Dan Lanning discusses approach to using redshirt players throughout season

Every college coach has to figure out with their young incoming players whether or not to redshirt them for the season. And while some coaches struggle in making these decisions, the Oregon Ducks‘ first-year head coach Dan Lanning, has a fluid method and navigating those waters. During a recent press conference, Lanning discussed his approach to using redshirt players throughout the season.

“Honestly, our plan is how can we best develop our players and how can we best win games. I think that conversation continues to change throughout the year based on your health as a team; based on people’s performance,” said Lanning. “To think that any of the guys that just got here for us will be the same players ten games from now is a complete disservice to them and our program from a development standpoint.”

Despite this being Lanning’s first time as a head coach, he is familiar with how to utilize redshirting and redshirt players throughout the season. At his previous home with the Georgia Bulldogs, that topic came up with a handful of players.

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“I’ve been around programs where a guy that wasn’t necessarily involved game one was super involved game ten. We had a guy for us last year William Poole who didn’t play hardly in any games the entire year. And then, started forcing the SEC championship and the national championship game. So, to know where we’re at now; to make decisions about redshirting or not redshirting based on today comparative to what’s going on in November and December. I think it’s really premature.”

Lanning evaluates OLs Marcus Harper, Jackson Powers-Johnson in place of Ryan Walk

After Dan Lanning and the Ducks‘ were dismantled in their season opener against Lanning’s former team, the Georgia Bulldogs; the Ducks had an impressive bounce-back performance against Eastern Washington. Oregon pulled off the commanding 70-14 with one of their key pieces missing from their offensive line Ryan Walk. In his place, both Marcus Harper and Jackson Powers-Johnson alternated throughout the game. Lanning was impressed by what he saw out of his two young OLs and gave his evaluation on their performance during a recent press conference.

“Yeah, they’re both smart players and play with the level of aggression. Jackson, at times, he’s a bull in a China shop. I think he would tell you the same thing,” said Lanning. “I love his passion and energy for football; he loves the game. He loves playing ball, and you see that show up on film.

“I think there’s a couple of plays that both of those guys would like to have back. Whether it be on our counter plays and opportunities to kick the defensive ends properly. Those guys did a good job playing against us on some of those counter-looks. We had an illegal man downfield a couple of times on looks. We gotta be aware of the call, so we don’t do that. But overall, I’m impressed with their effort; wanting to see them both continue to clean up the technical piece of the game.”