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ON THE COVER

Ducks inside linebacker Troy Dye (35) dances alone on the field to “Shout.” (Sarah Northrop/Emerald)

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Ducks safety Brady Breeze (25) celebrates his touchdown with running back CJ Verdell (7). (Sarah Northrop/Emerald)

AFTER A LOSS TO AUBURN, OREGON HAS BOUNCED BACK WITH STRONG PLAY Ducks inside linebacker Troy Dye (35) dances alone on the field to “Shout.” (Sarah Northrop/Emerald)

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GAMEDAY

e Ducks set up for the last play of the game. (Sarah Northrop/Emerald)

Ducks inside linebacker Troy Dye (35) dances alone on the field to “Shout.” (Sarah Northrop/Emerald)

Ducks running back Travis Dye (26) engages in contact with a Grizzly. (D L Young/Emerald)

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Ducks fans in the Pit Crew dance to “Shout.”. (Sarah Northrop/Emerald)

Ducks quarterback Justin Herbert (10) throws downfield towards a receiver. (Connor Cox/Emerald)

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e Duck rallies the crowd. (Sarah Northrop/Emerald)

OREGON PLAYERS TO WATCH

OREGON OFFENSE

OREGON DEFENSE

Penei Sewell

No. 58

So.

Shane Lemieux

No. 68

Sr.

Jake Hanson

No. 55

Sr.

Dallas Warmack

No. 75

Sr.

Calvin Throckmorton No. 54

Sr.

Jacob Breeland

No. 27

Sr.

Juwan Johnson

No. 6

Sr.

Jaylon Redd

No. 30

Jr.

Johnny Johnson III No. 3

Jr.

CJ Verdell

No. 7

So.

Justin Herbert

No. 10

Sr.

Gus Cumberlander No. 45

Sr.

Jordon Scott

No. 34

Jr.

Austin Faoliu

No. 99

Jr.

Bryson Young

No. 56

STUD

Sr.

Isaac Slade-Matautia No. 41

MLB

So.

Troy Dye

No. 35

WILL

Sr.

Laâ€™Mar Winston Jr. No. 32

SAM

Sr.

Thomas Graham Jr. No. 4

Jr.

Deommodore Lenoir No. 6

Jr.

Jevon Holland

No. 8

So.

Brady Breeze

No. 25

Jr.

OREGON SPECIAL TEAMS

Karsten Battles

No. 63

So.

Blake Maimone

No. 42

Sr.

Adam Stack

No. 96

Jr.

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LOOKING BACK AND LOOKING FORWARD BY: Shane Hoffmann @shane_hoffmann and Charlie Gearing @gearingcharlie

OFFENSE e story of the Ducks’ 2019 offense, although not complete, has been a story of growth, improvement and the broadening of their horizons. After a tough loss to Auburn in which the offense struggled down the stretch, the team’s offensive core vowed to shift its focus to the passing game. In an interview following Oregon’s matchup with Auburn, Ducks offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo

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explained that he had to resort to a more conservative form of play calling in order to protect the lessexperienced receivers that were pushed into starting roles due to the injuries of projected starters. Arroyo would later have some regrets towards this. “I think looking back you’d probably say not protecting those young guys who were out there, who had to go in and step in, probably not protect them and see if we cut it loose a little more,” explained Arroyo when referring to his all-

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but-aggressive play calling against Auburn. With injuries to veteran receiver Brenden Schooler, impact freshman Mycah Pittman and highly touted grad transfer Juwan Johnson, Arroyo was forced to play with a limited lineup. Johnny Johnson III and Jaylon Redd started out in an offense that featured several tight ends, including Spencer Webb, who had one of the Ducks’ most impressive touchdowns of the year. Johnson III and Redd became Oregon’s primary targets,

together tallying 16 catches for 162 yards. e Ducks only attempted three passes over 20 yards, however, only two of which were caught. “ is is not the defining moment for the whole season,” Arroyo said after the Auburn loss. “ is is one game, and we’ve got to move forward.” Justin Herbert was not the reason for the Ducks’ loss at Auburn. In fact, he’s been near-perfect so far this season. e Ducks’ victories against Nevada and Montana are perfect examples of the offense performing

