Dan Lanning denies any similarities in Oregon with 2021 Georgia team

There are few people better suited to compare the 2021 Georgia Bulldogs with the season’s Oregon Ducks than Dan Lanning. However, the Ducks head coach doesn’t see the same similarities that some people are pointing out.

Among those similarities that some people are noticing include a team that is rapidly improving throughout the season and one that plays excellent defense, holding five of eight opponents to 10 points or less.

“Similarities — we’re playing good football,” Dan Lanning said. “But this team’s definitely different than the ’21 Georgia team.”

Dan Lanning did note some similarities in the intangibles this team has with that Georgia team. He also sees similarities with other teams he’s coached. However, he remained adamant that there weren’t similarities in where the two teams’ strengths lie.

“But I do think there’s similarities in other teams that I’ve been a part of, and you know, how we play, how we execute, and really the love for one another. There’s definitely some similarities in that,” Lanning said.

“But as far as where our strengths lie and what kind of team we are, you know, where we really hang our hat. I think there’s a lot of differences really between us in that team, but there’s definitely similarities and other teams that I’ve coached.”

There are very few people who know both of these teams as well as Dan Lanning, who was Georgia’s defensive coordinator in 2021. He had gotten an assistant coach job at Georgia after being an assistant for Memphis. He quickly rose and earned the Oregon job for his success in Athens.

Rece Davis: Dan Lanning shows ‘every quality’ of elite college football coach

College football analyst Rece Davis recently praised Dan Lanning, saying that he is showing the qualities needed to lead a program to huge heights.

“I think he’s shown every quality that you want in a head coach and a guy who’s able to lead a major program and lead them to huge heights. It’s like the old Bill Raftery thing, right? A guy takes a shot, your down one. And as the ball arcs toward the basket — good coach, bad coach, good coach, bad coach, good coach, bad coach, good coach. Oh, bad coach. Okay. Field goal doesn’t go in, fourth downs aren’t converted. Field goal goes in, maybe we go to overtime, maybe they win. ‘Dan Lanning, holy cow, he’s the best coach in America.’ Field goal doesn’t go in, they lose. ‘Oh, why didn’t you go for it on fourth down?’” Davis said.

“I think he’s got every characteristic that you want for an elite coach. Does he need to win tomorrow? Well, yeah, because they want to win championships. But in terms of it being some referendum on whether he’s going to ‘win the big one,’ I don’t think there’s any doubt that they’re going to win a lot of big ones as long as he’s the coach.”