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GAMEDAY 10.21.21

THE

DISRUPTOR Built for the SEC, Brandon Dorlus has become the prototype of Oregon’s changing defensive front

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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. EMERALD MEDIA GROUP 1395 University St., #302, Eugene, OR 97403 541.346.5511 | dailyemerald.com

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ON THE COVER

Oregon defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus (3) heads toward the crowd in celebration. The Oregon Ducks host Fresno State on Sept. 4th, 2021, for game one of the 2021 season.

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PA G E 3

OREGON

UCLA

OREGON OFFENSE

UCLA OFFENSE

Johnny Johnson III

No. 3

WR-X

Chase Cota No. 23 WR SR

Kris Hutson No.14 WR-Z FR

Kam Brown

No. 00

RS SO/TR

Mycah Pittman No. 4 WR-H SO

Kyle Philips

No. 2

WR-SL

RS JR

George Moore

Sean Rhyan No. 74 LT JR

No. 77

RS SR/TR

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

Paul Grattan Jr.

Alex Forsyth

Duke Clemens No. 62 OC JR

No. 78

RS JR

No. 65

GR/TR

Ryan Walk No. 53 RG RS JR

John Gaines II

No. 57

RS JR

Steven Jones

No. 74

RS SO

Alec Anderson

No. 70

RS JR

Terrance Ferguson

No. 19

TE-F

Greg Dulcich

No. 85

RS JR

Moliki Matavao No. 8 TE-Y FR

Dorian Thompson-Robinson No. 1 QB SR

Anthony Brown No. 13 QB GR/TR

Brittain Brown No. 28 RB GR/TR

Travis Dye No. 26 RB JR

UCLA DEFENSE

OREGON DEFENSE Brandon Dorlus No. 3 DE SO Popo Aumavae

No. 50

RS JR

Keyon Ware-Hudson

No. 59

RS FR

Kayvon Thibodeaux No. 5 JOKER SO Keith Brown No. 21 WILL FR Noah Sewell No. 1 MIKE FR Mase Funa No. 47 OLB SO DJ James No. 00 BCB SO Steve Stephens IV

No. 7

RS SO

Verone McKinley III

No. 23

RS SO

Mykael Wright No. 2 FCB SO

Datona Jackson

No. 58

GR/TR

Otito Ogbonnia No. 91 NT SR Mitchell Agude

No. 45

OLB

RS SR/TR

Caleb Johnson

No. 40

ILB

RS SR/TR

Jordan Genmark Heath

No. 15

ILB

GR/TR

Bo Calvert No. 33 OLB SR Obi Eboh No. 22 CB GR/TR Stephan Blaylock

No. 4

Quentin Lake

No. 37

RS SR

Cameron Johnson

No. 3

GR/TR

Qwuantrezz Knight

No. 24

GR/TR

Jamal Hill No. 19 STAR SO

UCLA SPECIAL TEAMS

OREGON SPECIAL TEAMS Luke Akers No. 99 PT SO Tom Snee

No. 38

PT/H

RS SO

Camden Lewis No. 49 PK/KO SO Karsten Battles No. 63 LS JR Mycah Pittman No. 4 PR SO Mykael Wright No. 2 KR SO PA G E 4

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Nicholas Barr-Mira

No. 2

RS SO

RJ Lopez

No. 93

RJ SO

Jack Landherr IV

No. 51

Erthan Garbers No. 4 H RS FR/TR Kyle Phillips

No. 2

RS JR

Kazmeir Allen

No. 19

RS JR

GAMEDAY

OREGON VS. CAL

RECAP IN PHOTOS - Oct. 16, 2021

Travis Dye (26) dives into the endzone for a touchdown. The Oregon Ducks take on the California Golden Bears at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Oct. 15, 2021. (Serei Hendrie/Emerald)

The Golden Bear defense pushes back against a rushing Ducks player. The Oregon Ducks take on the California Golden Bears at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Oct. 15, 2021. (Serei Hendrie/Emerald)

Students in the stands cheer on the Ducks. The Oregon Ducks take on the California Golden Bears at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Oct. 15, 2021. (Serei Hendrie/Emerald)

Ducks Trikweze Bridges (11, left) makes a stop on Kekoa Crawford (11, right), preventing a gain of yards. The Oregon Ducks take on the California Golden Bears at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Oct. 15, 2021. (Serei Hendrie/Emerald)

