You guys remember that scene in Home Alone when Kevin sneaks into Buzz’s room to nose through his things before stumbling across a picture of Buzz’s girlfriend?

Admittedly, it’s a dramatic parallel to make when considering Oregon’s depth at cornerback, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t pretty much the first thing that came to mind when considering the supporting cast behind Thomas Graham and Deommodore Lenoir.

And while it may come off as insincere, the comparison legitimately comes as no disrespect to Verone McKinley, Haki Woods, Tim Hough, and Kahlef Hailassie – we haven’t even seen them play! However, any football fan knows that very rarely is there ever a positive correlation between inexperience and stellar play in the secondary – and in 2018, inexperience is the prevailing trait among this unit.

If you’re a glass half full kind of guy/gal, the good news is that McKinley (a true freshman) and Woods (a junior college transfer) got a chance to cut their teeth this spring after enrolling early. Though largely inconsistent through spring practices, both players had moments where they raised eyebrows and showed flashes of potential. Additionally, Hough is a grad transfer from UNLV who has appeared in 35 games over the course of his collegiate career, and is perhaps the most logical bet to see immediate playing time given his seasoning.

Still though, none of these four players has ever suited up for the Ducks, which begs the question: How might Oregon mitigate the inexperience and general lack of depth at corner?

Aside from pure trial by fire, the Ducks do have some some options at their disposal should they elect to bring their greenhorns along slowly, particularly in the event injury strikes.

Perhaps the most logical option under this scenario would be shifting Ugo Amadi from his safety position to corner; a position the Nashville native is accustomed to playing after appearing there regularly during his first two years in Eugene. After making the permanent move to safety midway through last season, Amadi is arguably the secondary’s – if not the defense’s – most valuable player thanks in large part to his tremendous versatility. Oregon’s depth at safety could also accommodate such a move if necessary, as senior Mattrell McGraw and sophomores Brady Breeze, Nick Pickett, and Billy Gibson each have at least a season’s worth of playing experience.

Another way the Ducks could address potential woes at corner is by adding even more true freshmen to the mix.

More specifically, Steve Stephens and Jevon Holland could figure into prominent roles at corner despite being two of the highest-rated safety recruits in school history. Standing 6-feet and 189 pounds, Stephens is a player who excels in coverage while also maintaining the size and athleticism to keep up with Pac-12 receivers. Similarly, at 6-foot-1 and 182 pounds, Holland is a versatile player who blends tremendous athleticism with great physicality, perhaps possessing the best set of natural tools of any player currently featured in the Oregon secondary.

Yes, Oregon’s depth at corner at the moment may evoke a similar reaction to Buzz’s girlfriend, but with a little optimism and the presence of some genuinely encouraging raw talent, there may be more beauty in this unit than what immediately meets the eye.