Ducks tight end Jacob Breeland (27) sprints past a defender for the first down. (Connor Cox/Emerald)

Ducks quarterback Justin Herbert (10) scrambles in the pocket to avoid being sacked.(Connor Cox /Emerald)

I THINK GUYS HAVE STEPPED UP. GUYS CERTAINLY HAVE MADE PLAYS. GUYS THAT WERE IN RESERVE ROLES ARE NOW FRONT-LINE GUYS AND NATURALLY THEY’VE HAD TO STEP UP.” HEAD COACH MARIO CRISTOBAL on Oregon’s offense

at an elite level, and Herbert played a massive part in those wins, with a completion rate of 74.4%. e senior quarterback boasted incredible numbers in both games. In the Ducks’ 77-6 win over Nevada, Herbert threw for five touchdowns, 310 yards and an 11.9 yard average. He followed it up the next week against Montana, throwing for five touchdowns, 316 yards and a 7.5 yard average. “He’s done a really good job of evolving with the guys that have had minimal reps,” Arroyo said.

“He’s setting a good standard. I think what we are seeing is continuous improvement.” Oregon’s inconsistent rushing attack was a primary reason for its shortcomings against Auburn in the season opener. e Ducks rank sixth in the Pac-12 in yards per carry (4.4), sixth in yards per game (154) and are tied for seventh in rushing touchdowns (5). After two lopsided victories, the Ducks faced a struggling Stanford team on the road. Against the Cardinal, the Ducks again exploited

downfield coverage lapses resulting in a less conservative game plan. Quarterback Justin Herbert attempted 24 throws with 19 completions for a total of 259 yards and three touchdowns. Redd’s 36-yard touchdown reception was the longest of the game, followed by Jacob Breeland and Travis Dye, who both caught for 24-yard passes. roughout the absence of starting receivers, the Oregon offense has had to rely heavily upon less-experienced wideouts to make plays.

“I think guys have stepped up,” head coach Mario Cristobal said. “Guys certainly have made plays. Guys that were in reserve roles are now front-line guys, and naturally they’ve had to step up.” Along with its receiving core, Oregon’s tight ends have also been forced to step up into a much larger role. Breeland has come up huge for the Ducks, reeling in 18 receptions for five touchdowns and 265 total yards so far this season which, at this rate, will soon eclipse his 2018 output. With a three-game winning streak

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COVER and No. 13 overall national ranking, the Ducks are well positioned heading into their home matchup with Cal on Oct. 5. Cal, ranked No. 15 in the AP Poll and still undefeated, will face an unranked Arizona State team this coming Friday. Oregon, on the other hand, has a bye week, giving them the opportunity to bring back some of its injured receivers. With Herbert’s level of play and, potentially, healthy receivers, the Ducks ready for the rest of the Pac-12.

Ducks safety Jevon Holland (8) wraps up a Stanford running back for the tackle. (Connor Cox/Emerald))

DEFENSE In a year where much of the offseason hype surrounded senior Justin Herbert and his myriad of unproven receiving weapons, Oregon’s defense has instead reigned supreme in Eugene. First-year coordinator Andy Avalos has taken what was a middle-ofthe-road defense in past years, and made them an elite one to this point — historically great as far as Ducks’ defenses go. “ ey are playing with confidence,” head coach Mario Cristobal said. “ ey also feel we could be a lot better, they’ll tell you we still haven’t played our best yet.” e Ducks rank 13th in the FBS in total defense and 11th in defensive efficiency. ey’ve done it against the pass — through four games, the Ducks rank in the top 20 nationally in opponent completion percentage, passing yards per game and yards per attempt — as well as the run, ranking 41st. e Ducks allowed just 0.4 yards per carry against Montana. Furthermore, the unit has allowed just three touchdowns on the young season — the last one coming in the second half of a gut-wrenching loss to Auburn. Since then, the Ducks have outscored their opponents 133-15. Not only are they stout, but they make plays. And they do it frequently. Oregon is ninth in total sacks (15), 10th in interceptions (6), and has done its fair share of work in the tackle-for-loss department. Avalos has instilled an attacking mentality in a defense that was already hungry to prove itself. On early downs, a disruptive defensive line featuring Jordon Scott,

