Oregon linebacker Jeffrey Bassa elaborates on the difference between Dan Lanning, Mario Cristobal

Oregon Ducks linebacker Jeffrey Bassa joined Andy Staples for the latest edition of Andy Staples On3 on Youtube, where the duo discussed the differences between Mario Cristobal and Dan Lanning.

“What was the mentality like when, because you, you know, obviously committed to Coach Cristobal and played for him for a little while,” Staples prefaced. “When Coach Lanning gets there, how different is he? What’s the message changed? How does the environment change?”

Evidently, it all boiled down to Lanning’s ability to get to know each player on the team, and truly make a connection with the roster, according to the Oregon defender.

“Oh, when he first came in, it was kind of just you wanted to go straight into a connection, you wanted to be close with one another,” Bassa responded. “And I think that’s what was the main difference between him and Cristobal. You know, Lanning didn’t want to come in and, and say, ‘We’re gonna run this play, we’re gonna do this and this and that.’

“He wanted to, you know, build it from the ground up. He wanted to really get a chance, an opportunity to get to know everybody in the building. And, you know, I really appreciate him for that.”

While it feels like Lanning just arrived in Eugene, the coach is going into his third season with the Ducks. While it can take some time for a team to adjust to a new head coach, Bassa elaborated on why it was easier for Oregon to adjust to Lanning’s style quicker than many thought they could.

“Yeah. Absolutely, like everybody’s locked in,” Bassa added. “… I would really have to say, going halfway into that sophomore year, because he came in my second year. Yeah. You know, being in Oregon. So, yeah, it was obviously, going into spring, it was kind of rough.

“Everybody’s kind of getting a feel for the defense, you know, coming from a different whole coaching staff, right? So, I think going halfway into that sophomore year, heading into fall camp, was when guys really started getting clicking and stuff like that.”

Now, the Oregon Ducks and Jeffrey Bassa are ready for another major challenge and change, moving from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten Conference. With immense hype behind their arrival and their chance at a national title, time will tell if Dan Lanning and company can make some noise in 2024.