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DESPITE MOVING PIECES AROUND HIM, JUSTIN HERBERT IS PLAYING THE BEST FOOTBALL OF HIS CAREER
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ON THE COVER
Oregon Ducks quarterback Justin Herbert dodges a Stanford player. (Ben Green/Emerald)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 4
STANFORD TO TEST OREGON’S RUN GAME
8
“OWNERSHIP OF THE OFFENSE”: INSIDE HERBERT’S SENIOR SEASON
11
STRATEGY SHOWDOWN
12
PLAYERS TO WATCH
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INJURIES WON’T SLOW DUCKS’ PAC-12 OPENER
14
DEEP DIVE INTO STANFORD
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OREGON’S RUN GAME MUST BE PHYSICAL
DURING PAC-12 PLAY BY: Shane Hoffmann @shane_hoffmann | PHOTO: Sarah Northrop
Ducks running back CJ Verdell (7) drives the ball down the field but is soon taken down by a Grizzly. (Sarah Northrop/Emerald)
O
regon’s run game has struggled, looking far less potent than in years past against FCS competition. Oregon currently ranks fourth in the Pac-12 in yards per carry (5.1), sixth in yards per game (186.0) and seventh in rushing touchdowns (5). e substandard numbers will need to improve as Oregon enters Pac-12 play. ese numbers won’t suffice for a team who wants to continuously pound the ball on early downs for positive yardage. On paper, Oregon has one of the most experienced and physical offensive lines in the nation. But that’s on paper. In the season opener against Auburn, the Ducks failed to convert in short yardage on multiple occasions. eir stalled drives ultimately led to their demise.
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A performance like this against top-10-ranked Auburn is one thing, but when a team can’t consistently stay ahead of the sticks against nonconference competition, such as Nevada and Montana, it’s an entirely different story, especially when hard-nosed football in the trenches is something the Ducks take pride in. Against Nevada, Oregon ran the ball 39 times for a gain of 226 yards. Without Darrian Felix’s 62yard touchdown late in the game, however, those numbers don’t look nearly as good. Montana was a similar story. Oregon’s offense finished with 38 rushes for 253 yards, again adding in a late, 60-plus yard run when the game was essentially over. Not to say that these long runs don’t matter, because they certainly do, but once conference season begins, establishing the run and being able to consistently gain yards is much more
important than explosive plays in garbage time. “I think we had some good runs,” head coach Mario Cristobal said. “A couple we would like to have back. … When you play a team like [Montana], they have so many different stunts, cross blitzes … you’re going to have some plays that don’t look great sometimes.” Oregon ran 33 times against Auburn for a measly 126 yards, with a long of 37 yards. While it had success early on, its inability to gain consistent yards on first and second down stalled the offense late in the second half. is allowed Auburn to make its comeback and win the game, 27-21. Given that Oregon’s offensive line and running back groups are both filled with talent, the issues seem to be more scheme based. It’s important to remember that Oregon relies heavily on RPOs (run/pass options) in which Justin
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Justin’s a really good athlete,” Cristobal said. “His feet are going
to come more into play as we get into conference play.”
Ducks running back Darrian Felix (22) attempts to run with the ball. (Sarah Northrop/Emerald)
Herbert is tasked with reading the defense and isolating a certain defensive player; that player’s movements then lead Herbert to choose whether to hand it off or pull it out and look for an open receiver. ese plays are much harder to execute due to the unknown, and the variables that come with relying on quick decisions. One aspect which could help both the run game and the offense as a whole is further utilizing the running ability of Herbert. “Justin’s a really good athlete,” Cristobal said. “His feet are going to come more into play as we get into conference play.”
is could be a much needed wrinkle to help keep defenses on their toes. “ ey have a lot of bodies [up front],” Cristobal said of Oregon’s next opponent, Stanford. “Big body types, explosive, strong. ey’ve got great rushers, outside linebackers. ey present some issues. … ey disguise their pressures really well.” Stanford — while ranked outside of the top 100 in rushing defense — will be the next true test for Oregon, and if the Ducks can prove to be dominant up front, this may go a long way towards dispelling any worry about the run game.
