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With the departure of NFL-bound DeForest Buckner and the like, a young group of defensive linemen is beginning to find their place on the team.
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Tyson Coleman enrolled at the University of Oregon in 2010 after graduating early from Lake Oswego High School. Coleman was a 199-pound teenager without any tattoos. Things changed when he arrived on Oregon’s campus. His first tattoo was the name of his grandmother, Marie, right over his heart. Today, Coleman is a 235-pound senior outside linebacker. His torso is covered in tattoos — so many that he can’t keep track. Coleman said that during his redshirt year, he needed to physically mature in order to contribute on the field. He ate Panko chicken tenders, spinach raviolis from Costco and barbecued his own chicken to keep his body fat down and his weight gain consistent. But it was playing the game that matured him on the field. “I think it came through trial and tribulation,” Coleman said. “I needed to grow up a little bit during my redshirt season.” Coleman sat down with the Emerald to discuss his time at Oregon and playing through two bulging discs in his back for the majority of last season. Emerald: Your first year you redshirted. In your second year, as a freshman, you stepped in and had an impact. How was that transition? Tyson Coleman: It was wild. It took a few games to get used to it. I remember my first play was on a kickoff and I got knocked three, four lanes over into another teammate, I got hit so hard. E: What did you do during your redshirt year that helped you jump right in?
TC: I had a lot of maturing to do. I think, through trial and tribulation ... playing behind Dion Jordan and Boseko Lokombo and guys like that gave a really good example of what I had to do if I wanted to come in and contribute. E: I know you have the Oregonian tattoo on your arm. Not a lot of prospects have come out of the state of Oregon to the University of Oregon recently. Do you feel like you carry the state of Oregon with you, even though you still play here? TC: Absolutely. There are not too many guys on our team from Oregon. Throughout the past few successful years there haven’t been that many guys that have contributed from the state of Oregon ... To only have four or five guys on the entire team from Oregon, you have to have some pride in that. E: What do you think the difference is in you as a player from last year to this year? TC: Well, last year I was hurt pretty much the whole year. I had two bulging discs on my back that kind of slowed me down a little bit. E: Obviously it hurt, but what does it feel like to play with two bulging discs in your back? TC: You feel a step slower. I felt like someone was on my back, honestly. I couldn’t run nearly as fast. I was probably running half speed, maybe three-quarters. It was frustrating. E: So this year, what was it like to be able to play free from that kind of injury? TC: It’s nice. Being able to play at full speed and be flexible – it was nice and I feel blessed right now to be healthy.
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Just over a month ago, USC and Oregon were two teams that had not lived up to expectations. The Trojans crawled their way to a 3-3 record and experienced turnover at the head coaching position after Steve Sarkisian was fired. Oregon’s season moved along in similar fashion, and with Vernon Adams Jr. impaired by a finger injury, the Ducks started the year 3-3 for the first time in over a decade. But things have changed. Saturday’s contest features two ranked opponents and a Trojans team that is in the driver’s seat to win the Pac-12 South. In addition, Oregon is coming off Saturday’s upset against then-No. 7 Stanford. Expect an entertaining game at Autzen Stadium this week, one that is not short on offensive playmakers. The combination of Cody Kessler and Juju Smith-Schuster will be the next quarterback-wide receiver tandem to test a young Oregon secondary. And on offense for Oregon is a group that only seems to be becoming more lethal. The unit scored 38 points on just 48 plays against Stanford, and racing past the Cardinal’s defenders.
OREGON OFFENSE VS. USC DEFENSE Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich said “time will tell” whether Vernon Adams Jr. is validating himself as the best quarterback in the Pac-12 after Saturday’s 38-36 win over Stanford. Adams went 10-of-12 for 205 yards and two touchdowns, but more importantly manned an offense that appears to be humming like one of the best in the country. The Ducks are averaging 532.6 yards per game and have a chorus of options that will give USC’s defensive coordinator headaches just thinking about. However, USC has one of the more stout defenses in the conference. The Trojans are allowing just 22.7 points per game and linebacker Su’a Cravens is a semifinalist for the Butkus and Bednarik awards. However, the injury bug could hurt them when they head to Eugene. USC linebackers Cameron Smith and Lamar Dawson will likely be out after sustaining injuries in the Trojans’ win over Colorado last Friday.
