that would have garnered a first down.
- Mykael Wright will be a star next year
- The team DID NOT QUIT last night and I think that is my biggest takeaway; last season in the same scenario, I think the team basically gave up against Arizona. The fact that they were able to claw their way back into this game shows something about the culture of the program and the identity
