⚑ GAMEDAY
TIGHT END TRIO OREGON BOASTS ITS DEEPEST GROUP OF TIGHT ENDS in almost a decade. The strongest unit in the Pac-12 returns seniors Evan Baylis, Johnny Mundt and the 2014 first team All-Pac-12 honoree Pharaoh Brown.
M AT C H U P : O R E G O N D U C K S V. U C D AV I S A G G I E S
R OYC E F R E E M A N I S T H E Q U I E T B E AST
B R A DY H O KE ’ S 4 - 3 S C H E M E TO F I X T H E D E F E N S E
114 West Broadway
Downtown Eugene
Open 10 am - 2 am Fri, Sat EST.
2015
The fastest, easiest, and cheapest ride to the game. It’s also the most fun. Shuttles run from: . Downtown Eugene
. Springfield Station
. Lane County Fairgrounds
. Symantec
. River Road Station
. Thurston High School
. South Eugene High School
. Valley River Center
Hop on board! Buses run every 10-20 minutes. Return trips during halftime and for one hour after the game ends. Bus passes or cash accepted. Round trip fare is $3.50 for adults, $1.75 for youth 6-18. Children 5 and younger and seniors 65+ ride free.
LTD.org
Show tomorrow who’s boss. Learn SAS® Analytics – MONEY’s No. 1 job skill – for free. Did you know that analytics skills are in high demand? That’s 1.5 million data science jobs available by 2018. So why not learn SAS Analytics – the No. 1 job skill for kicking off your career with a higher starting salary – for free? 1. Download SAS® University Edition for free. 2. Access free resources and an online community of experts. 3. Land the job of your dreams. 4. Go from your parents’ basement to a sweet place of your own. sas.com/freeanalytics
SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries. ® indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. © 2016 SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved. G32771US.0816
T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 , 2 0 1 6
|
E M E R A L D G A M E D AY
|
PA G E 3
ALL YOU CAN EAT
only
$19.99!
Fresh Pork Belly and Beef Brisket! Selection of BBQ meats and seafood cooked on a griddle table in front of you
• • • •
Handmade Tofu Soft tofu Stew Aged Kimchi Stew Homemade Fried Dumplings • Seafood or Kimchi Pan Cake
Vegetarian options include bibimbap served cold or on a hot sizzling stone pot and soft tofu stew
Lunch Specials Starting at
$7.99!
*Tofu can be substituted into most of our meat dishes
TUES - THURS 11:30 - 8:30 FRI - SAT 11:30 - 9:30 SUN 1:00 - 8:00 2130 West 11th Ave. Eugene 541-505-8744 fourplus3.com
Bring in your ticket for great deals!
GAMEDAY GAMEDAY, the Emerald’s football edition, is published by Emerald Media Group, Inc., the independent nonprofit news company at the University of Oregon founded in 1900. EMERALD MEDIA GROUP 1222 E. 13th ave., #300, eugene, OR 97403 541.346.5511 | dailyemerald.com
NEWSROOM Editor in Chief Cooper Green Art Director Raquel Ortega Print Managing Editor Braedon Kwiecien Sports Editor Jarrid Denney Writers Ryan Kostecka Hannah Bonnie Zak Laster Alexa Chedid Jack Butler Gus Morris Designers Emily Garcia Brandon Montes-Nguyen
BUSINESS
President & Publisher Charlie Weaver x317 Vice President, Operations Kathy Carbone x302
ADVERTISING Director of Sales and Marketing Lindsey Smith x303 Account Executives Greg Butler Taylor Bradbury Carson Bieraugel
ON THE COVER Evan Baylis, Johnny Mundt and Pharaoh Brown are the three returning seniors in the tight end positions. Photographs from Emerald Archives and Adam Eberhardt Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. For use only by adults 21 years of age and older. Keep out of reach of children. PA G E 4
|
E M E R A L D G A M E D AY
|
T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 , 2 0 1 6
Weekly Match Up: Players to Watch Written By: Ryan Kostecka | Photo by : Samuel Marshall & Emerald Archives When Oregon kicks off against UC Davis on Sept. 3 to begin the 2016 college football season, the Ducks will officially move forward from last year’s disappointing season. Here are the players to watch in Saturday’s season opener.
Dakota Prukop, QB After playing in the FCS for the previous three years, he’s been handed the keys to one of the nation’s best offenses and all eyes will be on him to see how well he drives. Prukop has a multitude of offensive weapons around him, whether it be running back Royce Freeman, receivers Charles Nelson and Darren Carrington or tight end Pharaoh Brown. The key for Prukop will be protecting the ball. He has three redshirt freshmen in his starting offensive line so helping them with protection calls will be vital to his success. If Prukop can show that he’s in command of this offense, the Ducks will be flying high.
