Pac-12 Play Can Wait: Ducks Stay Focused On Present

EUGENE, Ore. — Right off the bat Monday morning, the Oregon football program and its fans were greeted with the news that the Ducks, up to No. 20 in The Associated Press top 25 this week, were selected for a 5 p.m. PT kickoff and ABC telecast when they host Stanford to begin conference play Sept. 22.

To which UO coach Mario Cristobal might have said, borrowing a phrase from Lee Corso of ESPN's College GameDay fame, "not so fast, my friend."

Oregon (2-0) first will wrap up nonconference play this weekend, when the Ducks host San Jose State on Saturday (2 p.m., Pac-12 Network). The UO football program is flying high behind the nation's No. 4 scoring offense and improved discipline under Cristobal, and take on a Spartans team that lost last week at Washington State, 31-0, after opening the season with a defeat at the hands of UC Davis.

Following Saturday's 62-14 win over Portland State, Cristobal spoke highly of the focus Oregon brought to the entire week of preparation for the game against the Vikings of the FCS. He anticipates the same this week, despite the looming presence of Pac-12 play.

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"Not only anticipate — expect it, demand it," Cristobal said at a press conference Monday, the Ducks' day off from practice. "They'll demand it from each other. It's our approach, and it has to stay that way."

Oregon's focus against the Vikings was evidenced by the Ducks committing just five penalties, putting their average for the season at four per game, least in the Pac-12. The offense was "100 percent on point" with assignments and didn't commit a penalty, while the defense allowed only two touchdowns, one when coverage broke down as the quarterback scrambled from the pocket and another set up by a double-pass executed by the Viks.

Cristobal said the Ducks have done a good job making their full-pads practices Tuesday and Wednesday "harder than a game," which needs to continue this week.

"Those are the most important things, and the focal points," Cristobal said. "I think you'll hear that echoed through every single member of this organization throughout the week."

Junior linebacker La'Mar Winston Jr. participated in practice Sunday, Cristobal said, a day after not suiting up for the victory over Portland State.

Winston was injured in the season-opening win over Bowling Green. His spot in the starting lineup was taken by true freshman Adrian Jackson, who joined left tackle Penei Sewell as true freshmen to have started on offense or defense so far this season. Keith Simms also got reps at outside linebacker.

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Cristobal said Winston will be monitored in practice as this week progresses, but that "I feel good about" Winston's status for this weekend.

Sophomore placekicker Adam Stack, who has yet to play this season, also is "just about ready to go," Cristobal said, and could see the field Saturday assuming he holds up well in practice.

San Jose State could pose some similar challenges to those Portland State presented for the Ducks last week.

Like the Viks, the Spartans have two quarterbacks with starting experience, Josh Love and Montel Aaron. And perhaps their most dangerous player is a tight end, senior Josh Oliver. He has 13 receptions for 137 yards through two games to lead all FBS tight ends, with nine of his receptions resulting in first downs.

"He's a really good player, and he's a big target with a big catch radius," Cristobal said. "… The tight end is by far one of their best players, so he presents a challenge to us, and one our guys are looking forward to responding to."

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Portland State tight end Charlie Taumoepeau had a 71-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter Saturday, sneaking behind the secondary while Oregon was caught trying to contain quarterback Jalani Eason as he left the pocket under pressure. In the fourth quarter, Taumoepeau was on the receiving end of a 47-yard double pass from receiver Beau Kelly, and four plays later he hauled in his second touchdown pass of the game.

At the onset of preseason camp, Cristobal said sophomore Jaylon Redd was a guy who could potentially be tried on defense, as a nickel defender. Redd is tamping down that notion with his play through two weeks.

The slot receiver leads the Ducks with three touchdown receptions, tied for the Pac-12 lead.

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"He just made a conscious decision that he was going to approach every single day like a pro," Cristobal said. "This guy has really become a focused, driven individual. I can't tell you how impressed I am.

"This guy has taken the next step as a Power 5 football player, on his way to being a big-time football player. And it's all come from within."

There are several ties between the coaching staffs of Oregon and San Jose State, most notably UO offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo.

While a freshman at San Jose State in 1998, Arroyo started at quarterback against the Ducks and led the Spartans' only scoring drive in a 58-3 loss. Arroyo later worked on the SJSU staff from 2006-08; UO assistants Jim Mastro, Joe Salave'a and Donte Williams also spent time on the San Jose State staff.

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"Whenever you play against your alma mater, there's something special about that," Cristobal said. "But at the same time, the approach is so business-like here. I hope that's something we're continually exuding."

San Jose State's offensive line coach and run-game coordinator, Joe Bernardi, was a graduate assistant at Oregon from 2013-15.