GAMEDAY
IMMEDIATE
IMPACT OREGON’S FRESHMEN AREN’T SITTING ON THE BENCH. They’re on the field making plays, and according to head coach Willie Taggart, it shouldn’t be a surprise.
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ON THE COVER
Thomas Graham Jr. in game against Nebraska on September, 9, 2017. Photograph by Adam Eberhardt
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GAMEDAY
PLAYERS TO WATCH BY: Aaron Alter @aaronalter95
Arizona State Wide Receiver: N’Keal Harry
Linebacker: Christian Sam
After catching 58 passes for 659 yards and five touchdowns as a freshman, N’Keal Harry has already begun to put together an impressive sophomore campaign. In Arizona State’s recent loss to Texas Tech, he piled up 148 yards and a touchdown on 13 receptions. At 6-foot-4, 216 pounds, Harry has the size to give the Ducks’ smaller DBs trouble on jump balls. His speed (4.4-second 40 yard dash) isn’t exceptional, but it doesn’t hinder his play. The Sun Devils have only rushed for 291 yards this season, but Harry owns 179 of those yards, and will continue to be the focal point of Arizona State’s offense.
Christian Sam appeared to be an up-andcoming player before an injury sidelined him for his junior season. The linebacker amassed 98 tackles and three sacks as a sophomore. Now that he’s healthy, Sam is starting to look like his old self. He had 11 tackles in ASU’s loss to Texas Tech, and has the size (6-foot-2, 237 pounds) to give tight ends and running backs trouble in the flat. If ASU wants to shut the Ducks’ offense down they’ll need Sam to bring constant pressure on the run.
Oregon
Cornerback: Quarterback: Justin Herbert Arrion Springs Through three games, Justin Herbert has looked solid. He’s thrown for 897 yards and currently has a 90.4 quarterback rating. This weekend, he faces a Sun Devils secondary that was torched by Texas Tech for 543 yards and six touchdowns. Last season, Herbert threw for 489 yards against ASU. Now with a year of experience under his belt, it wouldn’t be shocking to see him go even further. While Oregon is typically a run-first team, don’t be surprised to see Herbert air it out early and often. He has the arm and weapons to make life miserable for ASU’s secondary.
While he’s yet to record an interception this season, Arrion Springs has helped lead Oregon’s defensive resurgence. He currently leads the team with six pass break-ups through three games. While other members of the secondary have more takeaways, Springs will be crucial in Saturday’s matchup with the Sun Devils. At 6-foot, he’ll likely be checking N’Keal Harry. Harry will likely be ASU’s most targeted player. Springs has the physical potential to jam him at the line of scrimmage. If Springs can give Harry trouble, he’ll derail the Sun Devils’ game plan.
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GAMEDAY
PRACTICE REPORT: OREGON COACHES PRAISE ASU ATHLETICISM
BY: Gus Morris @JustGusMorris | PHOTO: Adam Eberhardt
On paper, No. 24 Oregon (3-0) is a clear favorite against Arizona State (1-2). Oregon wields one of the most potent offenses in the country, while the Sun Devils rank near the bottom in most defensive categories. That’s part of the reason why the Ducks are listed as 14-point favorites, according to ESPN. However, Arizona State’s nonconference schedule was much tougher than the Ducks’ which explains its current record and statistics. It also begs the question, how prepared is Oregon for Pac-12 play after a relatively light nonconference schedule? Well, for starters, Oregon is not overlooking the Sun Devils. “They’re tremendously athletic,” Troy Dye said. “I mean, it’s Pac-12 play now. So we’re going to start seeing a lot more faster offenses, more athleticism, bigger guys, faster guys; you’ll start seeing a lot more of that now. We’re looking forward to the challenge and just ready to show everybody what we’re made of.” Arizona State posses a number of offensive weapons, including quarterback Manny Wilkins and running back Kalen Ballage. Ballage ran for
62 yards and two touchdowns and racked up 105 receiving yards in last year’s matchup with the Ducks, which Oregon won 54-35. Wilkins didn’t play against Oregon last season after injuring his shoulder the week prior, but he has impressed in three games this season. He’s completed 68 percent of his 101 passes, with seven touchdowns and zero interceptions. “[That] boy can throw a good deep ball,” defensive back Arrion Springs said. “He really likes deep and outside. Corners can’t really get to it. He’s thrown, like, 100 passes and no interceptions. Man, that’s really impressive.” Oregon is preparing for a passing attack from Arizona State, which has thrown for 945 yards and only rushed for 291 as a team this season. “They give a challenge downfield on deep balls and stuff like that but I feel that’s nothing that we can’t handle,” Springs said. “We just have to make plays on the ball when it’s in the air.” To counter Arizona State’s athleticism, tackling has become a focal point of Oregon’s defensive approach. The Sun Devils’ offense practically runs on receivers or backs making plays in the open field. Oregon defensive coordinator Jim
The Oregon Ducks host the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017.
