10-5-23 Emerald Media Group - Gameday

WHAT’S GOING RIGHT FOR OREGON FOOTBALL

What have the reporters tasked with covering the Ducks liked about their play so far?

KRASNOWSKI: OREGON VS. STANFORD USED TO MEAN SOMETHING PG. 7 • THE POWER OF PRESSURE IN THE PAC-12 PG. 12 • SEVEN DEADLY SACKS PG.

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ON THE COVER

Troy Franklin (11) celebrates after scoring a touchdown. The University of Oregon Ducks football team defeated the Stanford University Cardinal in an away match at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Sept. 30, 2023. (Eric Becker/Emerald)

The Oregon Ducks mascot dances during the third quarter. (Ali Watson/Emerald)

OREGON OFFENSE

TROY FRANKLIN

GARY BRYANT JR.

TEZ JOHNSON

JOSH CONERLY JR.

MARCUS HARPER II

JACKSON POWERS-JOHNSON

STEVEN JONES

AJANI CORNELIUS

TERRANCE FERGUSON BO NIX

BUCKY IRVING KYLER KASPER TRAESHON HOLDEN

KRIS HUTSON FAAOPE LALOULU NISHAD STROTHER

OREGON DEFENSE

KELLY

JAMAL HILL

JEFFREY BASSA

MASE FUNA

KHYREE JACKSON

TYSHEEM JOHNSON

EVAN WILLIAMS

DONTAE MANNING

NIKKO REED

BRANDON DORLUS

NOVOSAD

SADIQ

TRIKWEZE BRIDGES

BRYAN ADDISON

STEVE STEPHENS IV

JAHLIL FLORENCE

BEN ROBERTS

MY’KEIL GARDNER

BLAKE PURCHASE

BRYCE BOETTCHER

JERRY MIXON

TEITUM TUIOTI

DAYLEN AUSTIN

TYLER TURNER

COLE MARTIN

RODRICK PLEASANT

KHAMARI TERRELL

A’MAURI WASHINGTON

JESTIN JACOBS

SOLOMON DAVIS

OREGON SPECIAL TEAMS

LUKE DUNNE GRANT MEADORS

NICK DUZANSKY

KRASNOWSKI: OREGON VS. STANFORD USED TO MEAN SOMETHING

BY JOE KRASNOWSKI • DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART

WITH OPTIMISM LONG IN THE PAST, STANFORD’S FOOTBALL PROGRAM HAS BECOME A DISASTER

with Bryce Love, were selected as Heisman trophy finalists.

Capped off by Rose Bowl victories in 2013 and 2016, Stanford was a prototype of how to run a college football program, with the Cardinal appearing in 10 straight bowl games.

In 2018, following the Cardinal’s 9-4 season which culminated in a Sun Bowl victory over University of Pittsburgh, Shaw’s program looked promising.

Then it all fell apart.

It was all too similar.

The first half of Saturday’s game in Stanford Stadium brought back memories far more recent than they seem.

The Ducks began the game lethargically, with Camden Lewis’s opening kick stumbling out of bounds. Stanford immediately dominated, going on a methodical 15-play, field-goal drive ticking off more than half of the first quarter of play.

Oregon responded with torpor. The Ducks head coach Dan Lanning characterized the team in the week before the game as “needing to bring their own juice” because of the lack of crowd noise. However, Oregon looked voiceless early against the Cardinal.

The Ducks’ defense looked tired and staggered to allow another Cardinal field goal, taking six minutes off the clock. Stanford had traveled 97 yards before Oregon had a first down.

For Oregon, the script had flipped. The Ducks had gone through their first four weeks largely unscathed, outscoring opponents 258-59 and another upset to the Cardinal seemed on the horizon.

The similarities were uncanny

to Stanford’s upset of then No. 3 Oregon in 2021. The Ducks looked hapless on the road with Oregon’s offense unable to stay on the field. The Cardinal looked energized, trailing by just a score at the half.

And then Stanford became Stanford and Oregon remembered it was Oregon.

Once known as “tight end university” with eight tight ends drafted to the NFL since 2010, previous head coach David Shaw’s teams were known for their physicality and toughness.

