Sick Of The Crying And NegaDucks

[Mops]

Yes, things haven't gone exactly as we all hoped and some even were told it would happen. Yes everyone has the right to say they are dissapointed and are upset with how things are going. I agree, I am in the same boat as many of you guys are. This site wasn't made to be a website that is strictly "Ra Ra Go Ducks" and only talk about Oregon athletics when they are doing good. This is a place for fans to come and give praise for when the Ducks are going good and a place where we can call them out when we think it needs to be better.

That being said, I am sick and darn right tired of all the crap spewing out from people about how we suck at recruiting, we need to relook into things, why are weaker programs stealing our kids, why this why that. Sick of people spouting off and not providing any reason or giving examples or showing stats of history of recruiting. You disagree, say it, but also back it up!

People have been saying that we've all of a sudden become bad at recruiting. Not true at all!

Lets take a look back at all the recorded recruiting classes and break each one down. I will base my info off Rivals.com's star ratings for you star lovers.

In 2002 the Ducks had 23 signed commits and 1 non signee. The average star rating was 2.5.
5*-Haloti Ngata and Chris Solomona
4*-Albert Toenia and Aaron Gipson
3*-Binns, Finley, Lucas, and Pittman
2*-Collins, Dixon, Hamilton, Larson, Moore, Nelson, Perkins, Randolph, Sanders, Richards, Siavii, Taylor, Toenia, Trucks, Whitehead, White.

Solomona, Toenia, Binns, Finely, Pittman, Collins, Dixon, Hamilton, Randolph, Richards, Taylor, and White didn't finish at Oregon.

Adjusted star rating is 2.53.

2003 the Ducks signed 23 recruits. Average star rating was 2.9.
5*-None
4*-Lance Broadus, Dennis Dixon, Johnny DeRoucher, Victor Filipi, Ryan Gilliam,
3*-Jordan Carey, Dan Kause, Brady Leaf, Marcus Miller, Brian Paysinger, Dante Rosario, Pat So'oalo, Garren Strong, Josh Tschirgi, AJ Tuitile, Eddie Whitaker, Rodney Woods,
2*-Brandon Bair, Paul Martinez, Marcus Maxwell, Marc Walker, Kyle Weatherspoon, Ramond White

Broadus, DeRoucher, Filipi, Gilliam, Carey, Miller, Whitaker, Walker, and White didn't get in or didn't finish at Oregon.

Adjusted star rating is 2.78.

2004 the Ducks signed 29 recruits. Average star rating was 3.0
5*-Cam Colvin
4*-Jerome Boyd, David Faataatee, Willie Glasper, Jacob Hucko, Terrell Jackson, Terrance Kelly, Aaron Klovas,
3*-Ageyman, Bacon, Bates, Harris, Johnson, Keeling, Kendall, Linehan, Phipps, Pili, Schwartz, Unger, Williams
2*-Bayne, Chung, Davis, Harris, Howeth, Lewis, Smith, Speed

Jackson, Kelly, Klovas, Bates, Harris, Johnson, Keeling, Phipps, Pili, Bayne, Davis, Howeth, and Smith didnt get in or stay.

Adjusted rating is 3.25

2005 the Ducks signed 23 recruits. Average star rating was 2.9
5*-Jonathan Stewart
4*-James Finley and Nick Reed
3*-Dickson, Garrett, Jackson, Johnson, Jones, Ma'Sun, Mulvaany, Phillips, So'oalo, Thurmond, Truelove, Turner, Webb
2*-Brammow, Byrd, Callahan, Dragich, Horn, Sunga, Toenia.

Garret, Jones, Mulvanny, Truelove, Turner, Webb, Brammow, Callahan, Dragich, Horn, and Sunga didnt make it in or left.

