Photo by: GoDucks.com
Pac-12 Media Day Notebook
07/25/18 | Football, @GoDucksMoseley
Oregon coach Mario Cristobal joined players Justin Herbert and Jalen Jelks at the Pac-12 Media Day in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Media covering the Pac-12 have had a tough time projecting the conference in recent years, a trend the Oregon football team will do its best to extend into 2018 this fall.
The Ducks were picked to finish third in the Pac-12 North Division this season, in a poll of 42 media members covering the conference. The poll was released Wednesday in conjunction with the Pac-12's Media Day in Los Angeles.
Only three times in the last 11 years have media correctly predicted the Pac-12 champion. For 2018, the popular pick was Washington, with 40 of 42 voters picking the Huskies to win the Pac-12 North, and 37 tabbing UW to go on and win the Pac-12 championship game.
Oregon was picked to finish third in the Pac-12 North behind UW and Stanford. The Ducks host both division rivals in Autzen Stadium this season, with the Cardinal coming to Eugene on Sept. 22 and the Huskies making the trip to play Oct. 13.
One voter picked the Ducks to win the Pac-12 North, and to go on and win the title game as well. Oregon is coming off a season that began 4-1 before a shoulder injury to quarterback Justin Herbert derailed the momentum and resulted in a 7-6 finish.
The Ducks' 2018 season opener is against Bowling Green in Autzen Stadium on Sept. 1 (5 p.m. PT, Pac-12 Network). Preseason camp opens Aug. 3, as Oregon begins preparations for its first season under head coach Mario Cristobal.
"Everybody has things to work on," Cristobal said Wednesday in Los Angeles. "I think we have more positives than things we have to remedy."
Defending conference champion Southern California was picked to win the Pac-12 South, just ahead of Utah.
Quarterback Justin Herbert and defensive end Jalen Jelks were Oregon's player representatives at Wednesday's conference media day, and the Ducks' junior quarterback generated a fair amount of buzz.
Herbert debuted not only a new shaggy haircut — or lack thereof — but also for the second Pac-12 Media Day in a row made an impression with a bulked-up physique. Listed at 225 pounds last season, Herbert told reporters he's closer to 240 as his junior season approaches.
Cristobal said that will be of benefit when Herbert absorbs contact in the run game; it was on a touchdown run that he suffered the shoulder injury last fall. But, the coach hinted, the 2018 offense may not expose UO quarterbacks to as much contact as schemes have over the last decade.
"He's really prepared himself to take on — not that we're a quarterback running operation — but if he does have to carry the ball … he's able to withstand some of the punishment that comes with that," Cristobal said.
The new UO head coach also raved about Herbert's mastery of protection schemes and run-game adjustments, comparing his acuity at reading and reacting to defenses with that of an offensive coordinator. And Herbert is "much more vocal" in communicating to teammates what he sees and what adjustments he wants.
"He's becoming a field general," Cristobal said. "I think he was a quarterback last year; now he's a field general."
Cristobal commented on several recent roster moves, including the addition of an incoming freshman who committed to Oregon just this week.
Bryan Addison is a four-star athlete who announced his commitment to the Ducks on Tuesday. He will be a freshman this fall, and became the 12th member of the "ESPN 300" for 2018 to sign with Oregon.
Addison could play defensive back or receiver, two positions where the Ducks lack veteran depth.
"We'll figure that out here in the next couple days or so," Cristobal said. "But we're blessed to have him. … He is intelligent, he's tough, he's athletic; great balance and body control; explosive; incredible ball skills. He can help us on both sides of the ball."
Cristobal also confirmed two recent departures from the roster. Receiver Malik Lovette, who had one reception in 11 appearances last fall, departed to pursue a graduate degree elsewhere. And offensive lineman Logan Bathke, who made his debut against Cal as a redshirt freshman last fall, took a medical retirement with the intention of remaining around the program in an undergraduate assistant role.
A new rule allowing players to participate in up to four games while retaining their redshirt status was applauded by Cristobal on Wednesday as "genius" and "a game-changer."
Conventional wisdom has held that early nonconference games could be the best chance to get a redshirt's feet wet while preserving a year of eligibility. But Cristobal doesn't sound inclined to take the same approach.
For one, he wants to maintain a competitive atmosphere by not simply handing out early playing time to potential redshirts.
"I think playing time is something that is earned, rightfully so," Cristobal said.
Also, not pressing a potential redshirt into action early would maintain his availability later in the season. At that point, weeks of practice would be under his belt, so he'd be more ready in the event of an injury to a veteran.
"So as guys develop, or guys down the line get injured and (redshirts) have developed to play and be good enough to play, now those opportunities are used," Cristobal said. "They're taken advantage of without costing that young man a full year, if he hasn't played more than four games."
