10-14-21 Emerald Media - Gameday

GAMEDAY 10.14.21

A TEST OF

DEPTH Diving into the players that could flip Oregon’s season after the program’s first loss of the year, amidst an ongoing spurt of injuries.

SECOND HALF OF OREGON’S SEASON PG 6

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GAMEDAY

GAMEDAY, the Emerald’s football edition, is published by Emerald Media Group, Inc., the independent nonprofit news company at the University of Oregon founded in 1900.

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Editor in Chief Sarah-Mae McCullough Managing Editor Jael Calloway Copy Chief Amanda Lurey Sports Editor Shane Hoffmann Reporters Eric Berniker Jacob Hamre Shane Hoffmann Charlie Folkestad Aaron Heisen Photo Editor Ian Enger Design Editor Kira Chan

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ON THE COVER

Trey Benson (1) runs through the Stony Brook defense. The Oregon Ducks defeated the Stony Brook Seawolves 48-7 on Saturday night, September 17, at Autzen Stadium. (Will Geschke/Emerald)

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OREGON

CAL

OREGON OFFENSE

STANFORD OFFENSE

Johnny Johnson III

No. 3

WR-X

SR

Jeremiah Hunter

No. 10

WR-X

SO

Kris Hutson No.14 WR-Z FR

Trevon Clark No. 80 WR-Z SR/TR

Mycah Pittman No. 4 WR-H SO

Nikko Remigio No. 4 WR-F SR

George Moore

Will Craig No. 74 LT JR

No. 77

LT

RS SR/TR

T.J. Bass No. 56 LG JR/TR

Ben Coleman

No. 62

LG

RS SO

Alex Forsyth

Matthew Cindric

No. 73

OC

RS JR

Ryan Walk No. 53 RG RS JR

McKade Mettauer

No. 72

RG

JR

Steven Jones

No. 74

RT

RS SO

Valentino Daltoso

No. 61

RT

GR/TR

Terrance Ferguson

No. 19

TE-F

FR

Jake Tonges No. 85 TE RS SR

No. 78

OC

RS JR

Moliki Matavao No. 8 TE-Y FR

Chase Garbers

No. 7

QB

RS SR

Anthony Brown No. 13 QB GR/TR

Damien Moore No. 28 RB SO

CJ Verdell No. 7 RB JR

STANFORD DEFENSE

OREGON DEFENSE Brandon Dorlus No. 3 DE SO

Luc Bequette

No. 93

DE

GR/TR

Popo Aumavae

No. 50

NT

RS JR

Stanley McKenzie

No. 58

NT

SO

Keyon Ware-Hudson

No. 59

DT

RS FR

JH Tevis No. 47 DE RS JR

Kayvon Thibodeaux No. 5 JOKER SO

Cameron Goode

Mase Funa No. 47 SAM SO

Evan Tattersall

Noah Sewell No. 1 MIKE FR

Muelu Iosefa No. 55 ILB SO

Keith Brown No. 21 WILL FR

Kuony Deng No. 8 OLB GR/TR

DJ James No. 00 BCB SO

Josh Drayden

Steve Stephens IV

No. 7

BS

RS SO

Elijah Hicks No. 3 S SR

Verone McKinley III

No. 23

FS

RS SO

Daniel Scott

No. 32

S

RS SR

Lu-Magia Hearns III

No. 15

CB

FR

Mykael Wright No. 2 FCB SO

No. 19

OLB

RS SR

No. 54

ILB

RS JR

No. 20

CB/NB

RS SR

Bennett Williams No. 15 STAR JR/TR

STANFORD SPECIAL TEAMS

OREGON SPECIAL TEAMS Tom Snee

No. 38

PT

RS SO

Jamieson Sheahan

No. 37

PT/H

RS SR

Camden Lewis No. 49 PK SO

Dario Longhetto No. 30 PK/KO RS JR

Karsten Battles No. 63 LS JR

Slater Zellers

No. 45

LS

RS JR

Nikko Remigio No. 4 PR/KR SR PA G E 4

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GAMEDAY

OREGON FOOTBALL LOOKS TO BOUNCE BACK AGAINST CAL BY: Aaron Heisen @aaron_heisen

Oregon’s hopes of an undefeated season are no more. Now, Cal provides a chance to rebound.

