After Victory At Colorado, Cougars Now Oregon's Focus
By Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
Oregon’s unsettled situation at quarterback spurred coaches to rely on a rotation of Jeff Lockie and Taylor Alie in a win at Colorado, and the picture seems unlikely to get any clearer before the Ducks face Washington State in Autzen Stadium on Saturday (3 p.m., Pac-12 Networks).
Against the Buffaloes, senior transfer Vernon Adams Jr. sat out for the second time in the last three games. On Sunday night in a meeting with reporters, UO coach Mark Helfrich was asked how the staff will handle quarterback reps given the presence of two or even three potential starters, and left the door open for the possibility Adams could be back in the mix this week.
“It depends on, and again at that or any position, guys are going to be at various percentages of availability throughout the week,” Helfrich said. “This guy is whatever percent, this guy is whatever percent, and then that will dictate reps from there.”
Adams started the first two games of the season before sitting out Oregon’s win over Georgia State. He returned against Utah but was pulled in the first half and replaced by Lockie.
At Colorado, Lockie started and finished 8-of-11 for 54 yards with an interception. Sophomore Taylor Alie split time and was 4-of-9 passing for 83 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to help clinch a 41-24 victory for the Ducks.
Though Lockie entered preseason camp as the starter and Adams won the job after arriving a few days in, Alie also impressed the coaches, Helfrich said.
“He had a lot of people in his camp, as far as supporters of where he fell on the depth chart,” Helfrich said. “Those guys have both done a great job of being competitive through this, through not winning the job, so to speak – battling through that is a hurdle … and they've both managed that really well.”
Oregon’s players of the week for the team’s preparation and play against Colorado were receiver Bralon Addison, nose tackle Alex Balducci and placekicker Matt Wogan.
Addison threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Charles Nelson after taking the ball on a reverse in the second quarter, a huge confidence builder for the Ducks while the offense was struggling in the first half. Balducci had five tackles to match his career high, set in the College Football Playoff National Championship and again this season at Michigan State.
Wogan had seven touchbacks on eight kickoffs, the exception coming when he kicked off from the 20-yard line due to a UO penalty. He now ranks third nationally in touchbacks (26) and fourth in kickoff average (64.82).
Helfrich said the Ducks did a “nice job” utilizing a four-man pass rush at Colorado, helping generate five sacks.
Oregon has used four pass rushers in nickel situations during the early part of the season, though there have also been times opposing quarterbacks used a quick release to hamper their effectiveness. That could be the case again this week against a Washington State team that likes to spread the field and get the ball out quick in coach Mike Leach’s “Air Raid” offense.
“Obviously if you can create pressure with three guys you can be more multiple, a lot different in coverage, and the same can be said for a four-man rush,” Helfrich said. “Anything more, there's a ton of adjustment and in all those things that is certainly what has made Mike Leach very successful at what he does and why they do what they do. You have to vary things enough, (but also) have to be standard enough in your own mind you can play fast and free, not constantly thinking about formation adjustment or coverage adjustment.”
The defensive coordinator who has dialed up that four-man pressure, Don Pellum, was on the sideline at Colorado after spending the first four games of the season in the press box.
That was a return to Pellum’s positioning last season, when he was on the field and outside linebackers coach Erik Chinander was his “eyes in the sky.” Players said after the Colorado game they enjoyed having Pellum back on the sideline.
“If the players think it’s the best, it’s the best,” Helfrich said. “And hopefully that shows up in their play. Just trying to get a situation where Eric Chinander can be the eyes, and DP can get everybody together, look them in the eye, get the full group together and, if need be, make adjustments.”
Helfrich said any punishment for receiver Darren Carrington following a recent citation for an open container violation will be “handled internally.”
Carrington has been serving an NCAA-mandated suspension after failing a drug test prior to the Rose Bowl. Helfrich didn’t discuss specifics of Carrington’s timeline for a return, saying he would address it “after this game.”