The Ducks were picked to finish third in the Pac-12 North Division this season, in a poll of 42 media members covering the conference. The poll was released Wednesday in conjunction with the Pac-12's Media Day in Los Angeles.
Only three times in the last 11 years have media correctly predicted the Pac-12 champion. For 2018, the popular pick was Washington, with 40 of 42 voters picking the Huskies to win the Pac-12 North, and 37 tabbing UW to go on and win the Pac-12 championship game.
Oregon was picked to finish third in the Pac-12 North behind UW and Stanford. The Ducks host both division rivals in Autzen Stadium this season, with the Cardinal coming to Eugene on Sept. 22 and the Huskies making the trip to play Oct. 13.
One voter picked the Ducks to win the Pac-12 North, and to go on and win the title game as well. Oregon is coming off a season that began 4-1 before a shoulder injury to quarterback Justin Herbert derailed the momentum and resulted in a 7-6 finish.
The Ducks' 2018 season opener is against Bowling Green in Autzen Stadium on Sept. 1 (5 p.m. PT, Pac-12 Network). Preseason camp opens Aug. 3, as Oregon begins preparations for its first season under head coach Mario Cristobal.
"Everybody has things to work on," Cristobal said Wednesday in Los Angeles. "I think we have more positives than things we have to remedy."
Defending conference champion Southern California was picked to win the Pac-12 South, just ahead of Utah.
"In terms of the amount of work we've gotten done, I think it's been exceptional ... I'm super excited to be where we are and just can't wait to get the season started." - Justin Herbert pic.twitter.com/E7nSTmszfv
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) July 25, 2018
Quarterback Justin Herbert and defensive end Jalen Jelks were Oregon's player representatives at Wednesday's conference media day, and the Ducks' junior quarterback generated a fair amount of buzz.
Herbert debuted not only a new shaggy haircut — or lack thereof — but also for the second Pac-12 Media Day in a row made an impression with a bulked-up physique. Listed at 225 pounds last season, Herbert told reporters he's closer to 240 as his junior season approaches.
Cristobal said that will be of benefit when Herbert absorbs contact in the run game; it was on a touchdown run that he suffered the shoulder injury last fall. But, the coach hinted, the 2018 offense may not expose UO quarterbacks to as much contact as schemes have over the last decade.
"He's really prepared himself to take on — not that we're a quarterback running operation — but if he does have to carry the ball … he's able to withstand some of the punishment that comes with that," Cristobal said.
The new UO head coach also raved about Herbert's mastery of protection schemes and run-game adjustments, comparing his acuity at reading and reacting to defenses with that of an offensive coordinator. And Herbert is "much more vocal" in communicating to teammates what he sees and what adjustments he wants.
"He's becoming a field general," Cristobal said. "I think he was a quarterback last year; now he's a field general."
Cristobal commented on several recent roster moves, including the addition of an incoming freshman who committed to Oregon just this week.
Bryan Addison is a four-star athlete who announced his commitment to the Ducks on Tuesday. He will be a freshman this fall, and became the 12th member of the "ESPN 300" for 2018 to sign with Oregon.
Addison could play defensive back or receiver, two positions where the Ducks lack veteran depth.
"We'll figure that out here in the next couple days or so," Cristobal said. "But we're blessed to have him. … He is intelligent, he's tough, he's athletic; great balance and body control; explosive; incredible ball skills. He can help us on both sides of the ball."
Cristobal also confirmed two recent departures from the roster. Receiver Malik Lovette, who had one reception in 11 appearances last fall, departed to pursue a graduate degree elsewhere. And offensive lineman Logan Bathke, who made his debut against Cal as a redshirt freshman last fall, took a medical retirement with the intention of remaining around the program in an undergraduate assistant role.
A new rule allowing players to participate in up to four games while retaining their redshirt status was applauded by Cristobal on Wednesday as "genius" and "a game-changer."
Conventional wisdom has held that early nonconference games could be the best chance to get a redshirt's feet wet while preserving a year of eligibility. But Cristobal doesn't sound inclined to take the same approach.
For one, he wants to maintain a competitive atmosphere by not simply handing out early playing time to potential redshirts.
"I think playing time is something that is earned, rightfully so," Cristobal said.
Also, not pressing a potential redshirt into action early would maintain his availability later in the season. At that point, weeks of practice would be under his belt, so he'd be more ready in the event of an injury to a veteran.
"So as guys develop, or guys down the line get injured and (redshirts) have developed to play and be good enough to play, now those opportunities are used," Cristobal said. "They're taken advantage of without costing that young man a full year, if he hasn't played more than four games."
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