Oregon State Football: Looking Ahead at the Offense

This article was written by a friend and fellow Pac-10 follower Matt, who has far greater insight and knowledge of Oregon State football than I do. Enjoy.

With spring ball finally completed, fall training camp lurks just around the corner. Once the new recruits enroll they are pushed through a crash course in terms of getting acquainted with college life and the small-town atmosphere of Corvallis, while also trying to memorize Oregon State’s thick offensive and defensive playbooks. Fall is a time when returning players look to polish their skill sets and put their hard work in the spring to good use. Here is an in-depth, position by position look at OSU’s offense once fall hits. Defense to come soon!

Quarterback: Just as Lyle Moevao did last year, Sean Canfield has returned the favor as solidifying himself as the clear number one QB going into fall camp. Both players and coaches said he controlled the offense with a new found, vocal leadership that was seen from Moevao all last season. He really hit his stride this spring finding a new favorite target in Darrell Catchings. He did struggle in the spring game but it was by far his worst performance. If anyone knows Lyle Moevao, he will be the first to tell you not to count him out. Known as a fierce competitor, look for Moevao to hit fall camp hard and really push Sean for the number one spot. Coming off of shoulder surgery, Moevao is expected to be fully recuperated and healthy, something that he hasn’t seen since Dexter Davis sacked him in the ASU game last season.

Running Back: Everyone knows who the starter will be. The question remains as to who will back up Jacquizz Rodgers, the reigning PAC-10 player of the year. Jovan Stevenson, the grey shirt from Arizona, emerged this year as a potential back up showing a good burst with quick feet. His hands were solid but questions surround his size (185 lbs) and blocking ability. Ryan McCants is coming off of a very disappointing first season. While he showed flashes of his potential last year, he struggled to hit the hole and had some fumbling issues as well. If he can gain some more confidence and return from his knee injury hungry, then he will receive the most reps as Quizz’s back up. This would also allow Jovan Stevenson to redshirt. Should McCants not live up the hype again, incoming true freshman Ashton Jefferson, another Texas RB, will get a serious look at the back up role in spelling Quizz.

Wide Receiver: Starting off as one of the biggest question marks before spring, this might have just gotten interesting with several key players stepping up. First, Darrell Catchings seemingly came out of nowhere, completely dominating the spring as the number one go-to receiver. He will start and will have a chance to be the next OSU great. Casey Kjos started off as the incumbent to Shane Morales however look for Jordan Bishop to overtake this spot. He’s got the size (6-3) and athleticism (one of Oregon’s top high school track athletes coming out of high school) to make his mark as a freshman. He showed solid hands and precise route running all spring. The third receiver spot will be manned by James Rodgers, the Beavers’ explosive deep threat and fly sweep man. This should open things up by keeping the safeties and linebackers honest. Finally, the x-factor in all of this is Reggie Dunn, the touted incoming JC receiver. He was one of the fastest guys in JC and one of the most sought-after WR’s coming out of high school. If our current crop of receivers is able to step up, this would allow Riley to redshirt him since he has four years to play three.

Offensive Line/TE: Perhaps the biggest question entering fall camp will be the offensive line. Nagged by injuries throughout the spring, the offensive line depth is a major issue. Gregg Peat, Mike Remmers, and Alex Linnenkohl all return with significant starting experience. The question remains as to who will step up in the other two offensive line positions. Wilder McAndrew’s career has been nagged by injuries, and he re-aggravated his wrist injury this spring. Brent McNeil, a JC transfer last year, has solidified himself as one of the strongest run blockers on the team but still struggles in pass blocking. Timi Oshninowo (his brother is Babatunde Oshinowo from Stanford who’s currently in the NFL) made significant strides but went down with a knee injury of his own in the spring game. Geoff Garner has the sought-after size and strength that Cavanaugh wants in an offensive lineman but just recently got back from a Mormon mission and is trying to play catch up with both the playbook and getting back into playing shape.

Tight End returns great depth with three year varsity letter winner Howard Croom manning the one spot. Brady Camp often comes in as the H-Back in blocking situations while John Reese is the most athletic pass catcher. John Reese will often line up in the slot when OSU goes into their 5-wide receiver sets. While no one has separated themselves as the clear number one option, TE will be looked at as a committee to get things done depending on the situation.

Beavers Best (Modern Era)

Much like I did with the Ducks last week, here is my list of top 3 Beavers at each of the offensive skill positions (my era, from about 1997-present day). These rankings are not based off NFL careers; instead they reflect who I would want on my team if I was constructing it for next season.

Quarterback

1. Derek Anderson 2001-2004 – DA put up video game type numbers over the course of his Oregon State career, passing for over 4,000 yards as a junior. While DA never lead the Beavers to a top tier bowl game, and often threw untimely interceptions early in his career, his progression throughout this three years as a starter has cemented him at one on my list.
2. Jonathan Smith 1997- 2001 - Smith will be remembered for taking the reins against Washington as a freshman in 1998, passing for over 400 yards that night at Husky Stadium. Smith was small in stature, and lacked the monster arm and the quick feet that so many college quarterbacks have today. However, Smith led the Beavers to their best season ever, going 11-1 in 2000, beating Notre Dame in the 2001 Fiesta Bowl.
3. Matt Moore 2005-2006 – Moore took a beating from Beavers fans throughout his junior season, and rightfully so. After the 2005 disaster Moore lead the Beavers to their first 10 win season under Riley in 2006. Though Moore never put up gaudy numbers, he managed the game as a senior, landing the Beavers in the top 25 come seasons end.

