Ducks enter 2009 with a new look
Oregon has a Chip on its shoulder in the wide open Pac-10
EUGENE, OR - The Oregon Ducks ended 2008 on a high note, and that's putting it lightly. Chip Kelly's offense was firing on every cylinder imaginable at the end of last season. The Ducks put 65 points on the board in Corvallis against their archrivals, ruining Oregon State's Rose Bowl dreams. Then, in an offense-oriented Holiday Bowl, LeGarrette Blount and Jeremiah Masoli bowled over Oklahoma State's defense in a 42-31 victory, capping off a 10-3 season.
The offseason has been one of upheaval, however. Longtime coach Mike Bellotti has hung up the whistle and ascended to the booth as athletic director, while Kelly makes the move from offensive coordinator to head coach. Blount, the 240-pound bowling ball of a tailback, is gone, dismissed from the team over the summer for violation of team rules. Masoli, who stabilized an unstable QB position last season, returns as a junior, but the Ducks must find someone to fill the void left by the graduated Jeremiah Johnson and the dismissed Blount. There are several talented options: Andre Crenshaw has waited his turn behind Johnson, Blount and Jonathan Stewart, and as a senior may finally crack into the rotation. Most eyes however, are on redshirt freshman LaMichael James, who has dynamic speed and vision beyond his years.
The receiving options are a mixed bag for the Ducks. There is no superstar in the group, but several dependable pass catchers are available. Jamere Holland, despite having hands that remind Oregon fans of Jaison Williams, has elite-level speed that will stretch the field and keep defenses from cheating up against the run. Jeff Maehl is an excellent possession receiver, and DJ Davis is a physical presence at 205 pounds. There is plenty of room for youngsters to step up however, like sophomore Garrett Embry, junior college transfer Tyrece Gaines, or true freshman Diante Jackson. Despite the quantity of wide receivers though, the Ducks' #1 pass-catching option is senior tight end Ed Dickson. At 6'5 and 243 pounds, Dickson is too big for most safeties and too fast for most linebackers.
While the Ducks' offense expects to continue to terrorize opponents just like it has in Kelly's first two years in the program, there is uncertainty on the offensive line. Three quality starters - Max Unger, Fenuki Tupou and Mark Lewis - must be replaced, and there is youth at ever spot, as Oregon lacks a single senior in the trenches.
When Mike Bellotti retired, most fans expected his friend and longtime defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti to be replaced. Aliotti is not the most popular figure among Ducks fans, but Kelly opted to keep him on staff. That didn't stop Kelly from putting some pressure on Aliotti's shoulders, however. Much like Bellotti did prior to the 2007 season when he reached across the country to pluck a relatively unknown coach (Kelly), Kelly has brought in Brian Kudron to serve as "assistant to the defensive coordinator". Kudron is regarded as a youthful fire-breather who demands excellence and effort from his players. His other skill, which must be utilized to its fullest in order for Oregon to take the next step nationally, is his recruiting. Being a younger coach, Kudron has an attitude and demeanor that relates easily to recruits, and the product of those efforts is expected to be immediate.
In regards to the actual players on the defense, there is plenty of talent for the Ducks to work with in Aliotti's unconventional 4-2-5 scheme. Will Tukuafu and Kenny Rowe form a formidable duo of pass-rushing ends, while Brandon Bair, Simi Toeaina and Blake Ferras provide a solid rotation at tackle. While only using two true linebackers, the Ducks have accumulated impressive depth at the position. Juniors Spencer Paysinger and Casey Matthews should hold up well, but if they falter, Kilo Alonso, Dewitt Stuckey and JUCO transfer Bryson Littlejohn are prepared to step in immediately.
At corner, the Ducks took a hit when Jairus Byrd left early for the NFL, but Walter Thurmond III returns for his senior year, and he is one of the finest corners in all of college football. After him comes Talmadge Jackson, Willie Glasper and Anthony Gildon battling it out for the #2 corner spot. Highly touted freshman Cliff Harris out of Edison High School in Fresno has oodles of potential, but his late arrival has him behind, and with four solid corners ahead of him, he may redshirt to save a year.
Rounding out the unconventional defense are two safeties who act as hybrid linebackers on the outside - Eddie Pleasant and Javes Lewis - and the centerfielder, free safety T.J. Ward, one of the deadliest hitters in college football. There have been rumors that Kelly is not a fan of the 4-2-5 Aliotti deploys, and there is a possibility that if things go poorly, Kelly may step in and have Kudron take over the defense and implement a more traditional 4-3.
The schedule is anything but easy for the Ducks, as right off the bat they travel to Boise for a grudge match with the Broncos. Sugar Bowl Champion Utah comes to Autzen two weeks later, and immediately after that Cal is in Eugene to start Pac-10 play. The best news is that the two favorites in the conference, Cal and USC, both must come to Autzen Stadium, where the Ducks have one of college football's most intimidating homefield advantages.
Boise State Broncos
Comment