Signing Day Thread (Wednesday Feb 7)

[greenyellow]

The problem with the CBs are that they're really thin after Graham, Lenoir, and Amadi. There's 6 total CBs on the roster with 2 of them being newbies (Woods and McKinley) and another being a career bench-warmer (Jihree Stewart.) In all likelihood, they're going to have play both Stephens and Holland at CB at times, either due to situational or injury necessity.

[Phalanx]

The problem with the CBs are that they're really thin after Graham, Lenoir, and Amadi. There's 6 total CBs on the roster with 2 of them being newbies (Woods and McKinley) and another being a career bench-warmer (Jihree Stewart.) In all likelihood, they're going to have play both Stephens and Holland at CB at times, either due to situational or injury necessity.

That's fine, I guess, if people want to fret about possible injuries. I think having those three guys and three more coming in is a better situation than quite a few other Duck teams have had. Remember 2001 when all we had were Bauman, Moore, and A.K. Keyes? Woods is a redshirt junior, so his learning curve will likely be less (especially if he is on campus for the spring), and McKinley looks like a good prospect. No idea what to expect from Hailassie, but I assume Oregon and Wazzu and Colorado (and Utah?) all saw something to want to add him. Three guys seems like a decent class, and who knows, but maybe there is a grad transfer on the way at some of these positions.

[greenyellow]

The problem with the CBs are that they're really thin after Graham, Lenoir, and Amadi. There's 6 total CBs on the roster with 2 of them being newbies (Woods and McKinley) and another being a career bench-warmer (Jihree Stewart.) In all likelihood, they're going to have play both Stephens and Holland at CB at times, either due to situational or injury necessity.

That's fine, I guess, if people want to fret about possible injuries. I think having those three guys and three more coming in is a better situation than quite a few other Duck teams have had. Remember 2001 when all we had were Bauman, Moore, and A.K. Keyes? Woods is a redshirt junior, so his learning curve will likely be less (especially if he is on campus for the spring), and McKinley looks like a good prospect. No idea what to expect from Hailassie, but I assume Oregon and Wazzu and Colorado (and Utah?) all saw something to want to add him. Three guys seems like a decent class, and who knows, but maybe there is a grad transfer on the way at some of these positions.

Think about how many DBs you need to cover spread teams like WSU. You need more than 3 DBs to rotate because they get fatigued, aren't having great games, matchups aren't working in their favor or have injuries. We all saw how 2 good true FR like Graham and Lenoir got absolutely roasted at times and needed plays off to refocus. You can only imagine how two less highly-rated CBs like McKinley and Hailassie are going to play when thrown to the wolves the first time. This depth issue is why both JHop and DT are saying that Oregon will likely go after a grad transfer or two to augment their depth.

[Phalanx]

Think about how many DBs you need to cover spread teams like WSU. You need more than 3 DBs to rotate because they get fatigued, aren't having great games, matchups aren't working in their favor or have injuries. We all saw how 2 good true FR like Graham and Lenoir got absolutely roasted at times and needed plays off to refocus. You can only imagine how two less highly-rated CBs like McKinley and Hailassie are going to play when thrown to the wolves the first time. This depth issue is why both JHop and DT are saying that Oregon will likely go after a grad transfer or two to augment their depth.

Point taken about the spread. I will interject that McKinley is probably a better recruit than you are giving him credit for. Cristobal was talking about how heavily recruited he was. In any case, ANY freshman is going to have trouble in his first year. I just don't think the situation is nearly as dire as you are making out. I guess we will see. We did also get two highly-rated safeties in this class. Do they not cover receivers in a spread offense?

P.S. I could care less what JHop says. People invoke his name WAY too often, given his track record.

[greenyellow]

Think about how many DBs you need to cover spread teams like WSU. You need more than 3 DBs to rotate because they get fatigued, aren't having great games, matchups aren't working in their favor or have injuries. We all saw how 2 good true FR like Graham and Lenoir got absolutely roasted at times and needed plays off to refocus. You can only imagine how two less highly-rated CBs like McKinley and Hailassie are going to play when thrown to the wolves the first time. This depth issue is why both JHop and DT are saying that Oregon will likely go after a grad transfer or two to augment their depth.

Point taken about the spread. I will interject that McKinley is probably a better recruit than you are giving him credit for. Cristobal was talking about how heavily recruited he was. In any case, ANY freshman is going to have trouble in his first year. I just don't think the situation is nearly as dire as you are making out. I guess we will see.

P.S. I could care less what JHop says. People invoke his name WAY too often, given his track record.

Considering both are saying the staff is looking to take grad transfers, I'd say both are getting the same information.

[Duck07]

Considering the team has lots of scholarships left, it doesn't take a genius to conclude that we'd like to land several graduate transfers either.

[Phalanx]

Considering the team has lots of scholarships left, it doesn't take a genius to conclude that we'd like to land several graduate transfers either.

Are you sure there are scholarships left? We might need to ask JHop about that before the conversation can continue....

[Everythingsducky]

MC is obviously a great coach and recruiter of the O-line. Look what he recruited there in his first full year. Arguably the best UO class of linemen ever. High ranking lineman usually play closer to their rank, than skill position players. I’m way happier getting true studs on the line, than the way to many ‘if’s’ that come with receivers, etc. They are so much more the unknown, and like stated above, there have been plenty of great Duck skill positions than were slotted for different positions at signing. They will put the best players in the best position to excel, regardless of what position they were signed to play. Count me in for not worrying about this skill position vs. that skill position being recruited. That being said, it would have been nice to get DW.

