Willie Taggart OREGON DUCKS HEAD COACH

[trojanfan12]

Sounds like a legit source.

:rollseyes:

As legit as the source that told you Chip Kelly was coming back?

 

[trojanfan12]

That's the most mundane quote ever.

Was thinking the same. What did OD expect him to say: "Make excuses, blame everyone else and do as little as possible"?

 

[trojanfan12]

In all seriousness, I think Taggart is a solid hire, but the Ducks (and Uncle Phil) are probably going to have to be more patient than they were with Helfrich.

From what I've been reading and hearing, Taggart is a power football, pro-style offense type of coach. That's not the type of athlete that Oregon has or typically recruits. It's likely going to take 2-3 seasons to change over the roster and another 2 to get that style up to the level of USC, Washington and Stanford.

 

[TheDayMan]

In all seriousness, I think Taggart is a solid hire, but the Ducks (and Uncle Phil) are probably going to have to be more patient than they were with Helfrich.

From what I've been reading and hearing, Taggart is a power football, pro-style offense type of coach. That's not the type of athlete that Oregon has or typically recruits. It's likely going to take 2-3 seasons to change over the roster and another 2 to get that style up to the level of USC, Washington and Stanford.

I admittedly have watched 0 USF, but my understanding is he started to switch over to more of a spread offense while keeping the power game incorporated into it. I'm sure he'll go with whatever can be most successful right away and gradually work in his own philosophy as he gets the guys to run it.

I agree though. I've always seen OD as kind of a caricature of a typical oregon fan, from my perception anyway, he, and all the other OD's out there need to be patient and give the guy time. I wouldn't be shocked if that team was significantly better next year, considering they just seemed to quit on Helfrich this year, but they're crazy if they expect to be winning the Pac and jockeying for a playoff spot the next couple years.

 

[Olyduck]

In all seriousness, I think Taggart is a solid hire, but the Ducks (and Uncle Phil) are probably going to have to be more patient than they were with Helfrich.

From what I've been reading and hearing, Taggart is a power football, pro-style offense type of coach. That's not the type of athlete that Oregon has or typically recruits. It's likely going to take 2-3 seasons to change over the roster and another 2 to get that style up to the level of USC, Washington and Stanford.

Stop reading, start watching. Quinton Flowers and Marlon Mack highlights on youtube.

 

[trojanfan12]

Stop reading, start watching. Quinton Flowers and Marlon Mack highlights on youtube.

Just because a team makes big plays, doesn't make them an Oregon style offense. USC made all kinds of big plays in the Pete Carroll era with guys like Reggie Bush, Mike Williams, etc., etc. but they were always a power football, pro-style offense team.

I agree with @TheDayMan Oregon will likely be much better next year (definitely bowl eligible), but it's going to take a bit to truly get back into the playoff hunt.

 

[Olyduck]

Just because a team makes big plays, doesn't make them an Oregon style offense. USC made all kinds of big plays in the Pete Carroll era with guys like Reggie Bush, Mike Williams, etc., etc. but they were always a power football, pro-style offense team.

I agree with @TheDayMan Oregon will likely be much better next year (definitely bowl eligible), but it's going to take a bit to truly get back into the playoff hunt.

ok how about Flowers was the 9th ranked Dual threat QB in his class.
Mack is listed as 6 foot 205 lbs. compared to Freeman who is 5'11" 230 lbs. Benoit who is 6 foot and 200lbs
Oregon keeps a mix of big power backs and smaller backs. like Tony Brooks James

 

[trojanfan12]

ok how about Flowers was the 9th ranked Dual threat QB in his class.
Mack is listed as 6 foot 205 lbs. compared to Freeman who is 5'11" 230 lbs. Benoit who is 6 foot and 200lbs
Oregon keeps a mix of big power backs and smaller backs. like Tony Brooks James

There's a lot more to playing power football and a more pro style offense than having a couple of big backs. Oregon's style has been to spread the field and play more of a finesse offense. USC has arguably the best dual threat QB in the PAC right now, but we're still a power, pro-style offense.