Adjusted Star rating is 3.16

2006 the Ducks signed 21 recruits. Average star rating is 2.7
5*-None
4*-Fenuki Toupu
3*-Alston, Crenshaw, Costa, Dowling, Gibbs, Harper, Howeth, Johnson, Kempt, Manley, Roper, Thran.
2*-Bair, Harris, Holmes, Kaiser, Mays, Peppers, Paysinger, So'oalo

Dowling, Howeth, Kempt, Manley, Harris, and Mays didn't make it in or left.

Adjusted Star rating is 2.53

2007 the Ducks signed 29 recruits. Average star rating is 3.2
5*-None
4*-Drew Davis, Todd Doxey, Simi Fili, Anthony Gilden, Malachi Lewis, Terrance Pritchett, Kenny Rowe, Terrance Scott, Will Tukuafu, Myles Wade, Darrion Weems, Carson York
3*-Carmichael, Celotto, Glover, Hanna, Jackson, Maehl, Matthews, Matthews, Neal, Paulson, Pleasnt, Turner,
2*-Asper, Laidet, Padilla, Pflugrad, Wallace

Doxey, Fili, Wade, Matthews, Neal, and Laidet didn't get in or left.

Adjusted Star rating is 3.22

2008 the Ducks signed 22 recruits. Average star rating is 3.0
5*-none
4*-Blount, Cody, Harper, James, Jordan, Stevens, Thomas, Thompson
3*-Alonso, Barner, Boyett, Cantu, Embry, Ferras, Grady, Riviera, Stucky
2*-Kadu, Krout, Taylor
UR-Masoli, Irvin

So far none have left the program

Star rating is 3.

2009 the Ducks have signed or have committed 18 recruits. Average star rating is 3.1
5*-None
4*-Leon and Littlejohn
3*-Armstrong, Clack, Montgomery, Anderson, Benyard, Bowlin, Burrell, Clay, Fox, Hart, Iupati, Jackson, Lokombo, Patterson, Tuinei
2*-Rice

As of right now Star rating would be 3.1

So outside of one slip up the classes have been getting better and better each year. So when people say, "oh well every year we hear wait for next year that class will be better, I am sick of hearing that" they are wrong. We've had one major dip in average star rating and then another very minor dip.

This class will certainly continue to rise as we are currently not after any 2* or less and even if we dont sign another guy(we will sign add Harris tomorrow) so this class IMO still will become the best class even signed by Oregon.

Yes we have made a few slip ups at DT and WR. We've solved our depth issues this year and next at DT but its clear we need to sign a DT this year out of HS and at minimum 2 out of HS next year. As for WR yes we aren't doing well for recruiting but keep in mind next year we have Tuinei, Harper, Embry as SOs and Dion and Cantu as freshman if we dont sign anyone else. We are fine for next year and IMO next year as well for depth issues. We do need to sign a few more next year as it will be very important.

That said, nothing has happened this year thats made me think OMG, what are going to do! We didn't get this guy! We let this one go away! This class is crap!

Relax, take another deep breath, wait....do this over again, and then wait till LOI day and then start complaining about how this class sucks

[briarduck]

Ditto!!

Great job mops!!

[hawaiianduck]

Thanks for the owrk you do. i don't post much, but always checking the site, many times a day. While it is natural for a little frustration and let down, they are just 17-18 kids and being spoonfed a lot of stuff from a lot of coaches. In the end they have to do what they think is best for them. Thanks again

[Phalanx]

Great point. I have also noticed that a lot of these guys with four stars end up leaving or not qualifying, and we end up getting 10 wins with the three-star guys. Remember Jeff 'freaking' Kendall's rant last year, and he said that most of those 'fat kids livin' the dream' never even got scholarship offers from other schools? Our coaches have been pretty good at picking out and developing talent. I'd like to see a Jonathan Stewart-like running back on the team as well, but I think we were at least as good at RB this year without him.

Go Ducks!

[247DUCK]

Nice job!

Putting everything into perspective.
Huh..Go figure..