Embarrassment.

The feeling the Oregon Ducks football team took into its matchup with the Cal Bears last season.

The Ducks were coming off a loss to in-state rival Oregon State, but they failed to bounce back, losing to Berkeley 21-17 the following week.

Eleven months later, Oregon faces the same feeling heading into its matchup with Cal. After an overtime loss to Stanford two weeks ago, Oregon’s hopes of an undefeated season are gone.

This time, the Ducks must rally to avoid a defeat that would wipe away their hopes of a potential trip to the College Football Playoff.

They’ll have to do that without safety Bennett Williams and running back CJ Verdell, who will miss the remainder of the season as a result of an injury endured against Stanford.

Cal is coming off a 15-point loss at home to Washington State, where the offense failed to find the end zone. After their bye week, the Bears head north to Eugene, in search of their first conference victory.

Their defense is led by safety Daniel Scott who is tied for second in the conference with three interceptions. This week, Scott will read the eyes of Ducks’ quarterback Anthony Brown who threw his first pick against Stanford.

Quarterback Chase Garbers has taken care of the ball this season, tallying seven touchdowns and no interceptions through four weeks.

However, the Ducks’ secondary hunts for interceptions and are tied for the Pac-12 lead with nine on the season. Injured as they are, the Oregon turnover machine poses a legitimate test for Garbers and the Cal offense.

The Ducks’ all-time record against the Bears is 40-42-2, but they’ve dominated the matchup as of

Ducks running back Travis Dye (26) charges down the field with the ball as players from Arizona follow close behind. The Oregon Ducks crush the Arizona Wildcats 41-19 in game four of the 2021 season. (Ian Enger/ Emerald)

late, going 8-2 in the last 10 games.

Looking ahead to the game, the Ducks are 13.5-point favorites, but they are 1-4 against the spread this season.

With Verdell out, Travis Dye will assume a heavier workload out of the backfield, but the Ducks will turn to Seven McGee, Byron Cardwell and Trey Benson to fill the void.

The Ducks’ front-seven is also undermanned, with Justin Flowe gone for the season and Kayvon Thibodeaux set to miss the first half of this game for a targeting penalty against

Stanford.

Bradyn Swinson and Nate Heaukulani should see an uptick in their playing time against Cal. The Ducks linebackers will have their hands full against Bears running back Damien Moore, who’s averaging 5.2 yards a carry.

Although the Golden Bears have struggled to consistently move the ball, they’ve avoided turnovers which is a focal point for the Ducks defense. After failing to force a takeaway against Stanford, the Ducks will prioritize a positive turnover ratio in hopes of a bounceback victory.

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GAMEDAY Anthony Brown (13) throws a pass to an Oregon teammate. The Oregon Ducks defeated the Stony Brook Seawolves 48-7 on Saturday night, Sept. 17, at Autzen Stadium. (Will Geschke/Emerald)

PREVIEWING THE SECOND HALF OF OREGON’S SEASON Coming out of a bye week, it’s not time to panic quite yet for the Oregon Ducks.

BY: Jacob Hamre @HamreJacob At a bird’s eye view, you’d think it’s been a relatively normal year for Oregon football. Sitting at 4-1 while ranked No. 9 in the country, most people would be ecstatic. But the standings and a near-perfect record don’t tell the whole story.

Oregon’s 2021 season has been riddled with highs and lows. After a week two statement win in Columbus, Oregon was deemed a serious playoff contender by many, and rightfully so. The offense seemed to have a great tempo, while the defense was able to make plays at the right times.

But, in recent weeks, it hasn’t been quite the same. Injuries, poor time management and lackluster play from transfer quarterback Anthony Brown led the Ducks to a loss at Stanford.

Fortunately for Oregon, a much-needed bye week helped the team heal up, while also preparing and working out the kinks for the remainder of the season.

Going down in the AP Poll now in back-to-back weeks has some people concerned about the remainder of the season. But the level of concern should not be as high as it’s made out to be. The Ducks still look like a playoff contender, but the margin of error now compared to weeks prior is smaller.

Why not to worry Oregon has seven games remaining on its regular season schedule, four of which will happen at home.

The Ducks’ only loss this year came on the road, and that seems to be the story recently. The program’s last loss at home was a little over three years ago.

