Braxton Burmeister probably did not expect to play, let alone start, in any games this season.
But in the fourth quarter of Oregon’s matchup with Cal, the Ducks needed to call on the true freshman. Starting quarterback Justin Herbert had left the game with a fractured collarbone and backup Taylor Alie had left the game with a concussion. Burmeister — who, by entering the game, burned his redshirt — hadn’t seen any action all season and was suddenly being thrust into the game and a situation no one at Oregon could have predicted.
Oregon’s offense has struggled in its two games with Burmeister at quarterback, compiling only 17 points over that span.
While more could be expected out of the former four-star recruit, he is still a true freshman who wasn’t expected to play much, if at all, this season. Inexperience is, of course, a concern that comes with young players, and the Ducks have had to deal with that all season. Taggart said he has never played this many freshmen before, but this season it’s part of Oregon’s identity.
Other than in Oregon’s 33-10 loss against Washington State, where Burmeister went 15-of-27 for 145 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, the freshman has been reluctant to throw the ball.
He threw two interceptions, one on his second pass attempt, against Stanford and finished 3-of-8 for 23 yards. Taggart said that Burmeister was “shook a little bit” after the first interception. It showed as he attempted more rushes than passes for the rest of the game.
Oregon defensive lineman Jordon Scott (34) chases a quarterback for the Thunderbirds. Oregon Ducks start their season playing against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on September 2, 2017. (Phillip Quinn/Emerald)
“I think he just has to play better and let confidence come and just be sure when you go back and throw,” Taggart said.
Taggart did say that he’s been impressed with Burmeister’s ability to run. Oregon’s lone touchdown against Cal came on a 1-yard run from the true freshman, who finished with nine rushes for 31 yards.
“That was the one thing he looked really comfortable doing when he did run the ball for us,” Taggart said. “He did some good things from that standpoint.”
The Ducks could have avoided playing a true freshman quarterback this year if Travis Jonsen or Terry Wilson Jr. had not transferred. Making sure those players stick around is difficult, especially when the starting quarterback is a true sophomore, like Herbert. But having either Jonsen or Wilson Jr. could have been a big boost for the Ducks’ offense.
“You can’t do anything about anyone that wants to go anywhere else and play,” Taggart said.“That’s all right, and you wish them nothing but the best.”
For Burmeister, being a young quarterback is hard enough, but aiming for young receivers doesn’t make it any easier for him.
Senior Charles Nelson and sophomore Dillon Mitchell have both missed a handful of games this season with injuries, meaning other players have had to step up. Freshman Johnny Johnson III and sophomore Brenden Schooler have both moved into lead receiver roles; however, the Ducks’ offense just has not produced in the passing game since Herbert’s injury.
“For us as a passing game, as a wide receiving corps, all we can do is run our routes, get open and try and provide as many opportunities as possible to have completions,” wide receiver coach Michael Johnson said.
The Ducks have even had to rely on running backs to play as receivers, starting with the game against Cal when Herbert was hurt. Tony Brooks-James led the Ducks in receptions with four against the Golden Bears.
Oregon’s run game wouldn’t be as dominant as it is without its offensive line. Made up of predominantly redshirt sophomores, it is one of the Ducks’ youngest units but probably its most talented.
With injuries adding up as well — both Tyrell Crosby and Jake Pisarcik picked up injuries against Stanford — Oregon’s reliance on the younger pieces on the O-line is even more stressed than before. The offensive line creates holes for the Ducks’ reliable run game, which Burmeister has been thrust into.
“I know it sounds cliche,” offensive coordinator Mario Cristobal said, “But you’ve got to find ways where that quarterback feels comfortable, where the protections are solid, where the running game can help him out and take some pressure off of him and put it all together so we can keep moving the chains.”
On the other side of the ball, the Ducks’ defense has been a surprising strong suit this season with many young players stepping up.
Oregon cornerback Thomas Graham Jr. (4) and Oregon Ducks safety Nick Pickett (16) reach to knock the ball out of the hands of Nebraska Cornhuskers wide receiver Stanley Morgan Jr. (8). The Oregon Ducks host the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore. on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017. (Adam Eberhardt/Emerald)
The defensive line includes freshmen linemen Jordon Scott and Austin Faoliu, and the secondary has seen big improvements as well.
Though led by redshirt senior safety Tyree Robinson, senior cornerback Arrion Springs and junior cornerback Ugo Amadi, the secondary has relied on the play of several impactful youngsters. Freshman cornerback Thomas Graham Jr. made an early impression against Nebraska with two interceptions in the Ducks’ 42-35 win at Autzen in early September. He hasn’t recorded an interception since then, but his four broken up passes ranks third on the team through seven games.
“Thomas is really a special player,” Springs said. “He’s got great hands, great ball instincts. I’m just helping him out, Ugo [Amadi’s] just helping him out. We’re just making sure he’s just ready to play.”
Not only is Graham Jr. stepping up at cornerback, freshman safety Nick Pickett is playing an advanced role. Graham Jr. and Pickett each had six total tackles in the Ducks’ loss at Stanford.
Pickett’s importance in the defense has increased as the season has dragged on, and the Ducks have had to rely on the defense more and more as injuries have added up on the offensive side of the ball.
“Nick is a physical player,” safeties coach Keith Heyward said. “He gets lined up and he gives us some range in running just like Tyree [Robinson] does.”
The freshmen haven’t been perfect by any stretch, but their contributions this season have been valuable all the same. If anything, this season will provide needed experience for the years to come.
“There is no better experience than game experience,” head coach Willie Taggart said. “You take your lumps, especially when you’re playing against a winning program with some veterans on the other side of the football.”
The youth has become a vital part of Oregon’s team this season and that won’t change when they go up against UCLA at the Rose Bowl. With Burmeister expected to start again alongside many of his fellow freshmen, the youngsters will have to make the difference for the Ducks to beat the Bruins.
Follow Shawn Medow on Twitter @ShawnMedow
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