Oregon Football kicks off the Willie Taggart Era against Southern Utah on Saturday night.
In December, following a 4-8 season, the University of Oregon made a change at Head Coach. Willie Taggart was hired and nine months later, after getting together a top notch Coaching Staff led by Defensive Coordinator Jim Leavitt, the time has come to unwrap the 2017 Oregon Football team inside Autzen Stadium.
The arrival of Taggart signaled a changing of the guard across the board for the Oregon Football team. Every former assistant coach was let go and Willie Taggart took the opportunity and the resources to build his staff HIS way. The culture around the team is different. Players are working together and for each other on the Practice Field.
Oregon Football returns key pieces and players with experience from a year ago. The Offensive Line returns the majority of their front seven along with Quarterback Justin Herbert and Running Back Royce Freeman. Charles Nelson will enter his Senior Season as a Wide Receiver and Kickoff/Punt Returner.
In the offseason there has been a major focus on fundamentals on both Offense and Defense. This will hopefully cut down on penalties that hurt Oregon several times last season. The Ducks have had three scrimmages in Fall Camp with Referees present which should help pay dividends in the way of First Downs rather than penalties throughout the 2017 season.
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Southern Utah brings an additional Offensive Wrinkle with a two Quarterback system. Senior Patrick Tyler has the experience throwing for 23 touchdowns last season to just 6 interceptions, but has been in a battle with Aaron Zwahlen, a transfer from Hawaii who was a former four-star recruit.
Oregon Football should win the game in the trenches with added strength and physicality on the Offensive Line. Mario Cristobal has been working on technique in the offseason. The key will be the Oregon Defense. Going back to the 3-4 scheme should help, and Defensive Coordinator Jim Leavitt will have some wrinkles of his own.
Oregon and Southern Utah kickoff at 5:15pm Pacific Time on Pac-12 Network.