Oregon does not have any ranked teams left on its schedule, at least for now. The Pac-12 always

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brings upsets, as it loves to shoot itself in the foot in old, familiar fashion.

Conquering the rest of the regular season will not be an easy task for the Ducks, but it will be less of a contest knowing they are the most dangerous team whenever they touch the field.

If Oregon wins out, which is still a possibility, it will be right in the conversation to make the playoff. With only one loss, they join teams like Alabama, Ohio State and Penn State as one-loss teams still very much in the hunt. As weeks go on, more and more teams in front of Oregon will pick up losses, allowing for Oregon to continue to rise.

Winning out is almost a must for the playoff.

Previewing the rest of the season 10/15 vs Cal: This Friday night matchup brings the well-rested Ducks back home against a onewin Cal team. This will be a litmus test for Brown as he looks to earn back the trust of the starting quarterback role. A win here looks probable and could bring back the confidence that this team had in abundance just one month ago.

10/23 @ UCLA: This is probably the toughest game left on the schedule for the Ducks as they travel down to California to play the previouslyranked Bruins. UCLA has a high-powered offense that relies on dual-threat quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and electric running back Zach Charbonnet. This will be a massive test for the defense, which will be missing Bennett Williams and Justin Flowe who are out for the remainder of the season with injuries.

10/30 vs Colorado: Back at home against another

team who has only won once so far looks great for this Oregon team. Coming off a tough bout with UCLA, the Ducks will need to keep up their level of pace to beat the struggling Buffs whose only win came against Northern Colorado.

11/6 @ Washington: Washington surely hasn’t been as dominant as expected at the start of the year, but this game should not be overlooked.

Washington is Oregon’s biggest rival, and the game will surely have lots of tension. Oregon barely survived its last matchup against the Huskies in 2019, leaving Seattle with a four-point victory. This year’s game will likely be close, but the Ducks will still enter the game as the favorite.

11/13 vs Washington State: The Cougars have a prolific passing offense, coming off a near 400-yard passing performance from sophomore Jayden de Laura. Oregon’s secondary has had some trouble this season and has been a little banged up, so their performance will be crucial for any chance of victory.

11/20 @ Utah: This is another huge test on the road for Oregon. Utah is a previously ranked team who appears to be back to their winning ways. The Utes’ sound offensive game plan will make it tough on Oregon. The Ducks will have to keep up with their amazing turnover ratio if they want this win.

11/27 vs Oregon State: The final regular season game of the year brings on the cross-state rival Beavers who are always looking to play spoiler. The Beavers always circle this game on their schedule and play it like a championship game because of what it means to their program. It will be another tough test for Oregon, but playing in front of home fans will be a big advantage to secure a win before a likely Pac-12 championship opportunity.

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The Oregon Ducks rush the field before kickoff against the Arizona Wildcats. The Oregon Ducks crush the Arizona Wildcats 41-19 in game four of the 2021 season. (Ian Enger/ Emerald)

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GAMEDAY

PLAYERS TO WATCH AS OREGON

ENTERS THE BULK OF ITS SCHEDULE Examining one player in each of the Ducks’ position groups moving forward.

BY: Shane Hoffmann @Shane_Hoffmann Good teams’ seasons get derailed by injuries.

Great teams win in spite of them.

With seven regular season games remaining, it’s time to find out if Oregon’s a great team or just a good team who pulled out a signature win in week two.

With multiple season-ending injuries to crucial Oregon players, here’s a potential difference maker at every position as the Ducks enter the back half of their schedule.

Quarterback: Ty Thompson Who else could it be? The highly-touted freshman has been looming behind incumbent

The Oregon Duck joins students to cheer on the Oregon Ducks football team. The Oregon Ducks crush the Arizona Wildcats 41-19 in game four of the 2021 season. (Ian Enger/ Emerald)

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starter Anthony Brown all season. After a Brown performance riddled with indecision and poor reads against Stanford, the murmur for Thompson intensified.

But the coaching staff remains firmly set on Brown.

“He’s had some really good moments, some other moments where we need to improve upon… he certainly gives us the best chance to win,” head coach Mario Cristobal said. “He’s done enough in practice, he’s done enough in games.”

