As the heat underneath Mark Helfrich‘s seat grows warmer, the Oregon head coach is apparently looking to light a fire under his offense.
Citing unnamed sources, 247Sports.com is reporting that the Ducks are “planning to start” Justin Herbert this Saturday against fifth-ranked Washington in Eugene. Herbert would replace Dakota Prukop, the FCS transfer who has led the Ducks to a 2-3 start to the season, the program’s worst since 2004.
Herbert, a true freshman, replaced Prukop late in the Week 5 loss to Washington State and led UO to a touchdown. Herbert completed three of his five passes on the drive, the first attempts of his collegiate career.
Currently, Prukop is 32nd nationally and fifth among Pac-12 quarterbacks in passing efficiency. As a whole, the offense is tied for 28th in points (40 per game) and 16th in total offense (512 yards per game).
Where the Ducks have really struggled is on the other side of the ball. Under first-year coordinator Brady Hoke, the defense is 109th in points allowed at 36.2 per game and tied for 116th at 490.4 yards per game. During their current three-game losing streak, the longest since the end of the 2004 season, the Ducks are allowing an average of 42.3 points per game.