Kris Hutson (14) prepares to recieve and return a punt. The Oregon Ducks take on the California Golden Bears at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Oct. 15, 2021. (Serei Hendrie/Emerald)

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GAMEDAY

DUALITY OF THE Q

CUTTING THROUGH THE NOISE

BY: Charles Gearing @GearingCharlie

A reformed performance against Cal might have solidified Anthony Brown as the starting quarterback for the foreseeable future. By halftime of the Ducks’ home matchup with Cal last Saturday, the Autzen crowd had taken a firm stance regarding the state of the Oregon quarterback position. This time, it was louder, more brash and seemingly angrier than ever before. A “We want Thompson” chant began in the student section before making its way around the stadium, erupting into a deafening chatter. At the end of a slow first half, Anthony Brown and the Oregon offense mustered a mere 10 points against an unranked Golden Bears squad. Fans hoped for a bounce back, blowout win. But, instead, the Ducks led by only three points after the first frame. It was especially grim, and, at times, eerily similar to the team’s loss at Stanford the week before. The chants only got louder in the third quarter as the Ducks went scoreless and Cal took a narrow lead. Oregon eventually took control, wrote its wrongs and won by way of a 14-point fourth quarter. Brown may not have been perfect, but one thing is for sure — he was resilient. He finished the evening with 20 completions on 28 attempts for 244 yards and a single touchdown through the air. He added a touchdown on his feet as well, scurrying out of the pocket in the red zone and around the

Anthony Brown (13) looks at the offense after holding the ball and making a running touchdown. The Oregon Ducks take on the California Golden Bears at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Oct. 15, 2021. (Serei Hendrie/Emerald)

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outside of the hashes before diving for the pylon. “When you play [quarterback], you assume the mantle of responsibility and the criticism that goes with it, but I think AB is doing a solid job in his role,” offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead said. He added: “You can nitpick and talk about stats and completion percentage and all that stuff, but I’ll go into a game with AB as my quarterback and believe in his capabilities and what he’s gonna do.” It wasn’t a perfect game, nor does Brown claim it was, but he got the win, and he did it on a night where even his own fans had abandoned their belief in his ability to do so. “Things like that sometimes happen in sports, and it has to be irrelevant in terms of our process and how we go forward,” Cristobal said of the crowd noise. “It never has played a part in what we do or how we do it, and it can’t be. But, in terms of Anthony handling himself in the game, he made a lot of good plays tonight, a lot of big plays. He showed a lot of poise.” As the season’s gone on, what started as a fraction of disbelievers among the Oregon fanbase has only grown larger. It hasn’t all been unfounded and, at some points, perhaps justified. Brown went 14-of-26, throwing for 186 yards and an interception in the Ducks’ week five loss to

Stanford. The Stanford loss was ugly, and Brown owned it. “You just gotta execute,” Brown said of the loss. “Excuse my language, but I played like s***. Can’t do anything about it but fix it and move on from it.” Still, head coach Mario Cristobal and the team stuck with Brown heading into week six — a display of fidelity and confidence that makes it clear they intend to keep things the way they are for the foreseeable future. “I think the best thing a guy like that has is the ability to — like all of us should — if you don’t have your best day to look your teammates, your coaches right in the eye and say ‘I’ve got to do better,’ because that commands respect and the trust of people,” Cristobal said. Brown wasn’t flawless in week six, and at times he was spotty, but he delivered. After a slow start and a scoreless third quarter, a roaring crowd calling for a far younger, far less experienced replacement, and a field tilting against him — none of it rattled him, and perhaps now he’s even stronger for it. “He’s not gonna flinch,” Cristobal said.

ABOVE: The Oregon Ducks take on the California Golden Bears at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Oct. 15, 2021. (Serei Hendrie/Emerald)