USC OFFENSE VS. OREGON DEFENSE
The Trojans have had what Helfrich termed “hiccups” this year, but the talent on offense may be the best Oregon faces all year. Out wide, the Ducks’ cornerbacks will face off against a pair of receivers — Smith-Schuster and Adoree’ Jackson — that have combined for 87 receptions, 1,542 yards and 12 touchdowns. What’s more, Jackson plays a role similar to the Ducks’ Charles Nelson. “Adoree Jackson is kind of their Charles Nelson that plays offense, that plays defense, that plays special teams,” Helfrich said. “All of that at a very, very high level.” True freshman Ugo Amadi, who replaced Tyree Robinson at cornerback after the redshirt junior left last Saturday with an ankle injury, will likely be tested by Kessler frequently. Arrion Springs, who continues to improve, will likely be challenged equally. Regardless, the matchup between USC’s offense and Oregon’s defense figures to be competitive, especially considering the threat the Ducks’ front seven continues to pose. The group has accumulated 29 sacks this season and ranks in the top half of the conference in rushing yards allowed.
Bralon Addison, Oregon’s leading receiver, will likely be an impact player on the Ducks offense. (Adam Eberhardt) The Emerald is published by Emerald Media Group, Inc., the independent nonprofit media company at the University of Oregon. Formerly the Oregon Daily Emerald, the news organization was founded in 1900.
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OREGON VS. USC
Charles Nelson, Oregon’s jack-ofall-trades, has been a major player in all areas of the Ducks’ game this year. (Adam Eberhardt)
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Last weekend, Oregon capped off its best game of the season by beating then-No. 7 Stanford 38-36. This week, the Ducks look to keep momentum rolling as they host Pac-12 South leader No. 22 USC. Its fourth-consecutive win helped vault Oregon (7-3, 5-2 Pac-12) back into the AP Top 25 at No. 23. The offense is clicking with a healthy Vernon Adams Jr. taking snaps, and the defense is much improved after a horrendous start. The Trojans (7-3, 5-2 Pac-12) are also bouncing back from a rough start to the season, which saw their head coach fired. Since interim head coach Clay Helton took over, USC has also gone on a four-game win streak that included an upset over Utah. The Pac-12 Championship game is a possibility for both teams, as a Trojans win would allow them to control their own fate, while a win for the Ducks keeps hopes alive.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH: USC wide receivers vs. Oregon secondary
Oregon running backs vs. USC front seven
USC is a squad that is built to throw the ball. Starting quarterback Cody Kessler has a plethora of talented teammates he can sling passes to. The Trojans have the 22nd ranked passing attack in the nation with 295.5 yards per game and have collected 24 receiving touchdowns this season. One of the big reasons for the success in the air is 6-foot-2 sophomore JuJu Smith-Schuster, as he leads the team with 63 receptions for 1,160 yards and 10 touchdowns. For the Ducks, it will be important to contain the Trojans, preventing them from ripping off huge gains. Watch for them to utilize the bend-don’t-break mentality — where they will happily give up short passes instead of back-breaking deep throws.
While the Trojans will be looking to move the ball in the air, Oregon will settle for a rushing attack that is ranked fourth in the nation. The Ducks are piling on 297.4 yards per game, and in the past two weeks have shown an improved depth at the position. While Royce Freeman still takes the majority of the handoffs, Kani Benoit, Taj Griffin and Tony Brooks-James have all contributed to a solid season. On the other side of the ball, USC has struggled to contain the running game, leading to big games for opposing backs. They will have to keep Freeman and company out of the end zone if they want a chance to keep the score close.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
OREGON:
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Tyson Coleman Coleman is the glue guy on the Oregon defense, always making solid plays and keeping things organized through his communication and leadership. He is a nice mix of fundamental tackling and excellent positioning, able to read plays and meet the ball in the hole. On the season, he has 45 tackles and 3.5 sacks. This weekend he will be important in bottling up the USC running game and forcing them to rely solely on the pass.
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Charles Nelson Nelson is becoming one of the most versatile players in college football. Shifted to safety to help bolster the secondary, he makes plays on defense, offense and special teams. In the past weeks, he has returned kickoffs for touchdowns, delivered punishing blows to opposing receivers and, most recently against Stanford, ripped off a 75 yard run in the triple option. Against the Trojans, Nelson should once again have a major impact.
USC: Adoree’ Jackson Similar to Nelson, Jackson is Mr. Everything for USC, playing offense, defense and special teams as well. The sophomore is fast, able to use his athleticism to his advantage in every situation. In the last three games Jackson has recorded a pick-six, returned a blocked field goal to set up a touchdown and averaged 25 yards on kick returns. Both Jackson and Nelson should battle throughout the contest, and the outcome could have a big impact on the final results.
