Ducks Attack Message Board Forum

After dropping out of the Senior Bowl, OT Isaiah World has also had to drop out of the NFL Combine due to an ACL tear he suffered during the Peach Bowl. He had surgery already and is now rehabbing. His next chance to talk with NFL execs will be at Oregon's Pro Day.

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Dang bummer timing.

Since it is the offseason (and kind of what we often do as fans), anyone want to throw around (as discussion/opinion), Dan's penchant for hard practices and long days in regards to injuries (especially the at the end-of-the-season kind when players arguably are more susceptible to being worn down)? Maybe in regards to the revelation about Indiana's short practice schedules?

Chip was also I believe known for preferring short-paced high energy practices, with Oregon being overall relatively healthy from 2009-2012 (highlighted by only about a handful of lost starts from starters over the 2010 run).

The 2024 Jabbar Muhammed quote (who had been in practice systems at Oklahoma State and Washington before Oregon):

"One thing I wanted to get better at was my physicality and you have no choice but to do that here, so it was a perfect match for me." When further asked about the difference in environments between Oregon and his other stops he said:

"It's way different, you are hitting and rat-a-tat-tatting every single day, so it's much different. It's a tough schedule. It's legit all day. I know you see the Tik-Toks and everything, but our camp is really all day. It's lenient in some other programs, but this one is kinda tough."

I kind of see it as a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" kinda deal. As a head coach though, it's a choice one has to live with whichever way. Like to see Dan wanna get after it, but losing the likes of Stewart then James in 2024, then Whittington and Davison in 2025? Brutal as fans. Small sample size of course but Ohio State's skill guys all seemed to stay relatively healthy on their 2024 run and Indiana's in 2025 to my recollection. Oregon's in both years seemed to be beat-up, coming back from being beat-up, or got beat up, or couldn't play at all (injuried).

Appearing "flat" coming out for tOSU II in 2024 and again against Indiana II in 2025 also could be thrown into the heavy-work season debate. Wear guys out and it arguably gets harder to repeatedly get a team "up", even as importance of games rises. Thoughts?

It’s a fair thing to bring up and I know I’ve wondered about it. I first brought it up during the 2024 Wisconsin game when our guys were clearly very fatigued, I know that came off of a tough 8 game stretch with no byes but you could tell how much more fatigued our guys were.

And for the record Kenjon Barner brought this up during the season on the Ducks of a Feather podcast and he felt practices were too tough and Dan should change his approach to practice, so if Barner says it I think there could be some validity to it.

But it does seem Oregon seems to be more fatigued, particularly mentally, than other teams in the postseason. I do think practice and game prep does need to be changed, and whether that’s on Dan or others (I personally felt it was Tosh and Stein that fell short) we need to see an Oregon team that is capable of playing their best game and avoid basic execution errors, especially in a natty or bust season. Last 3 seasons we saw an unprepared team that had key injuries and looked fatigued physically and mentally in the postseason with a natty on the line (Washington, Ohio State, and Indiana) so after 3 consecutive years it’s clear something needs to change with practice and game prep. I have no idea what that is but I don’t think there’s anything unreasonable about questing Oregon’s practices and game prep the last 3 seasons.


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OrTDuck wrote: Wed Feb 18, 2026 5:25 pm Since it is the offseason (and kind of what we often do as fans), anyone want to throw around (as discussion/opinion), Dan's penchant for hard practices and long days in regards to injuries (especially the at the end-of-the-season kind when players arguably are more susceptible to being worn down)? Maybe in regards to the revelation about Indiana's short practice schedules?

Chip was also I believe known for preferring short-paced high energy practices, with Oregon being overall relatively healthy from 2009-2012 (highlighted by only about a handful of lost starts from starters over the 2010 run).

The 2024 Jabbar Muhammed quote (who had been in practice systems at Oklahoma State and Washington before Oregon):

"One thing I wanted to get better at was my physicality and you have no choice but to do that here, so it was a perfect match for me." When further asked about the difference in environments between Oregon and his other stops he said:

"It's way different, you are hitting and rat-a-tat-tatting every single day, so it's much different. It's a tough schedule. It's legit all day. I know you see the Tik-Toks and everything, but our camp is really all day. It's lenient in some other programs, but this one is kinda tough."

