Analyzing The Pac-12 Football Teams: Oregon Ducks
May 3, 2014; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Mark Hilfrich stands with US military personnel before the Spring Game at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports
Go Joe Bruin continues its coverage of the Pac-12 football teams as we look at the #4 Oregon Ducks who are coming off of a 11-2 season that was capped off by a Alamo Bowl win over Texas. For most teams, that would be seen as successful, but at Oregon, anything less than a Pac-12 Championship is unacceptable. Last season the Ducks had national title aspirations and Heisman hopes in quarterback Marcus Mariota. This season, those goals are amplified.
Oregon was picked first to win the Pac-12 North Division and the conference outright, unfortunately they have to pry it out of the hands of back-to-back Pac-12 Champions, Stanford, who have also beat Oregon twice in their last two meetings. Things may change this season as second-year coach Mark Helfrich looks to put his mark on the high-octane Oregon Ducks.
Key Losses
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Betsided
WR Josh Huff
- 87.7 receiving yards per game (3rd in Pac-12)
- 12 Touchdowns in 2013 (T-10th in Pac-12
- All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention
- Drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, 3rd Round, 86th overall pick
- 2011 Co-Freshman of the Year
- 1,890 total career yards, 26 total career touchdowns
- Drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs, 4th Round, 124th overall pick
- 7th in the Pac-12 in Pass Defended in 2013
- 5 in tereceptions in 2013 (T-5th in Pac-12)
- Drafted by the Dallas Cowboys, 254th overall pick
DL Taylor Hart
- 5.8 tackles per game in 2013 (39th in the Pac-12)
- 3 Forced Fumbles n 2013 (T-6th in Pac-12)
- Drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, 5th Round, 141st overall pick
Key Returners
Dec 30, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) looks to pass during the second half against the Texas Longhorns at Alamo Dome. Oregon defeated Texas 30-7. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
QB Marcus Mariota
- 3,665 passing yards in 2013 (15th in the nation, 3rd in the Pac-12)
- 31 passing touchdowns in 2013 (T-13th in the nation, 3rd in the Pac-12)
- 715 total rushing yards in 2013 (12th in the Pac-12) with 9 rushing TDs
- 2013 All-Pac-12 1st Team Offense
CB Ifo Ekpre-Oloma
- 2013 All-Pac-12 1st Team Defense
- 6.5 tackles per game (22nd in Pac-12)
- Part of the Oregon Defense that ranked 1st in Passing Defense in 2013 (204.5 yards per game)
C Hroniss Grass
- 2013 All-Pac-12 1st Team Offense
- Rimington Trophy (Nation’s Best Center) watch list nominee
- 2013 All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention
- Lombardi Award (nation’s best lineman or linebacker) watch list nominee
- Butkus Award (nation’s best linebacker) watch list nominee
Coach Review: Mark Helfrich
Jul 23, 2014; Hollywood, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Mark Helfrich talks to the media during the Pac-12 Media Day at the Studios at Paramount. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
In Helfrich’s first year at Oregon, he lead the team to an 11-2 record and the first non-BCS bowl game since 2008. Luckily, the BCS is over and Helfrich has his eye on being one of the four teams selected to the College Football Playoffs. Helfrich inherited the up-tempo offense from former HC Chip Kelly and is looking to make his mark on the team as he intends to toughen up the defense while still playing the type of football that put Oregon on the map.
His second year should be more telling of how the team plays under his direction. He looks to be solidifying the lines to go against, specifically, teams like Stanford that pushed Oregon around the last two years. If Helfrich can get past them and an up-and-coming UCLA team, we could be seeing a newer, deadlier type of Oregon football.
2014 Schedule
Sat, Aug 30 vs South Dakota (Pac-12 Network)
Sat, Sep 6 vs Michigan State (Fox)
Sat, Sep 13 vs Wyoming (Pac-12 Network)
Sat, Sep 20 @ Washington State
Thu, Oct 2 vs Arizona (ESPN)
Sat, Oct 11 @ UCLA
Sat, Oct 18 vs Washington
Fri, Oct 24 vs Cal at Levi’s Stadium (Fox Sports 1)
Sat, Nov 1 vs Stanford
Sat, Nov 8 @ Utah
Sat, Nov 22 vs Colorado
Sat, Nov 29 @ Oregon State
2014 Season Outlook
The defense is solid. The offensive line may be the best in the conference. The running game is incredible, but it is the receiving corps is lacking experience. That is a big concern and because of this, expect the Ducks to run, run, run and run some more. Along with Mariota, the Ducks have a lot of talent and experience behind running backs Byron Marshall and Thomas Tyner, both of who were among the top 10 Pac-12 rushers in 2013.
Their schedule will be a bit tougher in 2014 as they welcome Michigan State to Autzen in week 2, but they also have Stanford in Eugene. Unfortunately they have to travel to UCLA mid-season, as well as having the Civil War at Oregon State this year. If the Ducks can get through these games with a “W”, expect them to be in the Pac-12 Championship game.