I think Taggart will probably make some tweaks to fit the talent Oregon has, but will transition the Ducks to more of the style that he seems to like. The result will likely be decent bowl games for 2-3 seasons and then, once he has the players to play more of a power, pro-style attack that's what you'll see.

Oregon has had a lot of success with the style they played up until this season, but they always ended up losing out to power teams in the NC, playoffs and a couple of times in the PAC vs. Stanford. With Taggart, in a few seasons, they may well be in a position to change that. Heck, he may even stumble across a nice blend of the spread offense and power football that gets them back even sooner.

 

[Olyduck]

There's a lot more to playing power football and a more pro style offense than having a couple of big backs. Oregon's style has been to spread the field and play more of a finesse offense. USC has arguably the best dual threat QB in the PAC right now, but we're still a power, pro-style offense.

I think Taggart will probably make some tweaks to fit the talent Oregon has, but will transition the Ducks to more of the style that he seems to like. The result will likely be decent bowl games for 2-3 seasons and then, once he has the players to play more of a power, pro-style attack that's what you'll see.

Oregon has had a lot of success with the style they played up until this season, but they always ended up losing out to power teams in the NC, playoffs and a couple of times in the PAC vs. Stanford. With Taggart, in a few seasons, they may well be in a position to change that. Heck, he may even stumble across a nice blend of the spread offense and power football that gets them back even sooner.

Huh so apparently he is a liar because in his press conference he stated he wants an uptempo, spread offense.

 

[trojanfan12]

Huh so apparently he is a liar because in his press conference he stated he wants an uptempo, spread offense.

I'm just going by what I read and heard about what his style has been previously.

He also knows that an uptempo, spread offense is what Oregon fans are used to and the type of players they have. It would be kind of foolish to come in and try to play power football with what Oregon currently has. It took Helton about 10 games (going back to last year) to get USC changed from a more pass happy attack to playing the style we do now (and are still developing) and USC already had the athletes to play a power, pro-style game.

The question will be whether he sticks with it, or gradually changes the makeup of the team. You act like I'm ripping him and saying Oregon can't win with him when I've said the opposite.

 

[BamaDude]

Taggart is the opposite of Helfrich. Instead of starting out with a good season & getting progressively worst in the ensuing years, Taggart usually starts off with a couple of bad years and gets better with time. It may be year four before he turns things around, so Oregon fans will have to be patient.

 

[WizardHawk]

So his choice of OC will make or break their offense next season. That's all that says really. If he's not a HUNH/spread/ RPO kind of coach he needs to find one. And yes Oly, I too have seen that he has actually ran spread stuff and has shown he can adapt based off his kids. But there is no way he comes in and he alone sets up that offense in anything that looks like the Kelly style himself without someone there to deal with the particulars.

And yes, running power has less to do with the actual backs than it does the line. Oregon has always been more about speed and conditioning as higher priorities on their line because of the number of plays they run and how fast they run them. Guys who specialize in power game blocking probably can't run 30y up field on big plays to get set again without oxygen. Just saying.

Just wait to see who he picks at both coordinator job and see how things go through spring before we either anoint them as back, or say it's going to take a long time to rebuild. It's way too early to get a feel either way.

What is safe to say is this recruiting class will take a bit of a dip vs what it would have been without the coaching change. New guy now has to get in the living room of high value kids and has no time to turn them before LOI day. We are just 3 days away from a recruiting dead zone and he doesn't have his staff in place yet. They reached out to the big in state kids to ask if there was any chance they could speak to them and at least the two major ones that were UW commits both very publicly said thank you, but no thank you. I'm sure this was as much a broader statement aimed at in state high school coaches and kids coming up next year that they are coming hard after their own talent. He had to know they didn't have much of a real chance to flip kids at this point in the game.

 

[Duckboy33]

I'm just going by what I read and heard about what his style has been previously.