Zach Jones, LB Whenever a team plays against Oregon’s offense, you have to bring both size and athleticism to stop it. Jones is just that for the Aggies as he’s transitioned from safety to linebacker this year, allowing him to cover some of Oregon’s quicker slot guys while playing big enough against the likes of Brown and Freeman. Jones will be the key to the defense and he needs to fly around and make a lot of plays to give UC Davis a chance. (photos courtesy of Creative Commons)
Pharaoh Brown, TE Two years after suffering a horrific leg injury at Utah, Brown will be in the starting lineup when the offense takes the field. Back in 2014, the year of his injury, Brown was named a first-team all-Pac-12 player for his skill catching the ball — 25 catches for 420 yards and six touchdowns — and blocking at the line. Now that he’s back, and according to him better than ever, Brown’s big body will be a huge bailout for Prukop and the Ducks. If he returns to his old self at the least, there’s no reason Brown won’t be playing on Sundays.
Brandon Weaver, DL The other cog to the Aggies defense is Weaver, their best returning defensive lineman. He’ll be tasked with going up against three redshirt freshmen and as a junior, Weaver has the experience and the size to make the game rough for Prukop and Freeman. If Weaver can cause havoc on the inside and force the inexperienced Prukop to make decisions on the run, it could lead to big turnovers for the Aggies.
Johnny Ragin III, LB Ragin will be crucial to Oregon’s defense as Hoke and head coach Mark Helfrich look to him to improve upon last year’s performance. Ragin began his career at Cal where he played as a freshman but then transferred to Oregon to finish out his career. Now in his third year with the Ducks, Ragin has all the respect he needs to lead, but it’s his play that’s going to have to do the most talking. If Ragin can’t make sure the whole unit is on the same page at the same time, this defense could stiffen in a hurry.
Manusamoa Luuga, RB Luuga is central to the Aggies offense as the main running back and receiver. He’s going to have to play one of his best games ever to give the Aggies a chance. He is experienced as a senior and has played against FBS foes before so he understands that grinding out first downs rather than going for the long score every play will be more vital. If Luuga can keep the chains moving, not only will he wear down the Oregon defense, he’ll keep the potent Ducks offense on the sideline. T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 , 2 0 1 6
|
E M E R A L D G A M E D AY
|
PA G E 5
WEEKLY STACK-UP
OREGON VS. UC DAVIS
Oregon Ducks running back Tony Brooks-James (20) tries to break the tackle of two Cal defenders.
Written By: Ryan Kostecka | Photo by : Adam Eberhardt The 2016 college football season has finally arrived for Oregon. While the Ducks will be trying to break in a multitude of new players — most notably quarterback Dakota Prukop, three freshmen offensive linemen and a brand new defensive scheme — the Aggies return many of their offensive and defensive weapons from last year.
Here’s how the teams stack up:
OREGON OFFENSE:
Running back Royce Freeman is Oregon’s leader on offense and a dark horse Heisman candidate. The junior running back returns after rushing for 1,838 yards and 17 touchdowns last year and adding another 348 yards and two scores receiving. But Dakota Prukop is the key to the offense as he’s been with the Ducks since the spring as a fifth-year transfer. He earned the starting job in fall camp because of his leadership and command of the offense. Gifted with a strong arm, he’ll have many weapons to throw to, whether it be dynamic receiver Charles Nelson, Olympic hurdler Devon Allen or NFL-caliber players Darren Carrington and Pharaoh Brown.
DEFENSE:
The Ducks are in a transition period when it comes to defense as new defensive coordinator Brady Hoke is implementing his new 4-3 base defense, and based on practice reports, the results have been mixed at best. Secondary seems to be Oregon’s best position group as it returns all of its starters from last year’s team, including depth at the position. Safety Tyree Robinson is the key as he is seen as the leader of the group while Arrion Aprings and Ugo Amadi lockdown the corner positions. Johnny Ragin II leads the linebacking core as freshman Troy Dye will start in his first ever college football game at the WILL position. Henry Mondeaux is the only returning starter on the defensive line but came on strong at the end of last year while playing opposite DeForest Buckner, a first-round draft pick in last year’s NFL Draft.
PA G E 6
|
E M E R A L D G A M E D AY
|
T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 , 2 0 1 6
UC DAVIS OFFENSE
The Aggies are led by a pair of senior starters in quarterback Ben Scott and running back Manusamoa Luuga. Scott played in eight games last year, yet led the team with 1,598 yards and 11 touchdowns through the air. Luuga was the leader from a stable of running backs, leading UC Davis with six touchdowns and 651 rushing yards. As for receiving, Luuga and Chris Martin were the top targets as each player caught over 45 passes on the season. Luuga led the Aggies with 51 receptions but Martin averaged 14.3 yards per catch with five touchdowns.
DEFENSE
Experience is what leads the Aggies as five of their top six tacklers from last year return. Darryl Graham and Patrick Wells are the top two returning tacklers for the team as both players play in the defensive backfield. The linebacking duo of Russell Reeder and Brady Stibi hold down the middle of the defense while Zach Jones is the hybrid of the defense. Jones saw all of his action last year at safety but has been moved to linebacker this year to give that group more athleticism. Brandon Weaver is the top interior lineman for the Aggies as he posted 3.5 tackles for loss and three sacks last year.
