One week after sitting out against Georgia State, Vernon Adams Jr. got the start for the Ducks against Utah, but never got into a rhythm. Adams had completed just 2 of 7 passes for 26 yards when Helfrich pulled him in favor of Jeff Lockie.

Lockie was the polar opposite of Adams, quickly getting in tune with his receivers and leading the Ducks to their only scoring drive of the first half.

Meanwhile, Utah’s offense had their way with Oregon’s soft defense, allowing three easy touchdown passes to go along with numerous big rushing plays from Utes quarterback Travis Wilson and running back Devontae Booker. The Ducks opted to start Juwaan Williams and Glen Ihenacho in the secondary, but their pass-coverage was equally as soft as in the previous three games.

Utah scored on its final offensive possession of the half, extending its lead 27-13.

Key Plays: 

– On the Utes’ first possession in the red zone, Ducks linebacker Tyson Coleman tackled Booker for a five-yard loss on third down. Utah converted the 28-yard field goal, giving it a 3-0 lead in the first quarter.

– The Ducks stopped Wilson on a third down QB-keeper and Andy Phillips converted his second field goal of the game from 44 yards. Utah led 6-0, late in the first quarter.

– Byron Marshall returned the ensuing kickoff 77 yards, and a face-mask penalty on Utah put the ball on the Utes’ 11-yard line. Royce Freeman scored on an Adams screen pass on second down. A failed two-point conversion attempt kept the game tied 6-6.

– Broken coverage led to Utah receiver Britain Covey catching a wide-open 26-yard touchdown pass from Wilson. Utah took a 13-6 lead.

– Wilson found Kenneth Scott in the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown. The Utes converted the extra point, extending the lead 20-6.

– After replacing Adams, Lockie hit Bralon Addison for a six-yard touchdown, sparking Oregon’s offense. Lockie completed throws of 24 and 26 yards, and rushed once for 20 yards on the drive. Ducks trimmed the lead to 20-13.

– The Utes responded with a quick scoring drive of their own. After Wilson gained 60 yards on a run, he found Caleb Repp in the right corner of the end zone. Utah reclaimed a 14-point lead, 27-13.

Three things to watch for in the second half:

– Can Lockie pick up where he left off in the second half? The Ducks looked like a different team on offense when Lockie relieved Adams midway through the second quarter. Minus a miscommunication with Johnny Mundt, Lockie was perfect on the lone Ducks’ touchdown drive.

– Wilson looked equally threatening through the air and on the ground in the first half. In addition to 137 passing yards, Wilson rushed five times for 98 yards. Wilson was questionable to start this game after injuring his right shoulder two weeks ago, but he showed no signs of rust in the first half.

– Tyson Coleman was one of the few bright spots on Oregon’s defense in the first half, tackling Booker twice behind the line of scrimmage. Coleman’s tackling was particularly effective in the first quarter, as he stopped the Utes twice on third down when they were marching downfield. The Ducks will need Coleman to continue his strong play in the second half if they are going to slow Utah’s offense.

First half stats:

Oregon passing

Vernon Adams: 2-of-7 for 26 yards and one touchdown

Jeff Lockie: 4-of-7 for 50 yards and one touchdown

Utah passing

Travis Wilson: 12-of-20 for 137 yards and three touchdowns

Oregon rushing

Royce Freeman: Nine carries for 34 yards

Jeff Lockie: Three carries for 31 yards

Utah rushing

Travis Wilson: Five carries for 98 yards

Devontae Booker: 16 rushes for 65 yards

Oregon receiving

Charles Nelson: One reception for 26 yards

Johnny Mundt: One reception for 16 yards

Royce Freeman: One reception for 13 yards and one touchdown

Utah receiving

Kenneth Scott: Four receptions for 27 yards and one touchdown

Britain Covey: One reception for 26 yards and one touchdown

Caleb Repp: One reception for nine yards and one touchdown

Turnovers

None

Oregon total offense: 143 yards

Utah total offense: 294 yards

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The No. 18 Utah Utes are now one of only four Pac-12 teams that remain undefeated. After beating Fresno State 45-24 last Saturday, the Utes improved to 3-0 heading into their Pac-12 opener against No. 13 Oregon.

