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Oregon Football: 5 storylines to follow during 2018 spring ball

By Justin Dottavio

EUGENE, OR - NOVEMBER 18: Quarterback Justin Herbert #10 of the Oregon Ducks passes the ball as defensive end Jack Banda #92 of the Arizona Wildcats applies pressure during the second half of the game at Autzen Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Eugene, Oregon. The Ducks won the game 48-28. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR - NOVEMBER 18: Quarterback Justin Herbert #10 of the Oregon Ducks passes the ball as defensive end Jack Banda #92 of the Arizona Wildcats applies pressure during the second half of the game at Autzen Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Eugene, Oregon. The Ducks won the game 48-28. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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Oregon football heads into spring of 2018 with their third coach in three seasons. What storylines should Ducks fans be following this spring?

The Oregon Ducks football program has been in a state of flux since the firing of Mark Helfrich in 2016. Oregon football has been through an interim head coach, the hiring of Willie Taggart, his subsequent departure, and the promotion of assistant Mario Cristobal to head football coach. University of Oregon brass did their part in paying to keep defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt in order to keep continuity in Eugene. The Ducks pulled in the 16th ranked recruiting class in the country which was third best in the Pac 12.

The Ducks’ offense should be similar to what it was under Taggart, as Cristobal was splitting offensive coordinator duties with Marcus Arroyo in 2017. At the Las Vegas Bowl and now heading into spring, Arroyo is the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He’ll be tasked with preparing Justin Herbert, who has NFL caliber abilities, to become the man without Royce Freeman to take the pressure off of him.

Eugene has been uncomfortable with their constant state of flux since Mark Helfrich’s firing. Cristobal can hopefully lend a calming of the storm and get Oregon back into the Pac 12 title hunt and College Football Playoff. He has experience as a head coach and has worked under Butch Davis and Nick Saban as an assistant.

Here are the Ducks’ top five storylines heading into spring of 2018.

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