After a week off to rest and reset following an emotional win, the No. 13 Oregon Ducks are being thrown back into the fire on Saturday. The Ducks will welcome the No. 21 UCLA Bruins to Autzen Stadium for a ranked showdown. While there are several issues the Ducks must solve, the biggest question surrounds Dante Moore.
Moore is recovering from a concussion, and Dylan Raiola impressed in relief against USC. Dan Lanning spoke to the media on Monday and offered an update on Moore, as well as where the offense stands with Raiola leading the charge into Saturday.
Lanning is not taking the Bruins lightly, comparing them to the same Indiana team that beat Oregon twice last season. There is some familiarity against a new-look UCLA squad, led by former
James Madison head coach Bob Chesney, and a host of transfers who followed him to Los Angeles. UCLA has scored points in bunches this season and forced plenty of turnovers defensively, so the Ducks will have their hands full this week in Eugene.
Oregon's defense showed signs of improvement against the Trojans, but UCLA has plenty of creativity that could give the Ducks trouble. With both teams coming off a bye, the Ducks and Bruins could look to fix some of their issues by using the bye week. Saturday will be the big test, and Lanning is optimistic about how the Ducks attacked the week off.
Here is everything Lanning had to say on Monday before the Ducks host UCLA in Eugene on Saturday afternoon:
Opening Statement
Dan Lanning: "Before we get started, I got the opportunity to go on the road recruiting this past week, and actually spent some time locally. But recently, we were just made aware of Mason Flores at Sweet Home here in Oregon, playing football, had a traumatic injury. Just want his family to know that we're thinking about him. I've got two sons that play football myself, and as you go through something like that, that's nothing any parent or teammate should ever deal with. So thinking of them as we continue to prep. Life is a lot bigger than football. So that's certainly something that hits home, and want to keep them in our thoughts.
"We're excited about the opportunity back here at Autzen. Our fans are always amazing, and this game is shaping up to be a really fun game in front of our fans. Two good teams that get the opportunity to play against each other. UCLA is playing a high level of ball. It's a coaching staff that we have a really high level of respect for. I think some things that stand out immediately on film is just how effective they are at running the ball. They have a quarterback that's operating at a really high level and is athletic. I don't think they're getting touched until 3.2 yards before contact. (UCLA has) some backs that are really dynamic and create great matchups. And then they're able to take shots down the field. Defensively, they challenge you in a lot of ways. A lot of simulated pressures, a lot of changeups. Their linebackers are really good at creating TFLs; they're one of the best teams in the nation in that area, and I think one of the things that just sticks out to you as you watch this team on film is how much better they get as the game goes. They've been playing really good ball in the fourth quarter, really good ball in the second half, and really, frankly, pulling away from people. When they get in those moments in games where they keep their foot on the gas, so it's a real challenge for us. They do some really good things, and we're excited for that challenge."
Dante Moore Practicing
Question: Can Dante Moore participate in practice? Is he participating, and how do you balance that with Dylan Raiola and preparing both for game reps?
DL: "Yeah, Dante was out there at practice for us today. Again, similar to what we said before, we're going to continue to make sure we do what's best for Dante as we move forward, and obviously we'll have an injury report that's released later on this week that'll kind of detail what that looks like. But it was great to see him back out there with his teammates and able to get a little work in today."
Dylan Raiola's Mentality
Q: If Dylan is the short-term solution, what kind of things do you need to see from him maybe differently in terms of handling himself in the building as a starter? Is there a shift that needs to take place with him?
DL: "No, there isn't a shift. I mean, if he can just play like he played every single time last time, I think we'd be sitting in a really good situation. So Dylan's got to keep doing what he's been doing, preparing like he's going to be the guy that goes out there every single day, and we need that from every single person on our team. But we don't need anything special from Dylan, other than doing what he's been doing."