GAMEDAY

QUARTERBACK A TRUNCATED OFFENSE

BY: Aaron Heisen @aaron_heisen

Get used to it, Ducks fans — Oregon is no longer the field-scorching offense it once was. The Oregon faithful expect a high-flying offense because they’ve been spoiled by them. In 2012, they expected Chip Kelly to boat race opponents out of Eugene, tearing them apart with his uptempo offense. In 2014, they expected Mark Helfrich and Marcus Mariota to dissect defenses with their run-pass options. In 2018, they expected Justin Herbert to break games open with a 70-yard deep ball. They expect those same magical nights in Autzen Stadium this year too. Wishful thinking. Get used to it, Ducks fans. “We’re never going to reach the standard that we set for this offense,” Oregon offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead said. “I know a lot of people want to see a touchdown on every drive, and that’s just not feasible.” With Anthony Brown under center, the Ducks’ offensive potential is capped. Brown struggles to go through his progressions and push the ball downfield. The offense consists of zone reads and check-downs to the running backs, underneath routes from the slot receivers and tight-ends, and

Brown making plays with his legs. The Ducks’ offense relied on a 26-touch game from Travis Dye to eke out a 24-17 victory against Cal. “Travis played really tough and physical,” head coach Mario Cristobal said. “He was all over the place, and he’ll keep getting those opportunities.” Dye has proven himself time and time again as the quarterback’s best friend. He rushed for 145 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries and made himself available as a check-down option in the passing game, accumulating seven catches for 73 yards. The wide receivers also need to get used to it. Frustration was a constant in Mycah Pittman and Jaylen Redd’s body language against Cal. The former four-star recruits combined for one catch on four targets. They ran empty route after empty route, throwing their hands up in angst as they continuously watched the ball dumped underneath. After finding themselves trailing in the fourth quarter, the Ducks’ offense fought its way back. Brown led two clutch drives to steal the upset out of the Golden Bears’ paws. His late-game heroics have forced Oregon’s fans into another week of a constrained offense.

ABOVE: The Oregon Ducks take on the California Golden Bears at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Oct. 15, 2021. (Serei Hendrie/Emerald)

The student section’s chants of, “We want Thompson!” went unfulfilled against Cal, but they could travel across state borders as the Ducks take on the UCLA Bruins next week. While the Oregon faithful are uncertain about what their backup brings to the table, the thought process behind their chants seems to be: “it can’t get worse than this.” Well, maybe Cristobal thinks it can. The fourth-year head coach remains confident in his starter. He finds comfort in Brown’s ability to take care of the ball and keep drives alive with his legs. But, with Brown’s tendencies of disregarding downfield progressions and settling for the check-down, his completion percentage should be inflated, right? That’s not the case. While Brown has avoided throwing interceptions, his completion percentage of 58.9 is second to the worst among eligible quarterbacks in the Pac-12. Despite their loss to Stanford, the Ducks still find themselves fighting for a Pac-12 title and an outside chance at the College Football Playoff. As for the Oregon faithful, you can look forward to “Shout,” because this team may continue to grind wins, as bored or unsatisfied as it may make you.

Anthony Brown (13) goes to high five the offense after holding the ball and making a running touchdown. The Oregon Ducks take on the California Golden Bears at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Oct. 15, 2021. (Serei Hendrie/Emerald)

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GAMEDAY

LOVE, LEADERSHIP AND WHITE LIES BY: Shane Hoffmann @shane_hoffmann

Brandon Dorlus came to Oregon because of what the program was. Now, he’s a figurehead of what Oregon is becoming.

