GLENDALE, Ariz. — Oregon’s quarterback rotation went from a schematic novelty in the Pac-12 championship game to an utter calamity during the Fiesta Bowl.
Making matters worse was the plan that derailed No. 25 Oregon’s offense in the second half of a 34-17 loss to No. 10 Iowa State at State Farm Stadium on Saturday now creates total uncertainty about the position entering the offseason.
“There was enough clarity to start Tyler (Shough), which is what we did,” Oregon coach Mario Cristobal said. “There was also enough of good play by Anthony (Brown) where we felt it merited him playing, and that’s what we did.”
After weeks of talking about rebuilding Shough’s confidence to get the redshirt sophomore to play more like he did in November than in December, the first-year starter was benched after starting 3 of 3 for 41 yards. Shough then went more than 35 minutes before attempting another pass.
Meanwhile, Brown capped off Oregon’s opening drive with a six-yard touchdown run. After Iowa State took a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter, Shough came in to hand the ball off twice, the second resulting in a fumble by Travis Dye.
Oregon’s defense came up with a goal-line stop on the ensuing short field. Then Brown took over and led a 98-yard touchdown drive, which he again capped with a 16-yard run to tie the game at 14-14.
Though Iowa State responded with touchdowns on back-to-back drives to take a lead it would never relinquish, Brown led the Ducks down the field for a field goal to make it 28-17 at halftime.
“We went into the game with the same type of packages with Anthony in short yardage and some four-minute stuff,” Cristobal said. “But we did determine that we were going to put him in in the second quarter to play. He developed a hot hand, so we stayed with a hot hand. That was what transpired, nothing else.”
But Brown, who went 12 of 19 for 147 yards and had four carries for 36 yards with two touchdowns and a fumble, couldn’t replicate his second quarter flashes during the second half.
The graduate transfer led drives that lasted just four plays and a three-and-out. Shough returned to hand the ball off twice to Dye before Brown returned for a third-and-two. He fumbled while fighting for more yards after gaining enough for the conversion.
“It’s not in any way shape or form the way to judge (Shough) for what he did or what he didn’t do,” Cristobal said of the series his starting quarterback came in to merely hand the ball off. “When Anthony went in, he was doing well, so we went with him. That was the extent of the decision process.”
Shough returned late in the third quarter, but Brown came in again to hand the ball off on third-and-one, which Iowa State stopped.
“We went with Anthony because we felt he had the hot hand, and Tyler was going to go back and play as well,” Cristobal said. “That’s how those guys performed well in practice, so that’s what we went with. Short yardage packages were still Anthony’s to play with.”
Shough, who went 7 of 9 for 79 yards with a late interception, repeatedly stated he was focused on “controlling what he could control.” But he couldn’t say how he interprets being benched after throwing for three straight first downs or whether he was put in a position to succeed in the biggest game of his career.
“Knowing that when I’m in the game I’m going to do the best I can to put the team in the best position to win,” Shough said. “It’s not up to me who plays, but I can control what I can control and then work my best. ... Whatever it is, I’m going to answer the call. Obviously you can make a lot of excuses; you’re not warm, you haven’t thrown in a while, it’s hard to get in a rhythm. Ultimately at the end of the day, when I’m in the game I’m going to do the best I can to put our team in the best position to win the game. I know what it takes now and it’s only going to keep getting better.”
It was the second time in three games Oregon (4-3) failed to score in the second half, during which it gained just 88 yards on 21 plays.
The Ducks went 0 for 6 on third down, with Brown at the helm for the first five, and 0 for 1 on fourth down.
Yet, receiver Mycah Pittman said he didn’t believe the QB rotation affected the offense’s chemistry.
“Coach has obviously prepared us and allowed us to be ready for any type of thing that’s going on,” Pittman said. “I love both the quarterbacks. I have great chemistry with the both of them. And I know it’s always a competition, and at the end of the day, we can pull off the win, and that’s really all that matters to me right now.”
The adage goes that if you have two quarterbacks, then you have no quarterback.
Oregon felt it had one worthy of playing for five games, then a second in select spots to win a conference title. Now it’s unclear where things stand entering 2021.
“After a game like this with all the stuff that’s going on, with the seniors and the team and things we have to attend to, we’ll sit down and evaluate everything,” Cristobal said. “But Tyler came in this year as a starter and he started this game as well. And he did a lot of good things out there and we have tremendous confidence in him. We’re excited about Anthony as well.
“So a lot of different situations. Talk about them, try to settle them now, there’s no shot at doing that, not even close. You have a guy who’s a sophomore and a guy who’s a senior. You have guys that are granted extra years. There’s a lot of moving parts to this thing as well. We have good players on campus and we have an elite quarterback coming in; probably on campus right now. There’s a lot of moving parts to this, but we feel confident in the quarterback room.”
Brown, who hasn’t spoken publicly since the season began, was not made available to talk to reporters after seeing his most playing time yet at Oregon.
For his part, Shough said he’s “hungrier than ever” and committed to competing for the job at UO in the winter and during spring practice.
“I’m going to take what’s right in front of me and keep working hard,” he said. “There’s obviously no decision that’s being made. I’m going to control what I can control and work hard the entire offseason. I’m going to keep proving myself.
“It seems like a lot of people are going to keep doubting me, and I’m going to keep showing them what I can do and keep proving myself right because I know my abilities and I know I can help and do for this team. I think that it is going to show, and I know it will show. ... This is only going to motivate me to be better.”
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