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Austin Faoliu, Gus Cumberlander and edge rushers Bryson Young and La’Mar Winston Jr. have done an admirable job stopping the run. e defense plays physically and flows downhill to the ball with speed. Communication and attention to detail, however, is what has set this defense apart early on, especially given that Avalos’ defense utilizes a variety of defensive fronts. “We make it very difficult on them at practice with the formations, adjustments, the sets they get and we’re back there with them working them through it,” Avalos said. “We try to show them how to do it, we love them up when they do it right and if it’s not done to the standard we’re going to let them know immediately.” In passing situations the Ducks throw out a variety of rushers including Drayton Carlberg, Miami transfer DJ Johnson and freshmen Kayvon ibodeaux, Andrew Faoliu and Keyon Ware-Hudson. No matter who is on the field, the unit plays with an intensity that hasn’t been seen out of Oregon football in years. “Every day is urgent,” Avalos said. “It always starts with us as a coaching staff, there is no time to waste. Every minute has to be used efficiently...we tell the guys we want to make [practice] more physically and especially mentally demanding to get it to that point where it’s like a

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game. ibodeaux, Faoliu and WareHudson aren’t the only freshmen who have made an early impact — far from it. In fact, due in part to preparedness and in part to the nature of the games — with many being two-plus score games — freshmen have been making plays early and often at every level of the defense. Mase Funa has bolstered an already deep linebacking corps featuring the likes of Troy Dye, Isaac Slade-Matautia and Sampson Niu. Funa frequently mans the stud linebacker — a linebacker who can drop into coverage but also presents issues as a rusher, often playing near the line of scrimmage. “I just feel comfortable with [the stud],” Funa said. “It’s the position I played back in [high school], I just know that’s where I fit best and can help the team.” Funa has helped the team, contributing three sacks and several tackles for loss while playing several positions up front as a backup. On the back end, the secondary has received strong backup play from a variety of freshmen defensive backs. Mykael Wright pulled down an interception against Montana and both Jamal Hill and DJ James have seen plenty of time as well. Playing time is hard to come by early in games, however, as starting corners

Deommodore Lenoir, omas Graham Jr. and starting slot Verone McKinley III have proved to be an elite group. Safety Nick Pickett has secured the starting job, for now, over fellow upperclassman Brady Breeze. One of Oregon’s most impressive players, a true defensive catalyst and leader, Jevon Holland has looked like the best player on the field at times. Holland’s 6-foot-1 frame and blazing speed allow him to play both deep as well as closer to the line of scrimmage in the slot, where he has proven to be a playmaker for the second year in a row. Many believed the Ducks’ defense would improve and, most likely, be one of the better defenses in the conference. Now, however, they not only look like the class of the conference on that side of the ball, but one of the nation’s few truly elite defenses. “Focus on us,” Carlberg said. “We really emphasize chasing our standard.” It remains to be seen if they will keep up their lights-out performance, especially once they face some of the Pac-12’s more explosive offenses. It seems the Oregon defense is ready for anything thrown its way. With the influx of young talent, this unit looks to be a force not only the remainder of this season, but for years to come.

GAMEDAY

OREGON REGROUPS IN BYE WEEK AS IT READIES FOR THE REST OF PAC-12 PLAY

Oregon Head Coach Mario Cristobal gives instructions. (Connor Cox/Emerald)

