Erickson Out As ASU Coach

[SuperDuck]

I told you so. At least they may be cool enough to just allow him to retire rather than fire him. That would be very decent of them.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/n ... ricksonout

Also, Ron Zook has been fired at Illinois. Zook started off the season 6-0, including a 17-14 win over ASU, but went 0-6 the rest of the way.

[karlhungis]

Seems like there are going to be a lot of job openings this year.

[desertfan]

Yeah, it should be a pretty crazy offseason... (Ugh! Is it really almost time to start thinking about life without Duck football every Saturday again )

[UofDuck]

Yeah, it should be a pretty crazy offseason... (Ugh! Is it really almost time to start thinking about life without Duck football every Saturday again )

But with a Rose Bowl win tucked safely under my pillow, I will sleep like a baby. No more 1917 spewing from the north...

[karlhungis]

With all of the vacancies opening up, this is the time of year when I start worrying about our coaching staff being pilfered by other teams.

[SuperDuck]

With all of the vacancies opening up, this is the time of year when I start worrying about our coaching staff being pilfered by other teams.

That thought crossed my mind as well, but I doubt that it will happen. I think the only scenario where someone leaves is for a step up that would further their career. Something like Scott Frost or Steve Greatwood being offered a coordinator job or possibly Nick Alliotti finally getting a shot at a head coaching job. Other than those guys, I think that this staff has bought in to what Chip is doing and are happy in Eugene.

We might find out where their loyalty lies if Bellotti comes calling, though, but I still doubt that most of them would go.

My two bits.

[Duck07]

With all of the vacancies opening up, this is the time of year when I start worrying about our coaching staff being pilfered by other teams.

That thought crossed my mind as well, but I doubt that it will happen. I think the only scenario where someone leaves is for a step up that would further their career. Something like Scott Frost or Steve Greatwood being offered a coordinator job or possibly Nick Alliotti finally getting a shot at a head coaching job. Other than those guys, I think that this staff has bought in to what Chip is doing and are happy in Eugene.

We might find out where their loyalty lies if Bellotti comes calling, though, but I still doubt that most of them would go.

My two bits.

Now Frost, I'm concerned about. I'm also concerned about John Neal. Frost is going to end up at Nebraska one day, let's all just come to agreement on that one. The question is, does he wait for the HC job or would he take the OC position if Osborne offers it? At this point, I'm pretty much ready to say thanks Coach Frost for all the work and I hope none of our young players or commits are swayed by your departure.

As for Neal, with the plethora of young db's in the league right now and the way we've continuously plugged new players in that keep performing at a high level is going to get brought up for DC positions at some schools. Fortunately, I hope most schools will simply look at our Pass Defense rankings and how putrid they are based on our defensive schemes.

Thanks for the laugh about NA though. Maybe we can get UCLA to take him back again.

[SuperDuck]

With all of the vacancies opening up, this is the time of year when I start worrying about our coaching staff being pilfered by other teams.

That thought crossed my mind as well, but I doubt that it will happen. I think the only scenario where someone leaves is for a step up that would further their career. Something like Scott Frost or Steve Greatwood being offered a coordinator job or possibly Nick Alliotti finally getting a shot at a head coaching job. Other than those guys, I think that this staff has bought in to what Chip is doing and are happy in Eugene.

We might find out where their loyalty lies if Bellotti comes calling, though, but I still doubt that most of them would go.

My two bits.

Now Frost, I'm concerned about. I'm also concerned about John Neal. Frost is going to end up at Nebraska one day, let's all just come to agreement on that one. The question is, does he wait for the HC job or would he take the OC position if Osborne offers it? At this point, I'm pretty much ready to say thanks Coach Frost for all the work and I hope none of our young players or commits are swayed by your departure.

As for Neal, with the plethora of young db's in the league right now and the way we've continuously plugged new players in that keep performing at a high level is going to get brought up for DC positions at some schools. Fortunately, I hope most schools will simply look at our Pass Defense rankings and how putrid they are based on our defensive schemes.