But what happens if Brown’s performance is no longer “enough”? The Ducks drop another game, and then perhaps the staff abandons their seasoned transfer for a glimpse into the program’s future.

Running back: Trey Benson Byron Cardwell was Oregon’s No. 3 running back against Stanford, and Seven McGee has a more innate pass-catching skillset. But, in the wake of C.J. Verdell’s injury, Trey Benson could replace the absent physicality.

At 6-foot-1, 215 lbs, Benson is the biggest of the backup trio. If he can prove he’s a viable option for blitz pick-ups, Benson’s repertoire could blend with that of the more elusive Travis Dye. But even Benson knows it would take a significant change for any of the underclassmen backups to take the No. 2 role with a vice grip.

GAMEDAY “We all can take that three spot,” he said. “We’ll all wind up rotating in and out.”

Wide receiver: Devon Williams Williams remains perhaps the most physically imposing receiver the Ducks have at their disposal. Only freshman Dont’e Thornton matches his 6-foot-5 frame. But Williams gets the nod on the scale and in the experience department — which is why, even in a year where the Ducks have constantly rotated their pass catchers, it’s curious Williams hasn’t seen more meaningful snaps.

Through five games, the elastic deep-threat with the ability to overpower defenders with vicious stiff arms, has just four catches for 48 yards. Granted, Oregon’s leading receiver Johnny Johnson III has accumulated just 11 catches on the year.

Williams could remedy an Oregon offense lacking in explosive plays. His 100-plus yard outings against both Oregon State and UCLA last season prove as much. The Ducks will just need their quarterback to start looking downfield first.

Tight end: Spencer Webb Another victim of Oregon’s depth at the skill positions, Webb’s been relegated to a rotational role in 2021. That’s not to say Webb hasn’t had his moments as a pass catcher. The emergence of the freshman tight end duo, Terrance Ferguson and Moliki Matavao, however, has limited his opportunities.

Webb’s still the most experienced playmaker in the tight end room –– and, even if the freshman duo is knocking at the door, his combination of upperclassmen physicality and refined route running could lead him to thrive in the second half of the season.

Offensive line: Jackson Powers-Johnson When the interior offensive lineman saw his first game action against Stony Brook, Powers-Johnson made an important realization.

“I just learned it’s not as hard as I think it is,” he said. “For sure it’s college football, I just learned that it’s just a game too.”

Powers-Johnson is playing the “game” the right way. He’s taken advantage of Oregon’s rotating offensive line and is emerging as one of the unit’s most physical presences, despite his youth.

He’s played both guard and center and his blocking has helped spring multiple run plays for big gains.

“It gave me a taste for more, and I want more,” he said.

Defensive Line: Keyon Ware-Hudson You wouldn’t think it was just Ware-Hudson’s second year on campus. His voice deep, frame filled out, playstyle powerful — the defensive tackle has become a key cog in the Oregon defensive line.

“I can’t speak enough about Keyon,” Cristobal said. “He is physical, and I mean physical… he finds extra time or creates extra time to really dive into improving himself.”

If he can continue to refine his pass Ducks outside linebacker Mase Funa (47) cradles the ball after falling to the ground. The Oregon Ducks host Fresno State on Sept. 4, 2021, for rushing abilities — which were on game one of the 2021 season.

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GAMEDAY Trey Benson (1) runs through the Stony Brook defense. The Oregon Ducks defeated the Stony Brook Seawolves 48-7 on Saturday night, Sept. 17, at Autzen Stadium. (Will Geschke/Emerald)

display against Stanford when he wrapped up Tanner McKee and batted a ball down at the line of scrimmage — Ware-Hudson can be the perfect compliment to the freakishly athletic Kayvon Thibodeaux and the multipositional Brandon Dorlus.

Linebacker: Mase Funa It’s been two years since Funa’s recorded a sack. Two years since it looked like he and Thibodeaux would be commanding the edges of Oregon’s defense for the coming years.

Funa’s never fully recaptured the prestige he carried when he racked up four sacks in quick succession as a true freshman in 2019.

But, as the injuries pile up, Funa, who at his peak excelled against both the run and pass, will continue to be looked toward on a defense that’s struggled to get the quarterback on the turf.

Defensive back: Steve Stephens IV

Ducks safety Steve Stephens (10) drives the ball down the field. Oregon Ducks football takes on the Nevada Wolf Pack at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Sept. 7, 2019.