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OREGON
STANFORD OFFENSE
OREGON OFFENSE Penei Sewell No. 58 Shane Lemieux No. 68 LG Jake Hanson No. 55 Dallas Warmack No. 75 Calvin Throckmorton No. 54 Jacob Breeland No. 27 Juwan Johnson No. 6 Jaylon Redd No. 30 Johnny Johnson III No. 3 CJ Verdell No. 7 Justin Herbert No. 10
LT
So. Sr.
C RG RT TE WR WR WR RB QB
Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. So. Sr.
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DE NT DT STUD
No. 41 No. 35 No. 32 No. 4 No. 6
Sr. Jr. Jr. Sr.
MLB WILL SAM CB CB S S
So. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. So. Jr.
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No. 78 No. 79 No. 84 No. 5 No. 4 No. 34 No. 22 No. 3
Sr. Jr.
RG RT TE WR WR FB RB QB
Jovan Swann Michael Williams Thomas Booker Casey Toohill Curtis Robinson Andrew Pryts No. 25 Jordan Fox Paulson Adebo Kendall Wiliamson Malik Antoine No. 3 Obi Eboh
No. 51 No. 57 No. 34 No. 52 No. 2
Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. So. Jr. 5th. Sr.
DE DT DE OLB ILB ILB
No. 10 No. 11 No. 21
Sr. Sr. So. 5th. Sr. Sr.
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No. 22
So. Sr. Jr.
Richard McNitzky No. 69 Ryan Sanborn No. 27 P Jet Toner No. 26
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Fr.
Sr. Jr. So. Sr.
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STANFORD SPECIAL TEAMS
OREGON SPECIAL TEAMS Karsten Battles Blake Maimone Adam Stack
Walter Rouse No. 75 Devery Hamilton Drew Dalman No. 51 Henry Hattis Foster Sarell Colby Parkinson Connor Wedington Michael Wilson Houston Heimuli Cameron Scarlett K.J. Costello
STANFORD DEFENSE
OREGON DEFENSE Gus Cumberlander Jordon Scott Austin Faoliu Bryson Young No. 56 Isaac Slade-Matautia Troy Dye La’Mar Winston Jr. Thomas Graham Jr. Deommodore Lenoir Jevon Holland No. 8 Brady Breeze No. 25
STANFORD
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Emerald Media Group wants to kick off the term with a party for all the ducks! Meet awesome student groups, eat free food, and play games to win prizes! Support your independent student media and celebrate the new year with Duck Fest!
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Ducks quarterback Justin Herbert (10) is pictured midthrow on the second down. (D L Young/Emerald)
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OREGON WILL NEED HERBERT’S BEST IF IT WANTS TO BEAT STANFORD FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2015 BY: Brady Lim | PHOTO: D L Young
Everyone expected Justin Herbert to be good in 2019. rough three games, he’s been more than good. He’s been great and is arguably playing the best football of his career as Pac-12 play opens for the final time in his collegiate career. Last season, in the first three games against Bowling Green, Portland State and San Jose State, Herbert completed just 56 percent of his passes for 840 yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions. Not bad by any means, but for a superstar quarterback with Heisman hype and the weight of a program on his back, it left a little to be desired — especially against competition that paled in comparison to what was on the horizon. In 2019, against Auburn, Nevada and Montana, Herbert has posted a 73 percent completion, 868 yards, 11 touchdowns and no interceptions. at’s a higher completion percentage than Texas’ Sam Ehlinger. More yards than Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence. More touchdowns than Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts. By almost any measure, Herbert has been one of the best quarterbacks in college football and has somehow managed to do it rather quietly. “Justin just continues to take complete ownership of the offense,” head coach Mario Cristobal said. “He’s doing a really good job.” Despite the success he’s experienced so far, Herbert recognizes there are still things to improve upon if the team wants to reach its ultimate goal. Never being satisfied is a common denominator among many of sports’ greatest athletes, and he’s exhibited a similar approach. “We kind of slipped up and things didn’t go exactly the way we wanted to,” Herbert said after Oregon’s win over Montana in which he threw for 316 yards and five touchdowns. “We learned some things, we’re gonna watch film, and we’re gonna
