SBNation.com User Blog: FishDuck

Paralysis By Analysis: The Running Game’s Impact

FishDuck — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:37:51 -0000

Paralysis By Analysis: The Running Game’s Impact

I was not sure about Todd’s title, until I read through and realized that he makes a good point about the difficulty a defender has with our offense. Read over there and discuss here; think the play action pass is going to be the same weapon this year as in the past?

Special Teams Analysis: In the Blink of an Eye

FishDuck — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:41:28 -0000

Special Teams Analysis: In the Blink of an Eye

It’s fun to look back big plays of the season and determine why they did so well. Todd Moore breaks down a big Special Team’s play that helped us win a BCS game, and it is always a question as to how much of it is the runner, and how much should be credited to the other players.

How the Ducks "Go": The Oregon No-Huddle Language

FishDuck — Tue, 07 May 2013 13:45:06 -0000

How the Ducks "Go": The Oregon No-Huddle Language

It is a sad day as Josh moves on to other opportunities to build his career, but I am very happy for his growth as our objective is to support and promote the futures of our young writers. He brings up some things to consider about Oregon’s method of communication within the No-Huddle. Read over there, and discuss here; do you think most of Oregon’s offense is down to one word?

Spring Game Coaching Surprises

FishDuck — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:16:28 -0000

Spring Game Coaching Surprises

I believe I could immediately see the impact of a new coach in the Spring Game, and see if you don’t agree. Read there and discuss here as usual, and I am curious if others noticed the same thing? This bodes well…..

The Oregon Classic: The Inside Zone Read

FishDuck — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:09:19 -0000

The Oregon Classic: The Inside Zone Read

Learn again about the fundamental play of the Oregon offense and see what over 100,000 fans and coaches have studied since we began delving into what makes the Duck Spread Offense special. The coach may change, but the basics of how Oregon runs their offense does not. For the fan who wants to learn a little and be entertained—this video is ideal. Good to see LaMichael James again!

Analyzing Oregon’s "Mystery Men" at Linebacker

FishDuck — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:33:43 -0000

Analyzing Oregon’s "Mystery Men" at Linebacker

We all know that Oregon returns a very good team for 2013, but who is going to be our WILL and MIKE LBs is yet unknown. Sean does an analysis of showing us some good things the young-gun LBs have done, and we learn a little about defensive technique besides. Read over there, and do discuss here as usual. Oh how we love to learn about our beloved Ducks…..

Special Teams Analysis: It Starts With A Kick!

FishDuck — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:53:54 -0000

Special Teams Analysis: It Starts With A Kick!

It’s fun to learn a little more about special teams—not too deep in complexity, but being introduced to two concepts that help us understand kickoff coverage sure makes us appreciate the games that much more. Some of you coaching types….more to add?

The Oregon Game Plans: Kelly or Helfrich?

FishDuck — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:35:00 -0000

The Oregon Game Plans: Kelly or Helfrich?

Can Coach Helfrich duplicate the amazing Game Plans of Coach Kelly? Let’s look at the Fiesta Bowl Game Plan and how we arrive at some conclusions about this crucial question from this study. Do YOU think the Game Plans will be similar? (Discuss over here)

Referee Analysis: The Stanford Debacle

FishDuck — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:38:46 -0000

Referee Analysis: The Stanford Debacle

I am blown away. I was so focused on the Xs and Os of the game (with the sound turned off) that I whipped through all of the examples given in this referee analysis when viewing the game again—and I missed them. Now, I am stunned at the total level of incompetence, and not from the play that everyone reviews! I cannot recall so many examples that went against Oregon that were WRONG in a game of such magnitude.

We at Oregon lost a shot at the NC while all our conference members lost untold millions to balance the budgets. If you read nothing else, please read the concluding paragraph and tell me if I’m over-reacting.

Oregon Has a Counter Play After All!

FishDuck — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 14:40:58 -0000

Oregon Has a Counter Play After All!

In my conversations with Josh and other high school coaches, we have lamented the loss of the counter play in the Oregon offense, and now we realize it was there under our nose all along! Nice catch by Josh and some fun screenshots from five years ago. My thanks to Bret Landess (Scubaduck) who provided the cool footage of the Purdue game of 2008 for examples of the old counter in the Oregon offense. I going to put it out there….what other plays serve as a counter now? (C’mon coaches….)

