The twenty-first century has brought the ducks from out of the pond and onto high ground. Since 2000, the ducks have a record of 176-69. Also 6 conference championships, two National Title appearances, 4 division titles, and a 9-9 bowl record, the ducks are no stranger to the spotlight. They have been a model of consistency since the BCS era and they’re showing no signs of slowing down. Add the #1 high school player for 2019, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and a top 10 class, the Ducks are looking towards big things this season.
Second-year head coach Mario Cristobal knows that expectations are high for his duck’s squad. His team brings a lot of momentum after winning the last three games of the season, including a bowl victory over B1G program Michigan State. And don’t forget wins over rivals Washington and Oregon State.
“We all came to Oregon knowing what it needs to be again.”
“There’s so much momentum and so much ground being gained toward being that, that I see it as nothing but hunger and drive right now. I don’t see it any other way, I don’t feel it any other way inside.
“To me … I see this team as a team that can win multiple championships and continues to not only sustain but continue to elevate.”
The former Miami standout and Alabama assistant knows what it takes to win. He was apart of the glory days during the late 80’s and early 90’s hurricane teams that won two National Championships. And was later apart of the 2015 Alabama championship team as an assistant.
For Oregon to get to the Pac 12 championship and beyond, there are some things they need to do to attain it:
- Become road warriors– Oregon lost three games in 2018 on the road. Games that they should had won. Washington St, Arizona, and Utah beat the ducks with a combined score of 110-60. If you’re keeping the score at home, that’s not exactly a championship caliber team.
- Clean up on defense – If Cristobal is going to make the ducks on par with the SEC, then this is one area that is non-negotiable. The ducks gave up 528 yards on the ground in their 4 losses last season. That’s awful for a team that takes pride in stopping the run. They must get better defensively in order to be a championship team.
- Establish a solid ground game– We all know Oregon is a fast pace, pass-heavy spread team, but if they really want to wear down their opponents later in the game, they got to get something cooking with their run game. And Cristobal is going to make Oregon a more physical team by bringing in a power run game. Can he get that out of CJ Verdell and Travis Dye?
So there you have it. If Oregon can make these adjustments, there’s no reason they can’t win another conference title or more. They got a future NFL quarterback in Justin Herbert, and their offensive line is one of the best in the country. The schedule is going to be tough- opener vs Auburn, and then Stanford, Washington, and USC are all on the road. And you know Oregon State will be looking for revenge after the beating the ducks gave them last year. 2019 will be a challenge for Cristobal and Oregon, but if they can start the season by beating Auburn and win some games on the road, they could be sitting nice at the end of the year.
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