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WR
James Finley (PHOTO BY: John Giustina) |
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|
2005
Statistics |
Coach:
Mike Bellotti
90-42,
11 years |
2005
Record: 10-2 |
|
at
Houston |
WON
38-24 |
MONTANA |
WON
47-14 |
FRESNO
STATE |
WON
37-34 |
USC |
LOST
13-45 |
at
Stanford |
WON
44-20 |
at
Arizona State |
WON
31-17 |
WASHINGTON |
WON
45-21 |
at
Arizona |
WON
28-21 |
CALIFORNIA |
WON
27-20 (OT) |
at
Washington State |
WON
34-31 |
OREGON
STATE |
WON
56-14 |
HOLIDAY
BOWL |
vs.
Oklahoma |
LOST
14-17 |
|
2005 Final Rankings
AP-12, Coaches-12, BCS-5
|
2006
Outlook |
The
Ducks surprised most, rebounding from
a disappointing 5-6 record in 2004
to finish 10-2 in ‘05. Duplicating
feat will be difficult as the Ducks
have a much stronger strength of schedule
this year, opening at home with Stanford,
at Fresno State and then returning
home for a rematch with Holiday Bowl
opponent Oklahoma. There are no easy
games against I-AA schools such as
Montana on tap. The schedule doesn’t
get any easier as the season goes
on either, with trips to California
and USC in October and November. Still,
teams who start strong early are the
ones who the BCS will favor, so this
is all good for a quality group from
Eugene.
The
offense is loaded with talent and
should again rack up points easily.
The experience Dixon and Leaf picked
up filling in for Clemens last year
can only make the offense stronger.
The return of all five OLmen should
enable Stewart and Johnson to rack
up the yards and for the quarterbacks
and receivers to connect big downfield.
New receivers coach Robin Pflugrad
has a strong group to work with and
they should continue to shine in the
pass-heavy Duck’s spread offense.
The
defense is not as strong as the one
anchored by Ngata, which was arguably
the best in the Pac-10, but it’s
hardly a weak link. There are still
plenty of players capable of making
big plays and enabling the Ducks to
win the turnover battle again. The
addition of several skilled transfers
should help ease the pain of losing
so many on D. If the secondary can
come together early, the Ducks could
again be looking at a good season.
But
we all know their goal is to knock
USC off of its perch, and if they
don’t, they have to win the
rest of their games to make the BCS.
All of their great play can not again
go toward a non-New Year’s Day
bowl, but it looks likely. As long
as they win at Corvallis, which they
should, it will be salvageable.
Projected
2006 record: 8-4
|
|
OREGON
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 3.5 |
DL
- 3 |
RB
- 2.5 |
LB
- 3.5 |
WR
- 4 |
DB
- 2.5 |
OL
- 4 |
.. |
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Dennis Dixon, 104-69-3, 777 yds.,
6 TD
Rushing: Jonathan Stewart,
53 att., 188 yds., 6 TD
Receiving: James Finley, 57
rec., 571 yds., 2 TD
Scoring: Paul Martinez, 19-24
FG, 26-30 PAT, 83 pts.
Punting: Matt Dragich, 32 punts,
38.9 avg.
Kicking: Paul Martinez, 19-24
FG, 26-30 PAT, 83 pts.
Tackles: Patrick Chung, 91
tot., 58 solo
Sacks: Matt Toeaina, 3 sacks
Interceptions: Patrick Chung,
2 for 38 yds.; Blair Phillips, 2 for
9 yds.
Kickoff Returns: Jonathan Stewart,
12 ret., 33.7 avg., 2 TD
Punt Returns: Sharrod Davis, 2
ret., -2.0 avg., 0 TD
|
|
|
DB
J.D. Nelson (PHOTO: Eric Evans) |
|
|
|
OREGON
|
|
|
OFFENSE
- 7 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 6 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Kellen Clemens-QB, Terrence Whitehead-TB,
Demetrius Williams-WR, Tim Day-TE |
DEFENSE:
Devan
Long-DE, Aaron Gipson-CB, Justin Phinisee-CB,
Anthony Trucks-SS, Haloti
Ngata-DT (NFL) |
|
|
2006
OFFENSE |
Quarterback
The
quarterback job appears to be up for grabs
after juniors Dennis Dixon and Brady Leaf
finished splitting time at the position
after Kellen Clemens suffered a season-ending
broken ankle against Arizona. Dixon is slated
to be the starter, but he faces strong competition
for the spot from Leaf. Dixon completed
over 66 percent of his passes and threw
for six touchdowns last year, but Leaf led
the team to comeback wins in three of the
final four games. Both players have similar
strengths, strong arms and the ability to
read defenses well, and the spread offense
instituted by head coach Mike Bellotti last
year plays to those strengths.
