Dan Lanning evaluates the secondary heading into fall camp

Dan Lanning has some confidence in the Oregon secondary heading into fall camp.

Speaking with the media, the Ducks coach evaluated the talent level and how far along the position group is at the moment.

“We’re not there yet,” began Lanning. “I think we have players that can win. Play winning football. We have to figure out how much of our scheme they’re able to pick up. Then, everything — I’m an old high school football coach, right? Ultimately, in my experience, you want to make sure you put your players in a position to win. There’s something they can do really well, you want them to do that frequently. If there’s something they struggle with, don’t ask them to do that.

“I think practice is going to be our opportunity to see that. There’s several guys that you just brought up that haven’t been here yet this spring. They didn’t get to go through spring practices. I hate that for them, because they’re going to be drinking through a fire hose early here in camp. That being said, I feel good about that room. It’s more about us as coaches doing a good job developing them. Getting them ready for that performance on the field. Making sure we’re asking them to do things that they can do.”

Throughout his time at Georgia, Dan Lanning kept the Bulldogs defense among the best in the nation. At Oregon, time will tell if he can build another monster in the college football world.

Dan Lanning explains Terrell Tilmon changing positions to tight end

Dan Lanning believes Oregon has an ace in the hole on offense in newly-minted tight end Terrell Tilmon.

The Ducks decided to move Tilmon from their linebacker corps to their tight end room, a move Lanning explained while speaking with the media earlier this week.

“Ultimately, we want to win football games, and we felt like he would give us his best chance of helping our football team and being able to impact us there on the offensive side of the ball. I also think he can have a big role on special teams, as well,” stated Lanning. “We were in the offensive meeting yesterday and Coach [Kenny] Dillingham asked him the question, ‘Who’s our fastest tight end?” All our tight ends point to Tilman. So he can run a little bit.

“Excited. Still a new position for him. Still developing there. So we’ll see what it looks like in fall camp.”

Originally, Tilmon was a three-star recruit out of Arlington, Texas in the Class of 2021, according to the On3 Consensus. Additionally, the former linebacker was the No. 76 overall recruit from his home state, No. 53 among his position group and No. 491 in the entire nation.

Last season, Terrell Tilmon accumulated five total tackles on the year. Evidently, Dan Lanning and company will be hoping for a bigger impact from the athletically gifted Tilmon as he joins the offensive side of the football.