Leavitt hopes to use this weeks’ matchup as an opportunity to work on tackling, an area he thinks has been a mixed bag this season. “Sometimes good, sometimes not so good,” Leavitt said. “We got to continue to work on it, especially this week because they has got some athletes.” Faoliu to play, Nelson status still uncertain Freshman defensive lineman Austin Faoliu started in Oregon’s first two games this season but didn’t travel with the team to play Wyoming. He was apparently held out with a foot injury, but head coach Willie Taggart said at Wednesday’s practice that he would play on Saturday. Faoliu didn’t record any stats against Southern Utah, but had one solo tackle and one assisted tackle against Nebraska. Charles Nelson’s status for Saturday’s game is also up in the air. Nelson sprained his ankle in the first half of Oregon’s 49-13 win over Wyoming. Taggart hasn’t updated his status since Monday when he confirmed Nelson’s injury was just a sprain. Nelson is listed as a starter on Oregon’s depth chart this week but reports say he hasn’t participated in practices this week.
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COVER
FRESHMEN RISE TO THE OCCASION BY: Jack Butler @Butler917 | PHOTO: Adam Eberhardt
When Oregon football head coach Willie Taggart addressed his team for the first time, he said he was going to run it like an NFL program. “My job as a head coach is to go out and recruit guys to take your job, ok,” Taggart said in a video posted by goducks.com. “It’s on you to keep your job. That’s what it’s going to take. That’s how we’re going to run our football program. “Pretty fair, isn’t it?” So far, Taggart has delivered on his promise. Freshmen are taking starting jobs from upperclassmen. Like any other player, they earn playing time by performing well in practice. But some freshmen are doing more than just earning playing time — they’re making a significant impact. There are four freshmen listed as starters for Oregon’s upcoming game against Arizona State: wide receiver Johnny Johnson III, nose guard Austin Faoliu, safety Nick Pickett and cornerback Thomas Graham Jr. There are other freshmen that get significant playing time, but they are not listed as starters. Against Nebraska, Graham Jr. didn’t look like a typical freshman. It was clear Nebraska’s game plan was to target the receivers Graham Jr. was covering as a way to exploit his inexperience. On Nebraska’s first offensive play, they threw deep at Graham Jr. The freshman tracked the receiver successfully and tipped the ball in the air where senior safety Tyree Robinson intercepted it. Later in the game, he intercepted two passes. Any takeaway is significant, but those plays were huge in what ended as a seven-point game. Taggart, who relayed Graham Jr.’s message to the media after the game, was energized by the freshman’s performance. “[Graham] said he’s so excited,” Taggart said. “That’s why he came to Oregon, to help this football team turn this program
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around. … For him to be as young as he is and know as much football as he does, it’s great to have and it’s great to know we’re going to have him for while around here.” Despite his accomplishments against Nebraska, Graham Jr.’s performance wasn’t all candy and roses. He allowed a Nebraska wide receiver to catch a ball over him in the endzone. It could’ve been a demoralizing play for any player, especially a freshman. But clearly, Graham Jr. is no ordinary freshman. “The biggest thing I liked is that he battled back after that first touchdown he gave up and was able to finish that he battled back after that first touchdown he gave up and was able to finish the game and help us win,” cornerback coach Charles Clark said. Clark, who coached at Colorado before joining Oregon’s staff in January, remembers scouting and recruiting Graham Jr. during his sophomore year of high school. Graham Jr. is a crucial part of the defense’s success. It’ is proven by the fact that he passed experienced cornerbacks on the depth chart to earn his spot. “Thomas is really a special player,” senior cornerback Arrion Springs said. “He’s got great hands, great ball instincts. I’m just helping him out, Ugo’s just helping him out. We’re just making sure he’s just ready to play.” Springs was also quick to point out Oregon Ducks wide receiver Johnny that Graham Jr.’s stats are impressive Johnson III (80) dives to make a catch while being chased by given his brief time at Oregon. Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive “He does have more interceptions back Lamar Jackson (21).