5
$
OFF
STORE HOURS: open 8am –- 9pm 9pm
purchase of $25 or more
Easy to find. Easy to save! Just 3 miles east of campus 160 South 14th St., SPRINGFIELD
Valid SpringfieldGrocery GroceryOutlet Outletonly. only. One coupon person. Minimum purchase Valid at Springfield One coupon perper person. Minimum purchase excludes alcohol. offer. Duplicated coupons will will not be excludes alcohol.Not Notvalid validwith withany anyother other offer. Duplicated coupons not be accepted. Coupon at at time of of purchase. Expires: 12/31/16 accepted. Couponmust mustbebesurrendered surrendered time purchase. Expires: 12/31/16
Follow your feet to Footwise for
Downtown Eugene • 181 E Broadway • 541.342.6107 Facebook/footwiseeugene • Mon-Sat 10-6 & Sun 11-5
WALKING DISTANCE FROM CAMPUS!
NOW USING HUNGRY DUCKS
NEW HOURS!
6am-8pm MON-SUN
GLUTEN FREE PANCAKES!
PLUMBING HOUSEWARES ELECTRICAL HARDWARE LAWN & GARDEN TOOLS PAINT
OPEN SINCE 1965
541-343-7523 • 782 East Broadway, Eugene Corner of Alder & Franklin Blvd.
2825 Willamette • Eugene, Oregon • 541-342-5191
NOW ADDITIONAL PARKING BEHIND CAFE YUMM! WEEKENDS ONLY LOOK FOR SIGN T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 , 2 0 1 6
|
E M E R A L D G A M E D AY
|
PA G E 7
OFFENSIVE
PLAYER TO WATCH
21
ROYCE FREEMAN the ‘quiet beast,’ mentally ready for 2016
Written by: Gus Morris | Photo by : Emerald Archives Coming off an impressive 2015 campaign, Oregon junior running back Royce Freeman is set for another break-out season. He finds himself on countless preseason award watch lists - including the Heisman and Doak Walker - and his 3,201 yards rushing the last two years are the most by any player in a Power Five conference. He currently sits at fourth All-Time in Oregon career rushing yards. But Freeman isn’t listening to any of the hype surrounding him as the Ducks prepare to host UC Davis on Sept. 3 to open the season. “It’s a great honor to be considered for a preseason candidate for the award,” Freeman said of his nomination for the Doak Walker award, given to the best running back in college football. “But I understand that there is a long haul ahead of me as far as the season goes. So to be considered for that is great, but I still know I have a lot of playing to do.” Instead, Freeman is focused on helping the Ducks bounce back from a disappointing 2015 campaign that ended in a disastrous loss to TCU in the Alamo Bowl. As soon as spring practices ended for the Ducks, Freeman was back already working on improving his game for the following season. He wanted to “get his body right” for the fall and spent hours watching film on himself, finding areas in his game to improve. For a guy who netted a school record 1,836 rushing yards last year, it has got to be tough to find areas to improve on. But according to firstyear offensive coordinator Matt Lubick, it’s his self-motivation that makes him such a talented player.
PA G E 8
|
E M E R A L D G A M E D AY
|
“The best thing about Royce is that he’s never satisfied, he always wants to get better and that’s what makes him so good,” Lubick said. “He’s very intrinsically motivated. When you tell him one little coaching point, for example carrying out a run fake, he takes that to heart.” In spring and so far in fall, Freeman has had to step into a role that has been somewhat foreign to him over the past two seasons: being a leader. According to his coaches, Freeman isn’t the most vocal guy. “His thing is just being a little more vocal and coming out of his shell a little bit more because he is a quiet beast,” Helfrich said. Freeman’s way of leadership though, is more show than tell. “We use him for so many teaching examples because he does it the right way,” Lubick said. “He’ll get on special teams and show us how to block a kick and we’ll show that to the rest of the team.” In only two years in Eugene, Freeman has already cemented himself in Duck lore. This season, which could be his last as a Duck, he could set a number of Oregon offense season and career records. His 1,881 yards behind LaMichael James for the Oregon career record for rushing yards. He could be the greatest Duck running back of all time when it’s all said and done. But not even that title draws even a little excitement from Freeman. “You definitely just gotta tune it out,” Freeman said of the hype surrounding his pursuit of James’ record. “I feel like if I just work hard, it’ll pile up and we’ll see where we are at the end.”
T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 , 2 0 1 6
To save the drive Oregon Ducks running back Royce Freeman (21) finds a massive hole, Oregon Ducks travel to East Lansing, Michigan to do battle with the Michigan State Spartan.
