Morning Quack Fix: 4.23.09

by JConant on Apr 23, 2009 7:41 AM PDT

You know you want it. You know you need it. It's your daily fix:

With several running backs banged up this spring, the Ducks continue to seek help for offensive reps. Earlier this week it was Chris Harper. Yesterday cornerback Kenjon Barner (I so badly want to call him "Burner") was taking RB reps. Barner rushed for 3,124 yards as a senior in high school - and he raised a few eyebrows during yesterday's drills.
Colorado offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich will be interviewing with Chip Kelly and the Ducks. Helfrich is an Oregon native, a former graduate assistant at Oregon, and he coached at both Boise State and Arizona State before joining Dan Hawkins at Colorado. Here's Rob Moseley's article from the R-G. Here's Helfrich's profile.
Helfrich commentary from the good folks at The Ralphie Report (who appear to be tiring of those meddling Ducks...recall the Diante Jackson recruiting saga which Oregon won).
More on this spring's emergence of WR Jamere Holland from John Hunt of The Oregonian.
You probably noticed dvleira's post about a new O-line calendar. Evidently you can preview a few of the images on Facebook. Word is these will be on sale at the Spring Game on May 2.

In other sports:

Curtis Anderson of the R-G writes that Oregon's women sprinters are rewriting the record books this year.
Ducks softball got a couple wins versus Portland State.
Women's golf was honored for their success in the classroom.

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I was poking around SBNation this morning...

and found a decent amount of Nick Reed buzz coming from the Dallas and Cinci blogs…

It will be fun to see where he ends up on draft day.

--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog

by jtlight on Apr 23, 2009 8:22 AM PDT reply actions

Who was the last Duck to be drafted by the Cowboys?

I wanna say Wheaton, but am too lazy to make an intertube effort to find out.

by grimc on Apr 23, 2009 10:24 AM PDT up reply actions

It was Wheaton

in the 1997 draft. Third round, 94th overall.

You cannot hide from our weapons of Masoli destruction.

by JConant on Apr 23, 2009 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions

This about Max Unger...

from the Honolulu Star Bulletin

You cannot hide from our weapons of Masoli destruction.

by JConant on Apr 23, 2009 8:53 AM PDT reply actions

From what I have read about Mark Helfrich is he even a good fit? In one article it stated that the Colorado offense was last in total offense and scoring offense last year in the Big 12. Why are they talking to this guy then?

To go out and ruin somebody's dreams like that, it feels real good," Oregon receiver Jaison Williams.

by DuckinNC on Apr 23, 2009 12:15 PM PDT reply actions

read the Ralphie Report link

Even they seem to give him the benefit of the doubt. Besides, I’m sure Kelly is really looking for somebody that can assist in running the offense, not take charge of it.

by grimc on Apr 23, 2009 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, I wondered that too...

This from Helfrich’s bio:

Under the guidance of Helfrich, Arizona State blossomed into one of the top passing teams in the country during his tenure in Tempe. In 2005, his final season there, the Sun Devils finished third in the NCAA and easily led the Pac-10 with 373.9 passing yards per game (over 50 better than runner-up USC). The school record 4,481 yards passing put the total number for Helfrich’s time as quarterbacks coach at ASU at 18,686 in 61 games, or an average of 306.3 yards per game. And that number increased to 321.7 in his 36 games as passing coordinator.

Chip’s got the spread running game under control. The Ducks also have to pass effectively to be truly dominant. Look how the offense exploded when Masoli found a passing game. My guess – and it’s just that – is Chip is looking for a strong teacher of the passing game; to work on mechanics, accuracy, reading defenses, decision making, etc. Chip probably doesn’t need the Ducks to lead the Pac-10 in passing. But if the Oregon quarterbacks are proficient at throwing the ball, this team becomes almost impossible to defend.

I think Chip’s looking for a QB coach, not so much an o-coordinator. Helfrich’s motivation since he’s already the o-coordinator at Colorado? 1) Colorado has a huge uphill battle in the Big-12. 2) He’s from Oregon and may have close family/friends ties. 3) Possible contract issues at CU as well discussed in this post by irish1611 at RalphieReport.com.

