Checkin’ on the Pac: Oregon

With kickoff to the 2009 College Football season about two months away, I thought it was appropriate and certainly about time to start analyzing many of the teams, players, and coaches, across the country. While we mainly cover USC and UCLA here at SoCal Sports Hub.com, we have decided that it is also important for Trojan and Bruin fans to get a quick glimpse at the other Pac-10 teams. So over the next few weeks, be on the lookout for some interviews with other Pac-10 bloggers in order to gain a greater perspective on their team.

Out first interview is with Jared Light, one of the many writers for the Oregon Ducks blog – Addicted To Quack. Thanks to Jared for participating in this interview.

Q: Jeremiah Masoli was not expected to be the starter last year, but he did start the final ten games of the season and post some impressive numbers (1744 passing yards, 718 rushing yards, and 23 total touchdowns). Was he a one year wonder or a legitimate starter for the Ducks?

A: I think that Jeremiah Masoli is most definitely a legitimate starter. Masoli came to Oregon at the beginning of fall camp, transferring from JC, and a month and a half later, was starting for the Ducks. Though this was due to various injuries, Masoli grew before our eyes last season, and became a very good college QB, with room for growth. The first thing is, he has a very solid arm. He has a very quick release, great arm strength, and showed excellent decision making last season, throwing only 5 interceptions to 13 touchdowns. Though he 5’11 height is possibly an issue, that didn’t present itself last season. Masoli’s main weakness as a passer is accuracy. He needs to develop touch on his deep throws and make sure that his short throws are on target, but it would be a large mistake for an opposing team to think that he can’t throw, just ask OSU how that turned out.

But that passing ability is really what makes Oregon’s offense go. While many think that Oregon puts a premium on a running QB, Oregon needs a passing QB to have a QB that can throw the ball well and stretch the defense in order to spread the field effectively. Running is simply a massive bonus. And on that, Masoli delivers. He runs the option read better than Dennis Dixon did (though he doesn’t have the escapability or agility that Dixon did), which takes an already potent offense, and takes it to a whole different level.

Masoli will enter the season as the top QB in the Pac-10. He is a great mix of passing and running, and will be very productive this season.

Q: With the departure of Jeremiah Johnson, will LeGarrette Blount be able to handle the load as the top running back?

A: LeGarrette Blount was a force last year, and burst onto the scene with over 1000 yards on a mere 138 carries. But I guess that’s the problem, we just don’t know how he will hold up to a season of 200+ carries. After a spring suspension, he was out of shape for most of spring ball, and he will need to be in shape at the start of the season or he will not be able to carry a full load. Blount definitely has the build and strength to be a true #1 back, and is supremely talented, but he’ll need to avoid being sidetracked by off the field issues.

However, what gives encouragement to Duck fans is that Oregon rarely relies on only one running back. Oregon has redshirt freshman speedster LaMichael James waiting to be the lightning to Blount’s thunder, and I believe that he will be the perfect compliment to Blount.

Q: What are your thoughts on USC transfer Jamere Holland?

A: Jamere Holland should be Oregon’s best wide receiver this season. He was very impressive during spring ball, in a way that Blount was in 2008, and seems to finally have his head where it needs to be. At the beginning of last season, he did not put in the necessary effort to live up to his hype. However, as the season wore on, he stepped up and earned more and more playing time. Though only a junior, he’s the leader of the receiving corp, and seems to have taken that responsibility on himself, and is putting in the off the field effort necessary to take advantage of his physical talents.

If Masoli can become consistent on his deep throws, watch out, because Holland has the speed to get behind many a secondary.

Q: The rushing game improved in 2008 even without Jonathan Stewart due to a solid offensive line. Now, the o-line returns just one starter in CE Kaiser. Do you expect a major drop off?

A: While I expect a drop off, I am optimistic that it won’t be that drastic for two reasons. The first, is that Oregon’s offensive line will be one of the most talented that Oregon has ever had. The line will be full of 4* players (which for Oregon is a big deal), which has not happened before. So while there is a lot of youth in that area, it is talented.

Next, Oregon has the top position coach in the nation in Steve Greatwood. He is the offensive line coach and running game coordinator, and has done a spectacular job over the last few years. His lines are disciplined and play very well together, and though there is bound to be some growing pains, duck fans have a lot of trust in Greatwood’s ability to turn this talent into an effective unit.

However, despite these hopes, we don’t have much indication this will actually be the case. The offensive line was severely limited due to injuries during spring ball, so we just haven’t even come close to seeing the product we’ll be seeing in the fall. The offensive line play and growth during fall camp in August will be the most watched aspect of the team.

Q: How big will the loss of defensive end Nick Reed be?

