It hasn’t gone understated that the second-ranked team in the nation has consistently, almost from week-to-week, experienced turnover amongst starting offensive lineman. What started in the first weeks of Fall Camp after Tyler Johnstone, who had started 26 consecutive games leading up to the season, re-tore his right ACL, became contagious when backup tackle Andre Yruretagoyena assumed his role and was injured in the Michigan State game.
Then the setbacks continued last Saturday when senior Jake Fisher suffered an apparent leg injury on the Ducks’ first drive of the game. Johnstone is ruled out for the season, while Yruretagoyena and Fisher’s prospects of playing remain unknown.
What its meant was that one of the more experienced groups heading into the season was now turning into undoubtedly the most inexperienced. But it’s nothing that offensive line coach Steve Greatwood hasn’t faced before.
“It happened back in the 1994 season when we went to the Rose Bowl,” Greatwood, who is in his 23rd season coaching the Oregon offensive line, said. “I had probably half a dozen guys miss portions of the season and we just rolled with it. I’ve learned since then, you have to prepare for everything.”
Rolling with it, Greatwood is now expecting to start true freshman Tyrell Crosby, as well as redshirt senior walk-on Matt Pierson at the opposite tackle positions this week against Washington State.
For Crosby, just over a month removed from his first official practice with the Ducks, there’s certainly been plenty of tension to go with appearing in the matchup versus Michigan State and then becoming the slated starter at right tackle.
“I felt nervous,” Crosby said. “I was trying not to feel nervous because I knew what I was doing for the most part, but it was kind of hard not to feel nervous because it’s your first start. Eventually I got over it.”
With a reserved demeanor about himself, Crosby is not the type to demand everyone’s attention when talking, but his physical gifts are undeniable. The three-star recruit is 6-foot-6, 295 pounds and in the words of Greatwood, was born to play the tackle spot.
On the other end, Pierson has gone through all the trials and tribulations with this unit for five years now. As a walk-on, the Portland native, who called himself more of a golfer in high school, never even thought about playing college football let alone for a team like Oregon.
However, as someone who came into the program weighing just 245-pounds and now with a frame to match his counterparts, Pierson is certainly prepared for what came upon him.
“If something happens where we need to fill in for someone’s shoes, then we’re ready to do that,” Pierson, who currently weighs 285 pounds, said. “The coaches know what they’re doing. They’re putting in the best people who can play, best people for the situation, so I’m just happy to do whatever I can.”
Fostered into a culture brought down from the upperclassmen, Oregon’s offensive line has taken on the cliche that has riddled its sport whole-heartedly. The level of play hasn’t seen a drop either, which may be a reflection of the consistently positive character shown from the players going down.
“This saying gets beat to death, but next man up,” Johnstone reverberated. “Obviously we would like playing, but if we can’t because of obvious injuries, all we want to do is see our team and teammates do well.”
Follow Justin Wise on Twitter @JWISE25