It’s now rivalry week and to get the lowdown on this year’s Oregon squad, I talked to Addicted to Quack’s Tristan Holmes for this week’s Q&A!
MS: This is year 4 for Dan Lanning at the helm of the Ducks.
He has garnered national attention in recent weeks for being both steadfast in his loyalty to UO, and brash and bullish on the Big Ten’s playoff chances. What do you make of the job he has done so far?
TH: It’s hard to argue that Lanning hasn’t been a home run hire since taking over in 2022. He has continued to improve the overall depth of talent on the roster each year he has been in Eugene. There have been some quibbles with game management (see his first few games against the Huskies), but in general he has shown his program can compete with any in the country. Duck fans should feel fortunate Oregon has the financial resources to offer him competitive compensation, and that he seems to really appreciate his situation so they don’t have to over pay. Lanning thinks he has all the resources he needs to win a national championship in the near future, and I think the trajectory of the program is still trending upward.
MS: This is year 3 for Will Stein as Oregon’s OC. How has he allowed Dante Moore to adapt to his scheme and who are the other weapons on that side of the ball?
TH: I think our esteemed editor put it best recently: having Will Stein as the OC for your team is a lot like having a pet cat. Most of the time he is a good boi and extremely lovable. On the other hand, some times he won’t listen to simple directions (go deep on 2nd and short Will), and occasionally leaves a dead mouse on your bed (see the Indiana game). Moore has been everything that was promised. Stein’s offense emphasizes the quick game, which he certainly has the accuracy and anticipation for. When given the chance Moore can also kill the defense with explosive passes (see the 2-minute drive at Iowa). He’s also shown surprising athleticism this year, allowing QB runs and RPOs to continue to be part of the playbook.
MS: Entering year 4 as Ducks’ DC is former Husky assistant Tosh Lupoi. Lupoi has built his unit around linebacker Bryce Boettcher, who leads the team in tackles this year and is in his 4th year at Oregon. Who are the other playmakers on that side of the ball that the Huskies need to watch out for?
TH: Boettcher’s the kind of story you can only get in college sports. He started as a baseball player then becoming a leader on the defense and possibly getting a shot on an NFL squad as a late round draft pick. His veteran presence is extremely valuable, but I think the ceiling is higher for some of the younger defenders. Cornerback Brandon Finney Jr. is only a redshirt freshman but combines elite athleticism with refined technique that belies his youth. He can handle his assignment 1-1 against all but the best receivers in the country. On the line of scrimmage the well traveled Bear Alexander has come into his own in the latter half of the season. He’s extremely disruptive on the interior.
MS: With all of the coaching carousel rumors spinning up, it seems like every other week, we hear about either Will Stein or Tosh Lupoi potentially getting a head coaching gig. Do you lend any credence to these rumors, and what do you think is going to happen with that? More immediately, how do you see this season going for the Ducks?
TH: There are persistent rumors about Lupoi being in line for the job in Berkely. It makes sense given his history there and his recruiting chops, though apparently older fans still haven’t forgiven him for how he departed for Seattle years ago. I haven’t heard any confirmed rumors about Will Stein but his name frequently comes up on short lists in the media. Before Eugene he was the offensive coordinator at UTSA, so I would expect North Texas well as any other schools in that region that may have an opening to consider him. I think he would do best at a G5 program where he could build the roster around how he wants to run his offense. In either case if they do get hired I would think Dan Lanning would insist they do what he did at Georgia: continue to serve as play caller until the team’s run in the post season (assuming they make it) ends.
MS: It’s time for a score prediction! What will the score be, in a rivalry clash in Seattle?
TH: The Huskies have done well at home this season, but based on the film study we do at AtQ I think a big part of that has been how their home-road schedule worked out this year. They’ll be motivated and have play makers who can keep it close for a while. Most likely it’ll be competitive at half time, but if the Ducks are focused I don’t think Washington can keep pace for four quarters. I’ll say 37-20 and Oregon awaits their seeding in the playoff.
Thank you Tristan! Let’s have a good clean, rivalry game on Saturday! For my answers to his questions, head on over to Addicted to Quack!
