Oregon Football Coach Speak: Willie Taggart vs Mark Helfrich

Oregon Football has entered a new era under Willie Taggart, but his approach shows that Mark Helfrich may have done things his way but not the right way.

Last season Oregon Football went into Spring Practice with some problems. Leadership was a big concern. Specifically, Senior Leadership to show how things needed to be done. Head Coach Mark Helfrich was left on Media Day making this point and the result ended in a 4-8 season and Helfrich being fired at seasons end.

The Oregon Ducks brought in some new energy with Willie Taggart, who brought with him a hand picked coaching staff to lead Oregon to Success. The conversation we had with Mark Helfrich as Fall Camp began last year and the conversation we had with Taggart before Spring Camp opened have some similarities, but also some big differences.

Their approach to the game as Coaches is different as well and that is not necessarily right or wrong, but the way they work. We start with a word that both used in talking about the Oregon Football Team.

Competition

"Helfrich:It’s a good competition, a bunch of young guys to this point have not seen anyone slam their face in the wall yet (to be) overwhelmed by scheme or the grind of camp so far. A lot of things moving real fast…Taggart:It’s going to be competitive on the field. Each one of those guys will have an opportunity to compete. It’s on each one of those guys to show they deserve to be ‘the guy.’ Right now it’s about getting evaluated and graded every single day"

Taggart’s answer is more well rounded simply because it was more of a Press Conference vs an after practice meeting. There are bigger differences when it comes to how each coach approaches practice.

Both surrounded themselves with great coaches. Helfrich had the benefit of being among guys who have been here a long time and knew how it worked. Did that give him an edge? Not necessarily.

Communication was the elephant in the room last season.

Both coaches clearly take different approaches.

"Helfrich:Players need to communicate with each other better. Letting them make plays when they have to do it on their own. Having guys do it on their own, have some success, have some failure and learn from it.Taggart:The key is for our players to play for each other. When I watched the film from last year I didn’t see that. We’ve gotta get into our guys they have to play for each other…to get this program back to where we want it to be."

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The lack of communication in Helfrich’s last season was not entirely his fault. Part of that is on him, the other part is on the players ‘wanting’ to work together. Midway through the season it felt like the concept was lost. Taggart brought with him not only a new energy, but also the key to fix that problem.

On Friday during practice, Taggart was dancing and bobbing his head to the beat as he watched over his team going through the motions complete with his visor and pen around his neck. In seeing the team there is a clear connection being made. There are high fives for completed plays. The coaches have made it a point over the last few months to get to know their players and it shows.

Time will tell if that will translate into the Spring Game at the end of the month, but Taggart and his Staff are off to a good start.

Next: Oregon Football Recruiting: Ducks Add Another Dye For 2018

The Oregon Football Spring Game is set for Saturday, April 29th. (11am PT, Pac-12 Network)

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