The Oregon Ducks Are A Legitimate CFP Contender According to Yogi Roth
By STEVEN VAUGHAN, 750 THE GAME
The Oregon Ducks spring game is happening on Saturday at Autzen Stadium. In year one of Coach Dan Lanning’s tenure, the Ducks went 10-3, but hopes of a College Football Playoff berth were derailed by an injury to quarterback Bo Nix and late-season losses to rivals Washington and Oregon State.
How will Lanning’s Ducks respond in year two?
Pac-12 Network’s Yogi Roth joined John Canzano on 750 The Game and had some high praise and expectations for the program.
“This is a team that is a legit CFP contender; Pac-12 championship contender,” Roth told Canzano. “The standard is there.”
Roth says even though the expectations are high, Dan Lanning and the Ducks have some questions to address.
“You have to start up front defensively,” Roth said. “I want to see what the addition of Jordan Burch looks like. What does Matayo Uiagaleli look like.” Roth says, “They have depth and when you go through the roster, specifically on defense, you’re talking fifth-year, sixth-year, fifth-year, seventh-year, third-year. Guys who have played a lot of football.”
Offensively, Roth says the pass-catchers need to step up this year for the Ducks.
“You look at Oregon at receiver. They haven’t had a first team all-league wideout since Jeff Maehl,” Roth said. “They’ve had some second team guys, but that’s too long.
“I can’t wait to see Troy Franklin. I thought he was the most improved player — non-QB — last year on offense in this league.”
We are going to find out early in the season if the Ducks can beat some good teams as Texas Tech hosts Oregon in week two in Lubbock. Saturday offers an initial preview of what this Ducks team can be in the fall.
Listen to the full interview with Pac-12 Networks Yogi Roth in the podcast below. Catch John Canzano weekdays 3-6 p.m. in Portland exclusively on 750 The Game
