The Ducks may have a tough season ahead. With running back Jonathan Stewart and quarterback Dennis Dixon gone, they lose a lot of experience and leadership.
They have good prospects coming in at quarterback in Darron Thomas and Chris Harper. For now, they will most likely start Nate Costa at quarterback and and the big Jerimiah Johnson at tailback.
My only concern is the experience level at wide receiver and quarterback. If 6'5" senior wideout Jaison Williams can stay healthy, Costa will have a big target in him (and one who won't drop the ball so often).
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But other than Williams, the Ducks have no true starting receiver from last season. Ed Dickson will probably be the most explosive target for Costa, also at 6'5" with a 230-pound frame, he is one of the best tight ends in the country.
At quarterback, Justin Roper is the only one that got any playing time last year since Costa tore his ACL. So Mike Bellotti is taking a gamble here with the sophomore, but, in my opinion, it will pay off in the long run, especially by his senior season.
The Ducks Defense is arguably the strength of the team with junior Walter Thurmond, senior Patrick Chung, and Jairus Byrd returning, the secondary is one of the best in the Pac-10.
Overall, I'd say the Ducks have a solid 'D.' I'm not going to go on about the defense because I know what it's capable of, but the offense is my only concern.
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about 1 month ago
Blount looks like the real deal at Running back
about 1 month ago
Dixon and Stewart will definitely be missed. On the other hand, don't forget Costa has been in Chip Kelly's system already for a year(Look what Chip did with Roper in 3 weeks) Nate is very mobile and has just as accurate arm as Dixon his senior year. With the Offensive line that's returning Oregon will have no problem running for 350 a game. Blount is a beast who will wear people down just like Stewart did, and JJ is just the man. Not a lot of experience in the receiver area but loads of speed. The offense will put up crazy numbers and the D will be GREAT!! Strength of schedule doesn't look good for the Ducks but thats not what will hold them back from the Pac 10 title. If the Ducks stay healthy they will roll to the Pac 10 title and BCS.
I am obviously very biased towards the Ducks, but for good reason. They have loads of talent and speed. They will be very very good.
GO DUCKS
about 1 month ago
Tracy it's great to see someone that actually has done as much research as I have done regarding the amount of awesome reloading the ducks have done!! You pretty much said everything I would've said! I think this is the first year that we actually have quality depth at pretty much every position. So if we have fluke injuries, we have the talent to keep going at the same pace. It's amazing how most people are looking at this year as a "wait and see" year rather then having faith that with the quality nucleus of players returning, it does make it possible to ease costa, blount, holland and others into there roles and be even more successful this year. People keep forgetting that costa almost started in front of dixon last year because of how great he was doing. When he was a true freshman costa gave us a taste of what was to come when he led a drive from our own 2 yard line all the way down the field for a touchdown!! He was "18" years old at the time!! Once again Dixon and Stewart will be missed but we have plenty of talent ready to go to continue where they left off! Go Ducks!!
about 1 month ago
Tracy & Jacques,
Can you two be bigger homers. Jeez, the whole Pac 10 is loaded with speed. You two personify delusional Duck fans.....always thinking you're greater than you are. If you take off your grello glasses for a moment you will notice a very unproven front seven on your Defense, a new quarterback (when was the last time a rookie QB won the Pac as you are predicting), a bunch of receivers with a bad case of the dropsies, and a poor history of playing Pac 10 teams on the road. Which is exactly what you will be doing against the upper echelon in league play. You do play a cupcake non conference schedule that should help make you bowl eligible but you are staring yet again at a mid-tier game.
You are crazy if you think you'll even sniff a BCS game this year. But everyone will have to listen to Duck fans jabbering about the BCS right after you put Purdue away in convincing fashion. Same story, different year.
from about 1 month ago
First, I would like to tackle the "cupcake non conference schedule" remark by actually taking a look at it. Since 2000, we have played the Big Ten five times (Wisconsin twice, Michigan twice, Indiana), the SEC two times (Miss St twice - before they were really bad), Big XII two times (Oklahoma twice), and the WAC three times (Fresno State). Our schedule for the next few years include home-and-away series with Georgia, Tennessee, Boise State, and Purdue. If you could explain to Duck fans how that's a "cupcake schedule" I'm sure we'd all appreciate it. Or, you could tell us which school you either attended, graduated from, or simply support so we could have a look at your schedule as well.