(Sarah Northrop/Emerald)

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Numbers-wise, Oregon’s defense has been far from impressive. The Ducks have been outgained in time of possession in some games and in yards in others. But it’s their knack for coming away with the football that’s keeping the unit afloat.

Boundary safety Verone McKinley III has four interceptions on the year, and Bennett Williams had three before the program lost the defensive back for the season after a freak injury in practice.

If the Ducks are to continue winning the turnover battle on a weekto-week basis, they’ll need another member of the secondary to pick up where Williams left off. Stephens IV, who finally secured a starting role this season, his third with the program, could be that playmaker.

“Film study, knowing what to expect when the team lines up in different formations, whether it’s first or second down,” Stephens IV said of the reasons for the high numbers of turnovers the unit has forced. “Just understanding what teams want to do.”

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GAMEDAY

PAC-12 POWER RANKINGS: CLARITY EMERGING IN THE SOUTH DIVISION? BY: Charlie Folkestad @Folkestad3

The Conference of Champions continues to shake itself up after another exciting week of Pac-12 play.

Both teams prepare for the play to begin. The Oregon Ducks defeated the Stony Brook Seawolves 48-7 on Saturday night, Sept. 17, at Autzen Stadium. (Will Geschke/Emerald)

Another week of Pac-12 play has come and gone.

Rising teams fell and falling teams rose. Up north, Oregon State was unable to overcome a late deficit in the Palouse, but still technically retained the top spot in the division. With four teams (Oregon, Washington, Cal and Colorado) on bye weeks, the Pac-12 South produced some division-altering results.

Arizona State won its second consecutive game by double digits, beating Stanford 28-10 Friday night. UCLA took care of business against winless

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Arizona while Utah snagged a historically elusive win in the Coliseum.

Oregon | 4-1 (1-1) | Week 6: BYE | Week 7: vs Cal Oregon had its first slip against Stanford, but back-to-back Pac-12 titles and a win in Columbus still makes them the class of the conference until proven otherwise. The Ducks also control their own destiny after Stanford’s loss to Arizona State.

Arizona State | 5-1 (3-0) | Week 6: 28-10 W vs

Stanford | Week 7: @ Utah The best team in Pac-12 play thus far has been Arizona State. Wins over UCLA, Colorado and Stanford have the Sun Devils in pole position for the Pac-12 South title heading into a massive game against Utah.

Utah | 3-2 (2-0) | Week 6: 42-26 W @ USC | Week 7: vs Arizona State Last week, Utah did something it hadn’t since 1916: beat USC in Los Angeles. The Utes are

GAMEDAY

Oregon Ducks fans in the student section cheer after a play. The Oregon Ducks defeated the Stony Brook Seawolves 48-7 on Saturday night, Sept. 17, at Autzen Stadium. (Will Geschke/Emerald)

undefeated in conference play and motivated by tragedy, but a massive home test against ASU could end up being the de facto Pac-12 South title.

UCLA | 4-2 (2-1) | Week 6: 34-16 W @ Arizona | Week 7: @ Washington After a hot start and gradual cool-down to begin the 2021 season, UCLA has an opportunity to prove the race for the South has more than two horses.

Chip Kelly leads the Bruins into a pair of tough cross-divisional games in the next two weeks: on the road at Washington and hosting Oregon.

Stanford | 3-3 (2-2) | Week 6: 28-10 L @ Arizona State | Week 7: @ Washington State As maybe the most confusing Pac-12 team, Stanford followed up a monumental overtime win over Oregon with a pitiful three-score loss to Arizona State. The Cardinal may not compete for a Pac-12 championship this season, but their dangerous passing game makes them capable of beating any conference foe on any given Saturday.

Oregon State | 4-2 (2-1) | Week 6: 31-24 L @ Washington State | Week 7: BYE With all the positive vibes flowing toward the

Beavers last week, the Pac-12 did what it does best: cannibalize. It was a slow death for Oregon State in Pullman, but they are still right in the mix for a shot at the Pac-12 North title with the conference’s best rushing attack.

USC | 3-3 (2-3) | Week 6: 42-26 L vs Utah | Week 7: BYE Despite leading the conference in yards per game (318.3), the Trojans have effectively eliminated themselves from Pac-12 title contention after six games. USC has a much-needed week off before travelling to South Bend for a tough matchup against Notre Dame on Oct. 23.

