Sunday Takeaway: Oregon Ducks Quarterback Justin Herbert Deserves Some Credit
The Oregon Ducks started a Freshman Quarterback for the first time since 1983 and Justin Herbert has some positive moments to fall back on.
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On Saturday night, the Oregon Ducks learned just how far they have fallen in a short time in the Pac-12 Conference. After a year with a one year Quarterback and success finishing 9-4, the two-year experiment was turned on its side with three straight losses and the Ducks made a change from Dakota Prukop to Freshman Justin Herbert against Washington. The result was the most lopsided loss in Eugene to the Huskies since 1977.
The number five team in the country put up 70 points and Chris Petersen had no issues with keeping his Starters in the game through the majority of three quarters. The Ducks started the game with the ball, but on his first pass of his College Careeer, Herbert threw an interception. He regained his composure against a solid Defense to finish 21 for 34 for 179 yards and a touchdown. On the other side of the ball, Quarterback Jake Browning threw for six touchdowns on the night.
The Oregon Ducks Defense was also gashed by the Huskies Ground game for 378 yards and four touchdowns, two by Browning. The answers will come with time, but likely not this season for the Eugene faithful as cries for Helfrich to be Fired will continue in earnest. It will take patience as I have said since the beginning of the season.
This team needs time to find their swagger. Getting Quarterback Justin Herbert experience in the biggest game of the year here was huge. You may not see it now, but this was a confidence building loss of the young Eugene native. He had a few moments where he saw the field to perfection. A touchdown pass to a left running Taj Griffin was the perfect example of his vision. He is a few inches taller than Marcus Mariota and did something that we did not see much of with Dakota Prukop.
Herbert was able to move the sticks with his legs when he needed to. He does not have Mariota speed, but has better instinct to move than what Prukop has not shown over the last few weeks behind center.
Washington held the Oregon Offense at bay all night. Royce Freeman had 50 yards on the ground. Darren Carrington was the Ducks best receiver with 47 yards. Early in the third quarter the Huskies had nearly doubled the Ducks Offensive output and finished with just under 700 yards of total offense.
The ‘Bye’ Week has arrived for 2-4 Oregon. Media won’t be able to talk with players until Thursday. Oregon has next weekend off and will prepare for a trip to Berkeley to take on Cal in just under two weeks.