8
Emerald’s picks: Top running backs in the nation
JR. - CHRISTIAN MCCAFFERY Stanford University Total yards: 2664 Touchdowns: 13
JR. - LEONARD FOURNETTE Louisiana State University
Rushing yards: 1953 Touchdowns: 22
JR. - ROYCE FREEMAN University of Oregon
Rushing yards: 1838 Touchdowns: 17
JR. - DALVIN COOK Florida State University
Rushing yards: 1691 Touchdowns: 19
JR. NICK CHUBB
University of Georgia
Rushing yards: 747 Touchdowns: 7 in six games due to knee injury
JR. ELIJAH HOOD
University of North Carolina
Rushing yards: 1463 Touchdowns: 17
JR. SAMAJAE PERINE University of Oklahoma
Rushing yards: 1349 Touchdowns: 16
RJR. WAYNE GALLMAN JR. Clemson University
Rushing yards: 1514 Touchdowns: 13 Photos by: Adam Eberhardt & courtesy of creative commons
startatlane.com T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 , 2 0 1 6
|
E M E R A L D G A M E D AY
|
PA G E 9
FEATURE
SENIOR TIGHT ENDS BRING DEPTH TO OREGON’S OFFENSE Written By: Jack Butler | Photo by : Adam Eberhardt & Emerald Archives
Oregon football is fast. Oregon football is quick. Oregon football is explosive. Speed kills and Oregon football has lived by it.
Oregon Ducks tight end Pharaoh Brown (85) runs the ball toward the end zone during the fourth quarter.
PA G E 1 0
|
E M E R A L D G A M E D AY
|
T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 , 2 0 1 6
Fans and the media like to focus on Oregon’s quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs — and for good reason; Oregon has always been stocked in those high-profile positions since the arrival of Chip Kelly in 2007. But this year Oregon’s offense will have added spice: tight ends. Unlike previous years, when the Duck’s tight ends were overshadowed by offensive stars such as LaMichael James, De’Anthony Thomas, Bralon Addison and Marcus Mariota, the tight end group might be the team’s strongest offensive asset. This season, the Ducks boast one of the most skilled and deepest tight end units they’ve had in years, and it may be the best in the Pac-12. The much publicized return of Pharaoh Brown is one highlight of a group that is returning two other seniors this season in Evan Baylis and Johnny Mundt. Despite the up-tempo style of the Ducks’ offense, there may not be enough snaps for all three of them to get reps every game. That’s a problem, but a good one to have. Brown and Mundt are listed as one and two on the depth chart for the UC Davis game on Sept. 3, but all three players expect to see action in the game. Throughout the season, Brown will get the majority of snaps as the starting tight end. Brown, a 2014 first team All-Pac-12 honoree, was named to the 2016 John Mackey preseason watch list — an award given to the most outstanding collegiate tight end. Questions remain about whether
Brown can match his 2014 performance. After suffering a gruesome non-contact leg injury against Utah in 2014, Brown was sidelined for the entire year. Many have questioned whether it’s possible to return to 100 percent, but Brown felt good heading into fall camp. “I’m able to do everything. I’m 100 percent,” Brown told reporters at media day. The role of Mundt and Baylis will be as options 2A and 2B as neither of them seem to have separated themselves from the other. “I want to get [the snap count] as high as I can. I want to play quality minutes and quality game time,” Mundt said. “Any time on the field is a blessing, so I just want to get out there as much as I can.” The silver lining of Brown’s injury and absence last season was that it allowed Baylis and Mundt to gain starting experience and a high volume of reps. Baylis stepped into the starting role, and with Mundt coming off the bench, they proved to be very respectable in filling Brown’s missing production. The benefits of working with three qualified seniors manifest in better practice strategy and execution. “You spend more time with their technique, their fundamentals, [and] how to execute a certain play,” tight ends coach Tom Osborne said. “They know what ‘the play is’. Now how can they execute that at absolute optimum?” Having three seniors also gives younger players, specifically redshirt
TIGHT ENDS AROUND THE PAC-12 1. Arizona State has the most returning tight end receptions from 2015 with 36. Senior and Mackey watch list member Kody Kohl returns 32 of those 36. 2. Utah will boast junior tight ends Harrison Handley and Siale Fakailoatonga who combine to return 34 total receptions. 3. USC returns sophomore Tyler Petite and senior Taylor McNamara combined for 27 receptions last season.
Oregon Ducks tight end Evan Baylis (81) tries to get by Arizona State Sun Devils linebacker .
freshman Jacob Breeland and true freshman Cam McCormick, leaders to study under. “Whenever I have a question, I usually ask the older guys, instead of even coach [Osborne], because I know they’re there and they’ll tell me what to do,” Breeland said. “They’re great mentors to me.” Depth provides coaches a sense of security throughout the season; not only can they throw different players on the field to exploit match-ups, but backups can be used in case of emergency. “[It] gives you more flexibility offensively through a long, 12-game season,” Osborne said. “If we’ve got X amount of receivers out, and we can throw a tight end out there to be that inside receiver spot, that really helps our team.” These three seniors give the Ducks the best combination of skill and depth since 2009, when Ed Dickson and David Paulson manned the position. Dickson ended the 2009 season with 42 receptions, 551 yards and six touchdowns while earning first team All-Pac-10 honors. He is currently a member of the Carolina Panthers. Paulson, during his freshman season in 2009, appeared in 13 games, catching 12 passes for 185 yards and no touchdowns. Over the next two seasons he recorded 55 receptions, 856 yards and 10 touchdowns. Paulson was named to the All-Pac-12 second team in 2011. From 2012 to 2015, he spent time with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Diego Chargers. Paulson is currently a free agent.