Visiting Seahawks
Q: You spent part of last week up in Seattle with coach Mike Macdonald on the Seahawks for one of their practices. Just curious how that came about and what were some of the takeaways you had from that and how they practiced and what you'd like to add that to your system here.
DL: "Mike's always been a guy that I have a tremendous amount of respect for. I was going to be in the area recruiting in Seattle anyway, so I had the opportunity, traveling up there, to be able to see, 'Hey, can I be a fly on the wall for a little bit and see if there's anything that might fit us, or just bounce some ideas off each other?' I've always thought he does things the right way, and got a chance to be there. I didn't want to be a distraction to them. Then we got a chance to be able to pick up a couple things that they do that might fit us. Wouldn't necessarily share any of those things with y'all, but more than anything, just grateful that they gave me that opportunity to be there, and then was able to put me in a situation where I could recruit the area."
Clarifying Dante's Status
Q: On the Dante subject, is he back at practice in terms of like being around at practice, or is it—
DL: "He's wearing a helmet and shoulder pads today and out there throwing the football."
Offensive Differences with Raiola
Q: With Dylan, obviously he was able to have success in the opportunities that he's had so far this season. What different sort of dimensions do you feel like he's been able to bring?
DL: Yeah, I mean I think all those things show up. He can play quarterback at a high level. I think he showed his accuracy in this last game. His decision-making, I think that that's shown up for him, and it's shown up for him in practice. So again, I would just ask him to keep doing the same things he's been doing in practice."
UCLA's Defense
Q: You talked a lot about UCLA's run game, but looking at their defense specifically, I believe their turnover margin is like plus 8 so far this season. What have you seen from UCLA's defense, and what does your offense need to be aware of heading into this game?
DL: "Anytime you're creating some of the takeaways that they're creating, I think it speaks to a little bit of the brand you play. Obviously, they teach attacking the ball. They do a variety of zone coverages that pop people up in windows that they're able to take advantage of, and then they pattern match really well in those zones. So they have a lot of eyes on the ball, right? They do a good job of stopping the interior run game to where you feel like you have to pass it at times to have success. When they catch people off schedule, they take advantage of those opportunities. They're an attack team. You're going to see, again, a lot of pressures, a lot of different looks, and they try to confuse the quarterback in this process."
UCLA's Keys to Success
Q: UCLA's offense only has four touchdown passes this season, but I think if you look at their touchdown drives, almost all of them are like seven plays or less. What makes their offense so effective without having an explosive passing game?
DL: "I would argue that they have explosive runs. Anytime you can run the ball in the end zone, I think they have more rushing touchdowns this year than they've had the last two years combined. So it speaks to how effective they are at running the ball. One of the touchdowns in the Maryland game, I think it was fourth-and-1 from over 50 yards. So when you're scoring from far on runs, you don't have to throw it into the end zone. They have the ability to score from deep. This offense can do that; they can throw the ball, they can throw explosive passes as well. So I don't think it's one or the other, but they're able to score from deep and score quickly with the run game. That's something they've taken advantage of so far this season."
Taking Advantage of the Bye Week
Q: Last time we spoke with you, you challenged your guys in terms of not being close to where you needed to be. I'm curious how that was received and what you've seen in terms of progress and getting to where you're going to be these last five days or so.
DL: "Yeah, we're not there yet. Growth is constant. It's got to continue to happen. I really liked the way we practiced today. We've obviously had an opportunity to be able to look at this team and toy with some stuff in the bye week that I think can make us better, but I think it starts with, again, how you work there on the field and really being self-aware and being really critical of yourself and where you can improve. I think our team's eyes are open to that, and we're continuing to grow. We're not there yet, but we're still growing."
Bob Chesney
Q: You mentioned the respect you have for coach Bob Chesney and their coaching staff. Obviously, the story last week about him texting you about Dante. Have your paths crossed outside of when you played them last year? Have you been able to talk to him outside of football over the past few years?
