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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Asphalt plant sued in federal court ... Mapping Muggers Alley ... Spotters needed for National Weather Service ... Asphalt plant sued in federal court ... Mapping Muggers Alley ... Spotters needed for National Weather Service ... COLLEGE FOOTBALL Ducks will face potent air attack from Eagles Comment By Ryan Thorburn Eugene Register-Guard MailTribune.com By Ryan Thorburn Eugene Register-Guard Posted Aug. 31, 2015 at 8:08 PM By Ryan Thorburn Eugene Register-Guard Posted Aug. 31, 2015 at 8:08 PM » Social News EUGENE — Vernon Adams proved to be a quick study, learning Oregon’s offense and winning over his new teammates during an abbreviated fall camp. Now the Ducks’ starting quarterback will face the team he knows best: Eastern Washington. No. 7 Oregon opens the season on Saturday against the Eagles at Autzen Stadium (5 p.m., Pac-12 Networks). Adams passed for 10,438 yards and 110 touchdowns while leading EWU to three consecutive Big Sky championships. After completing his graduate transfer by passing a math test on Aug. 13, Adams was able to beat out Jeff Lockie for the starting job at Oregon in only two weeks. Eastern Washington averaged 44.1 points and 513.4 yards per game last season as Adams finished as the runner-up for the Walter Payton Award for the second time. “We have to be ready the first game. We play a team that I’m very concerned about,” Oregon secondary coach John Neal said. “They have three receivers that have 200 catches between them. It’s an amazing stat. You add a couple more guys and it’s almost 250 catches returning on a really poised football team and a great program up there.” Last season Adams missed four weeks with an injury, which allowed his replacement, Jordan West, to gain some valuable experience. The 6-foot4, 220-pound junior had eight touchdowns and one interception as the spot starter. West has an impressive group of wide receivers to throw to, led by Cooper Kupp (1,431 yards, 16 touchdowns), Kendrick Bourne (15.5 yards per catch, 10 touchdowns) and Shaq Hll (756 yards, five touchdowns). Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich doesn’t think Adams’ inside information on the successful FCS program in Cheney, Wash., will give Oregon a tactical advantage. “We’re going to focus on us,” Helfrich said. “We’re certainly going to look at them from a schematic standpoint. They are coached really well. All their principals, their size and strength and things that you try to judge, absolutely we are going to do that. When you start to think too much about what they are doing, that’s when you lose sight of what your true focus should be.” Eastern Washington’s defensive players know Adams’ tendencies, but that probably won’t help slow down Royce Freeman, Byron Marshall, Dwayne Stanford and the rest of Oregon’s talent at the skill positions. The Eagles allowed 31.4 points and 441.8 yards per game last season. “Preparation is tough because I know exactly how good (Adams) is,” Eastern Washington coach Beau Baldwin told the Spokesman-Review. “He’s a premier player in the country at any level.” For the first time since the 2011 season, Marcus Mariota will not be Oregon’s starting quarterback. If Adams can master the blur offense the Ducks could contend for another Pac-12 championship and College Football Playoff berth. “I think this offense is going to have a lot of weapons,” Lockie said before learning that Adams had won the job. “There is so much depth across the board at wide receiver and running back and on the line. I see this offense putting up a lot of points hopefully, just maybe in a different way.” By Ryan Thorburn Eugene Register-Guard MailTribune.com By Ryan Thorburn Eugene Register-Guard Posted Aug. 31, 2015 at 8:08 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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