The next strong year for Oregon’s tight end position was in 2011 with Colt Lyerla. Lyerla, a versatile player who relied on his athleticism, was an All-Pac-12 honorable mention in his sophomore year. Lyerla’s career came to an abrupt halt when he quit the team in 2013 after multiple suspensions, and he was just arrested on Aug. 28 for heroin possession. The 2009 and 2011 units may match or exceed 2016’s top end skill, but they don’t feature three seasoned seniors. Carried over from the 2015 season, Baylis brings back 16 receptions from last year with Mundt returning five from his performance last season. The 21 tight end receptions from 2015 ranks fifth in the Pac-12. The wild card is Brown, who recorded 25 receptions in only 10 games in 2014, but returns nothing because of his absence in 2015. Had Brown not been injured last year, Oregon might have returned with the most tight end receptions in the Pac-12. Other Pac-12 Mackey watch list members include Stanford sophomore Dalton Schultz and Washington senior Darrell Daniels. Although Arizona State, Stanford, Utah and USC will have strong tight end groups, none can match Oregon’s depth. Traditionally, Duck tight ends are overshadowed by players who line up next to them, or other tight end groups within the conference. But this season, Brown, Mundt and Baylis combine to create a big shadow of their own.
Webfoots players Darren Carrington (7) and Johnny Mundt (83) celebrate Travis Jonsen (11) touchdown during the third quarter.
T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 , 2 0 1 6
|
E M E R A L D G A M E D AY
|
PA G E 1 1
GAMEDAY
Devon Allen runs the ball down the field against Arizona State.
Devon Allen hurdles in the 110-meter at the NCAA Track and Field Championships.
OLYMPIAN DEVON ALLEN resumes his football career
Written by: Jarrid Denney | Photos by : Kaylee Domzalski While running the 2016 season at what he called ‘less than 100 percent,’ Devon Allen added NCAA and U.S. titles in the 110-meter hurdles to his resume before capturing a fifth place finish at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. A recent study from Sports Medicine Simplified estimated that 63 percent of NFL players who suffer similar knee injuries return to the field within two years. Allen is still four months shy of the two-year mark of his injury, and has already completed full seasons in two different sports and competed at the Olympics. Now the redshirt junior has a new challenge ahead of him: jumping back to the football field and making the same type of impact he did in 2014 when he led the Ducks in receiving touchdowns. Allen recently declared that his collegiate track career is likely over. Whether he decides to turn pro in track — he would be able to continue his collegiate football career if he did so — he is singularly focused on making an impact on the football field for the next three months. “This year I feel a lot better [than in 2015],” Allen told reporters last week. “I’ve pretty much
PA G E 1 2
|
E M E R A L D G A M E D AY
|
T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 , 2 0 1 6
finished rehabbing and I’m kind of into the ‘I’m fine mode.’ I’m going into this season just like I went into the season two yars ago as a redshirt freshman.” During the Olympics, Oregon’s coaches stated that it could take Allen some time to catch back up to speed, and he may not see the field for the first few weeks as he works to get back into ‘football shape.’ So, of course, Allen managed to work his way into the Ducks’ two-deep depth chart for the season-opener against UC Davis. He and Dwayne Stanford are each listed as starters at wideout with an or separating their names. Allen’s plan to transition from the Olympic Stadium in Rio to the Autzen turf in Eugene will prove to be a tall order. College football rosters around the country are scattered with the names of dual-sport athletes who have completed successful track seasons in the spring. But none of them competed in Rio, and none of them have as much to lose by putting their pads back on during the fall. The most recent example of an Oregon athlete who excelled at multiple sports is former Duck
and three-sport athlete Jordan Kent. A member of Oregon’s basketball and track teams, Kent tried out for the Ducks’ football team in 2005, made the roster and was eventually drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in 2007. A receiver on the football field and sprinter on the track, Kent believes that Allen won;t have a problem transitioning between sports each year for as long as he wants to do so. “For his future, people are always asking if he’s going to do one or the other,” Kent said following the TrackTown Summer Series in Eugene. “I think he can certainly do both; hopefully he gets a coach in the NFL, if he makes it, that will let him do both.” Athletes who choose to pursue the football-track doule often struggle with adding weight to deal with the physicallity of football season, but Kent believes Allen won’t have a problem. “We’re talking the difference in maybe five to eight pounds each season,” Kent said. “But for him, I think the two events — the 110 hurdles and football — really compliment eachother really well.”
New nonstop EUG to San Jose Connecting the Silicon Shire to the Silicon Valley
THE SORORITY HOUSE 588 E 11TH Ave. (541) 600-8185 EUGENE, OR
MAIN STREET 2600 Main Street (541) 246-8615 SPRINGFIELD, OR
Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of marijuana. Keep marijuana out of the reach of children. T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 , 2 0 1 6
|
E M E R A L D G A M E D AY
|
PA G E 1 3
GAMEDAY The Webfoot and Mighty Ducks offensive and defensive lines set during the fourth quarter at the annual spring game at Autzen Stadium.
