PROVO, Utah – BYU is going into a very tough atmosphere as they face the Oregon Ducks up in Autzen Stadium. This is yet another Power 5 game on the schedule and another ranked team as the Ducks enter this week No. 24 and 25th in the coaches and Associated Press top 25 polls.
It’s tough to evaluate Oregon’s season so far as they were demolished by Georgia, 49-3, but then easily defeated Eastern Washington 70-14. Those scores don’t tell the whole story under new head coach Dan Lanning.
The Cougars should be expecting a very physical game based on how Lanning coached the Georgia defense when he was their defensive coordinator before taking over the Ducks head coaching job this past season. The Ducks also had the top recruiting class in the Pac-12 in each of the past four years.
“Very physical. You look across the field and there will not be a guy out of place,” Hall said. “Good looking dudes. They look and play the part. They are very fast, talented, and athletic. It is another game that we have to prepare for like we did for Baylor, if not more so.
“Then you throw in being away and at Autzen. You hear some other college people that have played there over the years or NFL players who once played there it is one of the loudest environments they have played in. You add that element in there and we have to definitely be prepared.”
BYU has been building up its depth over the past few seasons and it showed as they were able to go toe-to-toe with defending Big 12 champs Baylor. The Ducks will be as physical, if not more, with what they bring to the table.
Will We See Trick Plays At Oregon?
BYU’s offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick is very trusting with his players and allows them to be involved in the game plan.
Hall mentioned that last year on Unrivaled and what makes Roderick a great coach. This past week, the Cougar offense dialed up a double-pass that had wide receiver Chase Roberts threw a pass to Hall which went for a touchdown.
Hall was obviously coy about any trick plays being called this week, and that they don’t run a lot of them in practice each week
“Only a couple of times,” Hall said. “It is a play we practiced throughout the past year and we don’t have it every week and we kind of mix it up. I never suggest trick plays and let A Rod deal with those because it is such a fine-detailed thing of when we call it. In other plays, for sure, if there’s something that feels good or comfortable or not we have those conversations over the headset.”
Who knows if the offensive coaches will dial up another double-pass, flea-flicker, or some other trick play as the Cougars head to the Pacific Northwest to take on a tough Oregon Ducks team.
Where: Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon
When: Saturday, September 17 at 1:30 p.m. (MDT)
TV/Stream: FOX
Pregame: KSL Sports Zone, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Radio: KSL NewsRadio 102.7 FM/1160 AM
Tune into Unrivaled every Monday through Friday, 3-7 p .m. on 1280 The Zone and 97.5 FM, or subscribe to the podcast. Also, download the all-new KSL Sports app on iOS or Android.