Su’a Cravens Cravens is yet another star in a long line of talented linebackers who have come through USC. With previous experience at safety, he has the speed and ability to stick with route runners and not be a liability in obvious passing downs. On the season, Cravens has 66 tackles, 5.5 sacks and an interception.
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The first decade of the 21st century was perhaps the greatest era of USC football ever. The program won seven Pac-10 titles, appeared in consecutive BCS Championship games, was recognized as the AP National Champion in 2003 and 2004 and had three Heisman Trophy winners. That was, of course, all before the NCAA enforced sanctions on the program in 2010. USC has struggled to return to its original dominance since. Nevertheless, USC controlled the college football spotlight. And many current Oregon football players are Southern California natives who followed the Trojans. For 18 of the current Ducks, home is within a two-hour drive of USC, including Oregon quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. “I used to go to all the home games, and it was an honor seeing those guys play and seeing how they got it done,” Adams said Tuesday in the lead-up to Oregon’s matchup with the Trojans. One player in particular caught Adams’ eyes when he went to those games: Reggie Bush. “I wanted to be Bush,” he said. “I’m a quarterback, but I liked all his moves. It kinda goes though my head [now], it’s like, ‘Bush, Bush, do something.’ He’s one of my favorite players to this day, so I like watching.” Adams, who grew up in Pasadena, California, sports an ‘SC’ tattoo on his right
arm,just below his elbow. Though the tattoo appears to be the same typeface as the USC logo, he said the tattoo represents Southern California, not the Trojans. Senior linebacker Rodney Hardrick, like Adams, also had childhood days dominated by the Trojans. “That was the time of my life when I was watching football 24/7. I was really starting to get into it and it really made me want to play the game,” Hardrick said. Hardrick used to attend the Trojans practice “all the time” in high school, to the point where he became familiar with the entire program. “I wanted to go there all my life,” he said. That is, until Hardrick found the University of Oregon to be a better fit overall. Yet, still today, Hardrick remembers growing his hair out because of former USC All-American safety Troy Polamalu. “I think I had one of his jerseys laying around somewhere,” Hardrick said. Hardrick has only played the Trojans once in his Oregon career — at the 2012 game in Los Angeles. In his nine appearances that season, it was the only game the Colton, California native recorded a tackle for loss. For Adams, this Saturday marks his one and only shot to play his “home school,” an opportunity that’s been on his mind for quite a while. “I’m just excited to play USC,” he said. “I’ve always dreamed of this.”
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MATURING DEFENSIVE LINE
PREPARES TO TAKE CHARGE ➥ WILL A few days before Oregon faced rival Stanford on the road, senior defensive end DeForest Buckner evaluated the progress of the freshmen and sophomores on the defensive line. “Some of the young guys are starting to grow up,â€? Buckner said. “We’re definitely excited to see who stands out in this game.â€? The Ducks escaped Stanford with a 38-36 upset win, due in part to Oregon’s D-line standing up to Stanford’s bigger, more physical offensive line. Sophomore Austin Malaota and freshman Rex Manu backed up Buckner’s words and played integral roles in slowing the Cardinal’s rushing attack. To match their run-heavy sets — sometimes with seven offensive linemen — the Ducks introduced a new five-man front: Buckner, Malaota, Manu, senior Alex Balducci and sophomore Henry Mondeaux. For the most part, the five held their ground. “To ask three guys, or even four guys, to stand up to their seven was gonna be a difficult task. The rules allow us to match their personnel. We added some more to the equation,â€? defensive line coach Ron Aiken said
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of the game plan. “Our guys were just excited to match bigs with bigs, and they were willing to take on the challenge.� When defensive tackle Arik Armstead left Oregon for the NFL after last season, few defensive linemen besides Buckner and Balducci had extensive playing experience. Once they, along with senior defensive end Tui Talia, depart at the end of this season, the unit will have a completely different look. Mondeaux has established himself as a starter, while players like Malaota and Manu continue to mature. Only USC and Oregon State remain in the Ducks’ regular season schedule, and these games could offer a glimpse into which defensive linemen will fill the vacant spots. “Some of the redshirts from last year came in with the attitude this year — since Arik Armstead left — that we have to be able to step up and mature,� Malaota said. “I think all the younger guys — Rex, Canton [Kaumatule], Jalen [Jelks] and Gary [Baker] — they’re all learning their way up.� Buckner, Balducci and Armstead faced similar circumstances in 2012 when the three arrived in Eugene as freshmen. The trio was
heralded as the future of the defensive line. All three played substantial roles by the end of the 2012 season. Buckner and Armstead finished with 29 and 26 tackles respectively, while Balducci earned more playing time late in the season as a result of injuries to key linemen. This year has been different. Outside of Buckner, Balducci, Mondeaux and Talia, no one on the D-line has more than five tackles. But younger linemen have played important roles in the last couple of games, particularly Manu and Malaota. “In the Cal ball game, Rex grew up,� Aiken said. “It might’ve only been 10 or 12 plays, but he showed something in that game: that he would go on the field and do what’s necessary to have success.� Malaota was content playing behind experienced linemen last season as a freshman. This year, however, Malaota entered with a new perspective. “After experiencing the trip to the [national championship] as a freshman,� Malaota said, “it changes your whole mindset on things.� Oregon’s D-line depth has improved throughout the season, in large part because
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It’s really important to get them on the field when they’re ready to do the right thing ... To get on the field is one thing, but to get on the field and do it the correct way is more important than anything else. RON AIKEN, Ducks defensive line coach
Sophomore Henry Mondeaux (92) is one of the emerging leaders on the Ducks defensive line.
