By Rob Moseley

Editor, GoDucks.com

Venue: Moshofsky Center

Format: Helmets only

Oregon began preparations for Saturday's game at Stanford with practice Monday morning, the latest chance for Kani Benoit, Taj Griffin and Tony Brooks-James to prove they're capable of spelling Royce Freeman for the UO offense.

Running backs coach Gary Campbell uses practice performance and game situations – primarily, Oregon's tempo and the number of plays the Ducks are running – to determine how often he can give Freeman a breather. The Ducks want to rely on the nation's fifth-leading rusher as much as possible, but also keep him fresh so he's at his best.

Against Cal last week, Freeman had 180 yards on 29 carries, and the three backups combined for another 254 yards on 22 carries. That included 101 yards for Brooks-James, who had 137 yards in six appearances entering the night.

“We got a little tempo going, and I think we needed those guys,” Campbell said. “Guys started getting a little worn out, so it was good. It was good to get those guys a chance to play. It's good for morale, and it's healthy to have somebody always ready to go and know those guys can get the job done.”

Campbell said the Cal game was the first he could recall in which he rotated four backs while an outcome was still in the balance. The Ducks piled up 477 rushing yards and a UO-record 777 yards of total offense, but the Golden Bears kept it close by capitalizing on some Oregon mistakes – a couple blocked punts, and red-zone inefficiency in the form of two interceptions and settling for two field goals.

Campbell relied on his workhorse, Freeman, for 29 carries, which the coach said Monday was “a little bit more than I want for him.” Freeman's primary backup this season, Benoit, had eight carries for 94 yards, while speedy freshmen Griffin and Brooks-James also provided breathers for Freeman after overcoming injuries that limited their availability in recent weeks.

“It was good for (Freeman) to get a break,” Campbell said. “Because when he does he's at his best when he gets back out there – he's a little more rested. I think it's good for us in the running game, because now we get him at full speed in there.”

Campbell goes into games with a feel for how he might rotate players, based on their performance in practice during the week. Then it comes down to the workload Freeman is getting, based on how the game develops.

But the UO assistant will use his backs situationally, too. He considers Freeman and Benoit in the same vein, and Griffin and Brooks-James as similar backs as well.

Brooks-James, a member of Oregon's national champion track and field team, has been encouraged not to rely so much on his speed to the outside, and to get more comfortable running between the tackles. Campbell said Brooks-James has been so committed to that effort, he's overcompensated at times and passed up available opportunities to run outside.

Brooks-James said Monday he's being used in situations that are right for him, but also that he's working to make sure more situations can be considered “right” with him in the game.

“It's both – he puts me in position to make plays I can make, and I'm becoming better at running in the holes and doing things of that nature,” Brooks-James said.

For all the success of the other backs last week, Freeman may not need to come off the field as often this Saturday at Stanford. The Cardinal typically tries to grind out a game offensively, leading the nation in time of possession (35:16). And Stanford plays stout rush defense, ranking third in the Pac-12 in yards allowed per game (123.56) and fourth in yards allowed per carry (3.85).

The Ducks may not have the ball as often or as long as they did last week, and so want to be better at finishing drives with touchdowns.

“Efficiency is really important against Stanford,” UO offensive coordinator Scott Frost said. “Their offense is going to try and keep our offense off the field, so we have to take advantage of drives.”

Of course, the Ducks would love to establish their own tone, and put together a series of up-tempo possessions that wear down the Cardinal. Doing so would mean Campbell might turn again to his deep stable of backs.

“I'd like to, because that means we're moving the ball on the ground,” he said. “If we're moving the ball on the ground we'll use those guys a lot more, because we'll need them. If we can get that many rushes in, we'll be in good shape.”

Other observations: Practice was conducted at “teach” tempo, and thus there were no highlights to report. … The team will transition into pads Tuesday and Wednesday, after limiting contact Monday. “Good use of today, fellas,” UO coach Mark Helfrich told players afterward. “Today is all mental. We'll talk about the game plan more tonight, and then attack Tuesday and Wednesday.” … In case you missed it, kickoff time and TV information for Oregon's home game Nov. 21 against USC will be announced Sunday, after networks exercised their right to make a decision six days out from kickoff. The Cal-Stanford and UCLA-Utah games that day also have yet to be set.