I kind of see it as a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" kinda deal. As a head coach though, it's a choice one has to live with whichever way. Like to see Dan wanna get after it, but losing the likes of Stewart then James in 2024, then Whittington and Davison in 2025? Brutal as fans. Small sample size of course but Ohio State's skill guys all seemed to stay relatively healthy on their 2024 run and Indiana's in 2025 to my recollection. Oregon's in both years seemed to be beat-up, coming back from being beat-up, or got beat up, or couldn't play at all (injuried).

Appearing "flat" coming out for tOSU II in 2024 and again against Indiana II in 2025 also could be thrown into the heavy-work season debate. Wear guys out and it arguably gets harder to repeatedly get a team "up", even as importance of games rises. Thoughts?

Indiana lost a few starters late in the season.

Sort of funny that a few years ago, tackling was identified as an issue and people blamed lack of hitting during practices. So which is it, do we want better tackling by practicing it during the week, or do we want potentially fewer injuries (there's no proof hitting during practices caused this) through the season? This is where a teams depth becomes so very important.

In reality, as the college game gets closer and closer to the NFL in so many aspects, then I'd expect things like this to start replicating the NFL as well. The length of the season is close to a NFL season now. In many cases, players make more money than coaches. At some point there will be a union whose stated goal is to protect the players and that will mean there will be some sort of CBA that limits the number of days of hitting there are allowed each week.

bellsduck wrote: Thu Feb 19, 2026 2:39 pm Sort of funny that a few years ago, tackling was identified as an issue and people blamed lack of hitting during practices. So which is it, do we want better tackling by practicing it during the week, or do we want potentially fewer injuries (there's no proof hitting during practices caused this) through the season? This is where a teams depth becomes so very important.

I guess I am not so much wondering about tackling or hitting by itself, instead, overall long-run fatigue. Maybe something about Lanning attempting too much. Longer practices, more meetings, more slideshows in the auditorium, more time spent doing something in the football building. A program living, eating, and breathing football, great right up to the point it becomes too much... and ends up running on fumes in late December.

If someone wants to suggest simple more tackling doesn't directly mean more injuries I'll certainly listen to the thought. However, more tackling along with more drills, more reps, more film, more meetings, more lifting, more conditioning, I think very likely could lead over time to more injuries.

Again, Muhammed, "It's a tough schedule. It's legit all day... It's lenient in some other programs, but this one is kinda tough."

Something is going on at the end of the last two Duck seasons. As the biggest game of the season has approached, the team has been banged up, had guys out, and has generally looked flat, and after going 13-0 then 13-1, it has barely showed up. Ohio State packed it in early at 41-15 and it probably should have been worse, Indiana seemed bored scoring on Oregon at 56-15.

Depth is great but so is having one's starters. Ohio State and Indiana (2024/2025) made it to their 16th game of the year with all their skill starters.

Indiana/Miami 2025: Mendoza (16-27-186), Black (17-79), Hemby (19-60), Cooper (5-71), Sarratt (3-28), Becker (4-65), Nowakowski (2-17)

Ohio State/ND 2024: Howard (17-21-231), Judkins (11-100), Henderson (12-49), Smith (5-88), Egbuka (6-64), Tate (2-31), Scott (1-4)

These teams when first blasting Oregon, Stewart was out (both games), James (who had almost 1300 yards) took a hard hit early and went to the locker room and never returned, Davison, Whittington, and Limar were all gone for Indiana, Dakorian and Bryant did return later in the year (but neither really looked 100%). Sadiq famously had 29, 22, 19, and 11 receiving yards his last 4 games (5.4 ypc/0 TDs). Throw in losing your LT in the second quarter one game as well.

Indiana and Ohio State were good; but, limping into both games and getting blasted still isn't really explained by just playing a talented opponent. Maybe losing by 10-14 would fit that narrative, not getting eviscerated.