The system's quarterback, a running back battle and a lightening of the mood: A few thoughts as Oregon spring ball nears
Can Justin Flowe teach me how to buy an NFT?
1. It’s supposed to rain, heavily, over the next two weeks. Feels like spring ball, doesn’t it? The Ducks begin the first of their 15 allotted spring practices on the 10th.
2. Speaking of, has anyone seen any interior plans for Oregon’s proposed indoor practice facility? I’m sure they can throw on a covered media wing, right?
3. Rain or shine, Dan Lanning shouldn’t mind. John Canzano had a nice story about him earlier this week. The Oregon coach has a house in escrow, a fly rod purchased and seems to be settling into a job and new life that began under a significant amount of pressure for a first-time head coach.
Remember, it was a little more than a month ago that Lanning was on the sideline for Georgia at the national championship game. Since, he’s filled out his staff, saved a recruiting class and did a pretty bang-up job of calming the masses after lettergate.
I get the feeling the next month of relative football normalcy will be welcomed by coaches, players and fans. Because, if we’re being honest, it felt pretty heavy there for a while, no? The pandemic derailed a Playoff-caliber roster in 2020 and 2021’s game-to-game swings happened with the Miami rumors playing loudly in the background. Cristobal was moodier and players didn’t appear to be having much fun — then there was the whole month of December where the collective Oregon fanbase seemingly went mad online.
So, yes, actual football with new storylines and characters will be a happy reprieve from the general chaos of the last two years.
4. There’s not a big gap in talent between Bo Nix — the former Auburn starting quarterback — and Oregon’s returning quarterbacks Ty Thompson and Jay Butterfield. I predicted last month that Thompson, a redshirt freshman, will win the job this fall, but I’m beginning to feel like he’ll need an otherworldly spring for that to happen.