DL: "No, and really not familiar with him before you know us playing against him at James Madison. But obviously, he's won everywhere he's been. He's done a great job, and he's obviously a great guy as well."
Wayne Knight
Q: You've talked about the run game a lot. What makes Wayne Knight in particular so effective at breaking off those long runs? I think he has nine touchdowns this year.
DL: "I mean, one, he's the kind of back that can play anywhere in the nation. I truly believe that when you watch him, and multiple backs. They have several backs averaging well over five yards per carry. But one thing for him is he doesn't go down often on first contact, and he breaks a lot of tackles. And a lot of times, that first contact happens later in the down. He's not big, but he's very stout. He has great burst. So he's a guy that sometimes gets lost behind the line of scrimmage, and then he pops out with great speed and athleticism, and then the ability to break tackles, which is a challenge. He's also utilized in the passing game a good amount too. So he's just a guy you have to know where he's at."
Moving Past USC
Q: How valuable do you feel like the bye week was in turning the page from USC? Not letting the high emotions of that moment bleed into habits.
DL: "Bye weeks in general for us are always great opportunities for us to get a great self-assessment of where we're at and improve. So I think it was valuable for us as long as we use it the right way. I thought our guys were able to get a good reset. There's some rest involved there, and also getting an assessment of yourself and what you're going to face moving forward. So I thought we took advantage of it and utilized it well."
Kendre Harrison and Andrew Olesh
Q: What have you seen development-wise from Kendre Harrison and Andrew Olesh as their roles have expanded a little bit the last couple of weeks, and just how beneficial this bye week was for them?
DL: "Growing and still growing. Those guys have had bigger roles maybe than anticipated early with some of the injuries with Jamari Johnson and some of the pieces that played out there, and we need them to continue to grow and play better ball. And I think that's the piece: sometimes the goal, especially for a young player, is, 'I want to get out there and be on the field.' The goal is, 'When I get out there on the field that I do my job well.' Those are guys that have grown and are getting better and better, but they want to be guys that step on the field and do their job well at a high level. So being critical of yourself to be able to improve and make yourself better, we want both Andrew and Kendre to keep improving because they've proven that they can be on the field for us, but make themselves the best version of themselves is the goal."
UCLA's Ground Game
Q: You also hinted at it earlier, talking about the depth that UCLA has at that running back position. What have you seen specifically with, I believe, all backs, as you mentioned, averaging like five yards a carry?
DL: "Obviously, that means they've got a great scheme. If they're able to get that far down the field before they get touched, I think that means they're doing a lot of stuff, and they run a variety of runs that are a real challenge. They have a quarterback that's mobile as well that you always have to be alert for when it comes to the run game. But there isn't a piece of their run game that really isn't included. They've got the ability to run outside zone, split zone, counter, power; it really all shows up. So they have a great variety, and they make you play every inch of the field, which makes it a challenge."
Sammy Omosigho
Q: I want to get your thoughts on their linebacker, Sammy Omosigho, in terms of he's one of the most productive players, probably in this conference and in the country. What's allowed him to be that?
DL: "The way they utilize them, it probably starts there. You're going to see a lot more backer pops this week than some teams you've seen in the past, but they continually let these guys loose, set them free. They almost run line games at times like a defensive lineman, right? So they're up there tight in the line of scrimmage, creating negative plays, but he's got burst. He's got the ability to rush and blitz. He can also play in coverage, so he's a very versatile player. It's really dynamic and fits well in the package that they use him in."
Koloi Keli's Usage
Q: Koloi Keli is someone that's kind of operated, got a lot of run. Is that additional lineman almost a pseudo fullback? What in his skill set allows him to be productive there, and what have you seen from on tape so far?
DL: "Physicality. Koloi's showing it again and again in practice, and we want guys to be able to play in that position with physicality, right? He's pretty fast too. Who knows? Maybe we'll throw him a go ball."
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Everything Dan Lanning said ahead of Oregon's game against UCLA
