Joel Klatt addresses Dan Lanning's decision-making in loss to Washington

Dan Lanning’s decision-making in Oregon’s 36-33 loss to Washington on Saturday has caused controversy. On Monday, Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt weighed in on Lanning’s questionable calls.

“Dan Lanning is going to be aggressive,” Klatt said on his show. “If you’re watching the game, you realize that Dan Lanning is going to go for two-point conversions. He’s going to go for it on fourth down. This was the conversation last year, by the way, and in the losses last year, Dan Lanning did this and, in the losses, they were unsuccessful on fourth down.

“Guess what? On Saturday, they were unsuccessful on fourth down. But, it calls into question the timing with which some of these fourth downs occurred and the situation in which some of these fourth downs occurred. So, let’s go into two of them specifically.”

Lanning’s first failed fourth-down conversion came at the end of the first half. Oregon was fourth and goal from Washington’s 3-yard line. There was only enough time for one more play. Lanning easily could have opted for a field goal, cutting Oregon’s deficit to 22-21.

Nonetheless, Lanning is a gambling man. This time, the gamble didn’t pay off. Oregon quarterback Bo Nix’s pass was incomplete and the Huskies skipped into the locker room with momentum by their side. Klatt did not endorse Lanning’s risky decision.

“[If you take the field goal], it’s a one-point game. you get the second-half kickoff and then you roll from there as it is,” Klatt said. “You don’t get that and you create a belief for the Washington defense. You create an energy for them going into half. Now, their entire 20-minute halftime has a lot more energy. It’s a lot more upbeat because they didn’t just give up a score.”

Dan Lanning risks it all

Washington’s stop before the half also gave the Huskies faith they could do it again. With the game on the line, they did just that. With with 2:11 remaining in the fourth quarter, Oregon went for it on fourth and three on Washington’s 47-yard line.

The Ducks failed to convert again. Just two plays later, Washington scored, securing a 36-33 lead. Oregon was not able to counter. Ball game. Despite the more immediate impact of this decision, Klatt believes Lanning wasn’t wrong to go for it.

“That snap is the game with the clock where it’s at,” Klatt saw. “Dan Lanning, that’s the way he’s built this entire program. Fake punts against Colorado, fourth downs against everybody, two-point conversions against everybody.

“If I were to ask Dan Lanning in that situation, I’m on the field and I say, ‘Dan, if I told you you’re in a position to be aggressive and have one snap to win the game, maybe it’s a two-point conversion, maybe it’s a fourth down. Would you take it?’ He would say — before the game watching the 78,000 people file into that stadium and knowing what he’s about to face with Penix on the other side — he would say absolutely.”

Unfortunately for Oregon, confidence does always translate to success. The Ducks will have a chance to bounce back this weekend. On Saturday, Oregon will square off against Washington State at 3:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ABC.