[gocard14]

Given the choice, 2015 by a few chain links. The 2012 squad's weaknesses (WR, QB for eight games) were more glaring than the iffy safeties/linebackers of 2015. Shaw was also a better coach three years later.

When healthy, the 2011 team was better. Injury absences of Ertz AND Owusu AND Skov marred the Oregon loss (when Howell played with one arm). I wonder if Duck fans compare their 2011 and 2012 teams the same way.

While we are biased by how the seasons ended, I’d still choose the 2011 over the 2015 squad. 2011 Oklahoma st. was a much stronger opponent then 2015 Iowa, and both Stanford and OK St. were heavyweight top 4 teams that played in one of the most exciting games I’ve ever seen.

It also shows how much would have to break right to make the playoffs, which we would have that year. We had a generational talent at QB and a ridiculous amount of talent that outperformed their recruiting status at multiple positions, and even then ran into the bad timing of having a similarly elite Oregon team at the same time.

[gocard14]

Given the choice, 2015 by a few chain links. The 2012 squad's weaknesses (WR, QB for eight games) were more glaring than the iffy safeties/linebackers of 2015. Shaw was also a better coach three years later.

When healthy, the 2011 team was better. Injury absences of Ertz AND Owusu AND Skov marred the Oregon loss (when Howell played with one arm). I wonder if Duck fans compare their 2011 and 2012 teams the same way.

While we are biased by how the seasons ended, I’d still choose the 2011 over the 2015 squad. 2011 Oklahoma st. was a much stronger opponent then 2015 Iowa, and both Stanford and OK St. were heavyweight top 4 teams that played in one of the most exciting games I’ve ever seen.

It also shows how much would have to break right to make the playoffs, which we would have that year. We had a generational talent at QB and a ridiculous amount of talent that outperformed their recruiting status at multiple positions, and even then ran into the bad timing of having a similarly elite Oregon team at the same time.