Brady Hoke was Michigan’s head coach. prior to coming to Oregon. (Courtesy of Creative Commons)
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR
BRADY HOKE’S new 4-3 scheme to fix the defense Written by: Hannah Bonnie | Photos by : Adam Eberhardt FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, OREGON has relied on their elite offensive play to mask a weak defense. For instance, last season, while the offense was ranked at No. 5 nationally, the defensive was ranked an abysmal 116th. The strongest player by far was lineman Deforest Buckner, who has since departed for the NFL as a first-round pick. Buckner finished last season with 10.5 of the Ducks’ 38 total sacks and 43 tackles. To give the defense new life, head coach Mark Helfrich hired a new defensive coordinator Brady Hoke, who is coming off of a year hiatus after leaving his head coaching position at Michigan the year before. Despite never having been a defensive coordinator, Hoke has plenty of experience as a defensive line coach, having worked as one at Michigan from 1997-2001 prior to obtaining the head coach position. The previous defensive coordinator, Don Pellum, will still work with the defense as the linebackers coach, a position he held at Oregon from 2000-2013. Under Pellum, the Ducks played a 3-4 scheme, a style with three down linemen that many smaller programs like to employ because it allows for smaller, faster players who are easier to recruit. Yet, Oregon is not a small program anymore, and the scheme fails against a spread offense that is so popular today. Because of this, under Hoke, the Ducks will use a 4-3 scheme, which adds another lineman for a more aggressive, single-gap style.
PA G E 1 4
|
E M E R A L D G A M E D AY
|
T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 , 2 0 1 6
“It’s been really fun,” said Canton Kaumatule. “The 4-3 allows the D-line to really be natural; to be a lot more aggressive.” This scheme will allow for heavy blitzing, which will let the pass rush become more effective, improving the defense from last season when they allowed the third most passing yards. It will also add more lineman to the weaker side, the side with less run blockers. This way the Ducks will be able to contain teams more easily and make them play in a limited space. The old style of play relied on linemen, like Buckner, but lacked strong play from the linebackers and defensive backs. The strongest linebacker was Tyson Coleman, who led all linebackers with 4.5 sacks. Instead, the 4-3 relies on strong performances from the nose tackle and strongside positions. For the Ducks, that may be Canton Kaumatule and Henry Mondeaux. Kaumatule was a five-star recruit out of Punahou in Honolulu, Hawaii. The huge 6-7, 295 pound redshirt sophomore played eight games with the Ducks last season, but he’ll have a bigger role this season. Playing strong-side defensive end will be 6-5, 280-pound junior Henry Mondeaux. Last season, he had 4 sacks and 16 tackles. “Because everyone is responsible for one gap, you can play a little bit more aggressive,” said Mondeaux. “You don’t have to read as much anymore; you don’t have to determine which gap to take in a two-gap system.” Previously, when the defense seemed weak on
one side, the Ducks would bring down a safety to the box in order for the lineman to pursue the ball, while limiting any gaps. Now, the idea would be for the defensive ends to force the other team’s offense to run on the outside while pursuing them with an eight-man force. Junior Tyree Robinson and senior Reggie Daniels will likely be Oregon’s safeties. Robinson lead the team with 3 picks and had 38 tackles. Daniels had 39 tackles and 10 passes broken up and pass deflections. Switching to this new scheme forces Oregon’s defensive backs to be more responsible for covering the rest of the field against the pass. Having one less linebacker puts more pressure on the defensive backs to cover the middle of the field. Opposing wide receivers will seek to go inside against Oregon’s cornerbacks, rather than trying to beat them deep. The Ducks will look towards cornerback Arrion Springs, a 5-11, 205-pound junior. He finished last season with 35 tackles and lead the team with 12 passes broken up and 13 pass deflections. For Oregon, the defense is a bit of a question mark, with returning and new players moving positions to fit in with the new scheme. “We’re still trying to figure out where everyone is going to play,” said Mondeaux. “It’s a whole new system. Everyone feels like a freshman again.” The result will be a hopefully more efficient and aggressive defense that will limit the pass rush and attack the quarterback more consistently.
A simple way for
UO STUDENTS
to search for DucksHousing.com
HOUSING
You Know What Time It Is! LOCATION: 420 Blair Blvd.
DUCK BUCK
HOURS: Sunday 10A-9P Mon-Th 10A-10P Fri-Sat 10A-11P
10% off purchase
{with this ad}
PHONE: 541-393-6820
$5 Grams & $15 1/8ths* *While supplies last. Add 25% sales tax for recreational. Proudly serving our community, with alternative pain management, and helping reduce the dependency on pharmaceuticals. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of marijuana. Keep marijuana out of the reach of children.
facebook.com/ emeraldphotobooth @Emeraldphotobooth @emeraldphotobooth
We bring the camera, lights, props and staff. You bring your fabulous self.
