Preseason Camp Preview: Quarterbacks
07/27/18 | Football, @GoDucksMoseley
The Oregon football team is looking to return to the top of the Pac-12 in 2018, and the Ducks have a quarterback who can take them there in junior Justin Herbert.
Assessing where things stand for the Oregon football team entering the start of preseason camp Aug. 3.
QUARTERBACK
Who's back: It's not a perfect predictor, of course, but keeping the starting quarterback healthy has been a huge key to success for Oregon football over the last decade. When the starter makes it through a season — see Darron Thomas (2010-11) or Marcus Mariota (2012-14) — the Ducks have soared. And some otherwise promising seasons have been knocked off track when the quarterback has been sidelined — see Dennis Dixon in 2007, or Vernon Adams Jr. in 2015, and of course most recently, Justin Herbert in 2017. The 2018 Oregon football team is looking to regain the program's place among the Pac-12 elite, and the Ducks are armed with a quarterback to take them there in Herbert, now a junior who is looking to put together his first full season as the full-time starter. The potential for Oregon were he to do so is massive; in eight games started by Herbert last season, the Ducks averaged 49.1 points per game and 516.5 yards of offense. That scoring average would have led the nation had Oregon maintained it during the games Herbert missed, and his 167.52 passer rating would have been fourth nationally if Herbert had enough attempts to qualify.
Alas, he did not, due to a late-September injury that sidelined Herbert through the month of October and the first game of November. Herbert was injured against California, and senior backup Taylor Alie also got hurt that day, which was overlooked at the time but proved hugely consequential. Into the fray was thrust true freshman Braxton Burmeister, who started five games and quarterbacked a victory over Utah to close out October. Burmeister is now a sophomore, and the most experienced backup quarterback the Ducks have been able to boast the last couple years. He was limited as a passer in 2017 but has had a year to improve his arm strength and grasp of the offense should he be called upon again. Also back is walk-on Mike Irwin, who quarterbacked the scout-team offense last fall.
Who's new: Freshman Tyler Shough arrived in time for spring drills and had an impressive first camp. One former UO player who watched practice said he thought Shough wasn't quite at the level Herbert was when he enrolled at Oregon — but that it was close. Shough looked ready to push Burmeister for backup reps quickly, and will try to do just that this August. The Ducks' QB depth was further bolstered by the addition of another walk-on, Brad Yaffe.
ROB'S TAKE
Projected depth chart
QB: Justin Herbert, Jr.; Braxton Burmeister, So.; Tyler Shough, Fr.; Mike Irwin, RFr.; Brad Yaffe, Fr.
What to watch: There's no doubt who the top dog is, with Herbert's name peppering preseason awards watch lists and projections about Heisman Trophy contenders and top future NFL draft prospects. One bit of intrigue that does concern the UO starter is how much he will be used in the running game. For a decade now, the Ducks have relied on the quarterback as a run threat to stress the defense — leading to some of those injuries that derailed seasons past. At Pac-12 Media Day earlier this week, new UO coach Mario Cristobal lauded Herbert's improved bulk, which will help him absorb contact, but also noted that Oregon is "not … a quarterback-running operation." It sounds like the coaching staff intends to take schematic steps that, combined with Herbert's bigger frame, will increase the likelihood he can get a full season under his belt. It also will be interesting to see the competition between Burmeister and Shough play out, and the way they could be deployed given the new rule allowing redshirts to participate in four games while still preserving a season of eligibility. Both have a redshirt year available, so perhaps the Ducks could use each here and there to spell Herbert, enough to ease wear and tear on the starter while also allowing both backups to count as redshirts this fall.
Click here to purchase tickets for the 2018 Oregon football season.
QUARTERBACK
Who's back: It's not a perfect predictor, of course, but keeping the starting quarterback healthy has been a huge key to success for Oregon football over the last decade. When the starter makes it through a season — see Darron Thomas (2010-11) or Marcus Mariota (2012-14) — the Ducks have soared. And some otherwise promising seasons have been knocked off track when the quarterback has been sidelined — see Dennis Dixon in 2007, or Vernon Adams Jr. in 2015, and of course most recently, Justin Herbert in 2017. The 2018 Oregon football team is looking to regain the program's place among the Pac-12 elite, and the Ducks are armed with a quarterback to take them there in Herbert, now a junior who is looking to put together his first full season as the full-time starter. The potential for Oregon were he to do so is massive; in eight games started by Herbert last season, the Ducks averaged 49.1 points per game and 516.5 yards of offense. That scoring average would have led the nation had Oregon maintained it during the games Herbert missed, and his 167.52 passer rating would have been fourth nationally if Herbert had enough attempts to qualify.
Alas, he did not, due to a late-September injury that sidelined Herbert through the month of October and the first game of November. Herbert was injured against California, and senior backup Taylor Alie also got hurt that day, which was overlooked at the time but proved hugely consequential. Into the fray was thrust true freshman Braxton Burmeister, who started five games and quarterbacked a victory over Utah to close out October. Burmeister is now a sophomore, and the most experienced backup quarterback the Ducks have been able to boast the last couple years. He was limited as a passer in 2017 but has had a year to improve his arm strength and grasp of the offense should he be called upon again. Also back is walk-on Mike Irwin, who quarterbacked the scout-team offense last fall.
Who's new: Freshman Tyler Shough arrived in time for spring drills and had an impressive first camp. One former UO player who watched practice said he thought Shough wasn't quite at the level Herbert was when he enrolled at Oregon — but that it was close. Shough looked ready to push Burmeister for backup reps quickly, and will try to do just that this August. The Ducks' QB depth was further bolstered by the addition of another walk-on, Brad Yaffe.
ROB'S TAKE
Projected depth chart
QB: Justin Herbert, Jr.; Braxton Burmeister, So.; Tyler Shough, Fr.; Mike Irwin, RFr.; Brad Yaffe, Fr.
What to watch: There's no doubt who the top dog is, with Herbert's name peppering preseason awards watch lists and projections about Heisman Trophy contenders and top future NFL draft prospects. One bit of intrigue that does concern the UO starter is how much he will be used in the running game. For a decade now, the Ducks have relied on the quarterback as a run threat to stress the defense — leading to some of those injuries that derailed seasons past. At Pac-12 Media Day earlier this week, new UO coach Mario Cristobal lauded Herbert's improved bulk, which will help him absorb contact, but also noted that Oregon is "not … a quarterback-running operation." It sounds like the coaching staff intends to take schematic steps that, combined with Herbert's bigger frame, will increase the likelihood he can get a full season under his belt. It also will be interesting to see the competition between Burmeister and Shough play out, and the way they could be deployed given the new rule allowing redshirts to participate in four games while still preserving a season of eligibility. Both have a redshirt year available, so perhaps the Ducks could use each here and there to spell Herbert, enough to ease wear and tear on the starter while also allowing both backups to count as redshirts this fall.
Click here to purchase tickets for the 2018 Oregon football season.
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