Oregon Football: Ducks look to rebound in 2016

Oregon is not used to playing the role of underdog but it is exactly where the program finds itself entering the 2016 season. The Ducks should embrace it.

January 2, 2016. A date that will forever live in the history of college football. It is also a date that all Oregon Duck players, coaches, and fans would rather forget. On that day, Oregon led TCU 31-0 at halftime. Oregon would end up losing that game in 4 OT’s 47-41. Oregon football was dealt a dose of reality in year one without Marcus Mariota.

In all respect to Vernon Adams, he did a magnificent job replacing Mariota, when healthy. The health side to Adams proved to be the hardest to overcome. If Adams had not gotten injured in games against Michigan State and TCU, Oregon might have come out on the other side of the scoreboard. What Oregon does have returning on offense does seem to point to Oregon not missing a beat when it comes to offensive production.

Oregon returns junior running back Royce Freeman, who rushed for 1,836 yards and 17 TD’s last year. Freeman is easily in the same class of back as LSU’s Leonard Fournette, and Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey. Freeman will be counted on to be a workhorse in the offense as Oregon will be breaking in a new transfer quarterback for the second straight year.

Dakota Prukop transferred in from Montana State and participated in spring practices with the Ducks. While Prukop has not been named the starter and is still battling Travis Jonsen for the job, he was not brought in to sit on the bench. Prukop will have plenty of options in the receiving corps

Apr 30, 2016; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback (9) Dakota Prukop sets to throw a pass before the game at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports /

as Oregon returns Darren Carrington and Charles Nelson. The loss of Bralon Addison will be helped by those two, in particular, Nelson who has as much dynamic ability, if not more than Addison. The wideouts also return track star Devon Allen to add speed to bring the top off of opposing defenses.

While Oregon will have to replace three starters on the offensive line, they do return Tyrell Crosby, who is shifting over to left tackle and can be trusted to protect Prukop or Jonsen’s blind side.

The biggest addition to the Oregon defense this offseason was the hiring of Defensive Coordinator Brady Hoke. The former Michigan head coach is being counted on to improve a defense that was 116th in total defense last season.

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Oregon returns only 4 starters on defense. Hoke will have his work cut out for him but he certainly has talent to work with. Hoke’s switch to the 4-3 defense should help with the loss of 7 starters. The Ducks defensive backfield will be the strength of the unit.

Oregon returns 3 starters in the secondary which should help give good enough coverage for the defensive line and linebackers to be able to make plays and get pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

A huge benefit for Oregon’s chances to win the Pac-12 North is in the form of their schedule. Oregon gets both Washington and Stanford at home, both teams seem to be most likely to win the division as opposed to Oregon.

The Ducks get another break in scheduling in that they do not play UCLA this fall. The Ducks also have a good shot at going 3-0 in non-conference games as their toughest opponent is Nebraska.

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The offense will always be fast and score in bunches at Oregon. That is their bread and butter and it has been for years. If Hoke can get the defense to a respectable level then Oregon can be dangerous in the North again. Remember, the Ducks did beat Washington and Stanford last year, they can do it again.

Don’t expect the Ducks to disappear, but they will certainly be flying under the radar at the start of the season.

For more Oregon Ducks coverage, you can check out our Pac-12 hub page.

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