He also knows that an uptempo, spread offense is what Oregon fans are used to and the type of players they have. It would be kind of foolish to come in and try to play power football with what Oregon currently has. It took Helton about 10 games (going back to last year) to get USC changed from a more pass happy attack to playing the style we do now (and are still developing) and USC already had the athletes to play a power, pro-style game.

The question will be whether he sticks with it, or gradually changes the makeup of the team. You act like I'm ripping him and saying Oregon can't win with him when I've said the opposite.

People forget you can run power out of the spread. Oregon used to do this a lot between 2007-2012. All the spread does is change the formation.

 

[WizardHawk]

People forget you can run power out of the spread. Oregon used to do this a lot between 2007-2012. All the spread does is change the formation.

I think the key is you had more personnel that were apt to do so at that time. If they wanted to run power now they likely would have to build toward that. Do you think the line you have right now is suited for that given they weren't recruited for that scheme?

Again, I'm personally going to wait to see who they tag at OC/DC and see how the recruiting class finishes up and what they look like through spring ball before really looking too deeply into what they are doing and what direction they are heading.

It's a new staff which makes it a bit of a wildcard team for next year. Will any of the kids end up not buying in or otherwise just not work as hard as the new coach demands? Can't remember a coaching turnover where there weren't some types of that stuff. Didn't end up hurting us too much after Petersen came in, but we lost an NFL player in that process and a few other solid players. Most of that should be worked out by the end of spring.

 

[OregonDucks]

Taggart is targeting Charlie Strong for DC.

H.O.L.Y S.H.I.T!!

 

[Duckboy33]

I think the key is you had more personnel that were apt to do so at that time. If they wanted to run power now they likely would have to build toward that. Do you think the line you have right now is suited for that given they weren't recruited for that scheme?

Again, I'm personally going to wait to see who they tag at OC/DC and see how the recruiting class finishes up and what they look like through spring ball before really looking too deeply into what they are doing and what direction they are heading.

It's a new staff which makes it a bit of a wildcard team for next year. Will any of the kids end up not buying in or otherwise just not work as hard as the new coach demands? Can't remember a coaching turnover where there weren't some types of that stuff. Didn't end up hurting us too much after Petersen came in, but we lost an NFL player in that process and a few other solid players. Most of that should be worked out by the end of spring.

I'm not so sure that really is the case. Oregon's O-Line wasn't amazing in 2009 or 2010. In fact, I remember Oregon fans complaining about Chip's stubbornness because of his commitments to the power running game. I think the line next year has the potential to be better than the line in 2009 or 2010. The problem was Helfrich wasn't committed to a power running game and wanted to evolve the offense into more of a passing offense. This wasn't a huge problem when Mariota was walking through the doors but that's no longer the case.

I think far too many people bought into the misnomer of Oregon as a finesse team because Oregon runs a spread offense and has a lot of speed players. Taggart even said that he remembers how physical Oregon was when he coached at Stanford. I don't think transitioning into Taggart's system will be much of a concern. The concern is around recruiting, building a staff and rebuilding the defense.

 

[Duckboy33]

Taggart is targeting Charlie Strong for DC.

H.O.L.Y S.H.I.T!!

I'm hearing he's interested in becoming the HC of USF. I would love to see Strong as DC but I don't think it's going to happen.

 

[OregonDucks]

I'm hearing he's interested in becoming the HC of USF. I would love to see Strong as DC but I don't think it's going to happen.

we will see. Lots of cash to give to him to focus only on defense. He may like the aspect of only focusing on D and not being the head coach.

Could be a nice 2-3 year stop for Strong while he reimages himself and looks for a HC job down the road.

 

[Wamu]

Taggart is targeting Charlie Strong for DC.

H.O.L.Y S.H.I.T!!

Is it true that Brady Hoke has left CFB behind to join the competitive eating circus?

 

[OregonDucks]

Is it true that Brady Hoke has left CFB behind to join the competitive eating circus?

Next time you see Hoke he will be battling Joey Chestnut at Nathan's Hot Dog eating contest on July 4.