Dan Lanning most impressed with Oregon's leadership in 2023

There’s a lot to like so far when it comes to the eighth-ranked Oregon Ducks. However, to Dan Lanning, there’s one quality of his team that stands above the rest in Eugene.

Lanning highlighted the leadership of Oregon during his coaches show on Wednesday. He said it stands out because it shows both on and off the field and in different ways for both sides of the football on their team.

“Probably our leadership (has impressed me the most), which has nothing to do with, necessarily, on the field performance,” Lanning said.

“The ability for our players to challenge each other and really hold each other to a high standard? Whether it’s the defensive guys huddling up, grouping up before we start a period, and demanding it looks a certain way? Whether it’s the extra work done by our offensive guys post-practice? That leadership has really stood out to me,” said Lanning.

During Oregon’s 5-0 start, you could say that leadership has helped them get through three adverse situations already. The Ducks have already had to come back from down nine and hold on in the fourth in Lubbock against Texas Tech, endure a high-emotion matchup with Colorado, and overcome a slow start at Stanford.

If their leadership wasn’t where it is, they could’ve slipped in one of those matchups before the bye. Now, as they come back out and dive into the deep end of Pac-12 play, that standard that their leadership is holding them to could make all the difference in them achieving their ultimate goals down the stretch of the season.

Lanning on facing Washington: ‘Our guys know exactly what this game means’

This weekend, Oregon’s Dan Lanning will lead the Ducks into a hostile environment at Husky Stadium to take on rival Washington. It’s going to be an incredibly important game for both the Pac-12 and College Football Playoff race and it’s between two rival schools.

Oregon did lose this game last season but Lanning isn’t using that as added motivation. Instead, ahead of the game, Lanning says that the Ducks already know exactly what this game means.

“I don’t think it’s necessary,” Lanning said. “Every one of our players knows exactly what this game means to them, personally, in that room and then also to everybody that’s a Duck fan.”

“They want to win,” said Lanning. “When they step on the field? it doesn’t matter who we’re playing. They want to go out there and compete at a high level.”