With an NFL starting quarterback and most of the offensive line moving to the pro level, it was easy to assume that Oregon was going to have a new look come 2020.
Couple that with a pandemic and some big names opting out, the 2020 fall camp will be as unique as it ever has been. But at the end of the day, Duck coach Mario Cristobal expects the same amount of success.
The Ducks were still selected to win the Pac-12, despite a new quarterback, a five new offensive line starters, and a secondary that will be talented, but inexperienced.
Oregon also has a handful of new coaches, including new offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead, who is expected to open up the offense some.
So with new testing protocols in place, a new quarterback, a retooled offensive line and an inexperienced secondary, this will be just another run-of-the-mill fall camp in Eugene.
TESTING, TESTING, TESTING
Oregon will begin every morning of this camp early in order to get tested for the coronavirus and be cleared to practice. According to Cristobal, Day 1 went like clockwork.
“Our day doesn’t start much different from when it would usually start,” he said. “It takes about 45 minutes to get everybody tested. It’s not all that different.
“As one group is meeting, the other one quickly does their tests and taped. We have a mobility screening area where we get guys stretched out and an activation area.”
NO QUARTERBACK CONTROVERSY HERE
Cristobal was anxious to finally have the opportunity to talk about actual football on Friday. And as expected, it all starts with the quarterback, Tyler Shough. Even though the redshirt sophomore hasn’t played a meaningful down in his career thanks to Justin Herbert being in front of him for two seasons, Shough has the coach’s utmost confidence.
“It’s great to finally see Tyler get his opportunity and the opportunities he got while Justin was our starting quarterback, (Shough) shined. He really did,” Cristobal said. “He has a lot of similar characteristics in terms of resiliency, toughness and work ethic.”
Backing up Shough is senior transfer Anthony Brown from Boston College.
Many thought and wrongly assumed that Brown would battle Shough for the starting spot. If the pandemic didn’t occur and Oregon had the opportunity to play a more normal 12-game schedule, that might have been the case.
But perhaps with the schedule cut in half and Oregon needing to hit the ground running, Cristobal thought having the kid who’s been in the system for two-and-a-half years play right now would be the best way to go.
“It just looks like he’s exponentially (grown), with his command and presence, you know, it’s pretty special. He has a special one in Anthony Brown as well,” Cristobal said. “So I think it’s what you want at the quarterback position.
“After having a four-year starting quarterback, you want it to be competitive with good players and good people who understand it’s going to be a competition, and also understand because of Tyler’s time here, he’s the one who starts off as the starter going in, to let it play out and do things the right way.”
First Day of Camp Didn’t Feel Like It
Perhaps it was the delay and anxiousness on the players’ part to finally get this season rolling, but according to Cristobal, the first day of fall camp felt like it was the 15th day, so to speak.
Players were on point in their drills, hitting harder and at one point, coaches had to actually hold them back. There’s still 24 days until Stanford comes calling on Nov. 7.
“Even though we had some departures, we had some young guys who really know what they’re doing,” he said. “We’re rushing technique-wise and fundamentals just because we haven’t run it at full speed against each other. But in terms of what to do and how to do it, and why we got to do it that way, I think the why and what to do was pretty good. The how-to-do-it is something we need to get better at.”
Cristobal’s first virtual fall camp press conference: