The Oregon Ducks came into this season as National Championship frontrunners, and through two weeks, the team has looked far from it with a 1-1 record. The disappointing part of the performance so far is the fact that this team is supposed to have every piece needed to compete for a National Championship. Instead, Oregon has needed 4 quarters to fend of Boise State and lost to Oklahoma State, two teams they should beat with ease on their best day.
The program went all-in on this roster, spending big to bring back the likes of Dante Moore, A'Mauri Washington, Matayo Uiaglelei, and Teitum Tuioti. While Oregon spared no expenses, the Ducks decision not to spend big in 3 areas is proving to be a costly oversight that may end up keeping the team from reaching their potential.
The 3 areas where Oregon should've gone all-in
Offensive Tackle
Despite losing Isaiah World and Alex Harkey to the NFL Draft, Oregon didn't go out and spend big to replace the tackles with experienced veterans. The Ducks did add one experienced tackle in Yale veteran Michael Bennett III, but with the jump up in competition he was making it was always going to be tough to count on him. Where Oregon really missed out was losing the bidding war for Colorado transfer Jordan Seaton in a battle with LSU, as he's one of the best pass protectors in the Country.
The Ducks instead counted on returning players Ziyare Addison and Fox Crader who were fine in the season opener. On Saturday, Oregon's tackle duo was responsible for 4 sacks and 11 pressures as they couldn't hold up against Oklahoma State's pass rushers. The Ducks likely should've invested in a proven tackle to protect Dante Moore's blindside, and not doing so may end up haunting Dan Lanning and the staff.
Offensive Coordinator
When Will Stein took the Kentucky job, Oregon opted to hire from within, elevating Drew Mehringer, which may have been a mistake. Given that Dante Moore was coming back, Oregon likely would've had their pick of the top emerging offensive minds for the role. Drew Mehringer can still become a great coordinator, but with new coordinators come growing pains, and in an all-in year, experience may have better suited the Ducks.
Defensive Coordinator
Chris Hampton was an easier decision for Dan Lanning to make given how much he was already doing for the defense, but sometimes it's not about making the easy decision. The scheme through two games just hasn't been good enough, as the Ducks aren't creating havoc up front, and the secondary isn't good enough to cover the entire game. This unit has the talent to be a top unit in the country, and through two weeks either the players aren't executing or the scheme isn't good enough.
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