[than I do in] my career in two games,” Springs said. It’s no secret that Oregon’s defense was horrendous last season. But now, defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt is trusting a group of freshmen to be crucial elements in turning it around. Graham Jr.’s impact can clearly be seen on the stat sheet. He’s tied with Ugochukwu Amadi for the team lead in interceptions with two, and his 14 solo tackles ranks second on the team. But for nose guards Faoliu and Scott, whose jobs are also extremely important, their impact isn’t always represented on the stat sheet. In a 3-4 defensive scheme, the nose guard is the anchor. They line-up against the center and their task is to take up space in the middle. The goal is to attract multiple offensive linemen in order to allow other defensive linemen and linebackers more space to operate. While others get the glamor for the tackle, the nose guard’s work can go unnoticed to the untrained eye. Scott and Faoliu, despite being freshmen, have played well. “I’m very confident in their abilities to be
starters for us at nose tackle,” center Jake Hanson said. “They’re very different players. Obviously Jordon is the typical two-gapping nose. Austin has a lot more wiggle to him, I guess you could say.” Per UO, Faoliu did not travel to Wyoming due to an ankle injury, but Taggart expects him to be back for Arizona State. The duo of Faoliu and Scott has so far combined for four tackles and zero sacks. But they know their job is more than stuffing the box score, and like Graham Jr., they’ve handled it well. “They didn’t stumble,” defensive line coach Joe Salave’a said. “That’s a good thing, and you’re always leery about those things. But those guys have a different temperament about the game and it’s refreshing. With that, we continue to push and prod and provoke those two guys to continue to improve.” When a new coach is hired, they usually have a short period of time to compile their first recruiting class. Taggart had roughly a month, yet he was able to compile a top-20 class. He got some talented recruits that showed potential to take starting jobs.
Taggart has so far stayed true to his word, but it’s hard to know exactly what his expectations were for the freshmen. So, is he surprised? “No, not necessarily because we’ve seen it in practice,” Taggart said. “All these guys that you’ve seen playing out on Saturday, they did a lot of these things in training camp, and some of them did it in spring ball. … It’s not surprising. It’s just a matter of getting them in there and letting them do what they do.” Among them is Johnson III. The wide receiver from Chandler, Arizona, broke into an experienced offense that needed reinforcements at the receiver position. Johnson III had instant chemistry with quarterback Justin Herbert, and he showed his big play potential with a 51-yard diving catch. The freshmen are making an impact this season. Right now, Taggart and Oregon have a recruiting class ranked in the top-10, according to 247sports.com. His philosophy will not change, and those players will have an equal opportunity to earn playing time. So the freshmen who took jobs this year will have to fight to keep them next year.d ham Jr. Oregon cornerback Thomas Graham Jr. (4) intercepts a pass meant for Nebraska Cornhuskers tight end Tyler Hoppes (88).
