Lessons from Signing Days past

Jeff Maehl, soaring for a clutch catch in the 2011 National Championship Game, was a 3-star recruit at another position coming out of high school. The recruiting services said he ran a 4.72 40. They forgot to measure his courage, heart, and competitiveness.

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Ducks land Arik Armstead in Sunday ceremony

Jubilation for Webfoots: before family, friends and an impressively large press contigent, Arik Armstead thanked each of the finalists among the schools that recruited him, then donned an Oregon hat, announcing his college choice (Dan Greenspan, twitterpic photo).

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New passing combination could inspire the next evolution of the Oregon offense

An in-your-face leader when he needs to be, Kenjon Barner will be the heart of an Oregon offense with multiple playmakers and dimensions in 2012.

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Oregon recruiting: Shane Brostek a nimble big man with a great pedigree

Shane Brostek won't replace LaMichael James, but he may pave the way for Byron Marshall and Tra Carson if the Mayans are wrong about the future.

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Assessing Oregon's immediate needs in recruiting

This is the season of hype and hysteria in college football. Recruiting is such a compelling part of the game because it encompasses so much hope. Everybody's a potential superstar in February. Every high school phenom is can't-miss, and every program is sure to land four or five plays that will return Beloved U. to the glories of the past.

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Oregon recruiting: Kelly impresses Armstead with his wit and honesty, but exchange shows again that Ducks need a succession plan

A forward-thinking operation: to secure the future, the Ducks can't let it take them by surprise.

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An exclusive interview with Cliff Harris, part two

Sidelined and then dismissed, Cliff Harris' very bad, terrible, no-good year cost him a lot of money. Now he's working harder than he ever has for an opportunity to reclaim his dream.

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An exclusive interview with Cliff Harris

Kash returns: Oregon's mercurial cornerback is looking for daylight and a new beginning at a sports clinic near the the site of the NFL combine (usatoday.com photo).

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It's a race for Arik Armstead, and coaches are swappin' paint

Arik Armstead is one of the most sought after high school football players in the country, and the reason is simple: he has the ability and desire to physically dominate the man in front of him and devour the ball carrier or the quarterback. He's 6-8, 280 and agile enough to dunk a basketball.

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A key way Oregon could be better in 2012

Bryan Bennett or Marcus Mariota could bring an extra dimension to the Ducks offense (sbnation.com photo).

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Oregon recruiting: Bralon Addison one to covet from Aggie cupboard

Flies like a Duck: Bralon Addison would thrive in the blur-fast Oregon offense. He's the kind of player Chip Kelly excels at creating for (ihigh.comphoto).

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The biggest challenge Chip Kelly would face in the NFL

Trojan hoarse: the NFL has big salaries, big egos and big pressures. For coaches, it's a crucible.

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Chip Kelly close to a deal to coach in the NFL at Tampa Bay. What now?

In Chip we trusted. Chip Kelly's close to running out of town for a lucrative pro deal (katu.com photo).

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As Good As It Gets: Kyle Murphy is the best lineman on the board

Kyle Murphy is on every West Coast coaches' short list, but landing him will be a tall order (espngo.com photo).

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Oregon recruiting: scouting report on Duck verbal commit Alex Balducci

Protect this house: He wore Cardinal and Gold in high school, but his heart is pure Gang Green. Alex Balducci is a big man with a Duck dream (scout.com photo).

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Recruiting whispers, Saturday January 21

11 days until National Signing Day.

Three years from now, Duck fans won't remember the kids Oregon missed out on in 2012. They'll remember the ones that came, including Hawaii defensive end DeForest Buckner, right, and linebacker Bryce Cottrell.



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New blog posts at The Duck Stops Here

Cliff Harris update

Kash is going to an NFL boot camp in Indianapolis

Five burning questions: postseason edition

The Duck Stops Here sits down with the websites College Football Zealots and answers the most urgent questions about last season, the quarterback competition and the outlook for next year

Rose Bowl highlight video

Another top-notch production from the folks at oregongridiron.com. The 91-yard run by De'Anthony Thomas will give you chills all over again/

12-step program: the 12 essential steps to Oregon's first BCS Championship

Oregon comes up in every conversation about national title contenders. To stay there, they have to work their program and live the mantra.


