GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: Oregon pass offense vs. Cal pass defense. Whatever No. 19 Oregon discovered last week in the passing game must travel with them this weekend when the Ducks fly south to play undefeated No. 24 Cal.
The Ducks have been waiting for the Justin Herbert-Dillon Mitchell connection to catch fire — and it did last weekend.
Herbert asserted himself as arguably the top draft-eligible quarterback in the nation when he decimated Stanford to the tune of 331 yards on 25-of-27 passing in regulation. Mitchell was as equally unstoppable, amassing 239 yards on 14 catches, both career-highs.
For years, Oregon has been known as a run-first type of offense, but with Herbert’s throwing ability, the Ducks have transformed into a pass-first team with a power running game as a complement.
It’ll be hard for Herbert to duplicate last week’s performance, especially against am aggressive Cal defense that has two of the best ball-hawking safeties in the country.
Juniors Jaylinn Hawkins and Ashtyn Davis have been terrorizing quarterbacks all season, totaling five interceptions between them. As a team, the Golden Bears’ seven interceptions is tied for second in the nation.
“What they’ve shown is a tremendous amount of playmaking ability on defense,” Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal said. “They do a great job in the secondary.”
The Golden Bears are forcing three-and-outs on 39-percent of opponents’ drives and allowing a 25-percent conversion rate on third down — both tops in the Pac-12.
Helping Cal in the passing game has been the pass rush it’s been able to generate out of its defensive front. This unit is a combination of big and athletic and do a good job of getting their hands up if they aren’t able to get to the quarterback. Seven of the Golden Bears’ 17 pass break-ups have come from players not in the secondary.
Cameron Bynum is Cal’s top cover corner. Standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 195 pounds, Bynum is a physical freak who uses his strength and length to make life difficult for receivers. He leads the team with five passes broken-up.
With Bynum expected to be matched up Mitchell, Herbert will have to look to other options.
Johnny Johnson III has had an up-and-down year, flashing big-play ability but struggling to catch the ball sometimes. He leads Oregon with four touchdowns passes on his nine catches, averaging 18.5 yards per catch.
Jaylon Redd is another threat from his slot position. His strength to overpower defensive backs combined with his speed to outrun linebackers has made him a favorite target of Herbert’s in the red zone, as evidenced by his three touchdowns on the season.
This matchup will feature the best of Oregon’s offense against the best of Cal’s defense.
DRAFT SLANT
–OLB Justin Hollins entered the season as a fringe NFL prospect who needed to show off major improvement to complement his physical gifts. Four games in, and it’s safe to say that Hollins is rising up draft boards.
He’s using his 6-foot-5, 245-pound frame to do a combination of things that should translate well to the NFL. Despite a lower half that looks small in stature, Hollins has done a phenomenal job of standing strong in the run and getting off blocks.
Last week against Stanford, he did a great job of setting the edge against Stanford’s Bryce Love, forcing Love back to the middle and not letting him get outside. Hollins took on the physical Cardinal offensive linemen and either held his place or shed the block altogether to make the play.
One the season, he’s showing his versatility at rushing the quarterback or dropping back into coverage to fill the stat sheet; he has 7.5 tackles for loss, with four sacks, three forced fumbles, three passes broken up and one interception. He’s the only player in the nation with a full sack in four games this year, and his three forced fumbles lead the FBS.
Hollins’ NFL future appears to be at outside linebacker, so some scouts still want to see if he can keep up this pace throughout an entire season.
ROSTER REPORT
–DE Austin Failou is questionable after suffering an ankle sprain last week.
–RB Tony Brooks-James is expected to play after getting banged up against Stanford last week.
–Senior RB Taj Griffin has elected to transfer from the program, signaling a lack of playing time as being the reason why. Griffin had eight touches for 120 total yards and once score on the season.
–WR Dillon Mitchell’s 14 receptions last week against Stanford is tied for the most by a player in the FBS this year.
–QB Justin Herbert tied an Oregon record with six touchdown passes two years ago when the Ducks visited Cal. It was Herbert’s first career Pac-12 road start.
–In 19 career games, Herbert has led the Ducks to an average of 42.3 points per game.
–The Ducks are giving up 2.13 yards per rush, third best in the nation.
–Cal head coach Justin Wilcox graduated from Oregon in 1999, being named to second team All-Pac-10 as a senior defensive back.
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