That physicality and toughness was nowhere to be found Saturday night as the Cardinal, with their 42-6 loss to Oregon, fell to 1-4 in 2023 under first-year head coach Troy Taylor.

Following Stanford’s second field goal of the game, the Ducks scored 42 consecutive points. Uncontested.

After all, long gone are the days of Shaw in Palo Alto. Long gone are Stanford’s days of dominance on the football field. The Cardinal, who has yet to win over four games since 2018, are the college football equivalent of a dumpster fire.

But what a run it was.

Three Pac-12 football titles in four years led by first-round picks Andrew Luck and Christian McCaffrey, the latter of whom, along

Since Stanford’s upset in 2021, the two programs have gone in completely different directions. Oregon, which is now 5-0 and 15-3 under Lanning, has been rejuvenated. The Cardinal, which has won just one Pac-12 game since the upset, has been a disaster marked by Shaw’s abrupt departure from the program at the end of last year.

“It’s like a dream,” Shaw said of his tenure as Stanford head coach in his farewell press conference last year. “Holding up that Rose Bowl trophy two times, standing there with my family. Like a dream.”

Well, Stanford’s last five years have been a nightmare.

With the Cardinal struggling to adjust to college football’s current transfer portal and NIL-led climate, the once powerful program has turned pedestrian. The Cardinal, whose 2023 recruiting class ranks just 62nd nationally according to 247Sports, brought in just four transfer players for the 2023 season. Oregon brought in 15.

The Ducks are far from perfect but with Oregon starting 5-0 for the first time since 2013, things are looking a whole lot better in Eugene. Lanning has Oregon rolling in his second season at the helm.

“We’re not going into a bye week,” Lanning said after the game to GoDucks. “Our guys know what our goals are [and] what we have to accomplish right. A lot of other teams are going to relax this week; we’re going to get better.”

The Ducks now rank second nationally in scoring offense and play with a smashmouth identity. Stanford used to have an identity, too: an expectation for greatness. But on Saturday night in front of an attendance of 32,160 people, those times seemed oh-so-distant.

Gary Bryant Jr. (2) hurdles a Stanford defender. The University of Oregon Ducks football team defeated the Stanford University Cardinal in an away match at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Sept. 30, 2023. (Eric Becker/Emerald)

Jackson Powers-Johnson (58) signals to the Oregon offensive line. The University of Oregon Ducks football team defeated the Stanford University Cardinal in an away match at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Sept. 30, 2023. (Eric Becker/ Emerald)

The Ducks prepare to take the field. The University of Oregon Ducks Football team defeated the Stanford University Cardinal in an away match at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Sept. 30, 2023. (Eric Becker/Emerald)

SPORTS DESK: OUR THOUGHTS AND TAKES ON THE OREGON DUCKS

The Daily Emerald sports reporters discuss what’s impressed them so far this season

BY BRADY RUTH, JACK LAZARUS, JOE MOORE, JOE KRASNOWSKI AND OWEN MURRAY • DESIGNED BY PAYTON LIEBELT

Bo Nix (10) throws on the run. The University of Oregon Ducks football team defeated the Stanford University Cardinal in an away match at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Sept. 30, 2023. (Eric Becker/Emerald)

The No. 8 Oregon Ducks (5-0, 2-0 Pac-12) are off to one of their better starts in recent memory.

So far, it looks like head coach Dan Lanning has put Eugene back on the map and turned Oregon into a program built for success. Lanning’s Ducks have put a couple of impressive wins under their belt: Oregon snuck out a win in Week 2 against Texas Tech and dominated No. 19 Colorado in Week 4. The Ducks’ resume also boasts three other blowout wins over Portland State, Hawaii and Stanford.

There’s not a lot that’s gone wrong for Oregon through its first five games. The offense looks great, the defense appears to improve each week and the special teams have been nails as the Ducks enter their bye week.

As a sports desk, we are privileged with the opportunity to cover this team. We all have different takes and opinions on Lanning’s squad, and it’s important to take time to reflect every so often. Here’s what our team has liked about Oregon as the gauntlet of its season looms.

