Key Quotes from Jason Eck Ahead of No. 3 Oregon vs. Idaho

Oregon will open the 2024 season at home against the Idaho Vandals, one of the top teams in the Big Sky conference.

On Monday afternoon Idaho Vandals head coach Jason Eck met with local media in Moscow to preview this week’s game against the Ducks. Below you’ll find some of his key quotes from that press conference.

On value of Idaho defensive line facing touted Oregon offensive line to start the year

Eck: “Playing against good people certainly makes you better. Our D-line having a lot of experience has made our O-line better going against them. This O-line is good especially the two tackles. Thankful the center graduated. The center’s a really good player last year, but the two tackles I think are really good. So this’ll definitely be a good challenge for our D-ends. I know we’re a little uncertain exactly who we’re gonna see in the inside three spots, but great opportunity to go against a great offense altogether.”

On no pressure message to team carrying over from last week

Eck: “I think play loose, control what we can control. I think it’s the same execution if you’re on our practice field in front of 30 people or you’re playing in against 50,000. It doesn’t change. I try to say that a little bit to take the pressure off these guys if they are feeling it. I don’t feel like I’m gonna be on the chopping block based on the outcome of this game either way it goes. We’re gonna coach loose, we’re gonna be aggressive, I think when you’re an underdog you gotta take chances to have a chance to win. So we’ll certainly do that.”

On if playing at Autzen can help in road games in the future

Eck: “No question. Montana State, there will be less people, will still be a very tough place to play later in October. No question I think that gives you experience. And again we’re gonna work the crowd noise all this week to really prepare ourselves that way for it. I’ve played Oregon a couple times and Oregon can get very loud.”

On what he’s looking for in order for game to be a success

Eck: “The first game’s in football are different. When you’re going good vs. good like we do all the time, I think any day that one side wins you’re thinking in the back of your mind well is it because that side of the ball is that good or is the other side of the ball bad? What is it? First games I think tell you a lot about it. I think a little bit less when you’re playing a team from a different sub division. If you’re playing a Division II team or you’re playing a team like Oregon I think it’s a little tough to judge because our conference foes are gonna be so much different. You do hope to see the perceived strengths of your team coming in—the D-line plays well, an experienced secondary isn’t rattled and they do a good job with their checks. You’re certainly looking for signs and seeing what you’ve seen in practice carry over to gameday.”

On Jack Layne’s journey at Idaho, getting first start at Oregon

Eck: “We had already signed a quarterback during the early signing period, so that was kind of a unique thing. We were recruiting Dylan Layne, so really Dylan we scholarshipped, Jack was a really good player we ended up getting him to walk on. Jack always prepared himself as the starter. I think that’s kind of the life of grit. He doesn’t feel like a new starter even though he is a new starter. I think that’s a unique thing about Jack. I’m excited. He’s done a great job I think he’s elevated his game even from this spring to this fall and gotten better. Had a really good camp and excited to see him go and turn this thing over to him. Got a lot of confidence in him.”

On preparing for Dillon Gabriel

Eck: “We did (watch Oklahoma tape). You really just gotta see what his skill set is. Because I think good coaching staffs like there’s is gonna probably adjust a little bit more to his game. I think likes to run a little bit more than Nix did, particularly down in the red zone. So I wouldn’t be surprised to see a little bit more quarterback run than they’ve done in the past. He’s a very good player. He’s won at two other college programs and I’m sure he’s gonna win at this place too.”