Running Back

1. Steven Jackson 2001-2003 – This is a no brainer for me. Aside from Reggie Bush, Jackson was the most complete running back the Pac-10 has put out over the last decade. Jackson was a true threat to score anytime he touched the ball. His career was capped off with a 5 TD performance in his hometown of Las Vegas, as the Beavers rebounded from a disappointing 2003 campaign, beating New Mexico handily in the Las Vegas Bowl.
2. Ken Simonton 1998-2001 – Simonton ran for over 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons, putting him second all time in the Pac-10 rushing record books. Kenny will always be remembered by Beaver fans for his 1998 Civil War touchdown run, which brought fans flooding down onto the field (for the 2^nd time that game!). Simonton brought Beaver football back to respectability, and will never have to buy another drink whenever he visits Corvallis.
3. Jaquizz Rodgers 2008- present – I badly wanted to put Yve Bernard on this list, but what Quiz did last year was special. Rodgers became the first ever true freshman to claim Pac- 10 player of the year honors, after tearing up USC’s NFL defense on that memorable September night this past fall. This native Texan should break all of Simonton’s records, and go down as one of the Pac-10 greats.

Wide Receiver

1. Mike Hass 2001-2005 – It didn’t take long for me to figure out who deserved the #1 spot on this list! Hass owns nearly every Beaver receiving record, and won the Biletnikoff award as a senior, with 1,532 receiving yards that season. Hass was not the fastest or most flashy receiver, but I don’t recall ever seeing a ball he didn’t catch. Three straight 1,000 plus yard seasons is just something you don’t see in college football anymore.
2. James Newson 2001-2005 – I thought about putting Sammie at #2, but there was something about Newson’s game that I really enjoyed. Much like Sammie, James was the emotional leader of his teams and was one of the toughest competitors I have ever watched. I still remember him keeping his balance after getting tripped up in the 2004 Insight.com Bowl, and them sprinting to the pay dirt. Newson and Hass formed one of the best one two punches in the conferences history.
3. Sammie Stroughter 2004-2008 – If this was an all purpose list Sammie would be right up there with Steven Jackson fighting for the #1 spot. The sight of Sammie brining that punt back in the 2006 USC game will be a fixture at Beaver games for the next 50 years. Had Sammie not gotten inured in 2007, he could very easily be #1 on my list.

All Time Oregon Ducks

I love ranking players, and rankings in general. So is here is my list of the best Duck players of my lifetime, or since I really started following (1998-present). These ranking have nothing to do with NFL careers, instead they are just simply based on what I saw at during their time at Oregon (QB’s and RB’s today, more to come later).

Quarterback

1. Joey Harrington 1997-2001 – A 26-3 record as a starter speaks for itself. Harrington didn’t have the strongest arm, or quickest feet, but he managed games and was a perfect for Oregon’s offense at the time. Harrington lead the Ducks to 7^th and 2^nd end of season national ranking his last two seasons.
2. Akili Smith 1997-1998 – The Juco transfer from San Diego shared time with Jason Mass his junior season. Smith had a breakout 98’season, shattering nearly every passing record in the book while claiming the Pac 10 offensive player of the year award. His 1998 season was the best individual season I have even seen from a UO signal caller.
3. Kellen Clemens 2001-2005 – Clemens could easily head this list, had he not posted a losing record as a junior. The perfect combo of arm strength and speed for the newly implemented spread offense, Clemens was having one of the best seasons ever for a Duck QB until that unforgettable October night down in Tucson. Posting a 20-11 record as starter, the Burns native was always a fan favorite.
4. Dennis Dixon 2004-2007 – Dixon captivated college football fans throughout the nation during the 2007, leading the Heisman Trophy race, and putting the Ducks smack dab in the middle of the National Championship hunt before his torn ACL against Arizona State. Dixon had an amazing 2007 campaign, but the 2006 season must factor in…putting him 4^th on this list.

Running Back

1. Reuben Droughns 1998-1998 – Droughns made quite the splash in his first season, posting 200+ yards in thee of the first 5 games, before breaking his ankle at #1 UCLA in October of 1998. #1 could easily go to a number of former Ducks, but I believe he was the best running back the Ducks have had in my era.
2. Jonathan Stewart 2005-2007 – Stewart has the best individual rushing season ever for the Ducks, grinding out 1,722 yards on the ground in 2007. His combination of speed, size, and power made him nearly impossible for defenses to stop.
3. Onterrio Smith 2001-2002 – In my opinion Smith was the most talented running back to dawn the green and yellow. While the off field issues were certainly concerning, his on field production was never in question. Do yourself a favor and YouTube his 2001 game at #10 WSU where he rushed for a school record 285 yards on 22 carries. Had Barry Sanders like moves, making Duck fans hold their breath every time he touched the ball.
4. Maurice Morris 2000-2001 – Often overlooked, Morris put up back to back 1000 yard seasons in his only two seasons with the Ducks. His 2001 run against Colorado in the 2002 Fiesta Bowl will be seen on Duck vision for the next 50 years. Maurice was a constant workhorse, but never spectacular, putting him 4^th on this list.