A: From a heart and leadership standpoint, Nick Reed will be sorely missed. He was one of my all-time favorite Duck players to watch. He went all out, all the time, and his production was a reflection of that.

However, despite what he could do, I believe that the Oregon D-line this season will be able to come close to replacing the pieces on the D-line. Will Tukuafu, who has been in Reed’s shadow the last two years, is ready to break out. He is one of the most physically talented ends in the conference, and last year had 17.5 tackles for loss with 7.5 sacks. I expect his production to improve to near Nick Reed levels. He’s not as fast as Reed, but he is much stronger and bigger, and will be a commanding presence on the line.

As for the rest of the D-line, it’s been untested at this point. The tackles and other end will be first time starters, but that doesn’t really concern me. Oregon has been plugging tackles in for the past few years every year, and I expect the same to continue, especially with the addition of defensive line coach Jerry Azzinaro. Azzinaro came to Oregon this season from Marshall, though he has been a coach for years, and coached such greats as Dwight Freeney while he was at Syracuse. Azzinaro coaches like a man possessed, and he demands hard work and contant energy from his players. Though the Oregon players are unproven, it is a group that can go 8 deep and play hard and fast. The loss of Reed may dampen production a little bit, but I don’t foresee a huge dropoff.

Q: In 2008, UO declined in several defensive categories. Now, they lose seven starters. Do you expect a full nose dive?

A: Honestly, I expect defensive improvement. The two biggest losses in name were Patrick Chung and Nick Reed, however, because of how they played, I think that they will be able to replaced fairly easily.

One of the biggest issues last season was Oregon had incredibly poor free safety play in pass defense. TJ Ward, who played that position, was much more of a run enforcer than someone who could play center field on pass defense. Unfortunately, Chung was also that type of player, and that didn’t help the defense, and helped lead to a large number of big pass plays, especially against USC. One enforcer in the secondary will be more than adequate, and allow one of the young players in the Oregon secondary to step up and actually be the free safety.

The main loss in the secondary will be Jairus Byrd. While Oregon had it’s share of secondary woes, replacing a corner of his caliber is never easy, and that will probably be the toughest position to replace.

Yet, what gives a lot of Oregon fans optimism over the defense is the linebacking corp. It’s no stretch to say that this group is the most talented that Oregon has ever had. Led by Casey Matthews (yes, Clay’s little brother) in the middle, this group is incredibly fast and can stop the run as well. Matthews is joined by the teams leading tackler Spencer Paysinger, and the other starter will likely be sophomore Eddie Pleasant, who is a physical freak. But it’s also deep, with JC transfer Bryson Littlejohn pushing the group, and a number of young players who have already made a big impact on special teams. This experienced and talented group will be anchoring the defense, and is going to be very exciting to watch.

Q: What are your thoughts on new head coach Chip Kelly?

A: Chip Kelly has already made a name for himself being an offensive genius. He has already led the two most explosive offenses in Oregon history and his main push as head coach has been fostering competition, which will serve the team very well in the long run.

While you never know how the transition from assistant to head coach will go, I think that Kelly will be fine. This year, he has all the tools to be successful, so that won’t be an issue. The main key will be recruiting and developing talent. We know he can develop offensive talent, so we’ll just have to wait and see in regard to recruiting.

Q: The Civil War between Oregon and Oregon State will now be played on Thursday night. Was this the right move?

A: For purely selfish reasons, I like it. I don’t like games over Thanksgiving weekend, so I’d rather have a game the week afterward, even if it’s on a Thursday. Some traditionalists don’t like it, but at this point, exposure and money is more important that tradition.

Q: Oregon has been competitive in the recruitment of 5 star prospects of Terrelle Pryor and Bryce Brown. Is this a sign they are becoming a national power?

A: As much as I’d like it, Oregon isn’t a recruiting power, and is nowhere near the USC’s and Texas’ of the world. But Oregon is definitely making a name for themselves on a national level, and have pushed hard into the south in recent years. They are on the radar for a number of recruits in the south, which is amazing considering where Oregon was as a program merely 10 years ago. Oregon doesn’t have the pull to go accross the country and get the top recruits just yet, but it says something that Oregon is definitely making great headway outside the west coast, and many recruits around the nation are starting to visit the school, which says a lot. However, Oregon still hasn’t ever pulled in a top 10 recruiting class. If they can pull together a few top 15s in a row, then maybe we can start to discuss them as a “power,” but they aren’t there yet.

Q: After glancing into your crystal ball, how do you see the 2009 Ducks finishing this year?

A: Despite the question marks, I think they have a 10-2 regular season. I think that they’ll have the advantage in most of their games this year, but they’ll split the Boise State and Cal games, and most likely lose to USC.