Coming off a relatively comfortable 61-28 win over Georgia State, the Ducks will be tested against Utah, a team that threatened to spoil Oregon’s national championship run last season.

Although the Ducks eventually won 51-27 at Utah’s Rice-Eccles Stadium last November, they started slow on both sides of the ball. Had it not been for Kaelin Clay’s goal-line gaffe and Joe Walker’s subsequent return for a touchdown in the second quarter, things might have been drastically different. Instead, that play turned a 14-0 Utes lead into a 7-7 tie, giving the Ducks new life.

Oregon faces a Utah offense reliant on its rushing attack, led by running back Devontae Booker. Defensively, the Utes allow 18.3 points per game, fourth best in the conference. Meanwhile, the Ducks’ defense ranks dead last in that category, allowing 33.7 points per game.

Here are the matchups to watch in Saturday’s contest:

Devontae Booker vs. Oregon front-seven

Missed tackles have been a problem throughout the Ducks’ defense this season, most notably in their loss at Michigan State. The Ducks face another run-heavy team with Utah. With an unsettled situation at quarterback between Travis Wilson and Kendal Thompson, the Utes lean heavily on Booker. Last week against Fresno State, Booker totaled 212 all-purpose yards and two rushing touchdowns. He also rushed a season-high 31 times. If containment and tackling troubles persist for Oregon, Booker could run wild.

Oregon offensive line vs. Utah defensive line

The Ducks have struggled in the trenches in nearly every loss over the past few seasons. The same was true against Michigan State, where Vernon Adams Jr. danced around the pocket all night trying to avoid the pass rush. Part of Adams’ struggles were due to him holding the ball too long, but his offensive line wasn’t much help. Utah defensive coordinator John Pease constantly rotates his defensive lineman in and out during games. The Utes are deep at this position, while the Ducks’ offensive line continues to gel with three new starters.

Players to watch:

Oregon:

Vernon Adams Jr. 

Adams sat out last week’s win over Georgia State, nursing an injury to his index finger. Jeff Lockie got his first career start at quarterback. Offensive coordinator Scott Frost said on Monday that there is no risk of further injuring Adams’ finger. Though the Ducks have yet to name a starter, Adams appears to have a good chance to redeem himself on Saturday after throwing two picks in the Michigan State loss.

Tyree Robinson

Robinson capitalized on erratic passing from Georgia State quarterback Nick Arbuckle, intercepting two passes, including one returned for a touchdown. The safety has struggled with tackling, like much of the defense, but Robinson showed a knack for finding the football against Georgia State.

Utah:

Gionni Paul

The senior linebacker has shown up across the stat sheet through three games for the Utes. In addition to 27 tackles — second best on the team — Paul has one interception and one recovered fumble.

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For the second straight year, Oregon men’s golf opened its season with a first place tie in the Husky Invitational.

This time, playing at the par-71 Tumble Creek Golf Course in Cle Elum, Washington, the Ducks saw their one-stroke lead disappear in the waning moments of the tournament.

Washington’s Frank Garber birdied on the par-four 18th hole, which moved the Huskies into a tie for first with the Ducks. Both teams shot a combined 16-over for three rounds, and both finished Tuesday’s third and final round two-under par.

Aaron Wise led the way for the Ducks, shooting a combined four-under for the tournament.  Individually, he finished the Husky Invitational in sole possession of third place, trailing only USC’s Sean Crocker (-6) and Washington’s Corey Pereira (-7).

Sulman Raza finished tied for fifth, after rebounding from a six-over 77 in the second round. Raza shot a two-under 69 on Tuesday, and was a big part of  Oregon’s move from third to first in the final round.

The Ducks have a quick turnaround, as they travel to Valentine, Neb. to play in The Jackrabbit tournament, beginning on Saturday.

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The Oregon Ducks will face the Utah Utes on Saturday to open both teams’ Pac-12 slate.