Wide Receiver

1. Keenan Howry 1999-2002 – After much internal debate, I had to give the #1 nod to Howry. A four year contributor for the Ducks, Howry wasn’t the fastest or the biggest, but always came through with a big play when his team needed it most. Whether that was his 4 touchdown effort against ASU, nearly 400 all purpose yards (a UO record at the time, only to be surpassed by Onterrio the next week at WSU) in the 2001 loss to Stanford, or the 2001 Civil War punt return for a TD, Howry shined the brightest in biggest moments.
2. Sammie Parker 1999-2003 – Parker was often looked by Howry, but many don’t know he lead the team in receiving yards in the Fiesta Bowl season. Parker too lived for the big moments, gaining 179 yards in the Fiesta Bowl, and capping off his college career with 16 catches and 200+ yards against Minnesota in the 2003 Sun Bowl.
3. Demetrius Williams 2001-2005 – I feel D-Will was the most complete receiver the Ducks have had. He had the size to out jump defensive backs, the speed to run the deep fade, and the hands to go over the middle. Williams put up huge numbers in his sophomore and senior seasons, teaming with Kellen Clemens, forming one of the best duos the Ducks have ever seen.
4. Tony Hartley – Admittedly I don’t remember Hartley as well as the aforementioned players, but I do recall his 242 yard performance against the Huskies in 1997. I too remember him being suspended for the 1998 Aloha Bowl loss, possibly costing the Ducks a top 25 finish that year.

Tight End

1. Ed Dickson 2005-present – Dickson’s best is still ahead of him, but the last two seasons he has been the Ducks go to receiver in pressure situations. I know there are many other names I could put at the top of this list, but Dickson has the tools and the work ethic to easily secure the #1 spot come seasons end.
2. Justin Peele 1998-2001 – Peele played a huge role in the Ducks finishing in the top 10 in both 2000 and 2001. His 2000 game at Arizona State will go down as one of the best performances in Duck history. Always a solid and at times spectacular tight end.
3. Tim Day 2001-2005 – Day was a star in 2003 and 2004, becoming a household name for Duck fans after his 2003 game saving touchdown catch and run against Cal (remember the game when the lights went out in Autzen). His production dropped dramatically after Oregon switched to the spread in 2005, making me think he should have turned pro after the 2004 season.
4. George Wrighster 1999-2002 – George left early, along with Onterrio after the 2002 season. Had he stayed for his senior season, he would certainly be #1 on this list, as his 2002 season was the best I have ever seen from a Duck tight end (you remember all the brilliant 1 handed catches that season?!?!).

2009 Oregon Football Season Preview

New head coach Chip Kelly will lead the Ducks into the 2009 season, hopefully picking up where Mike Bellotti left off. I honestly thought Bellotti would give it one more season, in a final attempt to lead the Ducks to the “Promised Land”. At least with Kelly taking charge there won’t be the transition phase that there would have been if the Ducks hired from outside the program. And who am I to say Kelly won’t lead the Ducks to new heights in his first year! Here are my off the cuff predictions at how the Ducks will do this season (yes I understand it is far too early…but none the less, here are my picks).

9/03 @ Boise State (L) – The national media will stay up late to see this classic. Oregon looks to make amends for last years thrashing in the Autzen Zoo, but Chris Petersen and the Bronco crazies will be to much for the Ducks to handle in this early season contest.

9/12 Purdue (W) – Purdue wasn’t much to write home to Mom about last season, and this season could be even worse with the departures of quarterback Curtis Painter and head coach Joe Tiller. Oregon squeaked out a victory at Purdue last season, but they should continue their Big 10 dominance with a thrashing of the Boilermakers at Autzen this year.

9/19 Utah (W) – The defending Sugar Bowl Champions visit Eugene for the first time since 2005. Utah won’t be nearly as impressive this year, but they still pose a formidable threat to the Ducks. Look for the Ducks to break this open in the 4^th, giving Utah their first loss of the season.

9/26 California (W) – Oregon continues their current home stand, hosting the Bears for the second time in three years. Oregon has lost the last three contests to the Bears, and Jeff Tedford will certainly have his team ready to play against his former employer. I look for Best to exploit the Ducks “green” defensive line, running for over 150 yards. With that being said, TJ Ward will get enough licks in on Kevin Reilly to throw off the Bears passing game, as the Ducks squeak by for their third straight victory.