P.S. If any of you have more footage of 2007, 2008, or 2009…I need it!

Is Oregon Adding a Tight End Twist?

FishDuck — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 14:42:04 -0000

Is Oregon Adding a Tight End Twist?

There is something interesting going on with our Zone Read attack as it appears that Oregon has added a new wrinkle to help open things up. We KNEW as fans that our coaches are continuously countering-the-opponents-counters to us, but this is fascinating to me. I love how it utilizes a position of strength, and opens things up further for Lyerla and Ka’ai. Think we will see it further?

Oregon Special Teams Analysis: Swinging What?

FishDuck — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:11:31 -0000

Oregon Special Teams Analysis: Swinging What?

How many of you have asked for more info about our Special Teams? New Analyst Todd Moore breaks down a play from one of our favorite Special Team formations, and it is surprising all that is going on in fractions of a second. Read and come back to discuss here….and I’m curious if you think he made the right decision on this. Should Dion have banged it up the middle?

Aliotti’s Zone Coverages Gut the Wildcats’ Passing Game

FishDuck — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 14:51:17 -0000

Aliotti’s Zone Coverages Gut the Wildcats’ Passing Game

Guys…don’t miss this one. The skill of a writer is reflected in how he can take the complicated and make it simple for us to understand, and Sean did a great job with secondary zone coverages. I learned some things and hope you do too. (Read there and discuss here-thanks)

Ducks Zone Blitz Attack De-Claws the ‘Cats

FishDuck — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 14:17:14 -0000

Ducks Zone Blitz Attack De-Claws the ‘Cats

How did we stop Kansas State’s passing game in the Fiesta Bowl? Sean answers it in another informative and entertaining analysis….just when I thought last week’s was the best!

How Oregon Stuffed the "Optimus" Klein Option Attack

FishDuck — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:46:06 -0000

How Oregon Stuffed the "Optimus" Klein Option Attack

Ready to take a break from the recruiting drama to learn about our defense? Sean grew up as a "Coach’s son" and had been breaking film down for his father for over 15 years. He served as a consultant this last summer to my defensive tutorials, and now is producing his first analysis for Oregon fans.

Oregon’s In-Game Adjustment Skins Cats

FishDuck — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 14:01:36 -0000

Oregon’s In-Game Adjustment Skins Cats

Want an example of an in-game adjustment where we changed our plays to counter a defensive strategy? Josh found one in the Fiesta Bowl that occurred early on, and since Helfrich was on the headphones—he knows all about these strategies. (For all we know—it may have been him that suggested it!) Interesting key by the defense….

We have begun Basketball Analysis of the Dana Altman attack and will have a new one up on the front page Wednesday. Read there and discuss here! Thanks to all.

Fiesta Bowl No Huddle Dynamics

FishDuck — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 14:52:02 -0000

Fiesta Bowl No Huddle Dynamics

Hey guys-there is some great information by Josh about the formations and plays that brought about an important touchdown in the Fiesta Bowl. The play change-ups were interesting to me….

New Oregon Basketball Analysis

FishDuck — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 15:26:51 -0000

New Oregon Basketball Analysis

We are now offering Oregon basketball analysis to help the fan learn more about our beloved Ducks, not to the degree as a coach, but in some smaller entertaining portions in order to enjoy the games that much more.

As always…read the article over there and come back here to discuss, as I would appreciate your input on this strategy and how it is explained.

Chip Kelly’s "No-Read" Inside Zone Play

FishDuck — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 14:45:06 -0000

Chip Kelly’s "No-Read" Inside Zone Play

This is a foundation play of the Oregon Spread Offense and I’m a little ashamed that I did not cover before now, and that it is not yet in the Tutorials. This is a bedrock play for thousands of football teams, and one that Chip Kelly uses extensively, especially in the Fiesta Bowl recently. It is a vital running play where there is no optioning or "reading" by the QB, and is another important play for us fans to become familiar with. Read there, and discuss here as always and thanks to you all.

Chip Kelly’s Surprise "Throwback" Fiesta Bowl Strategy

FishDuck — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 14:16:36 -0000

Chip Kelly’s Surprise "Throwback" Fiesta Bowl Strategy

If there was ever an example of Chip reaching deep into the tool box to throw a curve at the opponent—this is it. I don’t know which is more thrilling; finding something he used a long time ago at Oregon in this game, or knowing that he’s going to be here another year to study!