The Ducks have already faced a physical Michigan State team early in the season, and the Utes pose a similar challenge. Led by running back Devontae Booker, who rushed for 156 yards and two touchdowns last Saturday against Fresno State, Utah has size at seemingly every position.

“(Booker) is fast, physical—he’s just a great back,” Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich said Tuesday. “He never gets tackled by one guy, ever. His power and his ability to stay on the move but still have the leverage to finish runs is really impressive.”

The Ducks know what they’re facing in Booker, but the Utes’ quarterback situation remains in flux. Travis Wilson sat out last week after spraining his left shoulder, and back-up Kendal Thompson started in his place. Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham remained tight-lipped on Monday about naming his starting quarterback. Helfrich and his team are preparing to defend both Wilson and Thompson.

“It starts with their run game,” Helfrich said. “Whether it’s weighing Travis Wilson’s packages a little different than Kendal Thompson’s, they’re a lot more similar than they are different. But they are different, so you have to be ready for all of it.”

Oregon is also staying quiet on its quarterback situation. Vernon Adams Jr. diagnosed himself at about “80-percent” healthy on Monday, but it remains to be seen whether his index finger is healed enough to absorb contact on Saturday. Jeff Lockie now has a game of starting experience, but Adams offers more upside for the Ducks’ offense if he can go.

“(Adams) looks very similar to last week,” Helfrich said. “It will be right up until the end of the week before we make that call.”

Regardless of who is starting for the Ducks, the offensive line is tasked with protecting its quarterback against a physical front-seven.

“They are very physical,” Helfrich said. “Their job is try to out-physical you in all three phases. You have to be ready for that.”

The Utes lost linebacker Nate Orchard to the NFL after last season, but they still have linebacker Gionni Paul and defensive end Hunter Dimick, whom Helfrich called one of the most underrated players in the Pac-12.

Michigan State challenged the Ducks with size and physicality, but perhaps Utah could do so even more.

“They’re a big-man team—heavier than any team we’ve played thus far,” offensive line coach Steve Greatwood said. “If you do break it open in the running game, or even the passing game, you’re in for some long runs. Hopefully we can catch them in those situations, our receivers can get open and our (line) can protect them to get open.”

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– Although the Ducks comfortably defeated Georgia State 61-28 on Saturday, they fell one spot to No. 13 in the latest AP Poll released Sunday. Oregon has the second-highest ranking of one-loss teams, sitting right behind No. 12 Alabama, who lost to No. 4 Ole Miss on Saturday. According to Tyson Alger of The Oregonian/OregonLive.com, the Ducks’ No. 13 ranking is their lowest since Sept. 6, 2011.

– Jeff Lockie played his first collegiate game as a starting quarterback in Saturday’s victory. Lockie started in place of Vernon Adams Jr., who is nursing his broken index finger to his throwing hand. Lockie finished 23-of-31 for 228 yards passing and two touchdowns.

“It felt good to get consistently hit for the first time since I was 17-18 years old,” Lockie said. “That was good – to get hit and get back up. It’s a little different taking hits for a whole game.”

– Ducks freshman running back Ty Griffin made his mark against Georgia State on Saturday with 14 carries for 61 yards and a touchdown. Almost a year after tearing his ACL as a high school senior, Griffin returned to the field.

“The sky is the limit [for Griffin],” Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich said. “He’s a very talented guy and he’s totally scratching the surface of how good he can be.”

– Jerry Allen and Mike Jorgenson called their 322nd Oregon football game together on Saturday. The two have been the Ducks’ radio broadcast team for 27 years, the longest-tenured radio tandem in the Pac-12 currently. Their continuity is due in large part to the chemistry the duo share away from the booth:

“In radio, if you have good chemistry off air, you are 99 percent guaranteed to have good chemistry on air,” said Jay Allen, a host on Rip City Radio 620 AM who worked on Ducks broadcasts for four seasons. “And those two have great chemistry off the air.”

– Oregon women’s soccer defeated Portland State 1-0 on Friday, which was also head coach Kat Mertz’s birthday. True freshman forward Krya Fawcett netted the game’s only goal in the 81st minute, blasting a left-footed shot into the top corner of the far post.