He was Florida born, raised in the church and built on his mother’s Haitian cooking. “I could tell [Dorlus] was one of those guys, we get him in and get him working, He was raw and reckless. He played the run; he played the pass. He lined up he could be a monster,” Glenn said. inside; he lined up outside. He was a 6-foot-2, 270-pound ball of Division I clay So Mecene hatched a plan. waiting to be molded. Mecene convinced both Dorlus and his mother that they were struggling to He lived just a few hours south of Gainesville — home of the Florida Gators — pay Dorlus’ travel fees for basketball. With the red carpet rolled out, in came and habituated himself to football at Deerfield Beach High School, a program Glenn, offering to take care of any and all football fees. that vaulted multiple players to SEC schools and later the NFL. “The best lie he’s ever heard,” Glenn called it. Brandon Dorlus was a natural-born He saw Division I talent. A bending lineman, grown deep in SEC territory and of the truth felt justified. And, though destined to be a force in the conference. Dorlus was angry when they revealed “Everything was set; he was going to the truth after that summer, he the Gators,” said Dorlus’ father, Mecene, understood it had the potential to who had been in contact with the change his future. Florida staff heading into signing day. “It To this day, Mecene still relishes any was a done deal.” credit he can coax out of his son for his But it wasn’t until the morning of signing assertive decision making. day that Brandon broached the news to his “I think he went towards football to parents: He was headed to Eugene, Oregon please me, but then he started falling in — a decision he’d later admit he made after love with it,” he said. “Look at him now: he’s his four-day official visit to the University shining. Everytime I talk to him I say, ‘After of Oregon in Dec. 2018. God, you should thank Dad.’” The young man was drawn to Oregon Dorlus’ love for hoops didn’t just fade, The Oregon Ducks take on the California Golden Bears at Autzen because of the Ducks’ flashy facade and and his embrace of football took time. But, Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Oct. 15, 2021. (Serei Hendrie/Emerald) on-field bravado. Now, the third-year once he settled in, it was evident. For coach defensive lineman is a crucial piece of Glenn, the moment came on the field — a a team that’s winning with an SEC-style three-sack game for Dorlus his junior year. defensive front. “He was just a monster out there and just the look in his eyes, you could kind of tell “You’ve got a guy that can really do it on the edge, can do it on the inside, can it all changed for him,” he said. “I think at that time, he realized he could be special.” hold the point on a double team, can take on man blocks,” Oregon head coach For Dorlus’ parents, it came in the car ride home from a loss, during their son’s Mario Cristobal said. first major bout with adversity on the field, and a rare display of emotion they In other words: Dorlus is the quintessential figurehead of the SEC defensive hadn’t yet seen in his young sports career. line that Cristobal and company are building in the Pacific Northwest. Deerfield Beach had lost to the cross town St. Thomas. Dorlus was adamant that had he played more snaps, the outcome would have been different. Heavy-handed influence Dorlus got in the car and bawled. His parents did their best to conceal their giggles up front. In truth, they loved it. It showed his passion for the game. It all started with a lie. As their son cried in the back seat, Marcia and Mecene snuck smiles at one Dorlus was a hooper in high school. He loved the sport of basketball so much another. “I think he really belongs to this sport,” she told her husband that that he practically had to be ripped away from it. His mother Marcia found it evening. delightful to watch him, but his dad knew it was the wrong sport. He knew his “That was the first time I saw that kind of emotion,” she said. “I never even saw son’s talent could be better put to use elsewhere. it with basketball.” “You look at Brandon and his body, the way he’s built, I mean, he was a It was in those final two years of high school that Dorlus began refining his monster on the football field,” his dad Mecene said. pass-rush repertoire and laying out the foundation for the multi-positional ball Deerfield Beach’s head football coach, Jevon Glenn, saw the same. of energy he’s become in Eugene.

PA G E 8

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GAMEDAY Brandon Dorlus (3) high fives teamates after making a tackle. The Oregon Ducks take on the California Golden Bears at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Oct. 15, 2021. (Serei Hendrie/Emerald)

Glenn immediately plugged Dorlus in at defensive tackle due to his size. When the team’s defensive end went down with an injury, he swung out to the edge. “Playing [defensive] end was natural to me,” Dorlus said. “I love end.” However raw he may have been, the versatility he showcased, along with his moldable frame, were enough to garner attention from Division I schools in every one of the Power 5 conferences. Cristobal, who grew up in Florida himself, and his staff saw enough to take multiple trips to the three-star’s home over 3,200 miles away. “He wasn’t afraid of contact, and wouldn’t shy away from double teams,” Cristobal said. “He was slippery, very hard to get hands on. He was very disruptive, and he didn’t really know what he was doing. He was very new at it.”

Brandon Dorlus is a monster up front.” VERONE MCKINLEY III Oregon footbal safety

Oregon defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus (3) heads toward the crowd in celebration. The Oregon Ducks host Fresno State on Sept. 4th, 2021, for game one of the 2021 season.

The missing link While his dad sat in shock after Dorlus spurned the in-state Gators and decided to join the Ducks, his mother Marcia remembered a long-forgotten conversation. During her children’s younger years, she’d occasionally ask where they’d like to attend college, planting the seed of higher education in their minds early. “Out of the blue, I think he was maybe 10 or 11, he’s like, ‘Yeah, I’m going to Oregon for school,’” she said. “After that, we never revisited that conversation.” A decade ago, when Dorlus’ mother posed that innocent question, Oregon’s program was blossoming under Chip Kelly, enchanting young fans around the nation with its innovation and hubris. “The Nike thing, I think that really caught on with him,” Marcia said. The Kelly style revolutionized college offenses. He led the Ducks to the program’s first national championship game in the 2010 season, and the spirit of his offense made another run in 2014 under Mark Helfrich. In that loss to Ohio State, the Ducks were bullied up front by a more physical Ohio State front as Ezekiel Elliot took 36 carries for 246 yards and four touchdowns, outscoring Oregon on his own. As successful as that period was for Oregon, when Cristobal took over, he viewed players like Dorlus as the missing link.

