12/03/18 Emerald Media - Gameday Edition

GAMEDAY

OREGON WILL PLAY MICHIGAN STATE IN THE REDBOX BOWL, hoping to leave an exclamation point on the 2018 season.

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The Ducks celebrate after a play during the game against Oregon State on Nov. 23, 2018 Photograph by Sarah Northrop

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GAMEDAY Head coach Mario Cristobal calls a timeout during the game against Oregon State on Nov. 23, 2018.

CRISTOBAL PREVIEWS REDBOX BOWL, EXPECTS CLOSE TO A FULL ROSTER FOR THE GAME

BY: Maggie Vanoni @maggie_vanoni | PHOTO: Sarah Northrop With the news of Oregon’s bid to play in the Redbox bowl, on Dec. 31 against Michigan State University in Santa Clara, California, head coach Mario Cristobal spoke with the media to preview the matchup.

“Playing in the Redbox bowl, it’s a great game, a great location and a great opponent — an opponent with a storied history,” head coach Mario Cristobal said. “To be able to go to Santa Clara, where so many of our players are from, so many of our players’ families reside and so much recruiting takes place for us in the state of California, it’s certainly a tremendous opportunity for us on a big stage.”

On Sunday, Cristobal said Herbert will play in the bowl game after suffering a deep bruise against Oregon State. As to when Herbert will make a decision about staying in Eugene for another year, Cristobal said Herbert will make a choice after the bowl game.

In regards to the Spartans, Cristobal, who’s been on the road for the past week recruiting, has

yet to watch a good amount of film on the team.

However, what he does know about Michigan State comes from coaching against the team in 2015 while he was the offensive line coach at Alabama. “ ey are what we all know of Michigan State history,” Cristobal said. “ is is a very big and physical football team with some good explosive players. … What I saw on film was guys that control the line of scrimmage and knock you back. ey do a real good job of disguising their pressures.”

With over a month from the Ducks’ last-played game until they play again on Dec. 31, the team will begin to take part in light and abbreviated practices starting a week from this Friday. e game, which will kick off at noon, will be the seventh all-time meeting between the Ducks and the Spartans.

Update on athlete status During his press conference on Sunday,

Cristobal updated the media on the health status of players who have been injured this season: -After his shoulder injury in the Civil War, Herbert is healthy and will play in the bowl game.

-Freshman offensive lineman Penei Sewell, who sat out six games after injuring his ankle during Oregon’s game against Washington, is expected to be fully recovered in time for the game.

-Senior running back Tony Brooks-James strained his knee during the Civil War, but Cristobal said he will be recovered and ready to practice prior to the Bowl game.

-Jelks, Steven Jones, Austin Faoliu, Justin Collins, Isaac Slade-Matautia, Cyrus Habibi-Likio and Kaulana Apelu will all be recovered and ready to play for the game as well.

-Cristobal said he was unsure yet about the confirmed status of Kano Dillon and Andrew Johnson, who are being evaluated later this week.

-Senior cornerback Haki Woods Jr. also remains questionable for the Bowl game.

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GAMEDAY

HERE’S HOW OREGON AND MICHIGAN STATE

STACK UP

BY: Maverick Pallack @Mavpallack

Oregon Offense Michigan State Offense e Michigan State offense is not one to impress the viewer. e Spartans are averaging 19.75 points per game and are a defensefocused team. Rocky Lombardi and Brian Lewerke have split time at quarterback, with both being rather ineffective. Lombardi has a 44.16 completion percentage and just three touchdown passes in eight games, while Lewerke has a 54.18 completion percentage with eight touchdown passes and 10 interceptions. If Michigan State is going to win this game, it will likely be thanks to its defense and ability to control possession with the running game; however, that has also been a struggle for the Spartans, as they have been without running back LJ Scott, who was injured in game four. Connor Heyward has taken on the running back duties and has been decent with 520 rushing yards.

Oregon Defense e Ducks have not faced an offense quite like Michigan State this year. e Pac-12 prides itself on high-powered offense — and the Spartans are not that. Michigan State will be running the ball a lot, which should bode well for players such as Jordon Scott and Gary Baker. Oregon will probably sell out on the run, and it should not be too hard to stop if the Spartans do indeed hold out Scott for a redshirt.