Thanks for the laugh about NA though. Maybe we can get UCLA to take him back again.

Actually, Alliotti has done an outstanding job since Chip took over. Chip doesn't do the "bend, but don't break" nonsense. Chip has him freewheeling and putting pressure on the QB. He's been aggressive, unpredictable and very effective as the season has progressed.

You have to remember that NA has to coach defense for nearly 40 minutes per game! More than ANY other D-Coordinator in the country. The Ducks are last in the nation in time of possession.

Also, he's been working with a LOT of young players this season, especially at DB and on the D-Line. DB wouldn't have been as big of an issue if Cliff Harris hadn't messed up and Gildon had stayed healthy, but Terrance Mitchell, Troy Hill (who got beaten consistently by Marquise Lee) and others have really had to step up.

I've been disappointed with most of his defenses under Bellotti, but he's done a good job recently. I think that losing him might not necessarily be a good thing. You know the old saying about how "the grass isn't always greener".

[Duck07]

You are nuts if you actually think some team is going to hire him. Chip doesn't do the bend but don't break nonsense? I disagree. Look at USC. Look at how our Defense plays period. We give up certain plays so that we don't give up big plays (yet, we still give up big plays) - that is bend but don't break.

Further, I continue to not buy into the idea that we automatically have to lose the TOP. Nothing is stopping the defense from forcing the team to go 3 and out the next series, at which point, our offense has the ball again. Raise your hand if you expect our D to stop the other team on 3rd down? I don't. Watching NA call a defense is like being reminded of that insanity definition: doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result.

If you need any further proof of how much we baby our defense but act like drill sergeant's to our O, look at the SC game. Everybody just had to rip on all the mistakes the offense made, yet call out the defense and you become an idiot.

Is it really that wrong to have higher expectations for the defense than this?

[SuperDuck]

You are nuts if you actually think some team is going to hire him. Chip doesn't do the bend but don't break nonsense? I disagree. Look at USC. Look at how our Defense plays period. We give up certain plays so that we don't give up big plays (yet, we still give up big plays) - that is bend but don't break.

USC came in with an excellent game plan. Take what the defense will give you (short passes to sidelines), wear down our lack of depth on the D-line by pounding the ball and expose our youth in the secondary by throwing deep and often. With Cliff and Gildon out they had to be licking their chops after watching film of our young secondary. They gave up yards in Arizona (should have been more if not for all the drops), gave up yards to Cal, etc, but hadn't seen a tandem like Lee and Woods on the field at the same time. Still, they made adjustments at halftime and did a great job of slowing them down in the second half. We SHOULD have beaten USC, but we choked.

Further, I continue to not buy into the idea that we automatically have to lose the TOP. Nothing is stopping the defense from forcing the team to go 3 and out the next series, at which point, our offense has the ball again. Raise your hand if you expect our D to stop the other team on 3rd down? I don't. Watching NA call a defense is like being reminded of that insanity definition: doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result.

There's no way that you can say that. We've had plenty of stops on 3rd down. We've also given them up. What I'd like to see is a defense like LSU, Alabama or someone else in the Top-10 spend as much time on the field as we do. That would be the only fair way to compare the numbers. Also, since we're usually ahead, most teams throw the ball a lot against us. As I mentioned before, we have a very young secondary, but they've played pretty well. Give them some credit.

If you need any further proof of how much we baby our defense but act like drill sergeant's to our O, look at the SC game. Everybody just had to rip on all the mistakes the offense made, yet call out the defense and you become an idiot.

I never said that our defense played perfect against USC. If Troy hill had just turned around and looked for the ball on two of those long TD passes to Lee he might have been able to break it up, but he was intimidated by him. THAT falls on the coaching staff.

Is it really that wrong to have higher expectations for the defense than this?

No, but if you expect the Ducks to ever be #1 in the nation in defense then you'll be waiting a long time with this offense being run here. That is, until we've had at least 2-3 more very good recruiting classes to bring in more beef on the D-line so they can get a consistent pass rush and build up depth.

