Oregon Ducks vs. Stanford Cardinal

Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) fumbles the ball late in the fourth quarter last Thursday at Stanford Stadium.

(Bruce Ely / The Oregonian)

EUGENE -- There is likely no good time to change starters on the offensive line, but between Stanford and Utah, No. 6 Oregon chose two extremely difficult weeks to do it.

Though Stanford's front seven entered with national hype and sacked an injured Marcus Mariota three times last Thursday (that's tied for UO's most allowed this season), Utah's is statistically better.

Actually, no team in the nation has a higher sacks-per-game average that beats Utah's 3.67, despite the fact that the record of every team in the nation's top-10 easily eclipses the Utes'. Among the FBS top-10 in sacks per game the Utes' five losses are the most by two; five teams are either undefeated or have one loss.

Blame a poor Utah secondary and offense on that record, not the defensive front. Last week in a 20-19 loss to Arizona State, the Utes earned six sacks. The previous week against USC, five. Against BYU on Sept. 21 -- whose mobile quarterback Taysom Hill leads the team in rushing -- the Utes had five. Overall, Utah's 33.0 sacks this season is second nationally.

Senior linebacker Trevor Reilly leads the team with 7.0.

Oregon will try to protect a Mariota and his left knee one week

, and though everyone involved in the shuffle is experienced -- true freshman Cameron Hunt is the youngest -- Utah's strength up front still should give UO's deep line pause.

Mana Greig, an eight-game starter at left guard, lost his spot to Hamani Stevens, who had started the previous eight at right guard. In Stevens' place at right guard started Cameron Hunt. Senior Everett Benyard is also in the mix. Oregon coach Mark Helfrich said Tuesday he welcomed the competition to promote consistency on the line.

The good news for UO? Against a comparable offensive line in Stanford, Utah defenders got just two sacks. Also, once UO goes on defense it will have a similar run on the quarterback in mind: Utah's offensive line has allowed 13 sacks in the last three games.

Onto the links:

The news of the day was

as UO kicker.

Video:

on what he would have done different versus Stanford.

Video:

says his mind-set hasn't changed this week.

Who's up for some hoops? Oregon's men

for how to work around two suspended players and a height issue.

Mark Helfrich's audio from his Pac-12 weekly teleconference

.

The Register-Guard recaps what UO's

situation looks like.

Comcast Sports Northwest says Matt Wogan's

.

The Daily Emerald interviews Boseko Lokombo,

to finish the season right.

The practice report from the athletic department is

.