Verdict Although some teams might be confused by multiple possible starting quarterbacks, Oregon has plenty of experience: e Ducks have played four teams like this (Portland State, San José State, Cal and UCLA). Despite the confusion, Oregon should be able to handle the lackluster Spartans, as long as the Ducks offense does not put the defense in hard situations.

Advantage: Oregon

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Oregon has not performed well in three of the five games away from Autzen, but one of those good performances was against a good Cal defense in the Bay Area. e Redbox Bowl will also be in the Bay Area, and the Ducks will face another good defense. CJ Verdell and Travis Dye have played some physical defenses, but the Big Ten is a different type of physical. It will be hard for the offensive line to outmuscle the big Spartan linemen, but with the possibility of Penei Sewell returning, the Ducks should be able to hold off Michigan State. Quarterback Justin Herbert will also need to be protected, and once again, Sewell’s return is essential in that. is is also a great test for Dillon Mitchell and Herbert for NFL scouts. If Oregon plays more like it did at Autzen than it did at Arizona, the Ducks should be able to win this one.

Michigan State Defense e Spartans have allowed just 18 points per game this season — the defense has been great. e problem is the Spartan offense fails to help the defense out a lot. Michigan State has only allowed more than 20 points five times this season. Linebackers Joe Bachie (94 tackles) and Andrew Dowell (90 tackles) both have a great ability to get to the ball carrier. e Spartans have allowed 81.3 rushing yards per game and 230.17 passing yards and will be looking to take out some aggression after a disappointing season. If Oregon cannot get the ground game going, this could be a 16-13 game, which is exactly what Michigan State wants.

Verdict Michigan State has plenty of experience winning and losing lowscoring games. But one thing they don’t have is an NFL quarterback. If Herbert can get the ball to Mitchell, while Verdell and Dye continue to set up the play-action pass, the Ducks should be able to win this one by a couple of touchdowns.

Advantage: Oregon

GAMEDAY

PLAYERS TO WATCH BY: August Howell @howell_august

MICHIGAN STATE Wide Receiver:

Defensive Lineman: Kenny Willekes

With two interchanging and inconsistent quarterbacks in Rocky Lombardi and Brian Lewerke, it’s hard to know how productive this offense will be. e Spartans average 221 passing yards per game. While his numbers don’t stand out on the stats sheet, White is the team’s most productive receiver; he leads the team with 36 receptions and 491 yards. However, he hasn’t been productive in the end zone, with just two scores on the season.

Michigan State’s defense is one of the best in the country, and junior lineman Willekes is a key reason why. Oregon’s offensive line dealt with injury and position changes all season. Willekes, 6 foot 4 and 260 pounds, will be a challenge for this experienced offensive line. After leading the Big Ten with 20.5 tackles for a loss, Willekes was named Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year.

He had nine sacks on the season, good for fifth in the conference. Having freshman Penei Sewell available to play should help the Ducks, but this will be a difficult matchup for him. Sewell was playing well before a leg injury against Washington sidelined him for the season.

Cody White

OREGON Running Back: CJ Verdell

Linebacker: Troy Dye

Michigan State has the best-scoring defense in the Big Ten, averaging 16.6 points per game in conference play. Verdell is coming off a career game against Oregon State. Granted, the Beavers have one of the worst rushing defenses in the country, and Michigan State has one of the best, ranking second in total defense in the Big Ten. e Spartans gave up just 844 yards on the ground this season. e next closest team is Michigan at 1,034 yards. is is one of the best defenses Oregon has played against all season, and it will need Verdell to stay aggressive and busy.

Dye’s last game of the season should be a busy one. e junior linebacker leads the team in tackles by a landslide, with 107 in total. Michigan State has been inept at running the ball this season and finished last in the Big Ten, averaging just 122 yards rushing per game. at’s fortunate for Oregon, who was inconsistent at best in stopping the run.