Running
Back
On
paper, the weak link for the Ducks is at
running back, however, the loss of Pac-10
honorable mention Terrence Whitehead should
give sophomores Jonathan Stewart and Jeremiah
Johnson a chance to shine. Stewart and Johnson
both possess a finishing speed that Whitehead
lacked, but will have to prove that they
can be as adept at making tacklers miss
and at picking up yards after contact. Both
are capable receivers, which is a plus in
the Oregon one-back offense. Also be on
the lookout for sophomore Terrell Jackson,
who’s been compared favorably to Whitehead
by Bellotti and who played in a spread offense
in high school.
Receiver
The
receiving corps returns two starters from
a unit that racked up over 3,500 yards a
year ago. Senior James Finley, Jr., an honorable
mention all-Pac-10 selection, and junior
Cameron Colvin should be joined in the starting
lineup by sophomore Jaison Williams, although
Derrick Jones, whose long, strange journey
to Oregon is finally over, could challenge
for a starting role. Jones, who originally
signed and practiced with USC before being
declared academically ineligible, committed
to Oregon last year, but wasn’t admitted
to classes. Now admitted, he’s expected
to join the team for spring drills and to
bring speed and big play ability. The depth
and experience in the receiving corps should
enable them to again be among the strongest
in the Pac-10. The spread offense run by
the Ducks plays to the strengths of the
receivers, their speed and route running.
Tight
End
The Ducks lost their top tight end (Tim
Day), but Dante Rosario is ready. Rosario
is more of a blocker than Day, but does
possess pass-catching abilities. Look for
Ed Dixon to be a primary target, though
he could use some weight is he is to push
those big opposing linemen around.
Offensive
Line
Five starters return to make this one of
the most experienced groups of starters
in the Pac-10. Tackle Max Unger was an honorable
mention all-Pac-10 selection and made the
all-America freshman team, while senior
center Enoka Lucas was a second team Pac-10
pick. Depth remains a problem for the unit,
however, as the group is thin after the
starting five, a problem that was obvious
during Oregon’s loss to Oklahoma in
the Holiday Bowl. Junior college transfers
Pat So’oalo and Fenuki Tupou should
be impact players. Of concern was their
modest 3.8 yards per carry for the team’s
‘05 average, something that has to
improve if Oregon’s spread approach
is to rise to beat USC.
OFFENSIVE
BREAKDOWN
The
Ducks’ offense should be potent this
year with seven returning starters (all
linemen are back) and two quarterbacks who
picked up significant playing time as 2005
ended. The offensive line’s chemistry
and experience should keep opposing teams’
pass rushers away from Dixon and Leaf, buying
them time to complete plays downfield. The
line’s ability to open up wide running
lanes should mean big yards for Stewart,
Johnson and Jackson. The strong receiving
corps will enable the Ducks to spread the
defense and pick up plenty of big plays.
This should be one of the top units in the
Pac-10, but with their main objective a
conference title, this offense has to beat
USC, something that may be a strain unless
they can balance things out (were 74th-ranked
rushing offense, 8th in passing).
|
|
C
Enoka Lucas (PHOTO BY: John Giustina)
|
|
|
OREGON
2006 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Dennis
Dixon-Jr (6-4, 196) |
Brady
Leaf-Jr (6-5, 231) |
TB |
Jonathan
Stewart-So (5-11, 234) |
Jeremiah
Johnson-So (5-9, 213) |
WR |
James
Finley-Sr (6-2, 204) |
Garren
Strong-Jr (6-3, 200) |
WR |
Brian
Paysinger-Jr (6-2, 208) |
Jordan
Kent-Sr (6-5, 210) |
WR |
Cameron
Colvin-Jr (6-2, 205) |
Jaison
Williams-So (6-5, 243) |
TE |
Dante
Rosario-Sr (6-4, 250) |
Ryan
Keeling-So (6-5, 247) |
OT |
Max
Unger-So (6-5, 296) |
Fenuki
Tupou-Jr (6-6, 322) |
OG |
Josh
Tschirgi-Jr (6-4, 311) |
Pat
So'oalo-Jr (6-5, 355) |
C |
Enoka
Lucas-Sr (6-4, 299) |
Mark
Lewis-So (6-4, 292) |
OG |
Palauni
Ma Sun-Sr (6-6, 335) |
Simi
Toeaina-Fr (6-4, 308) |
OT |
Geoff
Schwartz-Jr (6-7, 359) |
Jacob
Hucko-So (6-7, 307) |
K |
Paul
Martinez-Sr (6-2, 210) |
.. |
|
|
2006
DEFENSE |
Defensive
Line
The defensive line suffered major losses.
