The No. 8 Oregon Ducks (5-0, 2-0 Pac-12) are off to one of their better starts in recent memory. So far, it looks like head coach Dan Lanning has put Eugene back on the map and turned Oregon into a program built for success. Lanning’s Ducks have put a couple of impressive wins under their belt: Oregon snuck out a win in Week 2 against Texas Tech and dominated No. 19 Colorado in Week 4. The Ducks’ resume also boasts three other blowout wins over Portland State, Hawaii and Stanford.
There’s not a lot that’s gone wrong for Oregon through its first five games. The offense looks great, the defense appears to improve each week and the special teams have been nails as the Ducks enter their bye week.
As a sports desk, we are privileged with the opportunity to cover this team. We all have different takes and opinions on Lanning’s squad, and it’s important to take time to reflect every so often. Here’s what our team has liked about Oregon as the gauntlet of its season looms.
A “wide” variety of receiving options — Brady Ruth
I’ve been extremely impressed with the amount of impactful weapons Bo Nix has utilized so far this season. Through the first five games, 13 different players have recorded receptions and six already have over 100 receiving yards.
Troy Franklin — who leads the team with 535 receiving yards — has been Nix’s main target, but he’s more than happy to share the workload. He talked after practice on Sept. 27 about how he loves freeing up other receivers by taking the attention of the defense.
As for Nix, he’s been incredible in finding a wide variety of targets in each game so far. The Ducks don’t have a game yet this season where less than eight different receivers have recorded receptions.
From speedsters like Franklin and Tez Johnson, to strong tight ends like Terrance Ferguson and Patrick Herbert, someone is always open. It makes Nix’s job — and his Heisman campaign — a whole lot easier when he has reliable options everywhere.
So far, six Ducks have found the endzone with receiving scores. This receiver and tight end core will be essential to Oregon’s success as the biggest challenges on the schedule still await. For now, the receivers have been the main strength of this team.
Triumph in the trenches — Jack Lazarus
One of the question marks heading into this season was the offensive line, as four out of five starters, as well as the position’s coach, departed in the offseason. I believe this group has not missed a beat, proving that the standard set in previous seasons will remain.
Nix has only been sacked three times, and it has always seemed like he has all the time in the world in the pocket, which is key to his recent performances. Teams rarely put pressure on Nix, and they have been providing gaping holes for the three-headed monster of Bucky Irving, Jordan James and Noah Whittington in the backfield.
The only problem that these guys have had is a slight issue with discipline. The Ducks have been penalized a lot more than any team they have played this season, but since the game against Texas Tech, they have seen a lot of improvement in this area.
A lot of this group is slightly inexperienced, and as they move through the season, these issues can be easily ironed out. This is definitely one of the most exciting and successful groups on the team regardless of its shortcomings.
A risk worth taking: Bo Nix’s final season — Owen Murray
What’s remarkable about the Pac-12 this year is that there’s not one, not two, but three realistic Heisman contenders. Aside from defending winner Caleb Williams, Oregon’s Nix is competing with his rival in Seattle, Michael Penix Jr., for the crown. The Pac-12 is arguably the strongest it’s been in years and Nix’s presence contributes to that.
The competition is looking to have brought the best out of Oregon’s adopted quarterback, who — despite only playing one full game this season thus far — has tallied career highs in pass completion percentage, average yards per pass and quarterback rating. It was a risky decision to remain in Eugene amidst a relatively weak NFL QB draft class, but it looks to have paid off early.
What matters most down the line, I think, will be Nix’s veteran leadership. Despite his undoubted talent and connection with Oregon’s receiving core, his on-field ability to drive the team in pressure situations remains invaluable. As the most experienced quarterback in college football, he’ll be leaned on to steer the Ducks through a difficult stretch — one that could define both his, and the program’s, legacy.
Rising stars on defense — Joe Krasnowski
Oregon’s pass defense has really impressed me through the first five weeks; breakout stars Khyree Jackson and Tysheem Johnson have been big keys to the Ducks being ranked seventh nationally in total defense. It seems as though Lanning — a defensive-minded head coach — has the Ducks defense firing on all cylinders.
Jackson, who had two key pass breakups in the Ducks’ pummeling of Colorado, has been excellent in filling the shoes of Christian Gonzalez. “We’ve challenged him every single week and he keeps stepping up to the challenge,” Lanning said to GoDucks. “He hasn’t let the moment get too big. I think we are all seeing what Khyree is capable of.”
In the game versus Colorado, the Ducks were able to contain quarterback Shedeur Sanders — a then Heisman contender — due to impressive coverage and pass rush.
The Ducks, whose defense was questionable late in the season last year, have been excellent so far in 2023, allowing over 200 passing yards just once. A strong showing against Stanford puts the Ducks in position to thrive as they continue their Pac-12 gauntlet with games against Washington, Washington State and Utah coming out of the bye.
Aggressive play calling from the coaching staff — Joe Moore
Lanning and the rest of Oregon’s coaching staff have made some very aggressive play calls so far this season. The Ducks have attempted four two-point conversions already and converted three of them. Oregon has also attempted 10 fourth-down conversions in its five games and has converted eight of them so far.
One of those fourth-down conversions came in the form of a fake punt which was directly snapped to Casey Rogers, who ran for 18 yards and picked up the first down. The fake punt was an aggressive call, but it also came from Oregon’s own 17-yard line.
“I’m not really interested in running fake punts when everybody thinks we’re gonna run a fake punt,” Lanning said about his decision in his post-game comments. The Ducks have consistently made aggressive decisions to keep opposing defenses on the back foot, and time and time again those play calls have paid off.
The Ducks’ offense has been playing at an elite level so far this season but will be massively tested in the upcoming weeks as they take on other great Pac-12 teams. The Oregon coaching staff’s play calling has proven to be an advantage the Ducks have over other teams so far and will be an important factor going forward in the Pac-12.