Second, I'm not sure if you've picked up a college football magazine and read past your own teams entry, but I haven't read much about our "unproven front seven on defense." What I have heard about is our outstanding secondary, strong ground game, depth at quarterback, and great coaching. There are a few things to give a duck fan pause, such as the receivers, but this rambling excuse for a comment is woefully inadequate to point those out. However, there's a solution to this problem as well, tell us your school so we can bask in its doubtless perfection. I'm guessing, with likely most of the unfortunate people who read this comment, that you're either a Husky, Beaver, or Trojan fan. First off, if you're a fan of either of the first two teams I at least know why you don't want to publicly admit it when slandering Oregon. On the otherhand, if you're a Trojan fan, I can understand why you'd attack our depth and experience at certain possitions. What being a Trojan fan doesn't get you is the right to attack our schedule. Briefly, USC has recently played Idaho, Hawaii (before they were really good), an awful Notre Dame, an awful Nebraska team (twice), and Virginia (next month). Not what I would call a stellar non-conference schedule.
In sum, you pretty much don't know what you're talking about and before you start bashing other school's past, present, and future you should od a little research.
about 1 month ago
Johnny, are you a Beaver or Husky fan? Lots of haterade at your disposal. After USC, the Pac-10 is wide-open, and the Sun Devils and Ducks could easily make up that second tier in the pecking order. Johnny,
Saying the front seven is 'very unproven' shows me that you don't know much about this squad, as the defensive ends are one of the best duos in the conference in Nick Reed (as in returning All-Pac 10 first teamer) and Will Tukuafu. Between Cole Linehan (starter for parts of past two years when healthy), Sonny Harris, Tonio Celotto and stud JC recruit Justin Thompson, defensive tackle should be at-worst middle of the conference. Bacon and Matthews each started at points of last year at MLB and Jerome Boyd started on the outside, so linebacker has a good amount of experience/talent returning as well. You are dead on in assessing some learning curves for Costa, which could potentially knock the Ducks into the middle of the Pac-10, but to harp on the defensive seven shows a lack of knowledge IMO.
The 'D' is—on paper—the best unit the Ducks have had since the 1994 season. The season hinges on the time it takes Costa to become a legit Pac-10 starter and the wide receivers to show they can catch the ball and get open. Nice article.
about 1 month ago
P.S. Playing USC, ASU, OSU and Cal on the road will also make things that much tougher on this team, and the importance for Costa to grow up in a hurry. These could lead to tough losses, but that does not mean the talent is not there; it means that the team has a brutal Pac-10 schedule in '08 which could definitely effect the final record. Again, agreed on points against Costa and the receivers, but I think you're wrong in your thoughts on the front seven of the defense.
about 1 month ago
It pains me to say this, but however well the Ducks do this season is squarely on one individual to pull his weight - and that is JWill.
Jaison has the God-given size and speed to be a first-round draft choice at WR and the toughness of 5th-grader going up against a 7th-grade bully. Should he decide to play like a man amongst boys, he, and the Ducks, will make '08 a year to remember - in a good way.
If he continues to have the dropsies, I say sit him down and let a "lesser" talent go and make the catches. Acknowledged or not, dropped passes have the effect of bringing down not only the offense but the defense and special teams, as well.
That being said, I hear good things about JW in off-season workouts where his drops have been eliminated - mostly.
GO DUCKS!!!!!!!!!!
from about 1 month ago
No I in team. JWill's contribution will certainly help, but there are a lot of talented individuals on this team that can take up the slack. Who knows who the surpise player this year will be? Could very well be a receiver that will make JWill not such a big deal
like you said
GO DUCKS!!!!!!!!!
about 1 month ago
I will say I am cautiously optimistic about the Ducks chances to improve on last season's record. Will we have the front runner for the Heisman, probably not. Will we have a running back who will be taken in the first round of the NFL? Possibly. Our last 3 recruiting classes have been outstanding and the depth, quality and speed are starting to show. My prediction-9-3 3rd in the Pac-10. If Costa gets it going like I and everybody who has seen him play and coached him? 10-2 or better.
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