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GAMEDAY

TOP QUOTES OF 2018 e Ducks offensive line prepares to snap the ball during the game against Washington State on Oct. 20, 2018. (Devin Roux)

Q: (TO CALVIN THROCKMORTON) DO YOU HANG OUT WITH THE OFFENSIVE LINE A LOT OUTSIDE OF FOOTBALL? A: “We just move like a herd.

We’re just always together.

We’re just kind of always as a big group, either laying around or eating together. I think we just have a bond that’s pretty special that demands a lot from each other.”

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AFTER BEING ASKED ABOUT PLAYING WASHINGTON STATE WHEN THEY HOST GAMEDAY FOR THE FIRST TIME, MARIO CRISTOBAL SHARED SOME HARD MOMENTS IN HIS LIFE. “You reminded me of the kick-six earlier (when Auburn’s Chris Davis returned Alabama’s potential game-winning field goal for a touchdown to win the Iron Bowl), now you remind me of Oxford (when Ole Miss defeated Alabama after hosting GameDay), do you have any other bad memories in my life you want to bring up? How about when I got shot down for prom five times? … But Jessica (his now wife) said yes, that’s all that matters.”

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(TO TONY BROOKS-JAMES) WHO IS THE FASTEST ON THE TEAM? Taj is quick. His first step is — oh God his first step is amazing.

If you’re racing him, you really just got to stay with him on his get out. ... en in my case, I’d beat him because if I can stay with him on his get out, with as fast as it is, I know I’ve got makeup speed so I’d beat him all day. I don’t care what Taj said. Daewood, he’s just fast, but his get out is not as fast as me and Taj’s. So he’ll come forward on the back end.”

“400, Wood all day. It’d go Wood, Taj, me because I have less endurance than all of them. In the 100, me all day. In the 200, it’d be a good race. In a 40 yard dash, I’m beating both of them.”

Trying to get back up, Brooks-James called sophomore receiver Jaylon Redd over.

“Redd, who’s faster: me, Taj or Wood?”

“Me,” Redd responded as he walked to the locker room. “You heard it right here.”

“Bro why can’t you be serious?” Brooks-James yelled. “Yeah… at backfired.”

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BY: Maverick Pallack @Mavpallack

2 Q: (TO TRAVIS DYE) TRAVIS, TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR FRIEND OVER HERE (CJ VERDELL).

A: “Watch out for my boy, you know 3,000-yard running back right here.

Two years and he’s gone. You know how it be with CJ Verdell.”

Q: (TO ADAM STACK) DO YOU HAVE ANY HIDDEN TALENTS OR FUN FACTS ABOUT YOURSELF THAT MAKE YOU UNIQUE? A: “Not a lot of people can move their ears, but I can move them one at a time,” Stack said before demonstrating the unique talent.

6 DILLON MITCHELL, WHEN ASKED AFTER HIS HOT START IF ANYTHING WAS HELD BACK IN NONCONFERENCE. “During league play, we’re trying to kill guys. We’re not trying to not show things; we’re not trying to hide things from people. I definitely feel like we’re coming out and trying to go after people.”

Ducks wide receiver Dillon Mitchell scores a touchdown during the game against UCLA on Nov. 3, 2018. (Benjamin Green).

GAMEDAY

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AFTER LA’MAR WINSTON JR. RETURNED A FUMBLE FOR A 61-YARD TOUCHDOWN, WINSTON JR. SAID HE WOULD BE TAKING DRAYTON CARLBERG (THE TEAMMATE WHO FORCED THE FUMBLE) OUT FOR DINNER.

Q: (TO CJ VERDELL) CJ, WHAT PLAYERS DO YOU LOOK UP TO? A: “My boy Royce [Freeman].

He definitely set a good example for me. … Seeing how he kind of did things, seeing how he practiced and how he carried himself — I definitely took a lot from watching him.”

“I was way more out of breath after my touchdown. I told all my friends ‘If I score a touchdown, I’m gonna be cheering the whole time. ey’re gonna have to drag me out of the endzone.’ But when I got in there, oh my gosh. I couldn’t even high five my teammates. Now I know how the receivers feel.”

