.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
Why Oregon fans shouldn't scramble to hit the panic button
Editor's note: The following is an excerpt from Stewart Mandel's Mailbag. Send questions for future Mailbags to stewart.mandel@fox.com.
As a longtime Oregon fan I have enjoyed the ride these last six years and have known this day might come when we cannot just "reload." I fear that day is here. One thing that nagged in the back of my mind was the fact we had a transcendent coach (Chip Kelly) that elevated our program followed by a transcendent player (Marcus Mariota) that maintained the momentum. Now that both are gone, will the Ducks fall back to earth?
--Ben Currin, Milton-Freewater, Ore.
That may be the most rational bad-loss aftermath e-mail I've ever seen. Hopefully your fellow Ducks fans are equally level-headed.
Because Oregon achieved success in such an unorthodox fashion and is still largely viewed as being outside the establishment, there's definitely a "well, that was fun while it lasted" feeling to last week's debacle against Utah. While I, like everyone else, put a fork in Oregon's Pac-12 title chances after the 62-20 loss, I don't view it as a sign that the entire program is irreparably broken. Mark Helfrich made one unfortunate mistake two years ago when he opted to promote longtime assistant Don Pellum to defensive coordinator. It's been a disaster, and barring a miraculous turnaround, Helfrich will have to make a change after the season.
Beyond that, Oregon is still undeniably talented, especially at the offensive skill positions. I'm a little puzzled that there's such a drop-off from healthy Vernon Adams Jr. to every other quarterback on the roster. One of its freshmen will have to evolve into that role next season. But the days of Oregon striking fear into its Pac-12 opponents simply by coming out onto the field? They're over. Going forward, talent will dictate the team's success much more so than a system. But with the right quarterback, that offense should still be able to score 40 to 50 points at will, and there's no reason the Ducks can't continue to be regular conference title contenders. Just not this year.
Is this the worst Oregon team in the last 10 years? After watching the Ducks on Saturday, someone talk me off the ledge!
--Randy Everist, Wake Forest, N.C.
I can't help. You should probably talk to Ben.
Stewart Mandel is a senior college sports columnist for FOXSports.com. He covered college football and basketball for 15 years at Sports Illustrated. You can follow him on Twitter @slmandel and Facebook. Send emails and Mailbag questions to Stewart.Mandel@fox.com.