– The No. 15 Oregon men’s golf team begin their fall season on Monday at the Husky Invitational in Cle Elum, Washington. The two-day, 54-hole tournament includes two other top 25 teams: No. 5 USC and No. 19 Washington, the tournament host. Oregon’s play-five, score-four lineup includes Aaron Wise, Thomas Lim, Sulman Raza, Nigel Lett and Andrew Bonner, the transfer redshirt sophomore from Colorado.

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A case of mistaken identity eventually led Ugo Amadi to the University of Oregon.

Late in December 2014, Amadi, four-star recruit in the 2015 class according to Rivals, decommitted from Louisiana State, less than three weeks after decommitting from Ole Miss.

The next day, Oregon secondary coach John Neal received a mysterious text message from an unrecognized number.

“It was an honest mistake,” Neal said. “Someone texted me and told me [Ugo] wasn’t gonna go to LSU. He said, coach Harbaugh, since you’re the new coach at Michigan, would you be interested?”

The sender, one of Amadi’s coaches, had confused Neal’s number with that of recently hired Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh.

Neal responded: “Well, I’m not coach Harbaugh, but I’m really interested.”

As it turned out, so was Amadi.

He looked at the Oregon depth chart and noticed that both starting cornerbacks, Ifo Ekpre-Olomu and Troy Hill, were graduating after the end of the season. Amadi saw an opportunity for early playing time. Neal and Amadi got in touch shortly after; and, one week following the Ducks’ 59-20 drubbing of Florida State in the Rose Bowl, Amadi committed to Oregon.

A misplaced text message turned into a welcomed addition for the Ducks.

Amadi enrolled early as a freshman to start taking classes during the winter 2015 term. On his first day at school, Neal showed Amadi around campus. They made a stop at the Jaqua Center, where fellow cornerback Arrion Springs was studying.

Oregon Ducks defensive back Arrion Springs (1) faces down Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Aaron Burbridge (16). The No. 7 Oregon Ducks travel to East Lansing, Mich. to play the No. 5 Michigan State Spartans on Sept. 12, 2015. (Adam Eberhardt/Emerald)

Neal acquainted his young corners, and the two hit it off almost immediately.

“We just started getting along,” Amadi said. “I made him give me his number, but he would never admit it to this day.”

While mistaken identity played a huge role in getting him to Oregon, Amadi, along with Springs and the rest of the Ducks’ secondary, were tasked with developing a new one for a group that lost three of four starters to graduation. The unit entered fall camp with a combined 19 starts, 15 of them coming from safety redshirt junior Reggie Daniels. Daniels became the secondary’s de facto leader, while younger guys like Springs and Amadi attempted to fill the void left by a previously well-established group.

Springs likens himself and Amadi to rappers Kanye West and Big Sean, “pushing each other to get better.” But establishing their identity on the field, along with the rest of the secondary, remains a work in progress.

In Oregon’s season opener against Eastern Washington, the defensive backs were responsible for 438 passing yards and five touchdowns. Eastern Washington receiver Cooper Kupp set a single-game record at Autzen Stadium with 15 receptions and 246 receiving yards.

“As a whole, from the guys that go to the scout team to the guys that play, we’re trying to establish our own identity,” Neal said. “We don’t have that right now. The more we play, the more we’re gonna strive to get it.”

On the surface, the Springs-Amadi dynamic appears to be somewhat of a big brother, little brother relationship. Springs jokes that Amadi is “always at my house, sometimes when I don’t want him to be.” But underneath, the two cornerbacks are in a similar position, even though Springs has one more year of collegiate experience.

Springs appeared in nine games last season, but most of his playing time came when the Ducks were leading comfortably. Both cornerbacks have limited big game experience, which is why Springs looks to Amadi for help in learning defensive nuances almost as much as Amadi does.

“It’s mainly us two,” Springs said. “We [talk to] each other a lot in practice, even when we don’t want to hear what [the other] has to say.”

