Oregon football has a well-publicized “rule” that players have 24 hours after each loss to reflect before moving on and focusing on the next game.
As of late, the Ducks’ players and coaches have had plenty to reflect upon in the midst of a five-game losing streak that Oregon finally snapped with a 54-35 win over Arizona State on Saturday. So, with their first victory of conference play under their belt, how does that reflection process change for Oregon as it heads into a crucial road matchup at USC?
“We’ll approach it the same way,” Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich told reporters on Sunday. “We’ll approach it exactly the same way. We’ll talk about some of the same things we’re talking about right now, in terms of mental errors, progression issues and blitz issues that might be similar things that USC could do or has done in the past.
“And then we move on.”
Helfrich said that his team won’t have any problem staying motivated once they flip on the game tape of USC.
“They are outstanding,” Helfrich said of the Trojans. “They have a quarterback playing at a very high level. A bunch of skill guys. Defensively, they’re exceptionally talented and very well coached. So, if [motivation] is an issue, it’s a much bigger problem.”
Trojan’s quarterback Sam Darnold threw for 237 yards and five touchdowns in a 45-24 win over California on Saturday, and USC’s two primary ball carriers combined to rush for 343 yards on 38 carries.
USC ranks just 49th nationally in total defense, but has looked much more sharp as of late. The Trojans limited Davis Webb, the nation’s third-leading passer, to just 333 yards through the air on Saturday.
Oregon received huge contributions from some fresh faces during Saturday’s victory, and will depend on those players again in Los Angeles.
Oregon linebacker Jimmy Swain was named defensive player of the week by Oregon’s coaches after recording a season-best 13 total tackles on Saturday. The Ducks’ co-offensive players of the week were running back Tony Brooks-James, and wide receiver Jalen Brown, and freshman tight end Cam McCormick was named scout team player of the week.
Absent from the list of weekly award recipients was freshman quarterback Justin Herbert, who broke the school record for most total yards in a single game, and tied the Oregon record with 489 passing yards. Helfrich acknowledged that some fans and media members have already began comparing Herbert to past Oregon greats — namely, Marcus Matiota. While praising Herbert throughout the press conference, he also acknowledged that the Eugene native has a long list of tasks to accomplish before he is in the same class as several former Oregon legends.
“I think with how [Herbert and Mariota] approach things, how hard they practice, how diligent they are in their preparation… Their personality’s are similar. But I also think we need to throttle back on the Norm Van Brocklin and Dan Fouts and everybody else as one.”
Follow Jarrid Denney on Twitter @jarrid_denney
Helfrich impressed with Justin Herbert, wants ‘to throttle back’ on comparisons to former Oregon greats
Jarrid Denney
October 29, 2016
Adam Eberhardt
Oregon football has a well-publicized “rule” that players have 24 hours after each loss to reflect before moving on and focusing on the next game. As of late, the Ducks’ players and coaches have had plenty to reflect upon in the midst of a five-game losing streak that Oregon finally snapped with a …
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