get better.” What makes Herbert’s blistering start in 2019 even more impressive has been the moving pieces surrounding him in the passing game. Juwan Johnson, who many expected to be the primary receiving option, has not played a snap. Neither has Brenden Schooler, who’s caught passes from Herbert since their sophomore season together. Mycah Pittman was another potential candidate to be Herbert’s primary target, and he too has yet to suit up. Last year, Herbert often found himself relying too much on Dillon Mitchell. Defenses recognized the tendency and were able to adjust accordingly. is year, without Mitchell as a safety net, he’s spread the ball around to everyone without any drop off in production. “I think that he’s done a really good job of involving guys that have had minimal reps,” offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo said. “He’s setting a good standard.” Maintaining the expected excellence while working in an almost entirely revamped receiving corps is not easy to do, but that’s just a testament to how effective he’s been early on in the season. “It’s just growth,” Herbert said. “Having another year with this offense, and having some guys step up who are able to make plays, it makes my job a lot easier.” When asked about Herbert, the pass catchers tend to say the same thing — that he makes their job easier. “I mean, when you got an NFL quarterback playing as your quarterback, it’s pretty nice,” tight end Jacob Breeland said. “Running up the hash, he throws a perfect ball every time. I just catch it and run.” On Saturday against Montana, Herbert became the first Oregon quarterback in history to throw
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for 300-plus yards and five touchdowns in back-to-back games. He also moved into second place all-time in touchdown passes at the University of Oregon, trailing only Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota. e stats are nice. ey put his accomplishments into perspective. But at the same time, Herbert will leave those stats at the door of Stanford Stadium on Saturday when the Ducks open conference play against the Cardinal. Herbert has not yet beaten Stanford in his three-year Oregon career. In 2016, as a freshman, he threw two picks in a 52-27 drubbing that gave the Ducks their seventh loss of the season. In 2017, he was injured and had to watch from the sideline as the Cardinal once again throttled the Ducks, 49-7. Last year in 2018, Herbert played well — 26for-33, 346 yards, one touchdown — but the offense failed to protect a late lead and the Ducks lost in overtime in what was the biggest game of Herbert’s career at the time. Now, as a senior, Herbert will get one more crack at the team that has derailed many Oregon seasons in the past. For the first time in the past three Oregon-Stanford matchups, the Cardinal are not ranked in the AP Top 25. And for the first time in the past three Oregon-Stanford matchups, Justin Herbert is coming into the game playing the best football of his career. “ ere’ll be plenty of time later to reminisce,” Herbert said. “We’re just focusing on one game at a time.”
Oregon Ducks quarterback Justin Herbert makes a pass. (Sarah Northrop/Emerald)
Ducks quarterback Justin Herbert (10) celebrates tight end Jacob Breeland’s (27) touchdown. (Sarah Northrop/Emerald)
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MATCHUPS: OREGON BRINGS VERSATILE TEAM TO STRUGGLING STANFORD BY: Oscar Duyck | PHOTO: Sarah Northrop One of the reasons why the Oregon versus Stanford match-up has become such a great rivalry in recent years is because the two teams play vastly different styles of football. Oregon has staked its reputation as a fast, uptempo offense with athletic skill players that wear out opposing defenses. Stanford plays a throwback style of defensive football with a strong front seven coupled with a power run game that can wear down an opposing defense.