Washington State | 3-3 (2-2) | Week 6: 31-24 W vs Oregon State | Week 7: vs Stanford Wazzu redeemed its first two conference losses with wins against Cal and Oregon State, but they will need more than just a decent passing attack to be a threat in the North this year.

Washington | 2-3 (1-1) | Week 6: BYE | Week 7: vs UCLA Washington can climb up these power rankings with a win over UCLA this weekend, but it’s unlikely

the Huskies will sniff the national top 25 this season.

Cal | 1-4 (0-2) | Week 6: BYE | Week 7: @ Oregon The end of the road may be approaching quicker than anticipated for Justin Wilcox at Cal, which might be lower in these rankings if not for having week six off. They also have the toughest test of any team in week seven as they travel to Autzen Stadium Friday night.

Arizona | 0-5 (0-2) | Week 6: 34-16 L vs UCLA | Week 7: @ Colorado Arizona fought hard against Oregon and UCLA and lost both games handily. As underdogs, the Wildcats will need to win a game this season – something they haven’t done since Oct.5, 2019 (ironically, on the road against Colorado).

Colorado | 1-4 (0-2) | Week 6: BYE | Week 7: vs Arizona Colorado has the second-worst total offense in FBS college football, averaging just 100 passing yards per game. Still, can any team really be worse than Arizona? We’ll find out this Saturday in a battle of Pac-12 repulsiveness.

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SEVEN McGEE READYING HIMSELF FOR

INCREASED WORKLOAD

GAMEDAY CJ Verdell’s absence creates an opportunity for young running backs that McGee is hoping to capitalize on.

BY: Eric Berniker

Running back Seven McGee (#0) runs for a big gain as the No. 3 Oregon Ducks face the Arizona Wildcats in a college football game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. (Sean Meagher/The Oregonian)

When CJ Verdell went down with an ankle injury in week five at Stanford, the Oregon Ducks lost an All-Pac-12 running back and the locomotive of their offensive game plan.

Verdell headlined the Ducks’ one-two punch in the backfield with Travis Dye. Without Verdell, the rushing load now falls primarily on Dye. But he won’t be alone.

The Ducks have a core of young, running backs who are eager to prove

themselves. Of the group, perhaps no one has more potential than Seven McGee. As Dye assumes the starting duties, McGee’s lightning-in-a-bottle athleticism and pass catching skills could help him find time.

“We all know Seven is a really good player,” Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal said. “The guys have done a really good job of stepping up and filling in for guys who have been injured.”

McGee is from New York, but played his freshman season of high school

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GAMEDAY football in Southern California at Grace Brethren in Simi Valley, before moving back to New York to play the game he loves with his childhood friends.

Back in New York and reunited with long-time teammates and friends, Nevada receiver commit Justus Ross-Simmons and University of Maine running back Freddie Brock, McGee had the support structure to chase his football dream. McGee worked out before school every morning and played 7-on-7 football with those teammates and others in his free time, activities that prepared McGee to dominate on Friday nights and play at the next level.

“He works at everything,” Justus Ross-Simmons, McGee’s childhood friend and high school teammate, said. “Obviously he’s a short running back… [but] there is

not a time that I know Seven has ever been lazy.”

A four-star prospect on 247Sports, McGee is a unique and eye-catching player as his catching ability out of the backfield, perfected playing 7-on-7 with friends, is matched by his ability to make defenders miss in space. Once he hits a hole, McGee has the speed to burn defenses.

Running backs Trey Benson and Byron Cardwell are bigger than McGee. They run the ball well in the Ducks’ inside zone running scheme and can fight for yards after contact. But McGee possesses a different type of talent.

With a playstyle reminiscent of Oregon greats such as De’Anthony Thomas or LaMichael James, McGee possesses the potential to bring back big play, home run-hitting plays, for the Oregon Ducks.

Ducks warm up on the field in preparation for the game against the Arizona Wildcats at Autzen Stadium on Sept. 25 in Eugene OR. The Oregon Ducks crush the Arizona Wildcats 41-19 in game four of the 2021 season. (Ian Enger/ Emerald) PA G E 1 6

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