Dan Lanning provides update on quarterbacks, wide receivers

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning may have a background on the defensive side but if the Ducks are going to succeed this season, the offense will really need to step up. A quarterback battle is still taking place in Eugene, with Lanning being asked the latest and how the group was performing.

Not much in the answer has changed from Lanning, saying he thinks every guy could win with his football team. He did detail a couple of things the Ducks did differently in a recent practice, going through certain game scenarios. Lanning liked the questions his quarterbacks were asking there.

“Probably the same thing you’re going to hear from me every time,” Lanning said. “We have guys that can win. I think they made really good decisions today. Had a couple scenarios at the end. We had four minute and two minute today. Kind of get the ball back situations. It was pleasantly surprising to me, the quarterback turning around, asking me questions. ‘Hey Coach, do we want to take a timeout here? Do we want to not score here in this situation?’ And I think that’s smart football.”

As to what Lanning needs to see in order to name a starter, it was a similar type of answer. He wants the quarterbacks to grow, make sure they know the offense, and execute plays at a high level.

“Continued to have measured growth,” said Lanning. “Taking what’s there. Not trying to force something that’s there. Making great decisions, distribute the ball to our playmakers, and just know the offense, what our principles, and how we can execute.”

Dan Lanning discusses wide receiver room

Lanning was a bit more open when discussing some of Oregon’s wide receivers. He said there was “another level of toughness” within the group. He also thinks they need to focus on the next play, no matter the result of the previous one.

“I think that group showed and displayed another level of toughness that I haven’t seen from them before,” Lanning said. “I think that’s a place they knew we needed measured growth and they’ve shown that. I think they also realize you can have a good play, you can have a bad play, the play that matters the most is the next play. I think you’re seeing that more and more from their mentality. We don’t want the last play to affect the next one.”