10/3 Washington State (W) – I expect the Cougars to once again be the cellar dweller of the Pac 10, and possibly the nation. This game deserves no further comment (even from a very, very, very amateur writer like me)

10/10 @ UCLA (W) – With UCLA still in the rebuilding mode, I think this game could be a joke. UCLA played the Ducks close in Autzen last year, but Masoli was only a shell of the player he was yet to become. Will this rivalry lose it’s intensity with Bellotti vs. Slick Rick no longer a main storyline? I think not, as the Ducks do a number on the rebuilding Bruins!

10/24 @ Washington (W) – Oregon has not lost to Washington since the 2003 season, but only one of those wins has come in Seattle (2007 Storm Trooper attack). I like the intensity “The Shark” brings to a depleted fan base, but intensity won’t win you many games with the current talent on that roster.

10/31 USC (W) – This will likely be a match up of top 10 teams, and a Rose Bowl bid may well be on the line. To say USC is vulnerable would be an overstatement, but the Trojans will be breaking in many new faces that have never experienced the Autzen crowd (on Halloween at that). I just hope I have the energy to make it into the stadium that Saturday, because I know sleep will not come easy for me on the eve of this epic battle.

11/7 @ Stanford (W) – Oregon must avoid a letdown, after the previous weeks win over Troy. This game scares me to death, because I expect Stanford to be one of the more improved teams in the PAC this year. I see Oregon fighting from behind all game, but squeaking out the victory late in the fourth.

11/14 Arizona State (W) - A bye week would sure be nice right about now! Dennis Erickson looks to beat the Ducks for the first time since joining ASU. After what the Ducks did to the Devils down in Tempe last year, I see no reason why they shouldn’t win this game. This game won’t have the national “Game Day” hype of the 2007 match up, but it will have BCS implications for at least one team.

11/21 @ Arizona (L) – Playing for the 5^th time in 5 weeks won’t bode well for the Ducks as they enter Tucson. It’s likely that Arizona will be playing for a bowl bid, and they have had the Ducks number of late (winning two of the last three games, and ruining Oregon’s championship dreams in 2007). Oregon will be handed their first Pac 10 loss, and have a much needed bye week to prep for the Civil War.

12/3 Oregon State (W) – The Ducks look to end the trend of the away team winning the Civil War each of the last two years. While the loss to Arizona will have taken the Ducks out of the national title mix, there is still plenty to play for, in the form of a Rose Bowl bid. Masoli had his way with a veteran Beaver defense last year, and with a young secondary, the outcome could be even worse for Beaver Nation this year…if that’s even possible. Oregon wins back to back Civil War’s, and is headed to sunny Pasadena to break in the New Year.

2009 Beavers Football Predictions

With spring practice in full swing, and many exciting position battles to ensue for the Beavers, it’s a little difficult to predict how next season is going to turn out. Regardless of kickoff being roughly 150 days away, here is an extremely premature look at how I believe the 2009 Oregon State Beavers will fare. (I will certainly go into each match up in more depth as the season progresses, but here are my off the cuff predictions).

9/05 Portland State (W) – I like the fact that Oregon State will start the season against a relative cupcake, as opposed to LSU, Stanford, etc. in years past. Beavs win this one easily.

9/12 @ UNLV (W) – The Runnin’ Rebels did win at ASU last September, but struggled mightily the rest of the season. I expect UNLV to keep it respectable in the first half…but the talent gap will become evident early in the second, as the Rodgers brothers should have a hay day against this lower tier Mountain West opponent.

9/19 Cincinnati (W) – The Bearcats won the Big East last season and nearly upset Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. However this year’s team will have a completely different look as they graduated nearly all their contributors from a season ago. It should be an entertaining non conference matchup, but the Beavers, and more importantly the Pac 10 will get a much needed win.

9/26 Arizona (W) – Arizona will be out for revenge after last season’s thriller in Tucson. I expect Arizona to be decent this year, but the Beavs will catch them before their newly appointed quarterback is in any sort of a comfort zone.

10/3 @Arizona State (W) – Things were awful down in Tempe last season, and in my opinion its not going to be any better this season. Their will be a new quarterback for the Sun Devils, who also return nearly all of an underwhelming defense. The Beavers inexperienced defensive backs shouldn’t be tested much at all by Erickson’s bunch.

10/10 Stanford (W) – Oregon State will bring a top 20 ranking into this match up with the much improved Cardinal. However, I expect the Beavers will get their retribution after what happened on “The Farm” last season. Oregon State is slowly creeping onto the national radar.

10/24 @ USC (L) – Even with the losses of Sanchez, Cushing, Big Ray, and Matthews, Troy will once again be the class of the Pac, and possibly the nation. Pete Carroll was quoted saying this defense may even have more speed than last years group….that’s frightening. Once again the old revenge card plays a part, as the Trojan’s dismantle Oregon State in the Coliseum.

10/31 UCLA (W) – Slick Rick leads the Bruins into the Corvallis for the first time since his Washington days. While UCLA has to be improved (they couldn’t get much worse in all honesty), the young Beavers defense will come of age on this Halloween night, giving us all a glimpse of what the future may hold.

