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5 Things To Know: UO-UCLA
11/03/18 | Football, @GoDucksMoseley
Storylines to watch when Oregon hosts UCLA on Saturday (4:30 p.m., FOX).
EUGENE, Ore. — Games to remember are played in November, the saying goes. On Saturday evening, the Oregon football team kicks off what it hopes will be a November to remember when the Ducks host UCLA in Autzen Stadium at 4:30 p.m.
Oregon enters the game at 5-3 overall and 2-3 in Pac-12, looking to move on from consecutive losses on the road. UCLA, led by former UO head coach Chip Kelly, is 2-6, but with wins over California and Arizona over the last three weeks.
The game will be televised by FOX, with Tim Brando handling play by play, Spencer Tillman as the analyst and Holly Sonders providing reports from the sidelines.
Here are five storylines to watch entering the game:
1. The irony is thick around the matchup. Kelly was famously reticent when it came to injuries, but in this case Kelly is on the other side of some uncertainties entering Saturday. Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert sat out practice Tuesday and receiver Dillon Mitchell missed both practices this week that were open to media, both due to being in concussion protocol.
In his last meeting with media prior to the game, Wednesday afternoon, Cristobal said Herbert would continue to be monitored throughout the week, and that Mitchell had a chance to be cleared later that day. There doesn't figure to be much clarity on their status until kickoff Saturday, if not just before.
Needless to say, each is a critical element of Oregon's offense. Herbert is third in the Pac-12 in both passing yards per game (258.6) and quarterback rating (147.23), and Mitchell leads Pac-12 receivers in yardage against conference opponents with 115.8 per game.
2. Otherwise, though, the Ducks look healthier entering Saturday's game than they were a week ago. Defensive lineman Austin Faoliu and tight end Kano Dillon, who didn't make the road trip to Arizona, were working their way back into the lineup during practices this week.
Inside linebacker Kaulana Apelu was limited to a handful of reps at Arizona due to injury, but he has played a bigger role in practices this week, and outside linebacker La'Mar Winston Jr. should be available for a bigger role after serving a suspension last week.
3. For six weeks, running the football was Oregon's identity, the exclamation point a rushing touchdown — behind two backup offensive lineman — in overtime to beat Washington. Then, the Ducks failed to surpass 100 rushing yards against both Washington State and Arizona, the first time in 15 years that's happened in back-to-back games.
It was clear based on comments from UO offensive linemen this week that they're taking this personally. Yes, the Ducks miss freshman phenom Penei Sewell, the left tackle injured against UW. But the O line wants to remain the focal point on offense, and relieve some pressure on the passing game this week.
4. The Ducks must be better on special teams than they were at Arizona. That performance included a blocked punt, a muff by the punt return team that handed possession back to the Wildcats, and a punt return allowed for 24 yards.
Oregon's punting is much improved over a year ago, thanks to the big leg of Blake Maimone. But the Ducks' coverage of kickoffs and punts has slipped slightly, something they'd like to clean up entering the final month of the season.
5. Kelly won't be the only face on the UCLA sideline familiar to long-time Oregon fans. His linebackers coach is Don Pellum, who played for the Ducks and then spent decades on the coaching staff, working with linebackers and later as defensive coordinator. And the UCLA defensive coordinator is a former D line coach at Oregon, Jerry Azzinaro.
One of the UCLA graduate assistant coaches is Ramsen Golpashin, a former UO offensive lineman, and ex-UO quarterback Nate Costa is an analyst for the Bruins. Former Oregon receiver D.J. Davis is director of player development under Kelly.
Oregon enters the game at 5-3 overall and 2-3 in Pac-12, looking to move on from consecutive losses on the road. UCLA, led by former UO head coach Chip Kelly, is 2-6, but with wins over California and Arizona over the last three weeks.
The game will be televised by FOX, with Tim Brando handling play by play, Spencer Tillman as the analyst and Holly Sonders providing reports from the sidelines.
Here are five storylines to watch entering the game:
1. The irony is thick around the matchup. Kelly was famously reticent when it came to injuries, but in this case Kelly is on the other side of some uncertainties entering Saturday. Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert sat out practice Tuesday and receiver Dillon Mitchell missed both practices this week that were open to media, both due to being in concussion protocol.
In his last meeting with media prior to the game, Wednesday afternoon, Cristobal said Herbert would continue to be monitored throughout the week, and that Mitchell had a chance to be cleared later that day. There doesn't figure to be much clarity on their status until kickoff Saturday, if not just before.
Needless to say, each is a critical element of Oregon's offense. Herbert is third in the Pac-12 in both passing yards per game (258.6) and quarterback rating (147.23), and Mitchell leads Pac-12 receivers in yardage against conference opponents with 115.8 per game.
2. Otherwise, though, the Ducks look healthier entering Saturday's game than they were a week ago. Defensive lineman Austin Faoliu and tight end Kano Dillon, who didn't make the road trip to Arizona, were working their way back into the lineup during practices this week.
Inside linebacker Kaulana Apelu was limited to a handful of reps at Arizona due to injury, but he has played a bigger role in practices this week, and outside linebacker La'Mar Winston Jr. should be available for a bigger role after serving a suspension last week.
3. For six weeks, running the football was Oregon's identity, the exclamation point a rushing touchdown — behind two backup offensive lineman — in overtime to beat Washington. Then, the Ducks failed to surpass 100 rushing yards against both Washington State and Arizona, the first time in 15 years that's happened in back-to-back games.
It was clear based on comments from UO offensive linemen this week that they're taking this personally. Yes, the Ducks miss freshman phenom Penei Sewell, the left tackle injured against UW. But the O line wants to remain the focal point on offense, and relieve some pressure on the passing game this week.
4. The Ducks must be better on special teams than they were at Arizona. That performance included a blocked punt, a muff by the punt return team that handed possession back to the Wildcats, and a punt return allowed for 24 yards.
Oregon's punting is much improved over a year ago, thanks to the big leg of Blake Maimone. But the Ducks' coverage of kickoffs and punts has slipped slightly, something they'd like to clean up entering the final month of the season.
5. Kelly won't be the only face on the UCLA sideline familiar to long-time Oregon fans. His linebackers coach is Don Pellum, who played for the Ducks and then spent decades on the coaching staff, working with linebackers and later as defensive coordinator. And the UCLA defensive coordinator is a former D line coach at Oregon, Jerry Azzinaro.
One of the UCLA graduate assistant coaches is Ramsen Golpashin, a former UO offensive lineman, and ex-UO quarterback Nate Costa is an analyst for the Bruins. Former Oregon receiver D.J. Davis is director of player development under Kelly.
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