Anyway, everyone has a right to their opinion. I just happen to disagree and, honestly, have better things to do than argue the point.

[Duck07]

and there it is folks, the recruiting angle. This team had an average defense with an All-Pro and Future NFL HOF DT and we still ran the same schemes that required us to sell out the blitz to put pressure on opponents.

Again, in all my time as a Duck fan I've never once heard open criticism of the defense. Every week there is some slant on what the offense is doing wrong. It's wholly and patently absurd to me the justifications people use for the mediocrity on Defense and how they are just fine with it. Seriously, people are putting the defensive woes against SC on freshman dbs, not the coach who put them in single coverage. Does that make any sense, at all?

[oregontrack]

our defense absolutely employs the bend but don't break still. i do not fathom how one could watch an oregon game and come up with any other conclusion.

we run the same defense we always have, we just have better athletes. the myth that nick aliotti transformed into another human being in 2009 is just that, a myth. he's the exact same dude, with almost the same exact schemes, just with better athletes. he's always loved the blitz, before he just had bad athletes trying to rush the quarterback. one of my FAVORITE things to do was lurk in game threads and watch fans rip aliotti for being 'too passive' on a certain down where we sent the house on a blitz. our guys just couldn't break through the line and touch the QB. the play would always result in a big gain for the offense, because there was single (or busted) coverage downfield. and fans would scream, "why doesn't aliotti BLITZ????" he did. he does. we were just bad at it.

for years we had horrible talent in the secondary, then when that got better we had very mediocre linebackers. or a d-line that could stand up against the run, but couldn't rush the passer. what we have now is a defense with enough talent in all areas to at least execute plays.

[oregontrack]

and there it is folks, the recruiting angle. This team had an average defense with an All-Pro and Future NFL HOF DT and we still ran the same schemes that required us to sell out the blitz to put pressure on opponents.

Again, in all my time as a Duck fan I've never once heard open criticism of the defense. Every week there is some slant on what the offense is doing wrong. It's wholly and patently absurd to me the justifications people use for the mediocrity on Defense and how they are just fine with it. Seriously, people are putting the defensive woes against SC on freshman dbs, not the coach who put them in single coverage. Does that make any sense, at all?

really? aliotti has been our biggest punching bag for over a decade now.

[duckfan96]

no offense but you must not have been a duck fan for long if you have never seen the D blamed for a loss. I have seen people calling for NA's head for as long as he has coached here. Lets take a look at Oregons 3 big losses the last couple of years

Rose Bowl vs OSU...The D kept that game close...our offense did SQUAT
NCG vs Auburn...The D played their asses off...offense did SQUAT
vs LSU....D played ok...fumbles deep in enemy territory (not on the D)

Yes the D gives up points. But when you have really good athletes come in...Barner and DAT to name a couple ...that were top D players and they get moved to offense. That does not help matters any.

I do have to chuckle at people 2nd guessing CK on his team tho...I seem to recall that CK said NA was a good DC. Probably wrong tho.

Back to Erickson...wonder if MB is gonna get a call for that gig?

[Duck07]

and there it is folks, the recruiting angle. This team had an average defense with an All-Pro and Future NFL HOF DT and we still ran the same schemes that required us to sell out the blitz to put pressure on opponents.

Again, in all my time as a Duck fan I've never once heard open criticism of the defense. Every week there is some slant on what the offense is doing wrong. It's wholly and patently absurd to me the justifications people use for the mediocrity on Defense and how they are just fine with it. Seriously, people are putting the defensive woes against SC on freshman dbs, not the coach who put them in single coverage. Does that make any sense, at all?

really? aliotti has been our biggest punching bag for over a decade now.

no, not really. a few like myself will gripe, but for the most part everybody will tell me that I am an idiot, that I don't know anything about football, that the coaches know more than I do, and that I should shut up. Frankly, its old. I realize there is a small % of us who wish NA was gone, but not anything that I would call substantial and that is the point. How many times have we switched OC's since NA's joyous return from Westwood? In all that time, there has never once been a serious internal discussion over his mediocrity.