Oregon offense versus Stanford defense Although this year’s Oregon squad does not play with the same pace as previous Oregon teams, the offense has been playing relatively well — especially in the last two weeks. e Ducks lead the Pac-12 with 19 total touchdowns and average 44 points per game which is good for 19th in the nation and second in the Pac-12. ey are strong in both the passing and ground game. eir 319 passing yards per game puts them second in the Pac-12. e Ducks 186 yards rushing yards is sixth in the conference. e Ducks boast a Heisman caliber quarterback in Justin Herbert. ey have a talented running-back platoon led by CJ Verdell and Travis Dye. Johnny Johnson III has emerged at wide receiver and tight end Jacob Breeland is a good red-zone option. Stanford’s traditionally strong defense has come into question after conceding 45 points to both USC and UCF. Stanford gave up 492 yards to USC and freshman quarterback Kedon Slovis. e next week, it gave up 545 yards to No. 15 UCF. Stanford has plummeted toward the bottom in defensive statistics as well. e Cardinal rank 103rd in the nation and 11th in the Pac-12 in points allowed at 32 per game. Stanford’s best player on defense is cornerback Paulson Adebo. In 2018, Adebo defended 24 passes which was more than any other player in the conference and was All-Pac-12 First Team. Casey Toohill leads the team with 20 tackles and forced a clutch fumble to secure a win against Northwestern in week one.
Oregon defense versus Stanford offense Oregon is not a program usually known for its defense, but this year is different. New defensive coordinator Andy Avalos is ushering in a new culture. Most notably the top recruit in the country Kayvon ibodeaux decided to play for the Ducks. Oregon’s defense has been stingy, giving up 12 points a game and ranked 14th in the country. As a unit, the Ducks lead the conference with 10 sacks. Oregon has five interceptions, which is second in the Pac-12. e Ducks have allowed an average of 99 rushing yards a game which is third in the conference. e most impressive stat is that the Ducks have only given up a total of 36 points in three games, which is also third in the conference. e Ducks defensive playmakers have also stepped up their game. Inside linebacker Troy Dye is an anchor on Oregon’s defense with a total of 21 tackles this year, 15 of which came against Auburn. e secondary has started started strong too, with Jevon Holland being a bright spot. e safety has 13 tackles and an interception on the season. Stanford’s current offense is a far cry from the days of Andrew Luck and Christian McCaffrey; Stanford ranks 11th in total yards per game in the Pac-12 with an average of 350. e offense has scored a measly seven touchdowns compared to Oregon’s conference-leading 19. e Cardinal rank ninth in the Pac-12 in both average passing and rushing yards. Stanford needs its quarterback K.J. Costello to be healthy. Costello suffered a head injury against Northwestern that caused him to sit the USC game. He had a shaky game against UCF and his accuracy was questionable. At full strength, Costello can cause problems for Oregon. He carved up the Oregon defense last year as he threw for 327 yards and three touchdowns. e Cardinal have some offensive weapons, such as running back Cameron Scarlett. He had over 100 yards from scrimmage in his first two games. e fifth-year veteran will look to score his first touchdown of the season against Oregon. Oregon and Stanford will meet for the 82nd time as the Ducks bring a vaunted defense into Palo Alto. Oregon will be looking to take advantage of an injured Stanford team that has beaten the Ducks three consecutive year.
Ducks inside linebacker Troy Dye dances alone on the field to “Shout.” (Sarah Northrop/Emerald)
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PLAYERS TO WATCH BY: Shane Hoffmann @shane_hoffmann
Stanford QUARTERBACK, K.J. COSTELLO Senior K.J. Costello dominated Oregon in a miraculous second-half comeback last season, throwing for over 300 yards to go along with three touchdowns. But this year, Costello has struggled. He led his team to a 17-7 win against Northwestern to open the season, but was injured and missed the following week. He returned against UCF but turned in a meager performance. He recorded 199 yards, a touchdown and an interception, in a game where he completed under 50 percent of his passes and his team lost 45-27. e Pac-12 has seen how effective Costello can be and Saturday will be a chance for him to prove himself as he goes up against the best quarterback in the conference
CORNERBACK, PAULSON ADEBO Defensive back Paulson Adebo is one of Stanford’s best NFL prospects. Standing at 6-foot-1 with ample speed, the junior is a prime target for teams looking to add depth on the back end. Last year, Adebo recorded 64 total tackles along with 17 passes defended — one of the best marks in the Pac-12 — and four interceptions. He’s off to a good start in 2019 after hauling in an interception against Northwestern, but Stanford’s defense has struggled. ey’ve surrendered 45 points in consecutive weeks. Adebo will most likely be facing the best quarterback on their schedule this week. Fortunately for him, Oregon’s pass catchers remain banged up.
