It’s always a good thing for a football team to have depth – for a variety of reasons!
But depth has never been more important than it is right now during this Covid-19 environment.
It wasn’t that long ago when the phrase ‘contact tracing’ was mentioned and we all looked at each other in bewilderment wondering what it meant.
On any given Saturday players could be ruled unavailable in just minutes prior to kickoff due to a positive test, or simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time due to the aforementioned contact tracing.
It’s a new world and coaches are learning quickly to adapt to it.
While Duck coach Mario Cristobal doesn’t announce the reason why a player has missed time on the field, it’s obvious Oregon hasn’t been immune to the virus.
Nearly every single tight end on this years squad has missed the first two games.
The reason?
All Cristobal will say when asked is, ‘they’re currently unavailable.’
Receiver Mycah Pittman was declared out of the Washington State game in Pullman just hours before the game even though the sophomore wide receiver made the trip to the Palouse.
With adversity coming at the team in waves, Oregon remains 2-0 thanks to several talented players who began the season well below the ones and two’s on the Ducks’ organizational chart.
Tight end DJ Johnson, a former Miami defensive lineman, was No. 4 on the depth chart before the season opener vs. Stanford. But now, he might be considered one of the best at that position.
Stanford and Washington State certainly weren’t prepared for Johnsons athletic prowess, in addition to trying to tackle his 6-5, 260-pound frame.
Johnson has seven catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns. He’s also been given high accolades from Cristobal and Joe Moorhead for his downfield blocking skills assisting other receivers and running backs.
Cristobal expects tight ends Hunter Kampmoyer, Cam McCormick and Spencer Webb to be back for the UCLA game, but he’s going to be hard-pressed not to put Johnson on the field after his performance so far this season.
Leading the Ducks in receptions isn’t someone you’d initially expect to be leading that category.
One would think it would be someone like Pittman or Johnny Johnson III, but it’s actually the slot receiver Jaylon Redd, who has nine catches for 128 yards.
Players such as No. 2 tailback Travis Dye has proven to be a huge weapon in the receiving game downfield.
Dye burned the Cougars for two touchdowns, one on a wheel route for 71 yards and another score on a slant from 16 yards out.
It’s not just the receivers stepping up.
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Transfer safeties Jordan Happle and Bennett Williams have had to play expanded roles in the secondary because of some ill-timed and questionable targeting calls.
Starter Verone McKinley III had to miss the first half of the WSU game, while Nick Pickett is going to miss the first 30 minutes of Saturday’s game against UCLA.
It’s not just the Ducks either.
Every team around the country has had to adjust to this crazy off-the-wall shortened season.
What’s played a key role, however, is the Ducks depth at many different positions. And it’s not just depth in numbers, it’s also the quality of depth which has allowed them to continue performing at a winning level.
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