The I-5 Thoughts: The defense looks good; Vernon Adams has a challenge; a one-time Portland star retires
Today’s I-5 Thoughts features a look at Oregon’s defense, Vernon Adams Jr.’s situation in Canada, the retiring of Alex Morgan and an ode to the fall sports season.
Happy Friday, folks. Today’s I-5 Thoughts features a look at Oregon’s defense, Vernon Adams Jr.’s situation in Canada, the retiring of Alex Morgan and an ode to the fall sports season.
Giddyup.
1. Brandon Johnson really wanted to be in the game.
But after not being included on the initial Oregon roster for the EA Sports College Football video game, the Duke transfer didn’t hold it against the publisher for his absence.
Let’s face it, he’s new here.
“It’s probably because I was a late transfer this summer,” Johnson said back in July. “I don’t know if the NCAA or EA was keeping up with it. But I did apply for the game, so I should be getting in it.”
EA did a nice job hitting the deadline on this one — Johnson was added to Oregon in the game’s first roster update last week, just in time for his Autzen debut against Idaho.
Now, the only quibble may be that 80 overall rating.
Because few on the field looked as comfortable as the North Carolina native did on Saturday with his new team. Johnson finished Oregon's 24-14 win with three tackles and an acrobatic interception in the end zone, highlighting the kind of awareness that should boost his ratings in the next game update.
“One of my teammates just showed me in the locker room. It was a good play,” Johnson said with a smile. “…I was pretty confident [I was in.] I had to toe-tap to make sure.”
Johnson had 56 tackles (8.5 for loss) with two sacks and four pass breakups in 12 games last season with Duke, didn’t arrive in Eugene until after spring ball and said he expected Idaho to test him.
“I liked it,” he said. “It helps me get into my rhythm.”
This week, it’s the guys up front who face the next test.
2. Jamaree Caldwell knew to expect things to be a little different moving out to Oregon.