[greenyellow]

Considering the team has lots of scholarships left, it doesn't take a genius to conclude that we'd like to land several graduate transfers either.

Are you sure there are scholarships left? We might need to ask JHop about that before the conversation can continue....

There's around 8 scholarships left, which is based off what they're returning and how many they signed. They had 53 returning from last year's team, signed 23 recruits, and added 1 transfer. Numbers will likely still change based on the addition of late signees or grad transfers and subtraction due to transfers or medical retirements.

[Phalanx]

There's around 8 scholarships left, which is based off what they're returning and how many they signed. They had 53 returning from last year's team, signed 23 recruits, and added 1 transfer. Numbers will likely still change based on the addition of late signees or grad transfers and subtraction due to transfers or medical retirements.

ChileDuck has 78 on scholarship (out of 85). I'm sure the number is fluid. The point is, we all know they will be seeking grad transfers; we don't need to consult JHop. I don't think the DB situation is so dire that everything hinges on a grad transfer, but it will be nice to add a few, which is why I mentioned it up above.

[alxtw]

I think Mario is a great recruiter when he directly involved, look at his OL commits. As for our class, we did a good job considering our situation and current state of the program. We just didn't recruit well in a few positions of dire need, WR and CB. The flops at WR and CB were partially his fault but other circumstances outside of his control also contributed to the disappointment. For example, not putting 100% effort and concentration into the bowl game and go out recruiting seemed like it wouldn't hurt us even if we loss. But I think it played a big factor into why we loss a few recruits due to our poor performance. Teams used it to fuel negative recruiting and how we're going in the wrong direction under mario and all the big plays and high scoring was because of Slick. If we had a very good showing in the bowl game, we could use that as evidence the program is continuing on the uptrend even with Slick gone. But now with one horrible game under his belt, many recruits had to have ponder if thats what Oregon is becoming or take the word of a new coach and playcaller Arroyo. They miscalculated the risk/reward of allocating time to recruiting vs bowl game performance. However, the timing of the Bowl game screwed us over big time and was out of our control. I strongly believe they should reschedule the date of that bowl game because it just screws over teams in it big time on the recruiting timeline. Losing that huge recruiting weekend was also a big blow but out of our control because of our mandatory participation in that bowl game.

I feel like the lack of backup plans was because he only had two months to reevaluate alot of recruits and establish or re-establish a relationship with them under a short time. It going to hurt us next year on the field when we dont have close to 85 scholarship players that we wanted, but hopefully they can make up for it with good coaching and player development. I believe those two factors are what really makes a good team, the added benefit of getting great recruits and talent just bumps a team up from being a good team to a Natty contender.

Overall, I think Mario did pretty well being this is his first signing class as HC and he seems like the kind of person who is reflective and will learn from his mistakes. Let's hope he can get us improving and winning again next season, then all of this recruiting drama will be forgotten and recruiting will be much easier on the heart.

[Groundswell]

There is chatter about the addition of non-graduate transfers. I've read specifically about OL and RB. Guys who might have to sit out a year. Not sure if they'll actually happen due to which schools took who on signing day, but hopefully they'll pan out.

[GoDucksIn09]

Something that almost nobody has mentioned is the need for an elite RB. Oregon use to be near the top every year running the ball and we had some elite RB's come our way. With Freeman on his way to the pro's I thought we would pursue an elite back this year. I also agree about the missing on receivers is not good. I am sure Oregon was being negative recruited and Oregon made it easy to do so. Look how bad we looked after o QB went down with an injury. Receivers know injuries part of the game. I am guessing they were concerned if suffer an injury to Herbert whether there would be a repeat of last year. The poor play in the bowl game also gives recruits reason for concern

[alxtw]

Something that almost nobody has mentioned is the need for an elite RB. Oregon use to be near the top every year running the ball and we had some elite RB's come our way. With Freeman on his way to the pro's I thought we would pursue an elite back this year. I also agree about the missing on receivers is not good. I am sure Oregon was being negative recruited and Oregon made it easy to do so. Look how bad we looked after o QB went down with an injury. Receivers know injuries part of the game. I am guessing they were concerned if suffer an injury to Herbert whether there would be a repeat of last year. The poor play in the bowl game also gives recruits reason for concern

Our RB coach is gone after a year. As much as I'd love an elite RB, I'm pretty happy with our RB haul this year. It also seemed that there weren't that many elite RBs in the west this year. We partially got those former RBs and developed them very well because of Gary Campbell. His track record in developing Rbs as a player and a person is impressive and he was one of the best RB coaches given the talent we had those years. He set the bar very high for any future RB coach at Oregon. After that entire staff was let go, RB development was probably one of the few positions we were going to/have regress before improving again because of the loss of Coach Campbell.

[northbeachsf]

if Tucker balls out I hope everyone on here is willing to eat crow

I actually like his tape. Maybe not a burner, but also not a dancer that gets zero yard catches. He might not be a game breaker, but he is a chain mover which every team needs.

Agree...going to be a solid contributor......book it.