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PA G E 9

GAMEDAY A decade later, when Oregon traveled to the Horseshoe in week two of the 2021 season, it was Dorlus who led a Kayvon Thibodeaux-less defensive line. The unit showed the country that a Pac-12 program could hold their own against one of college football’s blue-chip programs, and, at times, be the bully themselves. It was the type of game that highlighted the recruiting focus and mission of Cristobal’s staff. Oregon wants linemen who can plug holes, hold at the point of attack and, most importantly, stand their ground. Senior Popo Amuvae is 6-foot-4, 305 pounds. Jayson Jones is 6-foot-6, 320 pounds. The duo of sophomores, Kristian Williams and Keyon Ware-Hudson, are both 6-foot-2 and rapidly approaching 290 pounds. Dorlus is big too, now 6-foot-3 and up to 290. Filling out and maintaining weight has been the hardest part for him, but he attributes at least a portion of the 20-plus pounds he’s put on since arriving at Oregon to his mother, who flew out to Eugene last March. During her stay, she jump-started his bulk with a healthy dose of Haitian cuisine. “Stick to your bone food,” she said of a consummate diet for a defensive lineman, with plenty of rice and beans and meats. “As a mom, you feel as if when they’re not eating home-cooked food, they’re not eating. I know he’s being fed well, but just that home cooking as a mom, you feel it’s different. Coming out there and doing it for him was a joy.” Dorlus made impact plays on the inside as a freshman in the Rose Bowl, then repeatedly forced his way onto the field in crucial moments during the abbreviated 2020 season. Now, at his optimal size, he’s the glue that holds the Ducks’ 2021 defensive line together. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Dorlus has 24 quarterback pressures, with 20 of those logged as hurries. “[Dorlus] can beat you with power, but he can also beat you with a speed/ finesse move off the edge,” junior offensive lineman Ryan Walk said. “He can get your edge, then go inside. He’s got a plethora of moves and he never gives up on a pass rush. He’s gonna go to a counter move, you stop his counter move, he’ll go to a third move and I think that goes back to his work ethic.”

A push in the right direction As his mother helped his physical transformation, his father’s been instrumental on the mental side. Mecene never missed his son’s practices in high school, let alone games. But, with the distance, he and his wife’s support is largely relegated to phone calls. It’s during those frequent conversations that Mecene repeats a simple message to Dorlus. “You’re a leader, not a follower,” Mecene tells him. “You have to push him and get that out of him.” Against Fresno State in Oregon’s opener, that “push” came the moment Thibodeaux hit the turf with a high ankle sprain. Dorlus moved out to defensive end and gave the Bulldogs hell. He finished the game with five quarterback pressures, three hurries and a sack — a performance that landed him on PFF’s week one Team of the Week. “Next time, don’t wait for a teammate to get hurt to do that,” Mecene joked with his son after the game. As Oregon nurses ongoing injuries throughout the defense, Dorlus’ adaptability has remedied some of the shortcomings. “Brandon Dorlus is a monster up front,” safety Verone McKinley III said. “You don’t always see it because he didn’t make the sack or he didn’t have the tackle for loss, but he may have made the ball bounce or the quarterback scramble.” He added: “The Ohio State interception was a perfect example. Nobody said anything, that’s why I gave him credit because he was the one that forced that play.” Those are the types of plays Dorlus continually makes for the Ducks: disruptive and often under the radar. Mecene found an underhanded way to get his son off the court and onto the field. Then, to his surprise, Dorlus inexplicably came west and planted himself squarely in the middle of the Ducks’ transformation. He’s the kid from Florida who was born for the SEC, but departed the south to help start something special in the Pacific Northwest. The kid drawn to Oregon because of its bombastic style, who’s symbolic of the program’s overhaul and a token of the future in Eugene.