Oregon CORNERBACK: MYKAEL WRIGHT Mykael Wright was one of Oregon’s most talked about freshmen throughout the offseason, and in limited snaps, he has impressed thus far. While he didn’t appear against Auburn, he has seen time in the previous two games. Last week versus Montana, he racked up three tackles, two deflected passes and an interception. Wright entered the year as a backup to starting corner omas Graham. is week, however, he may get an early shot at a starting role after Graham left Saturday’s game during the first half. Graham is one of the conferences’ best corners, but given Wright’s recent play, there is reason to believe the drop-off to a true freshman cornerback may not be as steep as one
DEFENSIVE END: KAYVON THIBODEAUX While Wright and others have received plenty of hype, none have been in the spotlight more than the No. 1 freshman in the nation Kayvon ibodeaux — and for good reason. ibodeaux jumps off the line with his explosive play style and dizzying speed. He lost the starting battle to senior Gus Cumberlander, but has seen his role increase week after week. Whether it’s chasing down an opposing quarterback and forcing an inaccurate throw or forcing a running back to cut back into a filled hole in the defense, he has been in the right place consistently. His speed alone has helped him create chaos on the field. Despite the talented depth of the front line, ibodeaux seems poised for his breakout moment in the Pac-12 opener against Stanford.
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OREGON ENTERS PAC-12 PLAY WITH INJURIES, BUT SEEKS REDEMPTION AGAINST STANFORD BY: Gabe Ornelas @gabe_ornelas | PHOTO: Sarah Northrop
Oregon, after going 2-1 in nonconference play, will begin Pac-12 play against Stanford. e Ducks opened up conference play last season against the Cardinal suffering a gut-wrenching 38-31 loss. Like the Ducks, Stanford will also come into this game with lots of injured players. Despite the injuries and the memories of last season’s loss, the Ducks are looking to open conference play with a win against a team that has caused them trouble in the past. “I don’t think that exists with our guys and the way our guys are built up and the way we train,” head coach Mario Cristobal said when asked about last year’s game. “If there’s anything lingering it’s nothing but motivation.” Oregon will head into Palo Alto with the possibility of having a new man at center. During last Saturday’s game against Montana, center Jake Hanson suffered an unspecified injury that has kept him out of practice and potentially out of the game against Stanford. Luckily, the Ducks have a veteran and deep offensive line group. Calvin rockmorton will shift to center from right tackle with offensive lineman Brady Aiello taking his place. “ rock is a high level player... he does it all well,” Cristobal said. “Should that be the case where he plays [at center] we have complete faith and trust in Brady Aiello, who has played great football for us. We will go with whatever we are ready to go with.” Oregon, as of Wednesday, has Juwan Johnson listed as day-today after suffering a calf injury in week one. Cyrus Habibi-Likio, who suffered back spasms against Montana, is also day-to-day.
Head Coach Mario Cristobal listens for the call. (Sarah Northrop/Emerald)
Cornerback omas Graham Jr., who suffered a right ankle injury last week, has been granted full-go. Stanford, like Oregon, has a roster riddled with injuries, but the Ducks aren’t using that as a crutch against the Cardinal. “I think everyone at this point has gone through a good amount of injuries,” Cristobal said. “ ey have quality depth across the board. ey know how to win games, they present matchup problems as well some of their length and their size. ey’ve
got an excellent football team, so we know that we need to be at our best.” Oregon, who has not played well on the road in recent years, will begin conference play away from Autzen Stadium. e Cardinal have beat Oregon three consecutive years and have only lost at home eight times since 2010. Also, Justin Herbert has never beaten Stanford during his time as Oregon’s starting quarterback. If Herbert and the rest of the Ducks want to end their losing streak against Stanford they will need
to prove it on the road. “You have to understand that you’ve got to pack your toughness, your resiliency, you’ve got to pack your perseverance,” Cristobal said. “All the stuff that goes with being a touch football team on the road knowing that when you leave your home and you go do it on the road there [are] the factors that are outside the football game itself.”