A “wide” variety of receiving options — Brady Ruth

I’ve been extremely impressed with the amount of impactful weapons Bo Nix has utilized so far this season. Through the first five games, 13 different players have recorded receptions and six already have over 100 receiving yards.

Troy Franklin — who leads the team with 535 receiving yards — has been Nix’s main target, but he’s more than happy to share the workload. He talked after practice on Sept. 27 about how he loves freeing up other receivers by taking the attention of the defense.

As for Nix, he’s been incredible in finding a wide variety of targets in each game so far. The Ducks don’t have a game yet this season where less than eight different receivers have recorded receptions.

From speedsters like Franklin and Tez Johnson, to strong tight ends like Terrance Ferguson and Patrick Herbert, someone is always open. It makes Nix’s job — and his Heisman campaign — a whole lot easier when he has reliable options everywhere.

So far, six Ducks have found the endzone with receiving scores. This receiver and tight end core will be essential to Oregon’s success as the biggest challenges on the schedule still await. For now, the receivers have been the main strength of this team.

Triumph in the trenches — Jack Lazarus

One of the question marks heading into this season was the offensive line, as four out of five starters, as well as the position’s coach, departed in the offseason. I believe this group has not missed a beat, proving that the standard set in previous seasons will remain.

Nix has only been sacked three times, and it has always seemed like he has all the time in the world in the pocket, which is key to his recent performances. Teams rarely put pressure on Nix, and they have been providing gaping holes for the three-headed monster of Bucky Irving, Jordan James and Noah Whittington in the backfield.

The only problem that these guys have had is a slight issue with discipline. The Ducks have been penalized a lot more than any team they have played this season, but since the game against Texas Tech, they have seen a lot of improvement in this area.

A lot of this group is slightly inexperienced, and as they move through the season, these issues can be easily ironed out. This is definitely one of the most exciting and successful groups on the team regardless of its shortcomings.

A risk worth taking: Bo Nix’s final season — Owen Murray

What’s remarkable about the Pac-12 this year is that there’s not one, not two, but three realistic

Heisman contenders. Aside from defending winner Caleb Williams, Oregon’s Nix is competing with his rival in Seattle, Michael Penix Jr., for the crown. The Pac-12 is arguably the strongest it’s been in years and Nix’s presence contributes to that.

The competition is looking to have brought the best out of Oregon’s adopted quarterback, who — despite only playing one full game this season thus far — has tallied career highs in pass completion percentage, average yards per pass and quarterback rating. It was a risky decision to remain in Eugene amidst a relatively weak NFL QB draft class, but it looks to have paid off early.

What matters most down the line, I think, will be Nix’s veteran leadership. Despite his undoubted talent and connection with Oregon’s receiving core, his on-field ability to drive the team in pressure situations remains invaluable. As the most experienced quarterback in college football, he’ll be leaned on to steer the Ducks through a difficult stretch — one that could define both his, and the program’s, legacy.

Rising stars on defense — Joe Krasnowski

Oregon’s pass defense has really impressed me through the first five weeks; breakout stars Khyree Jackson and Tysheem Johnson have been big keys to the Ducks being ranked seventh nationally in total defense. It seems as though Lanning — a defensive-minded head coach — has the Ducks defense firing on all cylinders.

Jackson, who had two key pass breakups in the Ducks’ pummeling of Colorado, has been excellent in filling the shoes of Christian Gonzalez. “We’ve challenged him every single week and he keeps stepping up to the challenge,” Lanning said to GoDucks. “He hasn’t let the moment get too big. I think we are all seeing what Khyree is capable of.”

In the game versus Colorado, the Ducks were able to contain quarterback Shedeur Sanders — a then Heisman contender — due to impressive coverage and pass rush.

The Ducks, whose defense was questionable late in the season last year, have been excellent so far in 2023, allowing over 200 passing yards just once. A strong showing against Stanford puts the Ducks in position to thrive as they continue their Pac-12 gauntlet with games against Washington, Washington State and Utah coming out of the bye.

Aggressive play calling from the coaching staff — Joe Moore

Lanning and the rest of Oregon’s coaching staff have made some very aggressive play calls so far this season. The Ducks have attempted four twopoint conversions already and converted three of them. Oregon has also attempted 10 fourth-down conversions in its five games and has converted eight of them so far.