Q: WERE YOU AFRAID YOU WERE GONNA BE CAUGHT FROM BEHIND? “Was I? You know funny story. I was running and running and then I ran out of gas and I looked up and saw it on the Megatron, and I saw somebody, I think it was number nine (Kanawai Noa). He was on a dead sprint type, I was like ‘Oh my God,’ and I put the ball out and was like ‘ ank God.’ I made it in. I did it. I didn’t fail. So I was really happy a bout that.”

Ducks running back CJ Verdell (34) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the game against Oregon State on Nov. 23, 2018. (Sarah Northrop)

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(TO JACOB BREELAND) DO YOU HAVE ANY HIDDEN TALENTS OR FUN FACTS ABOUT YOURSELF THAT MAKE YOU UNIQUE? “I’m the best ping pong player on the team. We played a tournament and I won. Whoever says they’re better than me; false.”

Justin Herbert walks by.

Q: WHO DO YOU THINK WOULD SAY THEY ARE BETTER THAN YOU? “ is kid right here. Justin Herbert thinks he is better than me at ping pong but he is not.”

Q: YOU SAID YOU WOULD BE TAKING DRAYTON TO DINNER, WHERE AT?

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(TO TROY DYE) TROY, DID YOU KNOW AFTER THE FIRST GAME (BOWLING GREEN) THAT YOU HAD MORE CATCHES THAN TRAVIS (DYE)?

“I’d never trash talk his hands because I know he doesn’t have any. I leave that out because I know he’s kind of sensitive about his lack of hands that he has. We just try to have fun with it, and I didn’t even think about that, that’s pretty funny.

Boy ain’t got no hands.”

“If my check drops,” Winston Jr. joked. “I’m gonna let him choose. Honestly I don’t know. e big dogs, they always eat together, so I’mma see where he want to go, and it’s on me, I don’t care. He can have whatever he wants. Steak. What’s very expensive? Caviar. All that… We can’t eat no Duck. We could get some Husky on the menu maybe, but that’s it.”

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(TO TONY BROOKS-JAMES) TONY, TAJ SAYS HE’S FASTER THAN YOU. “Don’t let that scrawny dude lie to you. He is not the fastest dude on the team. I would beat Taj in a foot race. He is the quickest on the team, I will give him that, but not the fastest.”

12 AFTER OREGON DEFEATED UCLA AT HOME, DURING FRESHMAN SAFETY JEVON HOLLAND’S PRESS CONFERENCE, CORNERBACK THOMAS GRAHAM JR. JOINED THE PRESS CONFERENCE FROM THE MEDIA AREA TO ASK HOLLAND A QUESTION. “I have a question for you, Jevon,” Graham said with his phone held high to video record the whole thing. “So how does it feel to be the team leader in interceptions as a freshman?”

“It feels good knowing I’ve got some bragging rights,” Holland said. “I might need a ride home, don’t leave.”

Ducks safety Jevon Holland prepares to make a play during the game against Oregon State on Nov. 23, 2018.

(Sarah Northrop)

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TOGETHER WE

SUCCEED

GAMEDAY

EMERALD SPORTS

BOWL WEEK PICKS THIS WEEK’S GAMES:

JACK BUTLER

RECORD: (60-26)

MAVERICK PALLACK

RECORD: (46-40)

SHAWN MEDOW

RECORD: (59-27)

MAGGIE VANONI

RECORD: (55-31)

AUGUST HOWELL

RECORD: (55-31)

ZACH PRICE

RECORD: (62-24)

OREGON VS. MICHIGAN STATE ARIZONA STATE VS. NO. 21 FRESNO STATE TCU VS. CAL NO. 13 WASHINGTON STATE VS. NO. 24 IOWA STATE STANFORD VS. PITT NO. 9 WASHINGTON VS. NO. 6 OHIO STATE NO. 21 NORTHWESTERN VS. NO. 17 UTAH NO. 1 ALABAMA VS. NO. 4 OKLAHOMA NO. 2 CLEMSON VS. NO. 3 NOTRE DAME NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTION M O N D AY, D E C E M B E R 3 , 2 0 1 8

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