Oregon Ducks cornerback Ugo Amadi (14) pushes the ball carrier out of bounds. The No. 7 Oregon Ducks open the season in a face-off with Eastern Washington at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Sept. 5, 2015. (Cole Elsasser/Emerald)

Enrolling early allowed Amadi more time to get adjusted to college. But it’s Springs, whom Amadi credits with learning the defense, and thus earning playing time early as a freshman.

“Ever since I came here, he taught me the playbook,” Amadi said. “All my success has been awarded to him for everything I do on the field.”

Although Amadi was listed behind Springs in the season-opening depth chart, Amadi was featured frequently in nickel (three-cornerback) formations in both the Eastern Washington and Michigan State games. Amadi struggled to defend Kupp, allowing two of Kupp’s three touchdowns in the game. His “welcome to college” moment came when Kupp beat Amadi on a route, then broke through Amadi’s tackle and ran for a score.

A few days after the game, Amadi vowed to never make the same mistake.

“Ever since then, my mindset has changed,” Amadi said. “I’m just trying to become more physical and make sure that never happens again.”

The secondary, however, fared much better last Saturday against Michigan State. The Ducks held Michigan State to 192 passing yards. Springs led the team with a career-high 13 tackles and Amadi, playing in his second collegiate game, grabbed his first interception.

“We still have areas where we need to improve, but we’re making great strides as defensive backs,” redshirt sophomore cornerback Ty Griffin said.

Still, establishing an identity takes time with an almost entirely new group. Their inexperience showed against Eastern Washington, but the secondary’s turnaround performance at Michigan State suggests they’re closer to finding their identity than many thought. At least their coach thinks so.

“All of our guys know where we’re going,” Neal said.

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Only a few days remain until the No. 7 Oregon Ducks face the No. 5 Michigan State Spartans in East Lansing, Mich.

The Ducks beat the Spartans 46-27 last year at Autzen Stadium, due in large part to Marcus Mariota’s feet.

Facing a 27-18 deficit on third-and-long in the third quarter of last year’s game, Mariota faced heavy pressure from the Spartans’ pass rush, but was able to flip the ball to Royce Freeman for the first down. Oregon scored 28 unanswered points afterwards and many looked to that play as the major turning point of the game.

This year, the Spartans are looking for redemption against the Ducks. Though they looked far from perfect last week in a 37-24 victory against Western Michigan, the Spartans will be warmed up for the Ducks on Saturday.

The Ducks, meanwhile, know it’s possible to bounce back from an early season loss, but winning one in a hostile environment would be a huge confidence boost this early in the season.

Here are three matchups to watch for this Saturday:

Vernon Adams vs. Michigan State’s front seven

Mariota can no longer haunt the Spartans with his scrambling ability, but Adams just might. Against Eastern Washington last weekend, Adams looked just as shifty as Mariota at times, carrying the ball 14 times for 94 yards. It remains to be seen how Adams will fare against an elite FBS defense, but Michigan State’s front seven is also dealing with some losses.

Defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi left in the offseason to become head coach at University of Pittsburgh. Linebacker Ed Davis, one of the unit’s best, went down in mid-August with a season-ending knee injury.

Still, the Spartans have some pieces. Linebacker Riley Bullough had nine tackles and three sacks last week. And defensive end Shilique Calhoun is likely a first-round pick in next year’s NFL draft.

Connor Cook vs. Oregon secondary

Last week, it didn’t seem to matter who was playing quarterback for the Eagles; the Ducks couldn’t stop either of them. Between Jordan West and Reilly Hennessey, the Ducks allowed 438 yards and five touchdowns through the air.

Michigan State is typically known more for its running game than its passing attack, but Spartans senior quarterback Connor Cook is a capable passer. Cook threw for 343 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions last year against the Ducks. Perhaps the most telling stat: Cook attempted 47 passes in that game, the most he threw in any game all season. If Oregon is scoring at a quick pace, this game could turn into another long one for Oregon’s secondary.

Oregon receivers vs. Michigan State secondary

Devon Allen (ACL injury) and Darren Carrington (suspension) did the most damage to the Spartans’ secondary in last year’s contest, with a combined five catches, 176 yards and two touchdowns. Though neither are expected to take the field this Saturday, it might not matter for the Ducks.

