By Rob Moseley

Editor, GoDucks.com

Venue: Moshofsky Center

Format: Full pads

For the past two games, the UO defense to some extent knew what it needed to stop. The Ducks were able to devise plans for doing so, and execute them.

Two weeks ago Oregon faced Cal, which has produced more than 70 percent of its offense through the air in Pac-12 games. The UO defensive coaches expanded the package of coverages to be used for that game, and contained NFL prospect Jared Goff in a 44-28 victory.

Last week the Ducks took on Stanford, the only team other than Oregon itself to have more yards rushing than passing in Pac-12 play this season. The Ducks employed not only their four-man “Jumbo” front but even unveiled a five-man “Giant” look to again contain one of the conference's stars, Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey.

Both Goff and McCaffrey had statistically productive games, but neither did enough to beat the Ducks. Against USC on Saturday (12:30 p.m., ESPN), Oregon may not be able to focus its defensive effort so much on one element of the game.

“They're very balanced,” UO defensive coordinator Don Pellum said. “Great running attack, excellent receivers, great quarterback. They're more balanced than teams we've faced.”

The Trojans began this season as a pass-heavy team – for the year they've produced 63 percent of their offense through the air. But they're trending recently toward more balance; over the last two weeks, USC has a much more conventional mix with 55 percent of its offense through the air (447 yards) and 45 percent on the ground (358 yards).

Some of that could have to do with the coaching change, in mid-October, from Steve Sarkisian to Clay Helton. After a loss at Notre Dame in his first game as interim coach, Helton has guided the Trojans to four straight wins, in a season that has closely mirrored Oregon's own. In five games under Sarkisian, USC had more rushing attempts than passes just once; in five games under Helton, only the loss to Notre Dame featured more passes than runs.

“They do run it probably a little more, and there's probably some situations where they're more consistent running it,” Pellum said. “But they still do a lot of the same things: the play-action passes, the max-protect and throw the deep ball. A lot of that's very similar.”

Of late the Trojans have relied on a two-headed rushing attack of Ronald Jones II (7.1 yards per carry) and Justin Davis (5.1). They've got arguably the most dynamic receiver in the conference in JuJu Smith-Schuster, and another threat in two-way star Adoree Jackson.

The quarterback is Cody Kessler, who throws for 271.5 yards per game and completes close to 70 percent of his passes (68.7). “He's a terrific quarterback,” Pellum said. “He does a nice job of buying time, extending plays, and then he does a great job of finding that second and third receiver. If he gets in trouble, he knows where to go with the ball.”

Practice highlights: The “clutch” drill to open practice featured the offense needing to drive not only to a touchdown, but a “game-tying” two-point conversion. Vernon Adams Jr. completed six straight passes, the last a touchdown throw to Dwayne Stanford. But on the two-point attempt, Ugo Amadi broke up a pass, as the scenario ended up mirroring last week's finish at Stanford. … Arrion Springs couldn't buy a break in 1-on-1 drills in the red zone. He blanketed Pharaoh Brown, Stanford and Kirk Merritt on three different reps, and somehow the ball got through for receptions on all three plays. …

The scout-team scored some early victories in the 11-on-11 period with the defense backed up to its goal line. Morgan Mahalak threw a couple touchdown passes to Jhet Janis and a couple to Taylor Stinson. But DeForest Buckner stuffed a couple of run plays behind the line of scrimmage as momentum began to shift. Later in the period, Johnny Ragin III re-routed a receiver off the line, jarring the scout to the point he couldn't handle a pass thrown his way. A couple plays later, a scout caught a pass and was headed toward the end zone, when safety Fotu Leiato came flying into the play and tackled him short of the goal.

Other observations: It was another day with “Tribute to Troy” on repeat over the loudspeakers, except in the “teach” periods in which they cut the music. … Michael Manns moved back over to the travel squad today. Also, Chayce Maday is on defense as a scout this week. He's a receiver who has played on that side of the ball all season, after practicing both ways throughout last fall. … In case you missed it, Freeman is a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, given to the nation's top running back. LaMichael James won the award in 2010.