We make events better.
258 EAST 13TH, EUGENE | 541.342.7975
T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 , 2 0 1 6
|
E M E R A L D G A M E D AY
|
PA G E 1 5
GAMEDAY
Sweet Cheeks Winery New Tasting Room
NOW OPEN
Is Justin Herbert right for back up QB?
at the fifth street public market
Join Us Mon. - Wed. 11am - 7pm Thurs, - Sun. 11am - 8pm live music Fri. & Sat. 5:30 - 7:30 248 E. 5th Avenue Suite 25 Eugene, Oregon 458-215-4990
PA G E 1 6
|
E M E R A L D G A M E D AY
|
T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 , 2 0 1 6
Written by: Ryan Kostecka | Illustration by : Brandon Montes-Nguyen He entered fall camp as the relative unknown. He left as the star of it. The past four weeks have been a whirlwind for Oregon freshman quarterback Justin Herbert, but in the best way possible. Herbert began Oregon’s fall football camp as the expected fourth-string quarterback. It was expected he would have a redshirt season and lead the scout team against the Ducks’ first and second team defenses during the season. He would never see the field in 2016, all while preparing for a shot at making the traveling squad next season. How could he possibly make the travel team and crack the depth chart? Not only did he play against a lower-level of competition in high school than his counterparts (something some people think is a huge deal), he was the last quarterback to arrive on campus, get his playbook and begin practicing. He had Dakota Prukop, a fifthyear transfer from Montana State; Travis Jonsen, a player who’s been in the program; and Terry Wilson Jr., a freshman from Texas who arrived at Oregon during the spring, all with a jump on him. With fall camp over and the Ducks preparing to open the season against UC Davis on Saturday, Herbert has indeed cracked the depth chart and made the traveling team. Come game day, Herbert will find himself suited up and getting action in the game as Oregon’s No. 2 quarterback. If the Ducks blow out UC Davis, as they’re expected to do, Herbert would see significant game time leading Oregon’s high-flying offense. If anything happens to Prukop, which all Oregon fans learned
last year is a tough pill to swallow when your starting quarterback goes down, Herbert is next in line to lead Oregon back to the Pac-12 Championship game. Still, you have to question whether this is the right move for Herbert? He’s still just a kid who at this time last year was playing high school football for Sheldon in Eugene. He’s been learning Oregon’s offense for a few months and now he’s expected to take on the likes of Stanford, USC, Nebraska, Utah and the forever-hated Washington? If Herbert is as good as all his coaches and players say, why rush him into seeing the field? Why not redshirt him? Why not let him get an entire grasp of this offense so next year when Prukop leaves, the offense is Herbert’s and he is fullon ready to go? By doing this, Herbert won’t take the lumps and bruises that come with being a young quarterback. He won’t run the risk of losing his confidence or getting injured. He also won’t be blamed for Oregon’s season possibly tanking. We all saw what happened to Jeff Lockie last year. Oregon learned last year how important it is for your backup quarterback to be game-ready. I think it’s safe to assume the coaching staff learned their lesson and are making sure to not replicate last year. Once the season starts on Saturday, the decision to play Herbert is final. There are no take-backs or anything, it’s full-steam ahead. Herbert will be suited up on Saturdays, ready to go when his name is called. It may not be the best decision, but based on last year’s debacle, it’s probably the right one.
GAMEDAY
The Moshofsky Center looms over the practice fields.
Ducks hold physical practice prior to UC Davis Written by: Jack Butler | Photo by : Samuel Marshall
On Aug. 23, Oregon football held their most physical practice of fall training camp in preparation for the season opener on Sept. 3 against UC Davis. The Ducks held one-on-one special teams and a variety of other drills. “It was physical with a bunch of competitive situations in every phase,” Helfrich said after practice. “You do not get a lot of opportunities to practice one-on-one in special teams really at all.” With full pads and going full speed, the offense and defense focused on one-onone drills, seven-on-seven games and clock management. One drill in particular featured the offense holding an extended drive while the defense attempted to stop it. After each drive a fresh offensive or defensive unit would rotate in. The offense won the day. They got out to an early lead and were able to hold on throughout the course of the drills. “It was definitely one of our best days of camp as an offense,” Dakota Prukop told reporters after practice. “It always seems to come down to the wire at the very end, but we had a fourth and one conversion with the offensive line and Kani [Benoit], so it was a good day.” Hefrich emphasized that the team competed well, and that a lot of young guys worked to find their place on special teams. After last Tuesday’s practice, he specifically mentioned that the position battles at
quarterback and linebacker where tough decisions that had to be made. It was a tough practice that helped Oregon coaching staff make decisions on starters in the position battles that carried over into Aug. 25 — the final scrimmage of fall camp. Thursday’s scrimmage had a similar result to Tuesday’s, where the offense won the day. New defensive coordinator Brady Hoke was asked if he had seen enough improvement in his defense to be happy. “No, not at all,” Hoke told reporters. “We’re a long way from being any kind of defense.” To Hoke’s dismay, UC Davis was fast approaching and the team’s starters needed to be named. On Aug. 26, Oregon released the depth chart. As expected, fifth year-transfer Prukop was named the starting quarterback. Last season with Montana State, Prukop led an offense that scored 77 points against UC Davis. Senior Johnny Ragin III, junior AJ Hotchkins and freshman Troy Dye were named the starting linebackers. All three of them will be first time starters. Ragin III saw action last year and recorded 20 tackles. The physical practices throughout last week, paired with the recovery and game preparation that occurred this week should have the Ducks ready for the season.
