Will Stein throws down an elite standard for the Ducks

Will Stein met the media today after the third day of Oregon August camp, and he was clear and emphatic about his expectations going into 2025.

"What I'm looking for is elite execution," he said.

"When you think about where I want to be Week 1 is-- I don't want to wait until Week 3 or after a bye to hit on all cylinders. I want to start fast."

"Just to get that confidence early with a young group. So that's vital for me. We're still in installation phase as we get into this camp but as we get into next week and the following week it will even itself out."

A faster, cleaner start for the Oregon offense is vital, because with a rebuilt offensive line, a new quarterback and a new cast of receivers the Ducks need to establish what works, who their playmakers are.

They have four games to get in synch before a titanic clash with preseason Big Ten favorite and national title contender Penn State, ranked No. 3 in the Sportings News Composite Top 25 just behind Texas and Ohio State.

The Ducks sit three spots back at No. 6. Texas and Ohio State square off in Week 1, so there's bound to be separation and movement. No. 4 Clemson hosts No. 8 LSU, also on college football's opening Saturday.

As Stein acknowledged, the Oregon offense suffered a creaky beginning last season, plagued by untimely penalties, missed assignments and turnovers that held scoring down. They stumbled out of the gate with a 24-14 win over Idaho that required fourth quarter heroics to put it away.

In Week 2 they needed a pair of special teams touchdowns to escape an upset by Boise State, eeking out a 37-34 victory. At 2-0 Oregon went down in the polls, dropping from preseason No. 3 to No. 9.

Beginning the year unsettled and out of synch on the offensive line led to glaring inefficiency in the running game, averaging just three yards a carry and 108 yards a game over the first two. They gave up three sacks to the Vandals. Boise State pushed them around for four.

Nagging penalties and red zone turnovers plagued the Ducks early in the year, particularly in wins over UCLA and Michigan State. Dillon Gabriel, while terrific for the Ducks most of the season, tried to force a couple of throws and got caught out, two Red Zone failures in each.

In those first two games they racked up 17 penalties for 134 yards, penalties that sucked the momentum out of drives and took points off the board. A fumbled pass reception at the BSU 35 cost them a chance to put the game away in the fourth quarter; they needed a drive for a game-winning field goal on the last play of the game.

In short, those early games were sloppy and too-close, marked by ragged execution and missed opportunities, even a near-disastrous fumble at the goal line after a 100-yard kickoff return. Only an alert pickup by Jayden Limar prevented a season-altering disaster.

Identifying the standard and pushing for more cohesion and execution in the early days of fall (August) camp is the first step to a cleaner start.

The Ducks need to be in synch and communicating seamlessly by the time they reach September 27 and tha showdown with the Nittany Lions. With 106,000 all in white, they'll need to be able to communicate with a nod, a hand signal and a silent count.

The clap or the "hut" won't be heard, unless they can silence that crowd with some big plays. More likely it will be a dog fight. The Ducks don't want to be an offense that's still struggling to find itself.

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