11/7 @ Cal (L) – The Beavers have had success against Cal in recent seasons. Cal and Oregon State will both be playing for the rights to a big time bowl game. The nation will be watching…unfortunately so will the Heisman committee…which means Jahvid Best will put up video game numbers.

11/14 Washington (W) – Dad’s weekend welcomes the Huskies to Reser Stadium. I expect Oregon State to rebound nicely from the Cal game and put a number on the ever so slightly improved Huskies.

11/21 @ Washington State (W) – Everybody will look forward to playing the Washington school’s this season. Fortunately for Oregon State they get the weaker of the cream puffs on the road (no need to waste a home crowd on Wazzu), as the crowd will file out early to go do whatever you do in Pullman on a Saturday night (my guess would be drink heavily).

12/3 @ Oregon (L) – The Civil War once again takes center stage as these old rivals go at it in Eugene this season. Similar circumstances to 2008 may be on the line, as the Ducks could be in the thick of the Rose Bowl race. I look for Masoli and crew (well not really crew...just Masoli) to give the Beavers young defense all it can handle, and more.

New Boss in Town

Oregon head coach Chip Kelly officially took the reigns today, as spring football began without Mike Bellotti at the helm for the first time since 1995. I want to talk a bit about the Kelly anointment in this piece, as well as what it means to the program. As many of you know Kelly came to Oregon from little known New Hampshire prior to the 2007 season. Kelly was actually recommended to Bellotti by previous offensive coordinator Gary Crowton (who later took the same position at LSU). Bellotti took a chance on the little known Kelly and brought the offensive guru west, to lead the Duck’s spread attack. Under Kelly Oregon’s offense has lead the conference in scoring (over 40 points per game), as well as rushing yards, in both 2007 and 2008.

Many throughout Oregon and the nation have questioned this hire. I believe the two reasons people have objected to this hire are….1) The current trend of the “coach in waiting” process at places like Texas, Florida State, and Purdue has rubbed many the wrong way. The reason these football programs have been favoring this anointment process is because it makes the transition easier when the Bobby Bowden’s, Mack Brown’s, Joe Tiller’s, and most recently Mike Bellotti’s step down at their respective schools. The knock on this reasoning is that the “coach in waiting” process essentially eliminates many minority coaching candidates, and therefore these coaches are not given the opportunity of their voices being heard. 2) I have heard this next argument from all types of college football fans…. “Oregon has the name, recent tradition, and resources that they could have gone after nearly any coach they wanted to”. While I certainly agree with this statement, I find it to be non applicable to the situation at hand. Without a doubt Oregon could have wowed big name head coaches with proven track records (I think names like Jeff Tedford, Chris Peterson, Mike Leach, and even Steve Spurrier are candidates that would have thrown their name in the hat).

The reason I believe this is the right hire is because of the confidence and vote of approval Mike Bellotti has given it. As I stated in a previous article a few weeks back, Bellotti was the one who built Oregon into what it is today. He isn’t going to hand the keys to the kingdom to an irresponsible individual. With Bellotti moving on to the AD position he obviously still has some vested interest in the athletic programs, and he must truly believe that Kelly is the person that can, and will lead Oregon to even brighter days ahead. I must admit, as a Duck fan my initial reaction to this hiring was pure shock. Never once did I question that Kelly couldn’t be a great head coach like many others what I did question initially was the dozen or so other big name candidates that would have been considered for the position. However after thinking it over a bit, I came to my senses and realized Kelly must be the ideal fit for the job…the person that knows the job better than anyone (Bellotti) felt so. Bellotti is much closer to the situation than any of us, therefore I trust his judgment more than any regarding Oregon football.

I can’t wait for this next chapter of Oregon football to unfold. I feel like the sky is truly the limit, and behind the relentless work ethic of Coach Kelly great things will undoubtedly happen. Mike Bellotti stated numerous times that his goal was to bring a National Championship to Oregon…his dream will still become a reality in the next few years, but he will be hoisting the Sears Trophy as the AD, and not before Kelly is done gazing at it. (Please let me know what you, Duck fan or not, think of this hire. Thanks!!)

NFL Draft Prospects: Oregon State Beavers

Here is a rundown of Oregon State football players with a chance to hear their name called during the NFL Draft in New York on April 25th-26th. A few projections are provided along with some general thoughts on how these prospects will fit into the NFL's big picture.

Andy Levitre, OG

Levitre was considered a solid prospect throughout the 2008 season and is now considered anywhere from the 1st to 5th best guard prospect in this years draft. He started in 39 games throughout his career at right and left tackle, but his relatively short build has him projected as a guard at the next level. An All-American and All-Pac-10 first teamer in 2008, Levitre has also been labeled as a team leader and model student-athlete during his time on campus. Equipped with good strength and a knack for understanding blocking schemes, Levitre should be able to succeed inside at guard, covering up some of his weaknesses, namely his quickness and ability to play in space.

Projections: Both Scouts Inc. and NFLDraftCountdown grade him as a 2nd or 3rd round pick, and if he goes that high, the team who picks him is undoubtedly hoping he becomes a future starter.