Ducks defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus (3) dodges one player while Arizona Wildcat Paiton Fears (74) reaches out for the tackle. The Oregon Ducks crush the Arizona Wildcats 41-19 in game four of the 2021 season. (Ian Enger/ Emerald)

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THE DUCKS

GAMEDAY

PREPARE FOR THEIR

BIGGEST

CONFERENCE

MATCHUP

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THUS FAR

Oregon heads to Los Angeles for a primetime matchup with Chip Kelly’s UCLA program. BY: Shane Hoffmann @Shane_Hoffmann

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Ducks wide receiver Devon Williams (2) grabs a contested pass. Oregon Ducks football takes on the UCLA Bruins at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Nov. 21, 2020. (DL Young/Emerald)

This one would mean a lot to Chip Kelly, wouldn’t it? The former Oregon coach, accredited with turning the program into a national contender in just his first year, has followed a far different path in Los Angeles. Kelly won more games during his first year, 12, in Eugene than he won in his first three combined in Southern California: three wins in 2018 and four in 2019. Some thought the offensive guru, once viewed as one of the nation’s more innovative coaches, had lost his touch. But results came last season when the Bruins ended their shortened season at 3-4. Kelly almost stole a game in Eugene last season with backup quarterback Chase Griffin. Now he’s got his multi-year starter, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, back and UCLA (5-2, tied for second in the Pac-12 South) is searching for a signature win against the Ducks. The UCLA coach is 0-2 against his former team. But, on Saturday, as College Gameday travels to Los Angeles, the stage is set for Kelly’s first win over his former program.

When Oregon has the ball Unlike the Ducks’ defense, whose numbers outside of turnovers forced have been unremarkable, the Bruins have a clear strength on defense — a unit on which all 11 starters are either seniors or fifth-years. UCLA is an elite run-stopping team. The Bruins are No. 9 nationally and the Pac-12 leaders in rush yards allowed per game. At just 91 per game, they’re the only team in the conference to allow fewer than 100. The Bruins attack the ball at all levels. The group has forced nine fumbles through seven games. UCLA’s defensive backs, led by senior safety Qwuantrezz Knight (team-high 40 tackles and three forced fumbles), are physical in the run game. “They’re gonna sell all out and stop the run,” Oregon offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead said. Moorhead described the group as “multiple and aggressive.” He also noted the Bruins’ propensity to blitz on first and second down. Senior linebacker Mitchell Agude

GAMEDAY is second on the team in tackles (26) and forced fumbles (2). But the Ducks, should their starting quarterback be so inclined, will have opportunities to attack down field. Statistically, the Bruins own the conference’s worst pass defense. They’ve allowed 2,031 yards this year, nearly 400 yards higher than any other team. Their 290 pass yards allowed per game stand alone atop the conference. UCLA does have 14 sacks — 3.5 coming by way of defensive tackle Datona Jackson and three from linebacker Bo Calvert. But, despite experienced defensive backs such as Quentin Lake and Stephan Blaylock on the back end, the secondary has sacrificed chunk plays all season. When UCLA has the ball Oregon’s defense has struggled to get off the field all season. Only the Cal Bears allow more yards than the Ducks (407.8). Worse yet, Oregon has lost the time of possession battle in every game of the season except for its loss to Stanford. This week, the Ducks face the conference’s most explosive run game. The Bruins have punished defenses on the ground all year. They’re first in the conference in total rush yards (1,541) and second in rush yards per game at 220.1. Zach Charbonnet — the junior and former Michigan Wolverine — is a bruising runner who has already amassed 697 yards and seven touchdowns on the year. Senior Brittain Brown balances the workload, adding 468 yards and another four scores. Both average 6.4 yards per carry. “To me, the most impressive thing they do is that they are really physical,” Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal said. “They’ve got a big, experienced offensive line.” Oregon’s getting healthy in the knick of time. The Ducks need all the bodies they can get up front. Mase Funa will be a welcome addition to a front seven that

