Dan Lanning Gives Final Updates Ahead of No. 4 Oregon vs. Northwestern: "There's still a higher level for us"

The No. 4 Oregon Ducks will hit the road for the first time this season when they travel to Evanston, Illinois to face the Northwestern Wildcats.

Head coach Dan Lanning met with reporters in Eugene on Wednesday to give his final updates ahead of the start of Big Ten play.

On team’s preparation for early kickoff

Lanning: “Yeah, really operate very similar to what they have done. Some guys might be getting in early, but we practiced today the same time that we’ll play. So not a lot of difference.”

On what he likes about three safety look with Dillon Thieneman, Kingston Lopa

Lanning: “I like putting our players in the best position to have success. I won’t get into details. What we like about it, necessarily.”

On his routine for traveling, what he likes to do

Lanning:”Read a little bit of a book, do a little bit of film review, look at some scripts for walkthrough. Some game day prep, as far as coaches meeting, what that looks like, decisions that are usually getting made on Thursday night anyway, just not necessarily on a plane.”

On play of offense through two games, the standard he wants

Lanning: “I think there’s still a higher level for us. I mean, what’d we have six offensive penalties on Saturday? So that’s something we certainly can’t do. We’ve protected the ball well. I like that piece of our decision making, and we’ve been able to run the ball, which is really important. Like I said, we’ve blocked and played with great effort, but we have to clean up some of the details when it comes to penalties and execution there.”

On running back room, Ra’Shaad Samples‘ approach

Lanning: “I think he’s done a good job. When that happens, when you have a room like that, that’s that deep, there’s going to be some reps on the field that maybe you haven’t got as many reps on in practice of. You’ve had to get a mental rep. You’ve had to be prepped. We ask our running backs to do a lot of the same things our wideouts are doing. So you have to know multiple positions. It takes a lot of good coaching and a lot of good planning.”

On proposal of one transfer portal window in January

Lanning: “I support one window more than anything. Again, I’ve always been a big advocate of the season should end January 1. So if the season ends January 1, and then you’re able to figure out who your team is in January. I think that’s ideal. I don’t think it’s ever ideal to have a portal while the season is still being played, but ultimately, I think it’s better to have one window and not have a spring window.”

On what he attributes improved first quarter scoring to, scripted plays

Lanning: “It’s easier to score in the first when you start with the ball in the first. That’s part of it and we’ve started with the ball in both games. I do think we’re doing a really good job with openers and planning out our openers and what do we really like? So that’s gotta be something you continue to push and attack.”

On if inflatable Duck will make an appearance on Lake Michigan this weekend

Lanning: “No clue. It’d be cool to see it out there. Doubtful.”

On what Aydin Breland‘s done to get on the field in third down/pass rush situations

Lanning: “He shows twitch. Has a lot of ownership of those roles for us, and hopefully we can create some more opportunities for him to get out there.”

On what’s impressed him about how Will Stein has developed quarterbacks

Lanning: “Consistency in preparation. I think the preparation has been really consistent, and then understanding, what do these guys feel really comfortable doing? Every quarterback is going to have different passes, different runs, that they feel like, okay, this is something I understand really well, but we have to make sure our players have great understanding before they get out there on the field. And I feel like the last two game plans, we’ve been really in sync, really on the same page of all right what are we trying to accomplish? What do we want to check here? What do we like versus this look? What do we like versus this look? What should we anticipate from the defense in these situations? And that preparation has been huge with Will, with Koa (Ka’ai), with the entire offensive staff, and what they’ve done with our Qs.”

On A’lique Terry‘s work with new O-line that hasn’t played together

Lanning: “It starts with connection. Coach Terry’s got an unbelievable relationship with players on our team beyond just the O-line. And those guys have a true brotherhood in that room. They’re really connected. They want to see each other do great He’s a great teacher. He is able to make concepts simple for the players and put him in position to execute. And then he has high expectations. We tie those things all together, I think you get a great result.”