Sammie Stroughter, WR

Stroughter has been a very productive receiver and return man for the Beavs during the past few seasons. He had a breakout year in 2006, amassing just under 1300 yards receiving. He was also a premier punt returned, scoring three touchdowns on punt returns, the most memorable being his 70-yard punt return for touchdown in upset win over USC. He earned third-team All America status that season as a punt returner. He missed most of 2007 due to personal issues and a lacerated kidney, but was granted a medical redshirt by the NCAA. Bouncing back in 2008, Stroughter once again had over 1,000 yards receiving, earning first-team All-Pac-10 honors as a wide receiver. Stroughter was a little underwhelming at the combine, running the 40-yard dash in the mid-4.5 range, which left some scouts questioning his ability to stretch the field with his vertical speed. Despite these questions, his quickness, versatility, and productivity could lead to his selection in April.

Projections: Scouts Inc. has him rated as a 5th round prospect, so hearing his name called on draft day is a possibility but not a certainty.

Keenan Lewis, CB

Lewis is a big corner with a ton of experience in the Pac-10, a league known for having teams with deadly passing attacks. He started 45 games in his career, and quieted some concerns about his high-end speed with a sub 4.50 40-yard dash time at Oregon State's pro-day. While this isn't an eye-popping number, it is solid with a corner of his size. He is a decent tackler and is adept at jamming receivers off the line. While some scouts tout his instincts and awareness, I have seen too many instances in which he loses the ball in the air and cannot react properly. He must work on this if he wants to become a long-term contributer in the NFL.

Projections: Most websites have him listed as the 10th-15th best CB in the draft and expect him to be picked in the 4th or 5th round.

Brandon Hughes, CB

Hughes is another experienced beaver CB, starting 40 games after making the position switch from receiver early in his college career. He had a solid showing at the combine, putting up one of the top 40 times for a CB with a 4.50. Many still question his speed however and he doesn't have the size that projects to the NFL like his teammate Keenan Lewis, but many Beaver fans will tell you that they felt more comfortable when opponents threw to Hughes' side of the field than when they were airing it out in Lewis' area.

Projections: Projected at around #20 for CB, late round draft pick or undrafted free agent.

Other Prospects

Victor Butler, OLB, Slade Norris, DE, Al Afalava, S

These guys are rated as anything from a late round prospect to a possible undrafted free agent. Butler certainly possesses athleticism and pass-rush skills; he totaled 25.5 sacks during his career at OSU. The inevitable position change from DE to OLB will be tough, but he could get a chance to prove himself in some team's training camp workouts this summer. Norris had a good year opposite butler in 2008, but his workout numbers won't jump off the page, so expect him to go undrafted. Afalava is a safety who wasn't invited to the combine and while he was known for delivering the knockout hit on unsuspecting receivers throughout his career, he didn't show elite speed on the field. I am told that he impressed scouts with his speed at OSU's Pro Day, but I would look for him to go undrafted as well.

All in all this is a solid class of draft prospects for the Beavers coming off a 9-win season. Let's hope some of them can stick in the NFL and make a name for themselves playing on Sundays.

Brown Headed to the SEC

Bryce Brown, the #1 football recruit (class of 2009), committed to the University of Tennessee today. Brown narrowed his choices to Tennessee, LSU, Kansas State, Miami, and Oregon, but in the end stated that God gave him a sign that Tennessee was where he needed to be. Brown also said that Tennessee would prepare him the best for the next level. I respect that Brown let God play a role in his decision to become a Vol. I disagree with Brown saying Oregon's spread offense would hinder him in terms of getting to the NFL. Fromer Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart had a fine rookie season in the NFL, and Jerimiah Johnson looks to get picked up in this years draft (current running back LaGarrette Blount also could become a first day pick in the 2010 draft). With Brown heading to the SEC, Oregon will need either Andre Crenshaw, or LaMichael James to emegre as the lightning to Blount's thunder for the 2009 season.

Bellotti's Legacy Remembered

Let me start out by stating I am extremely bias towards Mike Bellotti, and consequently that affects how I will be recapping his career in this piece. Call it a blind trust if you will. I have never questioned his decisions on the gridiron, and have always stated that he leaves on his terms. To the shock of many, I have mentioned Bellotti in the same breath as Bowden and Paterno, college football legends. Bellotti built Oregon from the ground up, and made them a major player nearly every year on the job. Much like Bowden and Paterno, Bellotti’s image is larger than that of your typical head coach; he is the face of University of Oregon Athletics

I was not around during the Rich Brooks era, but every Saturday in the fall my eyes lay witness to the sign in Autzen that reads “Rich Brooks Field”. I have no quarrel with this symbol, however if Oregon named their field after Brooks, then the whole Oregon athletic department should be named in Bellotti’s honor this fall. Bellotti’s tenure at Oregon is the reason there are such high expectations throughout the whole athletic department. In his tenure, Bellotti regularly turned in top 25 finishes (5 of which were #12 or higher), entertained nationally ranked recruits, expanded Autzen, and built strong relationships with boosters and blue collar fans alike. In the beginning critics said, “Washington owns the Northwest; you can’t win at a place like Oregon”. Bellotti wanted no part of that nonsense, he quickly changed the culture of Oregon athletics and in the process stole everything the once proud Huskies had, and brought it down I-5 to Eugene.