Go Green! Go ducks! medicinal or recreational, we’ve got your strain! 10% DISCOUNT WITH STUDENT I.D.! Monday-Saturday: 10am-9pm Sunday: 11am-7pm Located just off W. 11th and Baily Hill Rd. at 1000 Obie St. • 541-505-7275
Do not operate vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. For use by adults 21 years of age or older. Keep out of reach of children. T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 , 2 0 1 6
|
E M E R A L D G A M E D AY
|
PA G E 1 7
GAMEDAY
2016
OREGON DEPTH CHART
WEEK 1 — UC DAVIS
OFFENSE WR WR WR
Written By: Gus Morris Oregon football announced today on Twitter that senior transfer Dakota Prukop will start at quarterback when the Ducks open their season against UC Davis on Sept 3 at Autzen Stadium. True freshman — and Eugene native — Justin Herbert was named his backup. Prukop, an AP All-American, spent his last several season at Montana State. In his time there, he accumulated 1,763 rushing yards and 5,584 passing yards. His 7,347 yards rank fourth in MSU history. He rushed for 24 touchdowns and threw for 46 more. Coming into fall camp, there was no clear leader in the quarterback race. Redshirt freshman Travis Jonsen and Prukop appeared to be the top two candidates. But after Oregon’s first scrimmage of fall, head coach Mark Helfrich said that Prukop had been the most consistent quarterback and had begun to separate himself from the pack. According to Helfrich and quarterbacks coach David Yost, Prukop rose to the top because he commanded the offense. He also limited mistakes, separating himself from the others. “What it comes down to is his consistency, being able to do it day in and day out, play after play, no matter what the circumstance is,” Yost told reporters this week. Herbert began to impress late into fall camp and the battle quickly turned to who would be Prukop’s backup. Up until Oregon released its depth chart on Friday, there was still speculation around who would be the second-string quarterback, but many reports indicated that Herbert had made a strong case for himself in camp. In his final campaign at Sheldon High School, he threw for 3,130 yards and 37 touchdowns on a 66.5 percent completion rate and ran for 543 yards and 10 more scores to lead the Irish to the 2015 6A state semifinals.
PA G E 1 8
|
E M E R A L D G A M E D AY
|
T H U R S D AY, S E P T E M B E R 1 , 2 0 1 6
4 ALEX OFODILE 6 CHARLES NELSON 82 CASEY EUGENIO 7 DARREN CARRINGTON 15 JALEN BROWN
LT
73 TYRELL CROSBY 66 BRADY AIELLO
LG
68 SHANE LEMIEUX 79 EVAN VOELLER
C
55 JAKE HANSON 63 DAVIS MIYASHIRO-SAIPAIA
RG
78 CAMERON HUNT 57 DOUG BRENNER
RT
54 CALVIN THROCKMORTON
TE
VS
85 DWAYNE STANFORD 13 DEVON ALLEN
QB RB
70 ZAC MORGAN 85 PHARAOH BROWN 83 JOHNNY MUNDT 9 DAKOTA PRUKOP 10 JUSTIN HERBERT 21 ROYCE FREEMAN 29 KANI BENOIT
DEFENSE DE DT DT DE WILL MIKE SAM CB
PK
41 AIDEN SCHNEIDER
KO
49 MATT WOGAN
P
38 IAN WHEELER
49 MATT WOGAN
42 BLAKE MAIMONE
KR
6 CHARLES NELSON 20 TONY BROOKS-JAMES
PR
6 CHARLES NELSON
LS
39 TANNER CAREW
92 HENRY MONDEAUX 91 T.J. DANIEL 47 REX MANU 74 ELIJAH GEORGE 50 AUSTIN MALOATA 90 DRAYTON CARLBERG 11 JUSTIN HOLLINS 97 JALEN JELKS 28 JOHNNY RAGINII 54 DE’QUAN MCDOWELL 55 AJ.. HOTCHKINS 46 DANNY MATTINGLY 35 TROY DYE 3 JONAH MOI 14 UGO AMADI 23 MALIK LOVETTE 3 TYREE ROBINSON
S
8 REGGIE DANIELS
CB
1 ARRION SPRINGS
S
SPECIAL TEAM
43 BRENDEN SCHOOLER 17 JUWAAN WILLIAMS 26 KHALIL OLIVER
H
23 MALIK LOVETTE
12 TAYLOR ALIE
think