Record-Setting Offensive Effort Begins With Guys Up Front
By Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
Other guys got the glory, as usual.
Vernon Adams Jr. threw for 300 yards and four touchdowns. Royce Freeman ran for 180 yards, and backups Tony Brooks-James and Kani Benoit each averaged more than 10 yards per carry. Bralon Addison caught two touchdown passes, and Darren Carrington had his fifth straight 100-yard receiving game.
But ultimately, Oregon’s school-record offensive outburst of 777 yards in Saturday’s 44-28 victory over California owed to the Ducks’ play up front. The offensive line gave Adams more time in the pocket than he’s enjoyed all season, surrendered just one sack and helped the Ducks average 7.6 yards per carry in the run game.
After a shakeup last week due to injuries, Oregon’s starting offensive line Saturday again featured mainstays Tyler Johnstone, Matt Pierson, Matt Hegarty, Cameron Hunt and Tyrell Crosby, left to right.
The group attracted a few penalty flags over the course of the game, Hunt in particular. But nothing could take away from their ability to help Oregon set a school record for total offense, no small feat for a team that was quarterbacked for the previous three seasons by Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota.
“This is really the first game where we went out there with a serious attitude,” Johnstone said. “We were out there just being mean. I think all of us developed a mean streak today. We just kept swinging, and we never let our foot off their throats.”
Oregon’s offensive outing started slowly, with a three-and-out followed by an interception in the end zone. But the Ducks got rolling, scoring on their final five possessions of the first half.
California led 10-3 early in the second quarter, and had Oregon in a hole facing third-and-14 in its own territory. Given extended time in the pocket, Adams finally spotted Carrington down the left sideline and completed a 46-yard pass. Two plays later, Adams somersaulted into the end zone and the game was tied.
The Ducks never trailed again. A few minutes later, Adams camped out in the pocket and saw nobody open, finally leaked out to the left and then hit Addison, who reached for the end zone. Again on Oregon’s next possession, Adams had several seconds to sit in the pocket and find his man, in this case Dwayne Stanford for a 24-10 lead.
“I promise you, I was coming to the sideline after every series and telling the O line, ‘I had all day,’” Adams said. “They were giving me all day to throw the ball, and it was awesome. And when I did scramble, guys went with me. It was great.”
Cal mounted a surge just after halftime, closing within 31-21. At that point the Ducks got to work in the running game. They put together a 13-play drive that ate up 74 yards and 4:19 of game clock, setting up a field goal by Aidan Schneider. The drive featured just one completion, with Freeman chewing up hard yards on the ground.
The Ducks countered on their next possession with Benoit and Brooks-James, whose speed helped the Ducks drive 75 yards for a touchdown in just 54 seconds. Oregon’s backs used their vision to find space and their power to break tackles throughout the night, but there were big holes, too.
“The offensive line’s been unsung all year for us,” offensive coordinator Scott Frost said. “I think they’re playing as consistently as any group since I’ve been here. But we need to keep improving. Obviously they’ll have a big challenge next week.”
That big challenge is Stanford, leaders of the Pac-12 North and the team often characterized as the most physical in the conference. If the Cal game was any indication, Oregon’s offensive line will be up for the challenge.
“We shot ourselves in the foot with penalties, stupid stuff like that,” Johnstone said. “We had a couple pass breakdowns, but as far as our pass blocking goes, I think our protection was fantastic all night. There were plays where I felt like (Adams) had eight to 10 seconds back there. That was pretty fun.”
