Oregon’s defense has consistently struggled against pass-heavy teams this season.
In a loss to Washington State, the Ducks gave up 505 passing yards. When it mattered most, Washington State picked apart Oregon’s defense with ease. Luke Falk and the Cougars’ passing game marched down the field to force overtime, while the Ducks put up little fight.
This week, the Ducks face a Cal offense led by Jared Goff, arguably the best quarterback in the Pac-12. Now a junior, Goff has developed into an NFL-caliber player.
“He makes all the throws,” defensive backs coach John Neal said after Wednesday’s practice. “I look at a couple things. Can he make all the throws? Yes. Is he poised? Yes. Is he really smart? I know he’s smart from talking to Morgan Mahalak, who was his teammate [at Marin Catholic in Greenbrae, California.].”
When the Ducks face Cal on Saturday, the storylines will be familiar. A potent passing-attack coming into Autzen Stadium to test the Ducks’ inferior secondary. With Goff, Cal is more polished than previous opponents. Even more so, their offense has balance.
“The playbooks are similar, the philosophies are similar,” defensive coordinator Don Pellum. “Cal does a better job of emphasizing the run. They have more plays dedicated to it.”
Cal has thrown 328 passes this season compared to 290 rush attempts. Running backs Khalfani Muhamad and Vic Enwere each have over 60 caries this season, complementing the passing game with two legitimate threats. Cal’s running game will keep Oregon’s defense honest.
“They’ve got themselves a two-headed monster,” Neal said.
One thing that could favor the Ducks is the weather. Saturday’s forecast in Eugene includes a 90-100 percent chance of rain throughout the day. While the weather might not be as extreme as 2013’s “monsoon game,” Cal’s last trip to Autzen Stadium, a rainy game could hinder Cal’s passing attack. Goff has been turnover prone this season, already with 11 including five against Utah. But the Ducks know they can’t rely on bad weather to stop Goff and the Bears’ offense.
In recent weeks, the Ducks’s defense has been at their best when the pass rush and secondary help each other. While one doesn’t necessarily come before the other, the Ducks will need a stingy performance from their defense as a whole.
“Just don’t let him get comfortable,” cornerback Arrion Springs said of Goff. “Put some pressure on him and we (the secondary) have to hold our guys so they can’t catch and throw. It’s going to be a big challenge for the whole defense just to slow that one guy down.”
Follow Will Denner on Twitter @Will_Denner
Cal’s offense draws comparisons to Washington State’s
Will Denner
November 3, 2015
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