Chip Kelly’s Fiesta Bowl Game Plan

FishDuck — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 18:33:31 -0000

Chip Kelly’s Fiesta Bowl Game Plan

This is the third in a three part series analyzing Kansas State and learning how we will defense the Wildcats and how we will attack them. Josh pulls some interesting comparisons to other games, and I’m curious if others agree with his conclusions. (Read there, discuss here as usual)

Oregon’s "Numbers" Advantage In the Fiesta Bowl

FishDuck — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 18:37:15 -0000

Oregon’s "Numbers" Advantage In the Fiesta Bowl

This is an interesting analysis as to how Baylor gained an advantage in numbers on the Wildcats, and how Oregon can capitalize. Watch there, discuss here as usual-thoughts?

Collin Klein and the Magic of Bill Snyder

FishDuck — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 14:05:22 -0000

Collin Klein and the Magic of Bill Snyder

Now this is interesting analysis from Josh! We begin to learn a little about what makes the Kansas State offense so impressive, and as you read—doesn’t it remind you of Cam Newton two years ago? We have faced some amazing QBs in our bowl games recently of Pryor, Newton, Russell Wilson, and now Collin Klein. It’s fun to see how they feature him and the task our defense has. Think we can slow him down the way we did Newton?

Chip Kelly’s Strangest Play (Ever)

FishDuck — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 13:43:05 -0000

Chip Kelly’s Strangest Play (Ever)

We have looked at a ton of plays and not watched this one before! This process has an interesting twist at the end for me, as sometimes you have a hard time putting a finger on what you’re pondering. I’m wondering if any of you think we are going to see this again in the Bowl game? Fun stuff.

Chip Kelly Slashes Beavers Two Ways with One Play?

FishDuck — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:57:55 -0000

Chip Kelly Slashes Beavers Two Ways with One Play?

Are we running an audible for who we zone read on a play? It is interesting set of plays, and I can’t help but wonder if the Xs and Os types here agree with me or not. This was also part of the "Cat-&-Mouse Game," in addition to what we saw last week. It IS an interesting question….

Chip Kelly Wins the "Cat-&-Mouse Game" with OSU

FishDuck — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:35:02 -0000

Chip Kelly Wins the "Cat-&-Mouse Game" with OSU

Some of you coaching types might assert that I’ve taken a stretch on this….but I am curious to see if you agree with my breakdown of a particular play. Is this the "Cat-&-Mouse Game" that OC Mark Helfrich referred to after the Civil War? How did we run outside? I believe we turned to a reliable weapon, but do come here to discuss.

How Stanford Stopped the Oregon Offense II

FishDuck — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 14:45:32 -0000

How Stanford Stopped the Oregon Offense II

This is the most interesting analysis article that I’ve ever been a part of as Josh covers what we studied for hours on Sunday. He shows what Oregon did, how Stanford offset it, how the Ducks countered back, and then the strategy the Cardinal used to counter back yet again. Fascinating stuff and I’d love to discuss it here as I’m curious as to if anyone thinks whether the Beavers will employ these tactics?

How Stanford Stopped the Oregon Offense

FishDuck — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 14:30:37 -0000

How Stanford Stopped the Oregon Offense

Josh and I worked pretty hard all day Sunday coming up with a two part series about what Stanford did to us on defense. We are not covering the areas already discussed extensively such as the field goals, missed passes and blocks, or play selection. We dug in, (with the help of a retired college coach) and wanted to learn what an elite defense does to us beyond just great talent

Oregon's "Cross-Buck" and "Tiny TE" Passing Strategies

FishDuck — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 14:20:12 -0000

Oregon's "Cross-Buck" and "Tiny TE" Passing Strategies

What a roller-coaster of emotions during this game! We went from a sick feeling to being stunned at our newly explosive passing game. Come back here to discuss as these are two new passing strategies to ponder. Do I hear "more?"

On to Cal: The PERFECT Trap Game!

FishDuck — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 14:20:51 -0000

On to Cal: The PERFECT Trap Game!

I think you will get a kick out of our photo-shopped images…but I do wonder how many of you regard this as a potential trap game as I do.