Between Dwayne Stanford, Byron Marshall and Bralon Addison, Oregon’s receiving corps is deeper than ever, and Adams found timing with all three last week. Also, Charles Nelson will be making his season debut against Michigan State after sitting out last week with an injury.

Michigan State lost cornerback Trae Waynes to the NFL after last season, but cornerback Demetrious Cox and safety RJ Williamson have plenty of big-game experience between them.

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After allowing 42 points to FCS opponent Eastern Washington on Saturday, defensive coordinator Don Pellum and the Ducks’ defense has some work to do.

Missed tackles, not finishing plays and lapses in pass coverage were some of the primary concerns coming out of last week’s season-opener. A road game against no. 5 Michigan State looms on Saturday. Spartans senior quarterback Connor Cook presents another huge challenge, but according to Pellum, perhaps somewhat hyperbolically, the defense has stepped up in a big way during the first few days of practice this week.

Pellum spoke to a group of reporters after Wednesday’s practice:

You said after last game finishing was something that didn’t happen against Eastern Washington. Has that been an emphasis this week for you guys?

Absolutely. It’s been an emphasis every week, but this week now that we’ve played a game, I think everyone understands what we’re seeing. The point has hit home.

How do you feel like the focus is for the team right now?

I think this week, through three days of practice, has been wonderful. It’s been the best three practices of the year, defensively.

How so?

Just intensity, attention to detail and finish(ing).

What did you see when you went back and looked at the film? What stuck out to you?

We didn’t finish. We were in position to make plays, whether its in the backfield or down the field, and we didn’t. Eastern (Washington) made some great plays, but there were a couple, had we been running harder, instead of a long play it could’ve been a couple yards.

What has (the secondary) learned after last week’s game?

I’m hoping that the entire defense learned that we’ve got to play smarter and more urgent. There has to be an urgency and an intensity every play, from the signal through the finish of the play.

Last year you played Michigan State, you know what they do. What is it about them that makes their offense (excel)?

Where Michigan State excels is their tremendous running game. They have a tremendous passing attack. They have a lot plays that prey on the eyes, so they do a good job of mixing up run, pass, play-action and then there’s some tricks within those.

How much better is Connor Cook this year than last year?

That’s hard to judge, they played one game. He’s really good (laughs). Last year and this year, he can make all the throws. He sees downfield. That 10-15 yard area, he’s money. Just a really good quarterback.

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**Editor’s Note: This story first appeared in the Emerald’s “Gameday” edition, which was released on Aug. 27. Copies are available on stands throughout Eugene.

Oregon sophomore cornerback Arrion Springs was listed as a starter when the Ducks’ two-deep depth chart was released Aug. 28. Springs, along with redshirt sophomore Chris Seisay, are tasked with replacing cornerbacks Ifo Ekpre-Olumu and Troy Hill — both of whom could make NFL rosters for the upcoming season.

Springs talked with Emerald sports reporter Will Denner following Tuesday’s practice regarding the upcoming games, the mentality of the secondary and who is winning FIFA in the locker room.

Will Denner: What does it mean to you to be a starting cornerback for the Ducks?

Arrion Springs: I’m still kind of processing it all. We’re a pretty big program, so I’m just trying to take it all in.

D: You also have have Ugo [Amadi] right behind you. How is it having him on defense?

S: It’s good. I help him get better, he helps me get better. It’s like I’m Kanye [West] and he’s Big Sean. We’re pushing each other to get better.

D: Do you see any similarities between you and Ugo, particularly when you were a true freshman?

S: Nope, ’cause he cheated. He came in early, so he got a little head start on the playbook. But that’s all good because he gets to play now. I’m on him more trying to help him get better and help him practice.

D: In the secondary, what’s your guys’ mentality going into week one? Do you guys play with a chip on your shoulder?

S: Definitely. Coach [John] Neal is like that as well. We feel like we have something to prove. Everybody is preparing to have a great game [against Eastern Washington].

D: Why should fans buy into this young secondary right now?