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Oregon defense tackles a Stanford player. (Ben Green/Emerald)
A DEEP DIVE INTO STANFORD BY: Oscar Duyck | PHOTO: Ben Green
e matchup between Stanford and Oregon has arguably been one of the biggest rivalries in the recent decade of the Pac-12. Both teams have produced some of the best quarterbacks in recent memory in the likes of Stanford’s Andrew Luck and Oregon’s Marcus Mariota. Also, Oregon and Stanford have battled for the Pac-12 North and, by extension, the entire conference. Last year’s bout was especially memorable as the Ducks blew a 24-7 halftime lead and were defeated 3831 in overtime at home. In 2019, Stanford began the season ranked 25th and as one of the teams favored to win the Pac-12 North. In the season opener, the Cardinal won a gritty game against Northwestern at home, 17-7, using their trademark running game and a stingy
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defense to earn the victory. e next two weeks weren’t nearly as kind. ey opened up conference play with a loss against USC, 45-20. USC’s freshman quarterback Kedon Slovis burned Stanford’s defense for 377 yards and three touchdowns. e following week was equally disastrous as Stanford fell to No. 15 UCF, 45-27. Once again, Stanford’s defense was bashed by an inexperienced quarterback — this time Dillon Gabriel — who had four passing touchdowns. Stanford’s offense has struggled to open the season. Quarterback KJ Costello has dealt with a head injury which forced him to sit the USC game. e team only averages 115 yards rushing yards per game, ranking them ninth in the Pac-12.
e Cardinal average 21 points a game, good for 10th in the Pac-12 . Although Stanford is not a program traditionally known for elite offenses, its typically sturdy defense has been torched in back-to-back weeks. Stanford concedes 32 points a game, which is ranked 103rd in the FBS and 11th in the Pac-12. Despite the team’s early season struggles, Stanford’s record is not indicative of its talent. e program is led by one of the best coaches in the Pac-12, David Shaw, who has been with the team for nine seasons. Shaw has an all-time record of 83-28 and has won three Pac-12 titles. If anyone can right the ship, it’s Shaw. Costello will start as quarterback in Saturday’s game against Oregon. He has yet to break 200
GAMEDAY passing yards in a game this season and only completed 47 percent of his passes against UCF. e 2018 Second Team All-Pac-12 quarterback will look to improve his play against the Ducks after an impressive performance in last year’s comeback win in which he completed 19 of 26 passes for 327 yards and three touchdowns. Stanford’s most consistent playmaker on offense is running back Cameron Scarlett, who leads the team with 224 rushing yards and a touchdown on 51 carries. Scarlett needs to have a big game for Stanford to be able to compete with Oregon’s offense. Stanford is known for its tough defense and the unit will look to rebound against the Ducks. e Cardinal’s leading tackler is outside linebacker Casey Toohill with 20 tackles through three games. Toohill forced a
Introducing
fumble in the fourth quarter against Northwestern that helped Stanford secure the victory. e defensive player that could cause the most problems for the Ducks is cornerback Paulson Adebo, who has 17 tackles and an interception this season. In 2018, Adebo was All-Pac-12 First Team. He led the nation with 24 passes defended and was 16th in the country in interceptions with four. He has the ability to slow down Oregon receivers like Johnny Johnson III. Although Stanford has struggled thus far, Oregon should not take the Cardinal for granted. Stanford has a solid defense that, when keyed in, could wreak havoc on Oregon’s offense. Stanford is a proud team that will not want to start 0-2 in conference play.
“STANFORD IS KNOWN FOR ITS TOUGH DEFENSE AND THE UNIT WILL LOOK TO REBOUND AGAINST THE DUCKS. ”
Stanford wide receiver Cameron Buzzell faces an Oregon defender. (Ben Green/Emerald)
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