The next phase of the “Bellotti Legacy” leads him to the Athletic Director position. He is the perfect hire for this position, leading by example and continuously raising the bar higher than it was the previous year. It will certainly be a different position for the coach, but without a doubt he will be able to adapt. Bellotti faced numerous challenges when he took the job at Oregon, but he faced all of them head on because failure was not an option in his book. I look for Bellotti to have that same mentality as the AD, Bellotti knows you can win at Oregon, he proved that season after season going 116-55 in his time roaming the sidelines. I expect all athletic programs at Oregon to accept this stance, because anything less will be unacceptable under his reign. Oregon football took a back to seat to no one under Bellotti, his teams were entertaining, his coaching style innovating, and his ability to motivate players was incredible. Coach, thank you for what you did, as well as what you are about to do.

Bellotti Moves On

Rumor has it that Mike Bellotti has made the decision to step down after 14 seasons as the Oregon Ducks head football coach. While this cant be confirmed by the Athletic Department yet, stay tuned as I will certainly be paying Bellotti the respect he deserves once this becomes official. All Duck fan's should be excited about new head coach Chip Kelly, but Bellotti was an icon around these parts, and what he did for U of O athletics will be felt for years to come. Thank you Coach.

Oregon Pro Day Results

The Oregon Ducks held their pro day this week for NFL scouts, and here is a quick look at some of the results. Defensive End Nick Reed ran a stunning 4.71 in the 40, and benched 225 lbs. 24 times. Not bad numbers for a guy who wasn’t even invited to the NFL combine. Receiver Jaison Williams ran the fastest time of the day, a 4.47 forty, hopefully good enough to overcome his dismal week in Indianapolis last month. Other participants were Jeremiah Johnson (4.57), Jerome Boyd (4.53), and Terence Scott (4.56). Expect more to come about the Oregon prospects as the NFL Draft nears.

Nation's #1 Recruit to Decide March 16th

Bryce Brown the nations #1 football recruit for the class of 2009 will announce what lucky college will get his services, Monday March 16th. Most recruits typically commit on national signing day, February 4th. However Brown is taking the same path last years #1 recruit Terrell Pryor did, and has delayed his decision. His choices are expected to come down to Kansas State, LSU, Miami, Tennessee, and Oregon. I suspect he will join his brother Arthur down in South Beach (Miami) next year, but only time will tell. Expect more on this signing later in the week, and what it could potentially mean for the Oregon Ducks.

Pac 10 Football Preview

2008 ended with USC once again claiming its 7th consecutive Conference Championship, as well as Oregon State Coach Mike Riley and freshman running back Quizz Rodgers winning both Conference Coach/Player of the Year awards. With the conference coming off a 5-0 bowl season, the PAC 10 looks to be one of the premier conferences, in my opinion. Here is a brief overview of each team, and where I anticipate them finishing the 2009 season.

1. USC – The loss of Mark Sanchez hurts the offense as Coach Pete Carroll expected him to return for his senior season, but a number of 5 star recruits will compete for his vacated spot. The defense graduated numerous stars, but the return of All American Safety Taylor Mays should enable the defense to pick up where it left off last year. USC plays at Ohio St. early in the year which would be challenging. I feel USC will without doubt win the PAC once again, and should challenge for a spot in the National Championship if they approach every game with the same intensity as they do “big” games.

2. California – Every year people say this could be the year Cal knocks off USC…well its not going to happen, but second place isn’t bad as the Bears look to build on a 9 win season. Running back Jahvid Best is the best player in the Conference, and could be a dark horse for the Heisman. The defense lost a lot in the front seven, but Cal has accumulated the talent to reload, not rebuild. “Strawberry Canyon” is undergoing a much needed face lift, which could give the Bears even a great home field advantage.

3. Oregon – Jeremiah Masoli came on strong at the end of last year, and teamed with LaGarrette Blount (temporarily suspended) the offense is capable of putting up 50 points any given Saturday. The defense lost some key play makers, and the uncertainty of Mike Bellotti’s future could mess with team chemistry. With all the big games in rowdy Autzen Stadium this year, Oregon should once again finish with a 10 win season regardless of who is at the helm.

4. Oregon State – Player of the Year Quizz Rodgers returns along with brother James, forming the most explosive duo in the PAC without question. Lyle Moevao is a senior and the conference title is often decided by Quarterback experience, which he has. The defense lost the entire secondary, and All Conference performers on the D-Line. Coach Mike Riley's team should get off to a better start this year, and that could mean big things because OSU always plays their best come seasons end.

5. Stanford – With the return of Tavita Pritchard and Toby Gerhardt the Cardinal should surprise a few teams this year, and contend for a bowl for the first time since 2002. Coach Jim Harbaugh landed the 2nd rated recruiting class this year in the PAC this year, and there is reason for optimism on “The Farm” this year. He had them headed for bowl contention last year, until the wheels fell off in the later part of the season.