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GAMEDAY Oregon Ducks quarterback Justin herbert (10) fights off a tackle against Arizona State at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Oct, 29, 2016.
DEEP DIVE: GETTING TO KNOW ASU
BY: Zak Laster @zaklast | PHOTO: Adam Eberhardt
After sweeping through the nonconference schedule, head coach Willie Taggart and the Oregon Ducks begin Pac-12 play on Saturday with a matchup against the Arizona State Sun Devils in Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils enter the game with a 1-2 record, with losses against San Diego State at home and Texas Tech on the road. They opened the season with a 37-31 home victory over New Mexico State. Head coach Todd Graham has held the job since 2012 but entered this season on the hot seat after compiling a 12-14 record over the past two season. A win over Oregon may not fix all his problems, but it would be a good start. Quarterback Manny Wilkins has completed 68 percent of his passes, and has thrown seven touchdowns and no interceptions this season. However, Oregon comes into the game ranked third in the nation in defensive interceptions with seven. “This is going to be the most athletic football team we’ve played this year by far,” Taggart said. “They have great talent, great skill and a very mobile quarterback. That brings another challenge to the defense.”
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Justin Herbert and Oregon’s offense should have success against the Sun Devils since the Ducks’ average 323.7 passing yards per game, the 17th best mark in the nation. Herbert tied Bill Musgrave for most passing yards in a single game in Oregon history with 489 passing yards against the Sun Devils last season. Royce Freeman has been making things look easy running the ball for the Ducks. He enters Saturday ranked third in the nation among with 460 rushing yards this season and leads the nation with nine touchdowns. He should have opportunities for success against the Sun Devils, who are giving up 167.3 rushing yards per game and 4.92 yards per carry, which ranks 90th in the nation. Arizona State is 117th in the nation in scoring defense and surrenders an average of 37.7 points per game. Oregon’s offense should continue to steamroll, as they average 56 points per game and rank third in the nation in scoring offense. Phil Bennett, hired from Baylor University, is in his first year as defensive coordinator for the Sun Devils. This will be the third game in a row that the Ducks will be facing a team with a first-year
defensive coordinator. The Sun Devils defense is currently ranked 121st with 505.3 yards given up per game. Only nine other teams in all of college football have given up more yards this season. While the Sun Devils give up a lot of yards, they don’t hand it over via penalty. They are the ninth least-penalized team in the country, averaging just 32.3 yards per game. By comparison, Oregon surrenders 86 penalty yards per game, tied for 114th in the nation. However, last week against Wyoming the Ducks had just four penalties for 40 yards. “I think a big part of it is to eliminate the personal fouls,” Taggart said. “Those are the ones that drive you crazy. Those are the selfish penalties that we just can’t have.” Sun Devils kicker Brandon Ruiz has yet to kick a field goal under 40 yards this season. He made twoof-four and his longest kick is 52 yards. The statistics heading into this matchup lean heavily towards the Ducks. Media and coaches have Oregon ranked in the polls again, and this game provides the team an opportunity to make a statement to start Pac-12 play.
GAMEDAY
LINEBACKERS PROVIDE NEEDED EDGE BY: Shawn Medow @ShawnMedow | PHOTO: Phillip Quinn The Oregon Ducks host the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017.
