Oregon Ducks QB Bo Nix keeps autonomy for on-field checks

Published 1:26 pm Friday, April 21, 2023

Bo Nix will be playing for another offensive coordinator, but he’ll still have on-field control of Oregon’s offense.

The Ducks quarterback, who completed 71.9% of his passes for 3,593 yards with 29 touchdowns and seven interceptions and ran for 510 rushing yards and 14 scores last season, said he’ll “absolutely” still have the autonomy he had in 2022.

“I think that’s one of the things that made us special last year,” Nix said.

Nix could make pre-snap checks into different plays, particularly into runs, last season and also called the game-winning touchdown pass in the Holiday Bowl. Center Alex Forsyth also notably checked the offense into two touchdown plays against Cal and North Carolina.

Offensive coordinator Will Stein confirmed Nix will have free rein to make pre-snap adjustments.

“We always want our quarterback to have the freedom to check plays when necessary and to feel really comfortable with those looks and why we’re doing it,” Stein said. “I don’t want somebody to go out there and check just because we want to check, it needs to be the specific look versus certain coverage, versus certain pressure and Bo does a really good job of that in the run game and protections.

“We’re going to allow him to make us right. Anytime I can hand the car off to a really good player that understands how I’m thinking and he can go make us right on the field, I’m going to let that happen.”

Nix, a fifth-year senior, will be playing for his fifth offensive coordinator, though Stein’s offense is similar to former offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham’s. The Ducks are also maintaining some of the terminology and verbiage to make for an easier learning process for Nix and Oregon’s returning offensive players, many of whom are playing for a third offensive coordinator.

These were some of the points Nix asked Stein about when Dan Lanning hired him in December before choosing to return to UO for his final year of eligibility.

“Getting on the phone with him initially, I was a little mind blown by his intensity and what he was looking for from a coach and offensive standpoint,” Stein said. “He asked questions that were extremely mature and well thought out and he’s made me better as a coach. He puts me in a position to really think as a coach, which I really appreciate. … He’s physically there; can make every throw in the book but I think mentally his game is extremely sharp, not only understanding what we do on offense but understanding our defense and our opposing defenses. He’s mastering his craft in terms of understanding the full picture.”

Obviously that conversation went well and the pair are developing their relationship this spring, melding Nix’s experience as a four-year starter with the concepts Stein employed while calling a top 20 offense at UTSA last season.

The Ducks are also incorporating some new skill players around Nix, including receivers Tez Johnson and Traeshon Holden, along with returning running backs Bucky Irving and Noah Whittington, receivers Troy Franklin and Kris Hutson and tight end Terrance Ferguson.

“I’m in a great situation, our coaches really allow me to be flexible and to do a lot,” Nix said. “I’m thankful for that but at the same time they do a great job of teaching me what to do when I’m out there. I do feel like I have a lot under my belt, I got a lot of visual pictures, images of safety rotation and fronts and routes and timing. It helps to go with similar guys again this year like Troy, T-Ferg, Kris. That’ll be great moving forward now that I got a lot under my belt, I’ve seen a lot. Can now go out there and just play.”