The line does return two senior starters in
Pogo Pogo-native Matt Toeaina and end Victor
Filipe, but neither was a force. Three junior
college transfers, Dexter Manley II, Jeremy
Gibbs and Micah Howeth, and returning sophomore
Cole Linehan should help shore up the line.
Manley (son of NFL’s Dexter) is a pass-rush
specialist who can be counted on to get to
the quarterback regularly. Once the line jells
it should pick up where last year’s
left off, helping to lead the best overall
defense in yards allowed in the Pac-10.
Linebacker
The
linebacker corps is the defense’s
strength, returning all senior starters.
Brent Haberly is well-rounded and svelte,
as is Blair Phillips overall approach. A.J.
Tuitele continues to develop and should
be able make some more noise than last season.
The Ducks run a two-LB set, so these guys
have to be sharp, and will be.
Defensive
Back
Luckily for the Ducks, senior J.D. Nelson,
a second team all-Pac-10 pick, and sophomore
Patrick Chung return to shore up the secondary.
Chung, an honorable mention all-Pac-10 selection,
could be moving to corner after playing
rover. He possesses all the skills for the
position, but will be sitting out spring
practice to recover from off-season surgery.
Oregon sought out defensive backs while
recruiting to fill its obvious needs in
this unit, signing junior college transfers
Jameel Dowling and Mathew Harper. The newcomers
have some big shoes to fill, but with Nelson
and Chung to lead them and the opportunity
to practice against the high-powered Ducks’
offense expect this group to come together
quickly.
DEFENSIVE
BREAKDOWN
With
the return of six starters and the signing
of several junior college transfers, this
D should be able to return to form (44th
in the nation). The opportunity to practice
against the offense can only make the defense
better. If the relatively green secondary
comes together early, the Ducks’ ability
to stop both the run and the pass will make
things very difficult for opposing teams.
The Ducks won the turnover battle last year
and led the Pac-10 in fewest yards allowed.
If they can do it again, they have a chance
at USC. Otherwise, watch the D’s weekly
stamina – they spend a bit of extra
time on the field when the offense is in
high gear, scoring quickly.
|
|
ROV
Patrick Chung (PHOTO BY: John Giustina)
|
|
|
OREGON
2006 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Matt
Toeaina-Sr (6-3, 301) |
Victor
Filipe-Sr (6-2, 290) |
DT |
Cole
Linehan-So (6-4, 295) |
Ra'Shon
Harris-So (6-5, 305) |
DT |
David
Faaeteete-Jr (6-2, 307) |
Thor
Pili-So (6-4, 283) |
DE |
Darius
Sanders-Sr (6-5, 269) |
Michael
Speed-So (6-4, 254) |
WLB |
Brent
Haberly-Sr (6-0, 228) |
A.J.
Tuitele-Jr (5-11, 213) |
MLB |
Blair
Phillips-Sr (6-2, 246) |
John
Bacon-So (6-3, 235) |
ROV |
Patrick
Chung-So (5-11, 205) |
Parris
Moore-Sr (6-0, 190) |
CB |
Jackie
Bates-Jr (5-10, 180) |
Jameel
Dowling-Jr (6-2, 184) |
CB |
Willie
Glasper-Fr (5-11, 175) |
Walter
Thurmond-Fr (6-0, 175) |
SS |
Kwame
Agyeman-Jr (5-11, 205) |
Jerome
Boyd-So (6-2, 211) |
FS |
J.D.
Nelson-Sr (5-11, 219) |
Ryan
DePalo-Jr (6-1, 199) |
P |
Matt
Dragich-Sr (6-1, 213) |
Aaron
Knowles-Sr (6-0, 182) |
|
|
|
2006
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Kicker
Senior
Paul Martinez returns to the Ducks after a season
in which he led all Pac-10 kickers. Martinez’
range and accuracy gives the Ducks the option
of scoring instead punting on fourth down. Kickoff
specialist Matt Evensen also is utilized on longer
FGAs, but his 44% average isn’t going to
get him on the field to score as often as Martinez.
Coverage should continue to win OU field position.
Punter
Two
seniors, Matt Dragich and Aaron Knowles, will
again compete like the PKs to see who has the
hot foot that week. Knowles has both a higher
average and a higher percentage fair caught, but
Dragich is the preferred booter. Net results were
weak enough to make us think they may lose some
field-position battles from this unit.
Return
Game
Look
for Jonathan Stewart and Jeremiah Johnson to pick
up the slack. Stewart is a strong kick returner,
who had two touchdowns and a superior 33+ average
per KR. Johnson has his back. Patrick Chung might
also see some time returning kicks. The punt guy
will be determined in spring ball, so keep an
eye here.
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