[dthomas=ddixon]

What I find rerally funny is that 2006 class has almost more solid contibutors than any of the other classes. Go down the list of guys & almost all of them have made decent-good contributions on the field & a bunch have been key players for us. It was our one "bad" recruiting year, yet it has been one of the best we've had in terms of actual "on field production". I love recruiting ratings & stars but they never decide the productiong these guys will have at the school, just their talent level.

[duckgrad99]

I think I'm just upset because we are losing a lot of talent this year. Chung, Byrd, Unger, Reed, Scott, Williams, Johnson, etc. Without those guys, we don't have a good season last year. Maybe a lot of the "unknowns" can step in and do as well or better than those guys, but right now we just don't know. Because of the losses at some of these key positions, it's then extremely frustrating to hear stuff like Leon might not qualify, Wheaton going to Oregon State, Phillip not coming here, etc. On top of this, we will also likely see a bunch of coaching changes. I just don't want to pay attention to the people that have us ranked like #5 next season. We have a lot of talent coming back, but we also lose a ton of talent.

[ivegottabigduck]

The sky falls every year at this time. There are certain things that I think need addressed but the recruiting is not one at this point. Us Duck fans are quite spoiled considering there should be no way we are this competitive given our geography.

[duck55]

Thanks Mops, great post & GO DUCKS

[briarduck]

The sky falls every year at this time. There are certain things that I think need addressed but the recruiting is not one at this point. Us Duck fans are quite spoiled considering there should be no way we are this competitive given our geography.

Well said!

[duckgrad99]

No, the sky is not falling. But at the same time, we need to start reeling in a lot of these top recruits in back to back classes if we truly want to be considered a national championship team. That's just my opinion. For instance, our defense hasn't been good for awhile. You can get excited about these 3 star guys, but how far has that gotten us in the past? One 5 star player like Ngata made a huge difference. This is why guys like Harris are a must and are a good start.

[olpunkjunkie]

You're right on the money, Mops. Thanks!

For those who don't live in Eugene or don't get to see practices, rest assured the holes left by our graduating seniors will be filled.

[Mops]

No, the sky is not falling. But at the same time, we need to start reeling in a lot of these top recruits in back to back classes if we truly want to be considered a national championship team. That's just my opinion. For instance, our defense hasn't been good for awhile. You can get excited about these 3 star guys, but how far has that gotten us in the past? One 5 star player like Ngata made a huge difference. This is why guys like Harris are a must and are a good start.

We've done this for 3 years now....

[jasnwip]

Well said Mops. I know that I got a little frustrated last night when I got the Wheaton news but I believe in our coaches and know we will continue to grow as a program. I think the unknown is what gets to a lot of us. It's not losing Phillip or Wheaton its the combination that Wade didn't qualify, we might lose Leon because of not being able to qualify, the Boyd situation seems like maybe it's getting iffy and who knows on Brown. When the dust settles I think we will all be satisfied with our class but lets not kid ourselves we always want more.................. Thanks for the reality check Mops. Nobody loves the Ducks more than I do and that's probably why some of us get a little down sometimes.

[ivegottabigduck]

No, the sky is not falling. But at the same time, we need to start reeling in a lot of these top recruits in back to back classes if we truly want to be considered a national championship team. That's just my opinion. For instance, our defense hasn't been good for awhile. You can get excited about these 3 star guys, but how far has that gotten us in the past? One 5 star player like Ngata made a huge difference. This is why guys like Harris are a must and are a good start.

Of course filling your ranks with 5* guys gives a better starting point but in the end it is really about how well a coach can ID and then develop the talent of his players. USC is a prime example. With as many blue chippers they get there is no reason they should not be in the BCS championship game every year but because of coaching, yes coaching, they have not been (I say coaching because there is no excuse for the losses they have had the last several years). I am not saying we should not recruit them, I am saying we need to understand our geography and accept it as reality and know a lot of the times kids just are not coming here due to location.