Helfrich’s inability to replicate his ASU success at CU? I suspect that has more to do with lacking talent at key positions on offense than anything else.

You cannot hide from our weapons of Masoli destruction.

by JConant on Apr 23, 2009 3:28 PM PDT up reply actions

Lack of success has to do with the rebuilding process and the fact that the coach’s son is the QB. I bet that is an awkward position for Helfrich.

by westspec on Apr 23, 2009 6:35 PM PDT up reply actions

Pompei of the Chicago Trib

rates Chung as #3 safety on the board.

by grimc on Apr 23, 2009 2:39 PM PDT reply actions

Cliff Harris arrested and jailed?

Ummm…

Addicted To Quack [dot] com; Dear Joevan, Develop motor skills. Love, ATQ.

by qrsouther on Apr 23, 2009 3:46 PM PDT reply actions

My head is in my palms.

It’s spelled "S-H-U-M-W-O-W"

by JShufelt on Apr 23, 2009 3:51 PM PDT up reply actions

wtf....

Again proving the fact…nothing good can ever happen in Fresno.

--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog

by jtlight on Apr 23, 2009 3:51 PM PDT up reply actions

Nothing? Nothing at all?

Addicted To Quack [dot] com; Dear Joevan, Develop motor skills. Love, ATQ.

by qrsouther on Apr 23, 2009 3:55 PM PDT up reply actions

God bless J.D. Nelson

You cannot hide from our weapons of Masoli destruction.

by JConant on Apr 23, 2009 3:58 PM PDT up reply actions

But you know what...

What I’ve gleaned from this so far. This was an incident that did not involve another person. It wasn’t like he was being reckless with others lives.

This is an incident that occurred between Cliff and another student, and the police. Now, let’s be honest. A lot of cops are total jerks, and in this case, it sounds as if the cops were threatening that the kids would have their scholarships pulled…totally uncool. I’m totally willing to give the kid the benefit of the doubt on this one, especially since it seems that the whole school is behind the students, with the planned sit-in, that was broken up by the school administrators.

--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog

by jtlight on Apr 23, 2009 3:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Sounds like a mess overall...

Check out the video report at this site. Sounds like they almost have a student revolt on their hands over this situation, with administration threats of scholarship loss….

--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog

by jtlight on Apr 23, 2009 4:01 PM PDT up reply actions

I admit I don’t have all of the information but it sounds like the officer was hassling Cliff Harris’s brother. When the two started getting into it, Cliff tried to get into the middle of it (purpose unknown, probably to break it up or defend his bro) and they both get sprayed by cops and sent to jail. The fact that there was an organized student sit-in ready to happen over it tells me that there was more to this story than just a simple kid acting out situation

--Dominic, Addicted to Quack

Autzen Stadium is where great teams go to die." - J. Brady McCullough, The Michigan Daily.

by dvieira on Apr 23, 2009 4:07 PM PDT up reply actions

Whats totally disgusting is that because of a crap “zero-tolerance” policy, both kids could be expelled over this.

--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog

by jtlight on Apr 23, 2009 4:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Yep.

That line scares the crap out of me. Expulsion could equal no graduation? Maybe? Possibly having to do summer school? All speculation on my part, but it concerns me.

You cannot hide from our weapons of Masoli destruction.

by JConant on Apr 23, 2009 4:16 PM PDT up reply actions

I'd wait until all the facts are in...

Believe, I feel you pain. It’s a b*tch when men in uniform (football, civil service or military) ego trip, whoop on each other and your guy is the “loser” in the situation. Whether it’s a football star or

I would like to say, this should excuse me from any Headline Cafe jokes in the future… right?

"The brownies,'' Fernandez said after the game. "The brownies are good for me to make three-points.''

- from Quick's Behind the Blazers Locker Room Door, 4/16/09

by ArbyOSU on Apr 23, 2009 4:34 PM PDT up reply actions