BY: Gabe Ornelas @gabe_ornelas

Four weeks into the season, Oregon will get its first chance to breathe. e Ducks enter the bye week with a 3-1 record, but despite three dominant wins, Oregon still has some things to clean up. “Lots of stuff that we put into the bye week to make it very productive,” head coach Mario Cristobal said. “It’s good to come back home after a conference road win; it’s been a little while since we’ve been able to do that. I feel like we’re getting better in a lot of areas and a lot of areas that we are focused on improving as well.” One area that has become a major concern for Oregon is its slew of injuries. Last week against Stanford, Oregon was without center Jake Hanson, running back Cyrus Habibi-Likio and wide receivers Mycah Pittman, Brenden Schooler and Juwan Johnson. Cristobal announced to the media on Wednesday that Hanson is a full-go, Habibi-Likio is almost cleared and Pittman, who was wearing a noncontact jersey, practiced with the team. Schooler is expected to be back at practice on ursday. Johnson, who did not travel to Stanford, is still listed

as day-to-day as he is dealing with a soft tissue injury in his right calf. With Pittman and Schooler coming back in the next few weeks, and eventually Johnson, Justin Herbert will have a more diverse arsenal of receivers, which could make Oregon’s passing game more dynamic. “We certainly look forward to having those guys back,” Cristobal said. “ e guys that we lost were legitimate, not only intermediate threats but quick game threats and guys that can stretch the field. When you have guys like that back, you feel like you can enhance a lot of the things that you do.” Oregon will not only need to try and enhance the receiver group, but its running back group as well. e Ducks rushing attack hasn’t been to the standard of years past. Oregon rushing attack this season, against Power 5 schools, ranks 97th. Running back CJ Verdell carried the ball 24 of the teams 30 attempts and amassed 86 yards. Only one of the 24 carries went for more than 10 yards. Oregon, if they want to have a successful season, will need to better its run game and Cristobal is aware.

“We’re off. We’re out of sync a little bit,” Cristobal said. “It really falls on all of us. Schematically we have some good things — We’re also working on some different things to create some wrinkles and eye wash that help us achieve what we want to get to. We know it’s not good enough, and we take a lot of pride in that. at’s what we’re working on in the bye week, and we expect to have better results going forward.” It was a relatively calm night for Oregon as they opened Pac-12 play against Stanford, but that was not the case for some of the other schools. ree (Utah, Arizona State and Washington State) Pac-12 schools that were all ranked in the AP Top 25 suffered losses to unranked Pac-12 opponents. Oregon, seemingly, has been the steadiest school in the Pac-12, but the constant flux and parody amongst other schools makes Oregon a target. “Every single game is a tight game, everything is a back-and-forth,” Cristobal said. “It speaks highly for the level of parody and competition inside the Pac12, and it’s only going to get better.”

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PLAYERS TO WATCH BY: Oscar Duyck

Oregon is entering its bye week in stride. After its heartbreaking loss to Auburn, the Ducks have churned out three straight wins and the defense has played at an elite level. The Ducks remains one of the Pac-12 favorites and playmakers at every level have stepped up their performance on both sides of the ball.

OFFENSE

JACOB BREELAND TIGHT END

On a receiving corps that lost Mycah Pittman, Juwan Johnson and Brenden Schooler, Jacob Breeland has taken his game to the next level. Simply put, Breeland has a legitimate argument for being the best tight end in college football in 2019. He was a relative non-factor against Auburn with only four catches for 26 yards, but since then he has been the engine that drives the Ducks’ passing game. He exploded for 112 yards and a touchdown against Nevada. In the last two weeks, he’s been the No. 1 scoring threat for Oregon with four touchdowns. Breeland, through four games, has already tied his career-best, fivetouchdown season in 2017. Breeland and quarterback Justin Herbert proved to be the most effective connection in a passing game that has been successful, so far, in 2019.

(Devin Roux/Emerald)

JUSTIN HERBERT QUARTERBACK Herbert has lived up to the pre-season hype that surrounded him after he declined an opportunity to, potentially, be picked early in the first round of the NFL Draft. Oregon’s quarterback, already, has 14 touchdown passes through the first four games and threw five touchdowns in back-to-back games against Nevada and Montana. Against a struggling Stanford defense, he tossed three more scores. His accuracy has improved, too: After struggling all of last season, Herbert’s completion percentage has been above 70% in all four games so far. Herbert is the Ducks’ leader, and the team will go as far as he takes them. If he continues to play the way he has in the early portion of the season, the Ducks should be right there at the top of the conference by the season’s end. (Devin Roux/Emerald))

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DEFENSE TROY DYE

INSIDE LINEBACKER

Year in and year out, Troy Dye has been the Ducks’ best defensive player. Now, the senior inside linebacker is the leader of a revamped Oregon defense that consistently stifles its opponents. Dye leads the team with 25 total tackles in four games, including 15 tackles against Auburn. Dye also has four tackles for a loss, two of them coming against Nevada and along with a sack against Montana. Dye has been special since the moment he stepped foot on campus. But for the first time, since that moment, he’s leading a defense that’s equally as special.

