Oregon Ducks' Offense Will Still Be Elite in 2015

The Oregon Ducks played their way to the College Football Playoff National Championship this season behind one of the most prolific offensive attacks in the country. That offense loses a major component this offseason as Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota leaves Eugene for the NFL Draft. But even as the Ducks lose the lynchpin to their offensive success in 2014, don’t expect this Oregon offense to slow down in 2015.

First things first, there is no understating how impressive and important Mariota has been for the Oregon offense over the last three seasons. Since winning the starting job in 2012 as a redshirt freshman, Mariota has accounted for 13,033 yards of total offense, including 10,796 yards passing, with 136 total touchdowns. He threw for at least one touchdown in each of his 41 starts at Oregon and elevated the profile of the entire program with his poise on and off the field.

All of it culminated in one of the best seasons in history for the Oregon signal caller. 2014 was a monster season for the Hawaii native as he accounted for over 5,000 yards of total offense, ranking fifth in the country with an average of 348 yards of offense per game. His 9.01 yards per play average ranked second in the nation and his 4,454 passing yards were third-most in college football this season. He accounted for 58 total touchdowns this season and had only seven turnovers, marking the first time in history that a player had a turnover margin of at least +50.

For his efforts, Mariota took home just about every award he was up for, including the Heisman Trophy in one of the biggest landslides ever. Thanks to his efforts, Oregon once again won the Pac-12 title and secured a spot in the inaugural College Football Playoff, where they ended the winning streak of the Florida State Seminoles in emphatic fashion in the Rose Bowl before falling to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff National Championship.

With Mariota turning pro, the legacy he leaves behind in Eugene will leave an enduring mark, to be sure. For head coach Mark Helfrich and company, however, their immediate concern will be how his absence impacts their offensive attack in 2015. Many believe that without their star under center, Oregon will struggle to maintain their high-octane offensive attack.

For that reason, the quarterback battle this offseason will be at the forefront of the minds of everyone around the Oregon program. Junior Jeff Lockie, Mariota’s backup the last two seasons, theoretically has the inside track to the job because of his experience and seniority. In two years of mop-up duty of Oregon blowouts, Lockie has completed 29 of 41 passes for 264 yards with a touchdown and an interception while rushing for 26 yards and another score.

Those number don’t paint Lockie as a sure-fire starter, however, for next fall and the quarterback position is sure to be up for grabs this offseason. Oregon isn’t afraid to plug in a young player, much like they did with Mariota in 2012 when he beat out Bryan Bennett, who had backed up Darron Thomas. Lockie will have plenty of competition for the job, including redshirt freshman Morgan Mahalek, former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Ty Griffin, and incoming freshman Travis Waller. The Ducks are also a popular destination for rumors of certain quarterbacks who might be looking to transfer out of a crowded depth chart for immediate playing time (i.e. Braxton Miller).

Whoever wins the job, though, won’t have to try and replicate Mariota’s impact right out of the gate because of the phenomenal talent coming back next season for the Ducks, particularly at the skills position. Royce Freeman burst on the scene as a true freshman in 2014, leading the Oregon rushing attack with 1,365 yards last season with 18 rushing touchdowns. Add in the likes of Thomas Tyner and Byron Marshall, and Oregon returns their top three backs in what was already one of the deepest backfields in the nation.

While Marshall’s carries tapered off when Freeman came on strong, he still made a huge impact on the offense in the passing game, leading the team in receptions (74) and yards (1,003). He won’t be alone in the Ducks’ passing attack for 2015, either, as Oregon welcomes back their top five receivers from last season, including soon-to-be-sophomores Darren Carrington and speedster Devon Allen. The young duo combined this season for 78 receptions and 1,388 yards and 11 touchdowns, including Allen’s team-high seven scores in the passing game. Add in Dwayne Stanford’s 43 receptions for 639 yards and six touchdowns, and you have a deep stable of experienced receivers to rotate through next season.

Their ranks will be further bolstered by some key players returning from injuries as well. Tight end Pharoah Brown only played in 10 games this season but still managed to post 25 receptions for 420 yards and six touchdowns and should be a bigger part of the offense when he returns from injury next fall. Bralon Addison, who was supposed to be the breakout star of the receiving corps in 2014 before suffering a knee injury last spring, figures to be a major contributor after he caught 61 passes for 890 yards and seven touchdowns as a sophomore in 2013.

But the foundation of the Oregon offense, for all the talk in the media about them being a “finesse” team, is the power running game between the tackles that relies so heavily on the offensive line. The Ducks were shuffling through linemen all season long due to injury, but it will help them in 2015 thanks to the experience some of the younger guys got. Yes, they lose some big time talent like center Hroniss Grasu, but Oregon welcomes back three starters next season, including tackle Tyler Johnstone who missed the entire year with a knee injury, and four other players with starting experience.

Perhaps the most significant reason for optimism when it comes to the fate of the Oregon offense, however, lies in their coaching staff. Oregon has long been renowned for their consistency on the coaching staff from year to year. Helfrich has stepped out of the shadow of his predecessor, Chip Kelly, with his run to the national title game and will be focused on continuing his success post-Mariota. He’ll be helped by the continuity on his staff, including the return of offensive coordinator Scott Frost. Together, they’ve developed a system to maximize their offensive talent and that system will continue to roll in 2015.

Replacing a player like Mariota is difficult, if not impossible. With his departure, many expect the high-flying Oregon offense to fall off in 2015 but news of their demise has been greatly exaggerated. The Ducks have become an elite program capable of recruiting great talent. Even if Oregon’s next quarterback doesn’t win a Heisman, he won’t have to with the supporting cast that he will have around him.

While they will certainly miss the leader of their pack in Mariota, this Oregon offense will fly high once again next season and will remain one of college football’s elite offenses.

You can follow Tyler Brett on Twitter @ATylerBrett, on Facebook and on Google.