One of those fourth-down conversions came in the form of a fake punt which was directly snapped to Casey Rogers, who ran for 18 yards and picked up the first down. The fake punt was an aggressive call, but it also came from Oregon’s own 17-yard line.

“I’m not really interested in running fake punts when everybody thinks we’re gonna run a fake punt,” Lanning said about his decision in his postgame comments. The Ducks have consistently made aggressive decisions to keep opposing defenses on the back foot, and time and time again those play calls have paid off.

The Ducks’ offense has been playing at an elite level so far this season but will be massively tested in the upcoming weeks as they take on other great Pac-12 teams. The Oregon coaching staff’s play calling has proven to be an advantage the Ducks have over other teams so far and will be an important factor going forward in the Pac-12.

THE POWER OF PRESSURE

IN THE PAC-12

As the Pac-12 edges closer to its season-ending implosion, the erstwhile members within are pushing the limits of college football.

Last year, outside of USC star quarterback Caleb Williams’ Heisman-winning campaign, the conference generated little reason for its members to halt their escape. This year, with several on their way out, the West Coast is looking stronger than ever. With six members in the AP top-25 (and three in the top-10), can the conference make a run at the college football crown in its final year?

In Eugene, Bo Nix is one of several Heisman candidates behind a reinvigorated Oregon offensive line and receiver core. In his final year with the Ducks, Nix has accumulated 1,459 yards through five games. As a result, head coach Dan Lanning’s offense is averaging 51.6 points per game. There’s no question that the No. 8 Ducks are a legitimate playoff contender — but they’ll face stiff competition.

Up the I-5 corridor, the Huskies have dismantled opponents in a similar manner behind senior quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in Montlake, Wash., who will depart for the Big Ten alongside Oregon at season’s end, and finds itself ranked seventh in the AP poll. Outside the top-10, No. 13 Washington State, No. 15 Oregon State and No. 18 Utah all pose legitimate challenges to any team.

That doesn’t even include No. 9 USC, which

boasts returning Heisman-winner Williams. Despite facing a scare against Deion Sanders’ Colorado in a 48-41 win last Saturday, they remain one of the outright favorites to make a run at the national title. Though their defensive solidity has been questioned, their offensive firepower has made those concerns irrelevant. Williams will look to be the second player ever to win two Heisman awards before the presumed No. 1 pick departs for the professionals.

That leaves the in-conference matchups as some of the most intriguing nationwide: Washington and Oregon will meet on Oct. 14, while Utah will travel to Southern California to battle with the Trojans a week later. Backto-back games for the Ducks in the final two weeks will have USC and Oregon State traveling to Autzen Stadium in matchups that could define the Pac-12’s playoff hopefuls’ fates as well as the Heisman race.

There’s no question that every one of those games will be must-watch football. The only query lies with the idea that this could’ve been the future of the division — so why isn’t it?

2023 has seen the maturation of several programs at the same time in a culmination of events that is bound to lead to some of the region’s most entertaining football in years. If we could’ve predicted it… well, sports would be a lot less fun, wouldn’t they? In moving to their respective new

In its final season, the Pac-12 is putting on a show

BY OWEN MURRAY DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART

homes, programs like Oregon, Washington and USC will look to make money off the possibility that this can happen on a regular basis.

It’s not guaranteed, of course. In a year’s time, Williams, Nix, Penix and presumably several others will have departed for the NFL. In their place, the next generation of college athletes will stand before a monumental level of expectation. Not only will they battle a shuffled pack of opponents, but they’ll have the eyes of the nation upon them as the teams attempt to validate their decision.

As it stands, the Pac-12 is at its most powerful –– the apex of its ascent. The point has passed where teams have proven themselves as functional. Now, it’s about who can best the rest. It’s the reason that leagues across America fight so vehemently for parity: the possibility of chaos and unpredictability is why we watch. It won’t be here forever, but this year will define the Pac-12’s legacy.