Bruins running back Brittain Brown (28) dives over the pile up for the touchdown. Oregon Ducks football takes on the UCLA Bruins at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Nov. 21, 2020. (DL Young/Emerald)

had dominant moments against Cal, especially after Kayvon Thibodeaux’s second half return. In his fourth year as UCLA’s starter, Thompson-Robinson has risen into the upper echelon of the conference’s signal callers. The senior has racked up 1,419 yards on a 60.8% completion rate to go along with 13 touchdowns. He’s amassed 329 yards on the ground as well. His favorite target is junior tight end Greg Dulcich — a field-stretching force who’s averaging a team-high 17.8 yards per catch. He’s too fast for most linebackers, yet too big for smaller defensive backs. Ducks’ nickelback Jamal Hill could be an option when Oregon opts to go with man coverage due to his coverage abilities and linebacker-esque size. Regardless of outcome, Saturday’s matchup will go a long way in deciding how both the Pac-12 North and South divisions shake out. It’s Oregon’s first true test — on paper — since their trip to Columbus. It’s an opportunity for a statement game from Oregon’s Anthony Brown and a signature win for Chip Kelly. For the Ducks, it’s a chance to re-establish themselves in the national conversation.

The Oregon Ducks take on the California Golden Bears at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Oct. 15, 2021. (Serei Hendrie/Emerald)

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PATIENTLY WAITING:

DEVON WILLIAMS COULD BE ON THE VERGE OF A BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE Williams could be Oregon’s biggest weapon against a spotty Bruins secondary. BY: Charlie Folkestad @folkestad3

Ducks wide receiver Devon Williams (2) grabs a contested pass. Oregon Ducks football takes on the UCLA Bruins at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Nov. 21, 2020. (DL Young/Emerald)

On Nov. 21, 2020, it seemed as though wide receiver Devon Williams had his breakout game. Mario Cristobal thought so, too. “[I’m] really proud of Devon, and I feel like he’s another guy that’s just kind of getting going now,” Cristobal said after the 3835 win over UCLA. He added: “We feel like he’s going to be an excellent football player. [The] sky is the limit.” Williams posted career highs in catches (six) and yards (123) in last year’s matchup with the Bruins. He followed that up with another 100-plus yard performance against Oregon State the next week. Yet, after two explosive weeks, Williams shrunk back into the shadows. He was thrown to only five times in Oregon’s final two games, the majority of which were off target. Trapped in a constant cycle of rotations, Williams is a valuable asset against a dismal UCLA secondary. Mario Cristobal said Williams’ increase in touches came from “taking more accountability in his approach to practice.” Patience is a scarce resource in college football, and few players have had to exercise more of it than Williams. As the No. 1 rated athlete in the 2017 high school recruiting class, Williams committed to the USC Trojans. Two years, five catches and only 98 yards later,

he transferred to Oregon. As a sophomore currently playing his fourth year of college football, Williams became a bright spot for Oregon’s passing game in 2020. He finished as the team leader in receiving yards with 286 through seven games. Williams has shown impressive length and separation with his 6-foot-5, 207-pound frame, something Oregon’s receiving corps has historically lacked. Even in the days of Chip Kelly’s offense, receivers would often be schemed wide open and relied less on their physicality to make plays. Among Oregon wide receivers, Williams ranks fifth in total receiving yards (115) despite logging the highest Pro Football Focus receiving grade (70.8) this season. This year, UCLA has the worst passing defense in the Pac-12. They allow over 290 passing yards per game, a number Oregon is yet to reach this season. Williams is just one of Oregon’s receivers looking to get more touches. Senior Johnny Johnson III, sophomore Mycah Pittman and freshman Troy Franklin have all been under-utilized in 2021. Oregon’s 216.3 passing yards per game ranks ninth in the conference. They pass the ball on 41.19% of plays against FBS opponents, which ranks 101st in

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GAMEDAY the nation. Last week, quarterback Anthony Brown threw the ball to Williams more than usual. Williams (four targets and four catches for 67 yards) was poised for a resurgent performance, but saw zero looks in the second half. His 6.13 expected points added trailed only

Travis Dye (10.55) that night, according to GameOnPaper.com. With a few more targets, Williams could be the difference in the game on Saturday for the Ducks, who are narrow road underdogs in Pasadena. For now, he’ll patiently await his chance.

“[I’M] REALLY PROUD OF DEVON AND I FEEL LIKE HE’S ANOTHER GUY THAT’S JUST KIND OF GETTING GOING NOW.” MARIO CRISTOBAL

Oregon football head coach

Ducks wide receiver Devon Williams (2) gets wrapped up by a bruin. Oregon Ducks football takes on the UCLA Bruins at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., on Nov. 21, 2020. (DL Young/Emerald) PA G E 1 6

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