Oregon OC Hotboard: Where the Ducks go at offensive coordinator

Oregon OC Hotboard: Where the Ducks go at offensive coordinator.

Key points

• On Sunday morning, Oregon Ducks coach Dan Lanning confirmed offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer was being let go.
• Through seven games, Oregon has averaged 24.7 points per game against FBS opponents, ranking 74th in the nation.
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• After getting fired as the coach of the Maryland Terrapins, Locksley should at the particularly least be considered by Lanning.
• Nagle is a veteran assistant who has plenty of experience working alongside Willie Fritz at Tulane and Houston.

Plenty of fans were waiting for this news as the Ducks' on-field product has far fallen short of expectations this season. It has failed to meet the standards set by previous offenses despite having a loaded roster with some of the nation's most talented players.

Through seven games, Oregon has averaged 24.7 points per game against FBS opponents, ranking 74th in the nation. Its rushing offense (121.5 yards per game) ranks 99th nationally, and its passing offense (248.8 yards per game) ranks 43rd.

Now, the question becomes where the Ducks go next. With Oregon's talent and resources, this should be one of the most coveted OC positions in the nation and attract the best talent throughout college football. Previously, we've seen Lanning lean toward hiring young, up-and-coming offensive minds to take over: think Kenny Dillingham and Will Stein. Nevertheless, there is a desire, at least from outside of the program, for Oregon to choose the veteran route and lean on a proven, experienced play-caller.

We probable will not have an answer until after the season ends, but here are some early suggestions of names I think are worth keeping an eye on. Chip Kelly, Northwestern OC.

This is the first name everyone is going to mention. Chip Kelly, one of the most successful coaches in Oregon history, has carved out an incredibly nice career for himself as an offensive coordinator since his string of coaching jobs. He won a national championship as the OC of the Ohio State Buckeyes, and is one of the main reasons for the Northwestern Wildcats' turnaround this year as the OC in Chicago.

If Lanning is looking for an experienced play-caller, a top offensive mind, and someone who knows the Oregon program through and through, Kelly should be at the top of his list. This move would be celebrated by Duck fans around the nation. Dana Holgorsen, Nebraska OC.

Dana Holgorsen is another potential candidate with coaching experience, and he's done a great accord to assist turn around the Nebraska offense the past couple of seasons. Holgorsen is a well-respected offensive mind with a sharp passing attack, and he has experience in the Major Ten. While the Cornhuskers have committed significant resources to him, the Ducks have the need and the funds to try to pry him away. Aaron Roderick, BYU OC.

Aaron Roderick may not be as well-known a name as the others on this list, but he has spent a long time in the West and has had significant success as the OC and QB coach for the BYU Cougars under Kalani Sitake. The quarterback development is a key piece here, but getting him away from BYU, where he played college ball, would not be straightforward. Buster Faulkner, Florida OC.

When we were talking regarding who the Ducks would hire to replace Will Stein, Buster Faulkner was considered among the public to be at the top of the list, a year ago. Might Oregon try to run it back? Of course, Faulkner chose to become the OC with the Florida Gators, but with the downturn their season has taken, it might be feasible to pry him away this offseason. Lanning and Faulkner have history together; they worked alongside each other at Georgia. This would be a tough one to obtain done, but he may be the top answer on the board.

Mike Norvell, Florida State HC.

While it's a bit strange to put a sitting coach on the list, there has been abundant buzz that Mike Norvell's time at Florida State may be getting short. If he were to be looking for work before the end of the year, a trip to the Pacific Northwest makes a great accord of sense. Lanning is familiar with Norvell. He worked under him at Memphis in 2016. This one may be a long shot until something changes with Norvell's status at FSU, but it's at least one to be aware of.

Rob Ezell, Wake Forest OC.

For context, a lesser-known candidate, undoubtedly, but someone who has substantial upside. Rob Ezell is young: 37 years old. That would create numerous Oregon fans nervous, but he has a track record of production at South Alabama, and now with Wake Forest under Jake Dickert. Ezell is part of the Nick Saban coaching tree. He began as a graduate assistant and an offensive assistant at Alabama, so this could be one that Lanning leans on. Mike Locksley, Former Maryland HC.

I believe Mike Locksley is looking for work? After getting fired as the coach of the Maryland Terrapins, Locksley should at the particularly least be considered by Lanning. The veteran offensive mind has ample experience. He has worked in the Nick Saban system after coaching with Alabama from 2016-2018. And he is a proven recruiter who brought elite talent to Maryland, where that historically has been hard to do. If you additionally value OC candidates who could bring talented quarterbacks or elite recruits with them, Locksley makes sense, considering his proximity to quarterback Malik Washington, and five-star defensive lineman Zion Elee. This person chose the Terrapins over the Ducks last year.

Slade Nagle, Houston OC.

This might be the sweet spot for Oregon. Nagle is a veteran assistant who has plenty of experience working alongside Willie Fritz at Tulane and Houston. He has played a major role in the transformation of the Cougars' offense over the past year. He's a former QB with significant experience developing players at the position, and could be a bit easier to grab considering he is a more under-the-radar name.

For now, oregon OC Hotboard: Where the Ducks go at offensive coordinator remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.