For now, all we can do is enjoy the Pac-12 as it implodes in spectacular fashion, sending its stars flying across the nation. We talk so much about last dances and final bows, but this might just be the best it gets. Nearly unlimited quality on show, every week. Postseason potential. Heisman candidates. Next year’s NFL breakouts. It’s all here (for now).

The Duck greets the Stanford Tree before the game. The University of Oregon Ducks football team defeated the Stanford University Cardinal in an away match at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Sept. 30, 2023. (Eric Becker/Emerald)

Amid Oregon’s scorching start to the 2023 season, in which they are 5-0 and have outscored opponents by a combined 199 points, one element of the Ducks’ offense has been overshadowed. No, not Bo Nix and his BO-dacious posters over N Park Avenue. The running backs.

Often an afterthought, the Oregon rushing attack led by the trio of Bucky Irving, Jordan James and Noah Whittington, all three of which average over 7.2 yards per carry, has propelled the Ducks to rank sixth nationally in rushing offense.

Irving and James will be relied on heavily going forward in conference play as Whittington left the Ducks win over Colorado with an undisclosed injury and would not return.

“Next guy up,” head coach Dan Lanning said of his running back group. “We’re gonna miss Noah.”

Often utilized in early downs and in passcatching situations, Irving has led the way in the Oregon backfield despite receiving fewer touches on average than last year. “I don’t really care about the credit. I just want to win football games,” Irving said to GoDucks.“I don’t got to touch the ball as long as we are winning the game.”

“Bucky is the energy guy,” Whittington said of his teammate after a Week 4 practice. “He’s gonna start the drive off and do a phenomenal job.” Irving leads the Ducks in both touches and yards rushed and finished with 88 yards and a touchdown in

DUCKS RUNNING BACKS PROPEL OREGON OFFENSE

Running game is fueling the Ducks’ undefeated start

BY JOE KRASNOWSKI DESIGNED BY PAYTON LIEBELT

Oregon’s 42-6 victory over Stanford.

Under new offensive coordinator Will Stein, James has blossomed by posting seven total touchdowns so far in 2023. Losing five pounds and gaining lean muscle, James’ work in the weight room has paid dividends to the tune of 209 total rushing yards through the first four games compared to 189 throughout the entirety of 2022. “That’s a dog right there,” Whittington said of James after practice. “He’s got a very very bright future ahead of himself.”

James will see an increased role in Whittington’s absence. “I’ve got to step up,” James said to GoDucks after Oregon’s victory over Stanford. “It’s a big role because Noah’s a great player but I’ve just got to step up and do what I can.”

In Whittington’s absence, James rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown. “I love running backs that look for contact,” Lanning said to GoDucks after the game, “[like] Jordan James. When he touches the ball, he looks to score.”

When asked what makes James so special as a runner, Whittington didn’t mince words. “His first step, his burst is crazy, he has very strong legs, you should see him squat someday,” Whittington said. Both in the weight room and on the field, James has dominated the competition.

“Every great team I’ve been on has used multiple backs,” Stein said before the season to GoDucks. “Obviously there’s kinda going to be your 1-A

1-B.” With different skill sets of speed and power, the duo thrived in Week 5 to the tune of 176 total rushing yards in Oregon’s dismantling of Stanford. As a whole, the Ducks’ running back room has been tremendous. Since hiring Carlos Locklyn last season, the Ducks’ running backs have yet to lose a fumble. “That’s what we pride ourselves on: owning the ball,” Whittington said. “It’s kinda like a sin, putting the ball on the ground.”

The future isn’t bad either. Freshmen backs Dante Dowdell and Jayden Limar combined for 106 rushing yards and two scores against Portland State. In Whittington’s absence, they will be relied on for added production. “We’ve got plenty of guys back there that can tote the rock and are ready to go,” Lanning said . “We have the guys there that can do a good job.”

The Ducks’ running backs have shone the brightest against their toughest opponents. The Irving-Whittington-James trio combined for 188 total yards in Oregon’s 42-6 against Colorado. The Duck’ rushers will continue to be tested against conference rivals Oregon State and Utah, both of which have stout run defenses.

As Oregon’s strength of schedule only grows, the running back room will be tested weekly. “This offense that he [Lanning] has developed here is for playmakers,” Locklyn said to GoDucks.