(Sarah Northrop/Emerald)

JEVON HOLLAND SAFETY

e sophomore safety has elevated his game in 2019 after a breakthrough freshman campaign in which he finished second in the Pac-12 in interceptions. He’s been one of the key components in Oregon’s stingy secondary, recording 21 total tackles on the season — good for second on the team. And while his run support has been a much-needed aspect to his game, his play in coverage has been what’s made him truly special. He’s picked off Auburn’s Bo Nix and Stanford’s K.J. Costello and has been a factor in countless other pass coverages. at, plus the added dimension of his success in the punt return game, makes Holland one of the most dynamic players on this Ducks squad and a true difference maker moving forward.

(Devin Roux/Emerald)

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Ducks cornerback omas Graham Jr. (4) warms up before the game. (Sarah Northrop/Emerald)

IS ONE OF THE PAC-12’S BEST CORNERS — AND HE’LL LET YOU KNOW IT BY: Brady Lim omas Graham Jr. has never been one to shy away from the spotlight. In his first career start as a true freshman in 2017, he picked off two passes and recorded seven tackles against Nebraska. From that point forward, Graham made it known that he was here to stay, and he isn’t hesitant to let opponents know about it. “I have a lot of fun,” Graham said. “You guys see me … I talk a lot of mess. I back up my teammates.”

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Talking has always come with being a cornerback. e nature of the position — being isolated, lining right up in the face of the receiver — it’s something most great cornerbacks do. Combine that with the fact that Graham is a smaller cornerback at just 5-foot-11, and it’s almost a necessity. It’s part of what makes him successful against pass catchers that often have three or four inches on him. “Number 84, at the start of this

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week, he said that we’re not bigger than the UCF DBs; we’re not faster; we’re not stronger,” Graham said of the Stanford tight end’s pregame comments. “We don’t have to be bigger, we don’t have to be stronger, we don’t have to be faster, but we’re gonna shut you down.” And that’s exactly what the Oregon secondary did. K.J. Costello, an All-Pac-12 Second Team selection in 2018, completed just 16 of his 30 pass attempts on Saturday and was

held to a season-low 120 yards. But Costello wasn’t the only victim of Graham and this Oregon secondary: the Ducks, through four games, rank in the top 20 nationally in opponent completion percentage, passing yards per game, yards per attempt and interceptions. But for Graham, being in the spotlight is about more than just what he does in front of tens of thousands of people on Saturdays. It starts in the locker room and on

GAMEDAY

Ducks cornerback omas Graham Jr. (4) warms up. (Sarah Northrop/Emerald)

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WE DON’T HAVE TO BE BIGGER, WE DON’T HAVE TO BE STRONGER, WE DON’T HAVE TO BE FASTER, BUT WE’RE GONNA SHUT YOU DOWN.” THOMAS GRAHAM JR.

the practice field. It’s being a leader and preparing the younger defensive backs so that when the spotlight is on them, they can shine just as bright as he has. “Doing this is just a starting step to where we want to take this program,” Graham said. “Create our standard of excellence and dominance from here on out. Not just for me, but for the next generation of Ducks.” Now, as a junior and a leader of a

historically good defense, Graham and the rest of the Oregon secondary aren’t going to sneak up on teams anymore. ey’re at the top of every team’s scouting report, and there’s nowhere to hide. But Graham embraces that role. It’s part of the same mentality that compels him to talk trash to a receiver half a foot taller than him. “It’s our time,” he said. “We’re no longer young pups.”

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