Oregon Football: 5 reasons Ducks will win 2017 national title

2. What were losses last year will become wins thanks to better coaching

Several of those losses would have been transformed by better coaching all around. The Ducks coaching staff seemed complacent at the end, almost as if success should have been self-generating at that point. Take the Nebraska game, for instance. Oregon should easily have taken care of business against a Cornhuskers team coached by former nemesis Mike Riley. Instead, the former Oregon State head coach knocked off the Ducks for the first time since 2007.

Oregon lost by three and left at least that many points on the field in Lincoln. Mark Helfrich continued to insist on going for two-point conversions after each Ducks touchdown. They converted the first attempt, but after failing on the second try Helfrich would not deviate from the strategy. UO ultimately lost 35-32 as a result. Extra points on the final three touchdowns would have sent the game to overtime.

The Ducks also finished among the most penalized teams in the country last season. With over eight penalties and 75 lost yards per game, UO ranked 126th nationally in both categories. Taggart has already set a tone of greater discipline. For instance, the dismissal of Carrington from the team was directly meant to change the culture in Eugene.

The new coaches should be more logical with their situational play calling than Helfrich. As long as they get their new charges to commit fewer penalties, Oregon should benefit from both better offensive rhythm and the best possible chance at victory.