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Know Your Opponent: UCLA Football vs. Oregon 2018

By Mike Regalado

LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 16: Head coach Mario Cristobal of the Oregon Ducks looks on during the Las Vegas Bowl against the Boise State Broncos at Sam Boyd Stadium on December 16, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Boise State won 38-28. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - DECEMBER 16: Head coach Mario Cristobal of the Oregon Ducks looks on during the Las Vegas Bowl against the Boise State Broncos at Sam Boyd Stadium on December 16, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Boise State won 38-28. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) /
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EUGENE, OR – OCTOBER 13: Quarterback Justin Herbert #10 of the Oregon Ducks scrambles in the first half of the game at Autzen Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Eugene, Oregon. The Ducks won the game 30-27. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR – OCTOBER 13: Quarterback Justin Herbert #10 of the Oregon Ducks scrambles in the first half of the game at Autzen Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Eugene, Oregon. The Ducks won the game 30-27. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

Oregon Offense

There was so much promise for this team heading into the season. The Ducks were bringing back almost all of the coaching staff and roster, they were expected to be in contention for the North Division, and QB Justin Herbert was going to lead them to success. That hasn’t been the case.

Last season, Herbert only played in eight games due to an injury, and his stats from this season have almost matched what he did in 2017. His stats are similar, but a few are cause for concern. Though he has 2,069 passing yards (26th in the nation), it is only slightly more than the 1,983 he had in 2017. That is not bad. His pass completion percentage is.

light. Related Story. UCLA Football - Play call/outcome analysis from the Arizona game

In 2017 he completed 67.5% of his passes. That has dropped to 59.6%. He also has five more touchdowns, but one more interception. His QB rating has also dropped from 167.5 to 147.2. These are not horrible stats, but they are not promising either. Another thing Oregon has to worry about is the fact that Herbert might not even play in this game as he suffered a concussion last week against Arizona. If he can’t go, then Braxton Burmeister will be called into action and this year he is 4/8 passing for 27 yards.

And that is the thing plaguing Oregon right now, all of their injuries. Starting LT Penei Sewell and TE Kano Dillon missed last week’s game but the Ducks might also be without WR Dillon Mitchell who is going through concussion protocol with Herbert. So who is left and can they help Oregon survive UCLA?

At running back, Oregon has some reliable rushers with CJ Verdell, Travis Dye, and Tony Brooks-James averaging over 4.7 yards per attempt, but that does not make any difference if the offensive line cannot open holes for them. Last week against Arizona, the Ducks could only produce 84 total yards with Herbert claiming the most with 31.

2018 Oregon Offensive Stats

Total – 436.9 | Rushing – 174.9 | Passing – 262.0 | Scoring – 36.6

In regards to the passing game, if Dillon is not able to play then the Ducks are in trouble as he is their leading receiver with 677 yards, averaging 14 yards per catch. Oregon will have to focus on Jaylon Redd, Jacob Breeland, and Johnny Johnson III in the passing game, but will they have enough firepower to torch the Bruins?

If UCLA plays defense the way they have in the last few weeks, then they could make Oregon’s defense look like all-stars. DC Jerry Azzinaro has to take advantage of the Ducks’ short-comings and attack the way we have been expecting them to at the beginning of the season.