Oregon’s offense is thriving, and its running backs are an immense part of that.

Jordan James (20) cuts to avoid a defender. The University of Oregon Ducks football team defeated the Stanford University Cardinal in an away match at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Sept. 30, 2023. (Eric Becker/ Emerald)

Unscramble these Jumbles, one letter to each square, to form four ordinary words.

Now arrange the circled letters to form the answer as suggested by the cartoon.

SEVEN DEADLY SACKS

The Ducks’ defensive line was rejuvenated following a seven sack performance against Colorado

BY JACK LAZARUS • DESIGNED BY RYAN EHRHART

One of the strongest parts of head coach Dan Lanning’s Ducks has been its defense, which isn’t surprising given his background dealing with elite defenses. The focal point of the Oregon defense in previous years has been the front seven, with elite talent such as Kayvon Thibodeaux and Noah Sewell being drafted in recent years.

This year, it seems as if the front lines of the Ducks’ defense have taken a step back. Guys like Brandon Dorlus, Jeffrey Bassa and Jordan Burch have stepped up so far in leading this defensive front, but the rest of the group has not channeled a higher level of play so far this season.

This is not to say that this D-line is a detriment to the defense or even the team, it is more of the outcome of having some really versatile playmakers in other parts of the defense. Oregon has some real stars in the defensive backfield with Khyree Jackson and Tysheem Johnson, who have helped the Ducks become eighth in passing yards allowed per game in the FBS.

Coming off a seven sack performance against Colorado in Week 4, the Oregon defensive line gained a lot of confidence. Those seven sacks currently account for almost half of the team’s 18 this season. This performance was the most dominant game the group has had this season, and they hope to build off this in the next few weeks.

The Colorado game was a great test for the entire team, but one of the Buffs’ main weaknesses is the strength of their offensive line. It seemed that throughout the entire afternoon, there was never a point where that line was in the game. Colorado was so overpowered in the trenches, quarterback Shedeur Sanders never even had a chance in the pocket and running back Dylan Edwards never had anywhere to run.

This was also a great game for Dorlus, Burch and even guys like Casey Rogers who got in on the sack action. For a group that had seen a tough run of form over the prior few weeks, this was huge for the D-line to regain confidence, pushing them to improve more and more every day in practice.

When asked about the current state of the defensive line and their outstanding Week 4 performance, Lanning said after practice on September 27th, “any time you have a performance where you perform well, I think that builds confidence.”

Lanning also expressed that in order to move forward and improve, the guys shouldn’t think about anything other than their next opportunity.

“We’re not playing last week, we’re playing next week, so it’s about what you do now,” Lanning said.

In the Ducks’ most recent matchup against Stanford, they tallied five sacks, but only one came from a defensive lineman. This was still an impressive performance for the linemen because one of the main game plans seemed to be to not let offensive linemen climb up the levels.

On run plays, Oregon’s D-line has been very effective this season at holding the guy in front of them on the line of scrimmage. This helps to

ensure the offensive linemen can never climb and get to the linebackers and block them. This is one of the primary reasons that most of the leaders in tackles-for-loss or sacks aren’t defensive linemen.

This game, the defensive linemen had to do this a lot more due to the mobility of Stanford’s quarterback Justin Lamson and the need to always read the play and where he may be going. This meant that there were many plays where the linemen couldn’t try and attack Lamson directly,

as they didn’t have the best angle and also had to keep contained so he wouldn’t scramble.

The Ducks’ defensive group is one of the most solid in FBS right now. It is a very experienced, disciplined and exciting group that seems to be finally hitting their stride after a rocky start. It is clear that they still have a lot more work to do, but the D-line will be a group to watch out for as the season marches on.

Oregon Defenders swarm Stanford quarterback Justin Lamson (8). The University of Oregon Ducks football team defeated the Stanford University Cardinals in an away match at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Sept. 30, 2023. (Eric Becker/Emerald)

Tez Johnson (15) attempts to make a catch in the endzone. The University of Oregon Ducks football team defeated the Stanford University Cardinals in an away match at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Sept. 30, 2023. (Eric Becker/Emerald)