With just over two minutes on the clock at Autzen Stadium on Sept. 9, Oregon’s defense was trying to hold onto a 42-35 lead over Nebraska. Cornhusker quarterback Tanner Lee took the snap, faked a handoff, stepped into the pocket and attempted a pass down the right sideline. His pass was tipped by Oregon outside linebacker Jonah Moi and defensive back Ugochukwu Amadi grabbed the ball to seal the victory for the Ducks. “We just knew the defense had to make a play,” Amadi said. “The offense was struggling.” Moi, a junior college transfer in his redshirt senior season for the Ducks, is part of a linebacker unit that’s become a tour de force three games into the 2017 season. After a season full of defensive woes, the Ducks’ linebackers are providing stability for Oregon’s defense. Defensive coordinator and inside linebacker coach Jim Leavitt is putting emphasis on the linebacker unit this season. “I feel comfortable because Leavitt’s putting us in the right places,” Moi said. “I think it’s a really good scheme. I just feel like if I just do my job, do what he tells me to do, it’s going to come out in my favor.” Moi’s performance against Nebraska earned him a second consecutive start when the Ducks traveled to Wyoming, but he’s listed as a backup behind Justin Hollins on Oregon’s depth chart for the upcoming game against the Sun Devils. Moi is still a key player in
the Ducks’ defense and he’s not going unnoticed by the coaching staff. “Obviously, our whole key is setting the edge as the defense and he’s actually playing not just more physical, but he’s playing smarter too,” outside linebacker coach Raymond Woodie said. “Obviously stopping the run, setting the edge and then the pass coverage, you know, his eyes are much better than they were in the spring.” As an inside linebacker, Moi’s primary job is to force the opposition’s offensive players inside to the bulk of the defensive linemen and linebackers. His trust in his inside linebackers, who are led by sophomore Troy Dye, is necessary for the team’s engine to run. “Troy, he’s a baller,” Moi said. “He just has a good nose for the ball.” The depth at linebacker gives relief to the players, which helps in practice as players get the chance to rest between reps to simulate game-like functions. The emphasis on energy has been described as “juice” and the coaching staff is seeing plenty of juice in the linebackers. “Our guys work every day and with [Moi] and Fotu [Leiato II], you know those guys are so similar,” Woodie said. “La’mar [Winston Jr.] is just actually playing lights out as far as his desire to make every play. His work ethic is unreal ... and when you push play with him, he’s always going with fanatical effort. It’s hard to keep him off the field.”
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GAMEDAY
BRENDEN SCHOOLER PROVES HIS VERSATILITY BY: Shawn Medow @ShawnMedow PHOTO: Adam Eberhardt
In the Ducks’ week two game against Nebraska, Brenden Schooler caught his first career touchdown. He didn’t know what to do when he celebrated. He raised his arms in the air and waited as teammates ran to him. One of those teammates was quarterback Justin Herbert, who proceeded to tackle his receiver. “His tackling skills are pretty good, I think he learned from me,” Schooler said after the game. “He kind of blindsided me. I didn’t know it was him until I looked up and saw it was him.” Schooler expected it, though. “I told him first touchdown he better be ready because I’m coming down there and I’m gonna crack him,” Herbert said. After playing his freshman year as a defensive back, Schooler made the transition to wide receiver in fall camp. With a young receiver corps with only one upperclassman, Charles Nelson, Schooler has become one of Herbert’s targets early on this season. His change from defense to offense hasn’t affected him mentally when he steps on the field in Autzen Stadium. “It is different, but when you’re out there, you don’t really think about the crowd; you think about your assignments,” he said. Schooler wasn’t recruited as a defensive back nor as a wide receiver. He was recruited as an athlete. The only scholarship he received in high school was from Wyoming. But with Pac-12 aspirations in mind, he took a chance and turned down the offer. He decided instead to wait for a better opportunity, which Oregon Ducks Brenden Schooler (86) reaches out to catch the ball while being defended by Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive back Dicaprio Bootle (23). The Oregon Ducks host the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017.