freshmen and sophomore linemen have grown up. Aiken now feels comfortable rotating guys like Malaota and Manu into games. He recognizes the importance of getting inexperienced players on the field, especially in a year where several players will be leaving. But Aiken evaluates his players on their ability to apply practice to games — specifically pad level, locking arms and getting off blocks. “It’s really important to get them on the field when they’re ready to do the right thing,” Aiken said. “To get on the field is one thing, but to get on the field and do it the correct way is more important than anything else. That’s what guys did this past week.” Aiken is uncertain if Oregon will use its “jumbo” defensive line package against USC. The Ducks likely won’t face another team using seven offensive linemen the rest of the season. However, USC presents a challenge similar to Stanford.
“[USC] might be bigger,” Aiken said. “Those tackles are huge.” USC right tackle Zach Banner, listed at 6-foot-9, 360 pounds, is arguably the biggest lineman the Ducks have seen this season. “They’re top-heavy and have a bunch of big, physical players,” Buckner said. “We’ve got to stay low, just like this past game against Stanford.” After the seniors depart at the end of the season, Oregon’s D-line will only have six combined starts on the unit, all coming from Mondeaux this season. It will be one of the unit’s biggest turnovers in several years. Young defensive linemen recognize their time is quickly approaching. “Knowing that Tui, DeFo and Alex are all about to leave to the next level encourages me personally to step up and be the older brother to these guys,” Malaota said. “It makes me realize there’s no one left. Once they leave, it’s us.”
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PAC-12 TITLE RACES SET TO BE PHOTO FINISHES ➡ KENNY
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The Oregon Ducks (7-3, 5-2 Pac-12) left the California Golden Bears (6-4, 3-4 Pac-12) with a sour taste in their mouths two weeks ago, after thrashing them 44-28 at home for their seventh consecutive match-up victory. The loss was Cal’s fourth straight, following its 5-0 start to the season. Now, in Oregon’s hunt for an improbable berth in the Pac-12 title game, the Golden Bears could be the Ducks’ best friends. If Cal manages to pull off a major upset against the No. 15 Stanford Cardinal (8-2, 7-1 Pac-12) in the Big Game on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m., Oregon will be in the driver’s seat to win the Pac-12 North. That is, however, if the Ducks manage to beat the No. 22 USC Trojans (7-3, 5-2 Pac-12) at Autzen Stadium earlier that day. Both Oregon and USC, respectively ranked No. 7 and No. 8 in the preseason AP Top 25, are riding four-game winning streaks entering Saturday’s 12:30 p.m. showdown in Eugene. Oregon sat at 3-3 following a heartbreaking loss to Washington State at home on Oct. 10 that left fans wondering whether the team would even be bowl-eligible by the season’s end. But with a healthy Vernon Adams Jr. back behind center, the Ducks proved their legitimacy with a gritty 3836 road win over No. 7 Stanford last Saturday. USC’s season looked to be toast after former head coach
Steve Sarkisian was fired and a subsequent 41-31 loss to Notre Dame left the Trojans with a 3-3 record. But just like Oregon, USC surged back with four straight wins, highlighted by a 42-24 upset against No. 3 Utah on Oct. 24. With Stanford and Oregon in contention for the Pac-12 North title, and USC, Utah (8-2, 5-2 Pac12) and UCLA (7-3, 4-3 Pac-12) fighting for the South division crown, the race to the conference championship game is set up for a photo-finish. In reality, though, only the South is a true toss-up. As of Tuesday, Stanford is a heavy 11-point favorite to beat Cal in Berkeley, and thus, win the North. Oregon needs to beat USC and Oregon State at home, as well as Cal to beat Stanford in order to win an intradivision tiebreaker and claim the North title. The Pac-12 South title is completely up for grabs. USC controls its own destiny; The Trojans win the division with wins in their final two games against Oregon on the road and UCLA at home. UCLA also controls its own destiny, but its path is more daunting; it must win its final two games on the road against Utah and USC. Utah needs to win out at home against UCLA and Colorado, and USC to lose once in order to reclaim the South lead. We’ll know a lot more about each team’s chances after the Big Game on Saturday night. For now, the name of the game for all five teams is the same: just win, baby.
