Ross Douglas Talks Transition to Oregon, Joining Dan Lanning's Coaching Staff
Dan Lanning hasn’t had to make many hires this offseason, but he did need to bring in a new wide receivers coach when Junior Adams left Eugene for the same position with the Dallas Cowboys. So Lanning brought in Ross Douglas from Syracuse to replace him.
Douglas met with the media on Tuesday for the first time since joining Oregon’s staff.
Below are some of his top quotes.
On interview process, transition to Oregon
Douglas: “I think the interview process was kind of interesting. Drew Mehringer actually coached me at Rutgers when I was a player. Me and Ra’Shaad Samples have known each other for a couple years. He was in L.A. while I was in New England in the NFL. So I had two connects on the staff already. Did not really have a previous relationship with Coach Lanning, but I knew a lot of people who did know him. He’s just somebody who I’ve kind of watched from afar from his time at Georgia, from his time as the head coach here at Oregon. It was a great ascending program. You see the trajectory. They won the Holiday Bowl first year, went 10-3, then they went 12-2, and then last year won the Big Ten championship go 13-0. I just saw the young talent within the wide receiver room and just the talent on the roster overall and in general so it made it very attractive. Luckily I got an interview and once I kind of got the interview I knew that nobody was gonna beat me out. So I’m just thankful that Coach Lanning gave me the opportunity and bet on me. So I’m gonna prove him right.”
On impact he had at Syracuse
Douglas: “Definitely proud of what we were able to accomplish at Syracuse. The guys I inherited in my room were a bunch of guys who were counted out, doubted, under appreciated and really didn’t have career statistics like Jackson Meeks. He spent three years at Georgia he had like ten catches, 132 yards. Trevor Pena was at Syracuse for four years had 20 catches, 270 yards or something like that. But those guys they stayed down, they trusted the plan, they put the work in and it was a long process but at the end of the day those guys were truly bought in. They got better every single day and we were able to have the best passing offense in the country. I just hope to replicate that here. Kind of similar situation Evan Stewart returns, he had some production. Gary Bryant he’s played in his career before. Dakorien Moore, true freshman. JLo played a little bit last year. But it’s a bunch of guys who might not have all the accolades and the stats and the All Big-Ten honors and things like that, but at the end of the day these are talented players and they’re willing to put the work in. So we’re just focused on getting better every single day.”
On his experience recruiting since he got to Oregon
Douglas: “It does hit a little different when you got the Oregon behind you. Nonetheless the same mindset, mentality that I’ve had everywhere I’ve been. Whether it’s been at Syracuse, whether it’s been the New England Patriots, whether it’s been at the University of Richmond when I was a corners coach. Same mindset, same mentality. I’m gonna come to work every single day, bring positive energy to the building give my all every single day I step in this building. To the coaching staff and to the players. That ain’t gonna change regardless of what logo I have on.”
On freshman WR Dakorien Moore
Douglas: “I did not have a previous relationship with him but what sticks out to me is he’s a young ascending player who‘s very very talented and he wants to be great. So the want to and desire for him to be a good player is there. So now, he’s a young player he just has to get reps. He has to adjust to the speed of the game. High school he steps on the field, every time he’s better than every single body there. College football might be the same way. But at the end of the day, now he just has to adjust to the speed of the game. Get on the same pages with all the quarterbacks and just continue to get reps. The only way you get better at playing football is be playing football. He’s just doing that right now. He’s out there, he’s available, he’s doing everything he can to make sure he’s a good football player.”
On Evan Stewart’s position, what he needs to do to become a thousand-yard receiver
Douglas: “I see him as an offensive weapon. He’s been kind of playing ever since he was a freshman at Texas A&M. So, he has a lot of production in his career and now for him to become a thousand-yard receiver it’s just to build on the consistency and him being able to stay healthy. That’s really it. So we just have to become more consistent on a down-in and down-out basis with just doing our job, knowing what to do, knowing how to do it. And out-competing our opponent. But him, he’s very very talented. He has a lot of ability. And for him to become to become a thousand-yard receiver I think it’s just the overall consistency. It’s been a pleasure to coach him, he’s in my office every morning at six in the morning watching a lot of tape. Making sure he’s good on all of his assignments, his route detail and all that. It’s been a pleasure to work with him I’m excited to see where his work takes him.“
On being on the West Coast
Douglas: “I like the West Coast. I think the biggest culture shock is I have a one and a half year old son and he’s adjusting to the Pacific time zone. So that’s kind of been the biggest culture shock. He’s waking up at two o’clock in the morning, three o’clock in the morning. I have to get up with him, my wife has to get up with him. So I’d just say that’s the biggest adjustment so far. I like the West Coast. The furthest west I’ve ever lived in my entire life was Michigan and that’s the Midwest. So no I like it out here. I think it’s beautiful. I love the energy out here. I think this is a great football program, a great university, great people. Everyone I’ve met has been very welcoming and very pleasant. I’ve enjoyed my experience so far. I’m from Ohio, so me coming all the way out here, no I like it out here. It feels like home.”