6. ASU – Ranked Pre-season top 10 last year, and then a 5-7 finish isn’t exactly what Coach Dennis Erickson had in mind. 4 year starter Rudy Carpenter is gone, as are many from the offensive side of the ball, but a change of scenery may be a good thing down in Tempe as they have underachieved for the better part of a decade. Much of the defense returns, and playmakers are a plenty down in the desert.

7. Arizona – Coach Mike Stoops directed Arizona to their first bowl since 1998, and it’s a good thing because the heat was on after 5 underwhelming seasons at the helm. This years team losses quarterback Willie Tuitama, but returns an array of skill position players, headlined by All American tight end Brad Gronskowski. Coach Stoops may need this team to be playing post Christmas in order to keep his job in Tucson.

8. UCLA – Any type of offense this year would be an improvement over what Bruin fans witnessed last year. I believe Coach Rich Nuehisel will have this team contending for the conference in a few years, but as of now the talent or chemistry isn’t there for them to be a factor in the postseason. With spots 5 through 7 crowded in the conference, maybe they will spoil another teams postseason dreams, because their own are non existent.

9. Washington – After a miserable season finishing 0-12 and being the only winless team in college football change was needed, that change come in the form of giving the ax to Ty Willingham and bringing in “The Shark” Steve Sarkisian from USC. The Shark was able to convince numerous USC assistants to travel North with him to Seattle and instill energy back into a depleted fan base. The Shark does inherit Tim Tebow 2.0 in Jake Locker, but he doesn’t have much help in the Emerald City. Husky Stadium will come alive in the near future, just not this September as they host LSU, and USC.

10. Washington State – Never has there been a more over matched team in the history the PAC 10 as the Cougs were last year. Giving up 60 plus points 5 times, and being out of games immediately following kickoff made for a dreary winter up in the already chilly Palouse. A late season miracle win over Washington eased some of the pain, but the roster is completely void of anything resembling football talent, as second year Coach Paul Wulff has a long road to hoe in order to get the Cougs back to respectability.

Oregon Ducks Football Preview: Skill Positions

The Oregon Ducks certainly have momentum going into 2009 season after a strong finish to the 2008 campaign. Here is a brief look ahead at where the Oregon offense looks to be headed entering the 2009 season.

Quarterback:

It took nearly half of the season last year, but the Ducks finally found what they were looking for in sophomore QB Jeremiah Masoli. Masoli struggled in the early part of the year, but took control of the offense in a fourth quarter comeback against Stanford and never looked back. After that memorable 4th quarter drive against the Cardinal, Masoli lead his team to three very impressive offensive performances, and the Ducks finished the season in the top 10. It would appear Masoli will be entrenched as the starter entering the spring. He does however have worthy competition in juniors Nate Costa, Justin Roper, and possibly sophomore Darron Thomas, although the Ducks would like to redshirt him after burning his redshirt last year in the loss to Boise State.
Conclusion: Oregon appears to be in good hands with Masoli under center. If he can continue to build on what he did in his last four games then Masoli, then the sky is the limit in terms of what this team can accomplish going into 2009. Remember that it took Dennis Dixon 5 years to show the potential that Masoli did in a half season under the helm. Masoli must gain more confidence in his arm, because running 127 times again may be to much to ask.

Grade: A-


Running Back:

Senior LaGarrette Blount has been suspended indefinitely by the team, and if he can get things in order it would appear that he will be the Ducks workhorse entering the 2009 season. Blount does provide the thunder, but lightning counterpart Jeremiah Johnson has departed, and Oregon needs to find another back that can help ease the pain of his graduation. Senior Andre Crenshaw, and Junior Remene Alston do return, and have game experience in the Pac 10. It is yet to be seen as to whether one of them can fill Johnsons void, but Texan Freshman LaMichael James wowed the scout team last year and could be the ideal compliment to Blount with his blazing speed and stop on a dime jukes.
Conclusion: Blount set a school record with 17 touchdowns last year, and rushed for over 1,000 yards. Oregon has had its best teams however when there is a two headed monster in the backfield, look for James or possibly Crenshaw to fill the void left by Johnson and spell Blount for a few series each game.

Grade: B


Wide Receivers:

With Jaison Williams and Terrance Scott both graduating, the Ducks are looking to gain more consistency at the receiver position this spring. By no means is the cupboard bare, but much of the talent is unproven and young. Junior Jeffrey Maehl returns as the most experienced player, with 39 receptions and a team leading 5 touchdowns. Others expected to contend for starting spots are Juniors Drew Davis and USC transfer Jamere Holland. Davis and Holland have the physical tools to make a big time impact, but Davis suffered a torn ACL last year, while Holland has been slow to pick up the playbook. Quarterback turned receiver Chris Harper could be the wild card of the group, as he has the athleticism and size to give defensive coordinators nightmares whenever he lines up in the slot.
Conclusion: Similar to the last the start of last season the Ducks receiving corp once again has many questions to answer. If either Davis or Holland can emerge as a big play threat them the offense has the potential to be more explosive than last season. That however has yet to be seen by either of them.

Grade: C