S: We’re super athletic and very confident. We can make any play. We all can catch. We want to make plays this year.

D: What are your impressions of this Eastern Washington offense?

S: They’re very dynamic. They got some guys that can play. I think they’ll challenge us and give us a good test to see where we’re at.

D: How do you guys stay focused on this Eastern Washington game with Michigan State looming the following week?

S: Honestly, for [the secondary], this is the bigger game because [Eastern Washington] is going to throw the ball and challenge us. Michigan State likes to run a lot more. This game is the biggest game right now. We have to be able to execute this week.

D: You talk a big FIFA game. Is there anybody on this team that can beat you?

S: Pssh, I’ve answered this question a million times. I. Am. The. Best. On. The. Team. In. FIFA. Period.

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Oregon cornerback Arrion Springs was asked how the Ducks were keeping their minds on Eastern Washington with a top-ten matchup against Michigan State looming on the road in the following week.

“Honestly, for [the secondary], this is the bigger game because [Eastern Washington] is going to throw the ball and challenge us,” Springs said. “This game is the biggest game right now. We have to be able to execute this week.”

The secondary’s execution, as it turned out on Saturday, was inconsistent.

Eagles quarterback Jordan West looked all too comfortable in the pocket, stringing together scoring drive after scoring drive en route to 293 yards and three touchdowns. West’s highly-touted receiver, Cooper Kupp, ran circles around Oregon’s young secondary with 15 receptions and 246 receiving yards – both single-game records at Autzen Stadium.

“He is as advertised,” Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich said.

Of course, not all of Eastern Washington’s offense was the secondary’s fault. The Ducks recorded just one sack on the night, and their pass rush wasn’t pressuring West often enough. Still, the secondary looked very much like the one expected to take a step back from last year. Missed tackles, soft coverage and flat-out getting beat by Eagles receivers plagued the group throughout the game.

“As of right now, I would say we didn’t do a good enough job,” said Oregon defensive coordinator Don Pellum after the game. “There were a lot of opportunities to make some plays and limit a lot of their big plays. We didn’t do it.”

Vernon Adams knew how good Kupp could be, having connected with the receiver many times while the two were teammates at Eastern Washington. So too did Pellum and the Ducks defense, lauding him as an integral part of a dynamic offense. But his talent wasn’t enough to excuse the Ducks allowing a record-setting performance.

“At times we made Kupp appear bigger and better than he is,” Pellum said. “Now, I’m not saying he’s not great. But there were some opportunities we had to make plays and we didn’t go make them. That’s something we have to fix.”

Playing in his first game as a Duck, true freshman cornerback Ugo Amadi gave up two of Kupp’s three touchdowns. In the second quarter, Kupp got separation from Amadi near the Ducks’ ten-yard line and ran through Amadi to the end zone. Then, on Eastern Washington’s opening drive of the second half, Kupp got Amadi to bite on a slant route, catching a one-yard touchdown with ease.

Playing defensive back is often a thankless task. Most of the criticism directed at Amadi and the secondary was warranted. But not all of it, especially against a quick-tempo Eagles offense that kept pace with the Ducks’ offense at times.

“We play the hardest position on the field,” Amadi said. “Being able to backpedal while someone is coming forward at you is a very hard thing to do. That’s why a lot of DB’s don’t get praise, because it’s not an easy job.”

Still, there were some positive takeaways in the secondary. Rebounding from a rocky start, Chris Seisay picked off West in the red zone. In the fourth quarter, backup strong safety Juwaan Williams intercepted another pass in the red zone, which led to Oregon putting the game out of reach with their last touchdown.

Though the Ducks’ secondary passed their first test with mixed results, their offense had an answer for every Eastern Washington score. Now they’re tasked with facing a Michigan State defense more known for its running game than its passing attack. But they’re far from one-dimensional, especially with senior quarterback Connor Cook under center.

Oregon’s secondary has plenty to “clean up” in the next week.

“As a whole defense, we gotta step it up,” Springs said. “(Michigan State) can run and throw. Connor Cook is a really good quarterback. We just gotta prepare for him.”

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