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OREGON VS. USC
NOT PREMIERE POWERS ➡ R YA N
K O S T E C K A , @ R YA N _ K O S T E C K A
The University of Southern California, with its rich football tradition, and the University of Oregon, with its flashy uniforms and high-octane offense, are the two teams most commonly associated as national powerhouses on the west coast. Oh, how the west has fallen. From 2002-06, USC either won the national championship outright or had a share of it. During that same time period, the Trojans won three Heisman trophies. About the same time USC started to lose its grip on college football, Oregon picked up the Trojans’ pieces and fitted them for itself. Since 2010, the Ducks have won two Rose Bowls, a Fiesta Bowl, three Pac-12 Championships and have had two appearances in the National Championship game. They also boast their own Heisman trophy winner in Marcus Mariota. Without a doubt, the No. 23 Ducks and No. 24 Trojans have been the class of west coast college football since 2002, and every time these two teams met, national championship implications came with it. How the times have changed? Come Saturday, when the Ducks and Trojans play, there won’t be any national championship implications. ESPN’s College Gameday won’t be in attendance. It’s a miracle that both teams are still within fighting distance of making it to the conference championship game. What could once be described as the “west coast championship” is merely another game, on another Saturday, near the end of the college football season. While both teams have players who will play in the NFL, most notably Oregon defensive lineman DeForest Buckner and USC linebacker
Su’a Cravens, there will be no player trying to pad their stats in hopes of raising the Heisman trophy. Oregon struggled out of the gate this season with losses to Michigan State, Utah and Washington State. The Ducks were breaking in a new quarterback, Vernon Adams Jr., and once he was injured, Oregon’s high-powered offense was anything but. The Ducks have righted the ship with four straight wins but a loss to the Trojans will have fans thinking of the early-season failures rather than the late-season success. On the other hand, USC has been a tale of Jekyll and Hyde. In some games, the Trojans look dominant (i.e. wins over Utah and Arizona State). In others, the Trojans look like a team with no direction (i.e. a loss to Washington and a threepoint win over Pac-12 cellar-dweller Colorado). The Ducks can be crowned Pac-12 North champions only if they beat USC and Oregon State and if No. 11 Stanford loses to Cal on Saturday. USC controls its own destiny en route to the conference championship. It needs to beat the Ducks on Saturday before taking caring of business against UCLA in the regular season finale. With Oregon’s victory over Stanford last week and USC’s victory over No. 13 Utah earlier in the year, the Pac-12 doesn’t seem to have any potential for the College Football Playoff. Once primed as must-see college football, the game between Oregon and USC is one that will surely fall through the cracks once the rest of the national games have finished. What was once considered the biggest game on the west coast a mere five years ago is now considered an afterthought in the national landscape. Oh, how the west has fallen.
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đ&#x;’ť PHOTO
CRUSHING CARDINAL HOPES THIS TIME, OREGON PLAYED THE UPSET. With last Saturday’s
Above: Bralon Addison (2) stiff arms a Stanford defender.
38-36 win that nearly stretched into overtime, the Ducks paved another step on their road to the Pac-12 Championship, while simultaneously taking away Stanford’s shot at the playoffs.
Below: Vernon Adams Jr. (3) looks to the sideline. Royce Freeman (21) runs away for a touchdown.
(All photos by Cole Elsasser)
Above left: The late-season loss was devastating for the Cardinal season. Above Right: Injured Ducks Tyree Robinson (left) and Byron Marshall (right) share a post-game laugh on the sidelines. Left: The Oregon defensive line stands against a stout Cardinal offense. Right: Joe Walker (35) tackles Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan. Bottom Right: Vernon Adams Jr. (3) slides to safety.
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