Oregon Football: 3 reasons the Ducks will win Pac-12 title in 2020
By Nick Fiore
3. Mario Cristobal is a great head coach
In Mark Helfrich’s last season and Willie Taggart’s only year, the Ducks went a combined 11-13, far from what the program was used to be in the previous decade under Chip Kelly. In Mario Cristobal’s second season, he brought the Ducks back towards the top of college football, finishing 12-2, winning the Rose Bowl and finishing No. 5 in the final AP Top 25.
What’s going to be different in the Cristobal era versus Chip’s Oregon teams is more overall physicality. In big spots under Kelly, the Ducks were often bullied by the more physical and stronger teams. Cristobal has built up each line and recruited well at those spots.
Penei Sewell is the best offensive lineman in the country and one of the top NFL prospects, but even after losing the four other starters the projected line this season has multiple four-star recruits in Steven Jones and Malaesala Aumavaue-Laulu.
According to 247Sports, Cristobal has put together back-to-back top 15 recruiting classes and the 2021 group is ranked No. 3 in the nation right now.
Cristobal’s hiring of Joe Moorhead as offensive coordinator was widely considered a great addition. At Penn State, he helped the Nittany Lions have one of the most efficient offenses in the country.
Cristobal is a guy who doesn’t get a ton of attention but really does deserve it. With multiple new coaches in the conference and a lack of spring practices, having a guy whose been around the program and has already built a strong culture means more than ever.