The Oregon Ducks host the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017. PA G E 1 0
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eventually came from the Ducks just weeks after he graduated from Mission Viejo High School. “It was honestly a blessing to get that offer [from Wyoming],” Schooler said. “It was my first and only one. I just felt like I always wanted to play in the Pac-12 at heart and so I just declined the offer, and I just waited and waited and Oregon came around and now I’m here.” Following his touchdown in the Nebraska game, Schooler stepped right back on the field for the kickoff on special teams. He charged down field and wrapped up the ball carrier for an impressive tackle. That play – along with his overall special teams performance – earned him the Ducks’ special team player of the week award. The award is a boxing championship belt. “I feel pretty cool,” Schooler said. “It’s an honor to be chosen as the special team player of the week so I do wear it with pride.” His progress at wide receiver hasn’t gone unnoticed within the team. Wide receiver coach Michael Johnson says that Schooler is doing what is asked of him, and even though he’s only had five receptions through three games, three grabs for 41 yards against Nebraska was exactly what the Ducks coaching staff wanted from him. “I think you all see why we decided to move him over there, he can help our football team,” head coach Willie Taggart said. “I think he’s still learning and as he gets really comfortable we’ll see a lot more of him. Schooler’s a heck of a football player and [has] great ball skills. … I think we’re only seeing the beginning of what he can be.”
GAMEDAY
OREGON SPECIALISTS TAKE THEIR HUMOR TO TWITTER The Oregon Ducks host the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017.
BY: Gus Morris @JustGusMorris | PHOTO: Adam Eberhardt In late August of this year, senior kicker Aidan Schneider, senior long-snapper Tanner Carew and several other members of Oregon’s special teams were lounging around in Oregon’s facilities when an idea popped up. That idea? Start an Oregon Specialist’s Twitter account devoted to highlighting what is arguably the most entertaining group of players on the Ducks’ roster. The group had seen other specialist accounts from other schools — Northern Arizona University, Boise State University, University of Minnesota and University of Michigan all have similar pages — and decided to make their own. So far, it’s been a hit. The page has gained 784 followers in the little over a month that it’s existed. The posts, which range from catching special teams coaches sleeping to showcasing their specialist skills, usually garner hundreds of “likes” on Twitter. The account also offers some insight into one of the more undervalued groups on this Ducks’ team — a group that may host some of Oregon’s funniest personalities. “It’s pretty funny,” senior kick returner and wide receiver Charles Nelson said. “Most people don’t know what [the specialists] do anyway.”
The first mention of the account was back on Aug. 27, but the origins can be traced back to a video that the program released of a mic’d up Schneider from a fall practice. In the two minutelong video, Schneider showed why some of his teammates consider him to be the funniest guy on the team. “4.40, forty?” punter Blake Maimone asks Schneider in the video, inquiring about his 40yard dash time. “4.30,” Schneider quips back. “Give me some credit.” Later in the video, as Schneider stretches, he points up to the sunny sky and tells long snapper Devin Melendez, “Hey, Devin, you can see the moon.” That video amassed 253 “retweets” and 1,030 “likes” on Twitter and catapulted Oregon’s specialists into the spotlight, even if for a short time. Five days later, the account started. None of Oregon’s specialists will reveal who started the account, or even who specifically runs it. But apparently, only two people have access to it and content ideas are usually crowdsourced. “Yeah we all kind of contribute a little bit,” Schneider said. “Everyone kind of comes up
with content and we have little powwows in the player’s lounge when we have some offtime.” He added, “We have a lot of fun messing around and joking around all the time and kind of wanted to share that with people.” That isn’t to say that they don’t take their jobs seriously. According to them, a specialist’s duty comes down to two main things: attention to detail and repetition. If you watch them during practice, you’ll see them working on their techniques over and over again, which is exactly what special teams coordinator Raymond Woodie wants from his unit. “I mean you tell those guys, ‘This is what the plan is, this is what I want you to do,’ and they go out and do it,” Woodie said. “And then you just leave them alone. You don’t mess with their psyche.” With Oregon out to a 3-0 start, don’t expect the content to slow down anytime soon; the account also highlights the success of non-specialists. But if there are any suggestions for content out there, the specialists would love to hear them. “We’re open to suggestions right now,” Schneider said. “We’re kind of workshopping it. But you’ll definitely see some stuff coming out soon.” T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 2 1 , 2 0 1 7
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