Comparing Helfrich to Petersen is fucking dumb. Helf was Oregons OC and didn't have to completely overhaul the system coming in like Petersen did, and also didn't have to deal with massive attrition that left holes in the depth chart.
Helf did have 2 really good years to start, but once all of Chip's main talent started leaving he got exposed. Oregons defense has gotten worse and worse, recruiting hasn't been bringing in the same level of talent as in the Chip era, and QB development has been a dubstep fire.
Pete had enough talent to do better than he did, and bad coahing cost 3-5 more losses than there should've been. BUT it's fucking dumb to assume he inherited a situation as good as Helfrich. There should be some gap between the expectations.
Overall though, both Pete and Helf deserve the axe after this year if they do any worse than 9-3. Pete needs to prove his system can win now that it's all in place, and Helf needs to make last year's train wreck seem like a fluke.