Here's Oregon's checklist for football immortality:

Recruiting: #1 safety Shaq Thompson reconsiders his Cal commit; Oregon still in his top three

Shaq Thompson, 6-2, 210, the top-rated safety in the country and a consensus 5-star recruit, has reopened his recruiting and has a top three of Washington, Oregon and Cal. Nick Aliotti visited him today, and coach Chip Kelly has an in-home on Sunday.

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New stories at duckstopshere.com

Fabian Moreau still hoping for Oregon offer

Oregon Recruiting: Whispers from the recruiting stretch drive

Oregon recruiting: Corey Whitaker is a big man with a big upside

Oregon recruiting: Damariay Drew a tough, talented player the star system overlooked

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Ducks had one day to feel sad about Darron Thomas leaving; drive to another conference championship begins now

Now the Ducks have one more scholarship to give, and two very talented young quarterbacks will get their shot to lead a team that will contend for a fourth conference championship and a national title.

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James and Thomas struggle with the most resonant of human dilemmas, knowing when it's time to leave

A college football team is a continuing story, and we follow it partly to escape our lives, and partly because the passion and energy of the game reminds of all the things we value most in life, including hope, the power of belief, and the will to commit to something greater than yourself.

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Searching for the future: how do the Ducks replace Darron Thomas?

While Darron Thomas’ departure creates a lot of uncertainty, it sure just did make next season more anticipated and exciting.

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Darron Thomas leaves for the NFL--what now?

Many fans say the Ducks will be fine with Bennett, but coaches have to be concerned about depth and experience. With a senior returning starter Oregon was sure to be a preseason Top Five team, but now Bennett and Mariota have to grow up quickly  to prepare for defense of three straight conference titles.

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Kenjon Barner's commitment like landing a 6-star running back

oregonlive.com photo

The Ducks secured a key element of their 2012 roster when Kenjon Barner decided to return for his senior season.

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Ducks pursuit of Bryan Harper shows evaluating, projecting, closing all crucial to recruiting success

In the PAC-12, first place is a trip to Pasadena. Third place means you lose your job.

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Gifted defensive tackle Arik Armstead a prime example of the uncertainties and challenges of recruiting

National title teams are built at the line of scrimmage, and nothing's more vital than a big, physical tackle who can anchor a defensive line. 6-8, 285-lb. Arik Armstead is that kind of player (maxpreps.com photo).

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The hardest days to win

You know what it is: coaches can teach technique, strategy and tactics, squeezing as much instruction as possible into 29 preseason practices, but ultimately, every player is in charge of his own business (Corvallis Gazette-Times photo).

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Oregon recruiting: Bears, Ducks in a battle for elite Texas high school receiver Thomas Johnson

Jitterbug, juke or jet: With the ball in his hands, Thomas Johnson is one of the most dynamic receiver prospects in the country (dallassouthnews.org photo).

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Oregon recruiting: they are young, with both promises and demands

Something wondrous that way goes: Gifted high school All-American safety Shaquille Thompson joined the California Bears yesterday, and he took two of the West's prime recruits with him (goldenbearlair.com photo).

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LMJ is leaving--what now?

The decision: it's rational, practical, and logical, and the roster still returns 34 of 42 players from the two-deep, but man, are we going to miss the Touchdown Frog Jump (abcnews.com photo).

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The singular genius of Chip Kelly

Chip Kelly doesn't coach doctors, and he's not going to find a cure for cancer or discover a new fuel cell technology. But he does have particular gift for coaching football, evidenced by a Rose Bowl Championship, three conference titles in his first three seasons, and a 34-6 record. That's 85% wins if you're scoring at home, far better than Bo, Woody, Bill Walsh or Amos Alonzo Stagg.

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Oregon recruiting: DeForest Buckner adds agility, athleticism to Duck defensive line

DeForest Buckner announced for Oregon last night at the Semper Fidelis Bowl, a high school all-star game, and it's another reason for already-exhilarated Duck fans to be giddy about the future.

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Keys to the game: Oregon versus Wisconsin in The Granddaddy of Them All

A win stamps the careers of Eddie Pleasant, LaMichael James, David Paulson and Mark Asper as the most special team in Oregon history, a team that went to three BCS bowls culminating in a break-through win in the Rose Bowl, the first in 95 years. Oregon has been in an amazing run as a PAC-12 program. All it needs now is a signature accomplishment.

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