GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: Oregon run defense vs. Stanford run offense. A lot has been made about Stanford’s big receivers and how the Ducks have struggled with those type of athletes in the past.
But come Saturday, the outcome of this game will largely depend on who wins the battle of the “bests.” Oregon’s strongest part of the game is its ability to defend the run while the Cardinal is one of the best rushing teams in the nation.
For the Ducks, it all starts with sophomore nose tackle Jordon Scott. You won’t find his name in the stat sheet but his ability to plug up both “A” gaps while occupying opposing linemen is what allows his teammates to make plays.
“You have a guy like Jordon in the middle, who is unheralded because the stat line is not going to light his name up every Saturday,” Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal said. “What you see is a guy that’s done a great job controlling the center and the A gaps, forcing things to bounce (outside).”
From there, defensive end Jalen Jelks and outside linebacker Justin Hollins provide all the pressure from the edge. Combined, they have 9.5 tackles for loss and have lived in opponents’ backfields.
With Stanford running back Bryce Love being so fast and elusive, it’s imperative that Jelks and Hollins set the edge against Love and force him back to the middle where their teammates will be waiting. If Love gets to the edge, it will make the Ducks play catch-up all game long. And if Oregon learned anything from last year, it’s that you can’t play catch-up with Love.
Middle linebacker Troy Dye is a big part of Oregon’s success in the run game, an uber-athletic linebacker who makes great reads and can run sideline to sideline. If anyone will be able to keep Love in check in a one-on-one situation, it will be Dye. He has to be looked at as the last line of defense because Love is too strong and fast to be consistently taken down by defensive backs.
Stanford will try to get Love going behind the strength of its offensive line, a typically formidable unit.
Center Jesse Burkett is the key to Stanford’s running game. He began his 2018 season last week after missing the first two games with an injury.
“I thought Jesse played well,” Stanford head coach Davis Shaw said after last week’s game against UC Davis. “He did a great job making some calls that were some difficult looks.”
Guard Nate Herbig, who might be the best offensive lineman in the Pac-12, is massive brawler at 6-foot-4, 334 pounds. He does a great job of paving the way for Love and getting to the second unit to spring him for big gains.
“Part of the challenge of defending a guy like Bryce Love is the quality of the offensive line play they have,” Cristobal said. “They’re very big and physical — they complement that with extraordinary large and long tight end body types that are very physical as well.”
And then there’s Love himself, arguably the best returning offensive player in college football.
DRAFT SLANT
–QB Justin Herbert is in the running for the top overall pick in the upcoming draft, but he hasn’t done anything yet to really separate himself from his quarterback counterparts.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer wrote “Not a banner Saturday for the top quarterback prospects, as Oregon’s Justin Herbert and Auburn’s Jarrett Stidham threw multiple picks, and Missouri’s Drew Lock was up-and-down in a win. Scouts have been waiting for someone to emerge from the group, and it hasn’t quite happened yet. It’s worth mentioning: Those who’ve been through Eugene on school calls have left very impressed with Herbert.”
He’s been impressive on the year with 12 touchdowns passes to seven different receivers, showing an ability to control the game, throw receivers open and not latch on to his first or second option.
But Herbert does have four interceptions, three of which are strictly because he’s forced the ball into tight or unneeded situations. Stanford’s defense has forced a turnover in 13 straight games and recorded an interception in 11 of its last 14 so ball security is a must.
Hebert has all the physical traits, standing 6-foot-6, 233 pounds, possessing a rocket for an arm and above average athleticism. But the question remains is how Herbert does against an NFL-esque defense — one that will disguise looks, throw multiple defenses at him and have the athleticism to take advantage of his inaccurate throws?
ROSTER REPORT:
–OL Penei Sewell and Dallas Warmack are expected to start after suffering injuries last week against San Jose State.
–WR Brenden Schooler’s status for Saturday is TBD after leaving last week’s game with an apparent concussion.
–PK Adam Stack is expected to make his season debut after missing the first three games with an injury.
–Backup QB Braxton Burmeister is out for an extended period of time after having a minor procedure on his knee last week. Freshman QB Tyler Shough is the backup to Justin Herbert. Shough has yet to throw a pass in college.
–Oregon’s starting offensive line has a combined 103 starts among them.
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