On this day of giving thanks when all of us are sitting around our socially distanced Thanksgiving tables, we thought it only proper, and fun, to provide our five things Oregon Football should be thankful for.
- MARIO CRISTOBAL
What would Thanksgiving be without the marquee item on your dinner table? We all love the side items such as dressing, mashed potatoes & gravy, fruit salad, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, dinner rolls, pumpkin pie, but none of it makes the dinner complete without the marquee item itself, the turkey.
Sorry coach, we’re not calling you a turkey, but you are the marquee item on our list of five things to be thankful for. When Cristobal was officially hired as the Ducks’ new head coach on Dec. 8, 2017, no one really understood what the program would be getting. Since that time, Cristobal has only gone 24-7 and won a Pac-12 Championship and a Rose Bowl. He’s also instilled a culture never before seen within the confines of the Oregon football program. Cristobal is leading this program back to national respectability with tough play in the trenches, accountability in preparation, fundamentally sound coaching in every area, and generating solid young men who care for each other, their community, and their families.
2. RECRUITING
A program isn’t a nationally recognized program unless it wins. And it can’t win without marquee talent through the recruiting process. Oregon’s philosophy regarding recruiting begins with Cristobal and his philosophy on the recruiting trail is “be relentless”. An argument can be made that Oregon’s coaching staff is the most relentless of staff out there today when it comes to attracting high-quality talent. Ask any of Oregon’s recruits who is recruiting them the hardest and they’ll tell you it’s the Oregon Ducks. It’s also a full staff effort. Cristobal directs his staff to all be equally involved in the process. In other words, his running backs coach will also recruit other positions. It’s the same with every member of his staff. They recruit equally at every position and make it abundantly clear each recruit knows who wants them most.
What’s also clear is Oregon’s social media game, and how attractive and attentive it is. When it comes to recruiting, there’s is the best in the country. The edits for each student-athlete are so far above what any other program is doing, including programs like Alabama, Ohio State, and Clemson.
And it most certainly attracts attention. In this age of social media, kids are attracted to the glitz and glamor of the social media game and Cristobal’s staff understands that better than anyone. And finally, Cristobal recruits with the priority and clarity that kids become family when they choose Oregon. They arrive in Eugene with a bond and closeness that is genuine. The kids love that and so do the parents.
3. JOE MOORHEAD
When Marcus Arroyo left the Oregon program to become the head coach of UNLV, it opened the door for the Ducks to find a new offensive coordinator who was as innovative as he was smart. That person was Joe Moorhead.
There’s no doubt Cristobal is thankful Moorhead said yes when he offered the position to him. What Moorhead and his pistol offense do so well, is search out and identify the mismatches on the field and then take advantage of those mismatches. Moorhead is not only an expert tactician when it comes to calling plays, he’s also a superior teacher of offense. He doesn’t just scratch the service of teaching offensive football, he goes much deeper into the strategy behind each play call, each scheme, and each position. Currently, Oregon is one of three Power Five programs averaging over 275 yards passing and over 200 yards rushing per game. The Ducks offense also leads the Pac-12 in yards per play, 3rd down conversions, total offense, yards per pass attempt, and passing efficiency.
4. TYLER SHOUGH
While Cristobal and the Ducks are so very thankful for the offensive innovation and expertise of their new offensive coordinator, they’re just as thankful for having someone like Tyler Shough run the offense.
When Justin Herbert played his final down as an Oregon Duck in Pasadena to win the Rose Bowl, talk immediately began as to who would take his place and how well would that quarterback do in keeping with the winning tradition of Oregon football.
So far so good. Oregon is 3-0 under Shough’s guidance and could be 4-0 after the Ducks match-up with Oregon State on Friday. Shough has shown himself to be extremely accurate through the air and just as dangerous on the ground. Shough has thrown seven touchdown passes in the last two games and has completed 40-of-60 attempts for 646 yards in those games. He’s also the only quarterback nationally to pass for over 200 yards and rush for 80 yards in his first two games. Shough is also the only QB in school history ( except for Marcus Mariota – 2014 ) to rush for more than 80 yards in back to back games. Shough’s explosiveness on the ground is a component of the Oregon attack that opponents now need to game plan for.
And the best part is, Shough is only a redshirt sophomore.
5. NOAH SEWELL
When Oregon landed two five-star linebackers the likes of Justin Flowe and Noah Sewell, it goes without saying getting their signatures on the dotted line was like receiving a Christmas present better than Ralphie’s air rifle from A Christmas story.
Except, thankfully, the Ducks didn’t shoot their eye out.
But when Flowe was lost for the season weeks ago due to injury, and then Sewell was carted off the field last Saturday against UCLA, things looked extremely bleak for Andy Avalos and his defense.
Having a talent in the middle of the linebacking corps like Sewell is something the Ducks drastically needed this season, especially after the loss of Troy Dye to the NFL. And to lose him to what appeared to be a devastating injury would be cataclysmic in this shortened season.
But somehow, someway, Sewell returned to practice just a day after leaving Autzen Stadium on a cart, a deep sigh of relief certainly must have swirled through the Oregon locker room and coaching staff. It certainly swirled through the Oregon fan base. His return to the starting lineup against the Beavers is most definitely a reason to be thankful because Sewell adds a tenacity and fierce competitive spirit that isn’t often seen from a true freshman.
There’s no doubt Sewell is a star in the making much like his older brother was on the offensive line. The younger Sewell has already logged two quarterback sacks, three tackles for loss, and one forced fumble. He’s proving to be a destructive force in the middle of the Oregon defense and will only get better with time and experience.
AS FOR ME
As for me, there’s so much to be thankful for. I’m thankful for family, good health, football, and great food during this holiday season. But mostly, I’m thankful to all of you for taking the time to read our work.
Be good to yourself during this holiday season and remember to be good to others! #WearAMask #GoDucks