Scouting Cal: Oregon defense vs. Cal offense

No. 19 Oregon (3-1) heads down to face the No. 24 Cal Bears (3-0) in Berkeley for a 7:30pm kickoff. The Ducks are coming off a tough overtime loss to No. 7 Stanford while the Golden Bears have been preparing for the Ducks for two weeks.

Here is our analysis of the Cal offense and how the Oregon defense stacks up to it.

QB Chase Garbers has been the Bears’ best quarterback though the do play multiple guys. He has 149 snaps to 52 for Brandon McIlwain and 35 for Ross Bowers. McIlwain is the guy they use to either run or pass the ball while they throw far more often with Garbers in the game.

Offensive linemen: Right guard Michael Saffell and left tackle Patrick Mekari have played very well this season with both guys being better pass blockers than run blockers. Other OL like right tackle Jake Curhan and left guard Valentino Daltoso have been effective as well. Again, their pass blocking has been better than their run blocking. Bottom line for this group is they are good in protection but don’t move

Wide receiver Jordan Duncan is their best, with Kanawai Noa also playing well this season. Bic Wharten III has been their No. 3 guy but so far has not played especially well this season.

Like the rest of their offense so far this year, their main running back Patrick Laird has been better in the pass game than the run game.

Their offense executes better in the passing game than the running game, something that is a match-up challenge for the Ducks given that pass coverage has been far weaker than run stopping for Oregon this year.

Because Cal probably understands their best chances are through the air against Oregon, I would anticipate seeing mostly Garber at quarterback for the Golden Bears.

I would expect Cal to have trouble running the ball on Oregon this Saturday, and it will be interesting if a one-dimensional offense can put up enough points to win.

In terms of key matchup, I would say let us keep an eye on whoever guards wide receiver Jordan Duncan. If the Ducks can keep Duncan in check, they will have a huge advantage.

Oregon DB’s vs. Cal QB/WR – Small Advantage Cal. Cal has given up 6 sacks in their first three games. Oregon averages 3.5 sacks per game in their first four. Cal has 7 TD’s and averages 202 yards per game through the air. The Ducks have given up 253 passing yards per game in their first four, good for only 96th in the nation out of 129 teams.

The key for the Ducks taking this advantage away is defending the deep ball to the left side of the field. Cal has taken 8 shots over 20 yards to the left and has completed 6 of them for 155 yards and three touchdowns in three games. To deep middle and right they are 3-7 for 77 yards combined.

Also key to this will be the Oregon pass rush, which has been quite good.

Oregon LB/DL vs. Cal OL/RB – Big Advantage Oregon Cal averages 180 yards per game on the ground and has a total of three rushing TD’s on the season. The Ducks are fourth in the nation in run defense giving up only 75.5 yards on the ground per game so far.

Cal has most of their running success to the behind the center and right guard. Of Patrick Laird’s 49 rushing attempts and this year, 23 have been to this area, accounting for 104 of his 144 total yards. If the Ducks can plug this one hole they will dominate Cal’s running game.