Bleacher Report - Articles by Jeff Kneis

Creature Vs. Creature: A Duck's Take on Oregon-Boise State

Jeff Kneis — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:41:49 -0400

Oregon and Boise State match up for the second time in the past two seasons. The game promises to be a highly competitive matchup between two Top 25 teams on the first day of College Football this Thursday.

Last year Boise State pulled out the win in Autzen Stadium, after going up early on the Ducks, and after the Ducks were down to just two quarterbacks. Oregon saw a spirited comeback attempt lead by freshman Darron Thomas in the fourth quarter, but were unable to make up the deficit.

Thursday’s game is being played in Boise and will feature two teams that want to start the season off with a win. The Ducks have been talking about revenge in the media for last season’s loss.

In the media, both sides’ players have been talking about the game, especially the hit that knocked Masoli out of the game early with a concussion last season. I won’t bring up the discussion again, but last seasons’ issues should be put to rest on the field. Home field advantage should play some part Thursday, but will not be a major factor in the game.

Game time is 7:15 on ESPN.

Boise State Will Win If…

They can force the Ducks to go to the air.

This is the main factor I can see where the Ducks do not win on Thursday. When the Ducks were forced to go to the air in 2008 against USC (amazing defense, front seven too strong), Cal (great defense, running game not effective against 3-4), and Boise State (strong defense, playing from behind) all three games ended in losses.

I expect the passing game to be better this season, but if the Ducks are forced to be one dimensional it doesn’t look good.

Oregon’s defense can’t defend the play action pass.

The one point on the defense that consistently killed the Ducks in 2008 was the play action pass. Boise State and USC beat the Ducks defense numerous times last season with play action passes deep to wide receivers and tight ends. Free safety TJ Ward needs to improve his pass defense this season to take away the main kink in the Ducks chain of armor on defense.

Boise State Will Lose If…

The Ducks can have a strong game running the ball.

It should be no surprise that Oregon is going to look to ride the back of LeGarrette Blount in the running game. Oregon was very effective last season running the ball and nothing should change this season.

The Oregon offensive line has been talked about as a questionable unit, but I feel that Coach Greatwood has the players ready to go and shouldn’t see much more than a few typical mistakes that are usually made in the first game.

Jeremiah Masoli can make key plays in the passing game.

While the focus on offense is going to be in the running game for the Ducks, the passing game is going to be the most interesting to watch. Jeremiah Masoli had a great final three games throwing the ball and is looking to find a talented group of receivers more often this season.

To keep the defense off balance the Ducks are going to need to make some big plays through the air and Jeremiah Masoli looks comfortable in the pocket this season.

The X Factor

LaMichael James: The redshirt freshmen running back has been impressive throughout fall practice. He has been receiving praise from Coach Kelly and various players on the team.

He is a small “change-up” kind of running back that is incredibly quick and hard for defenders to see out of the backfield. I expect LaMichael to be on the field often and to make at least one game changing play for the Ducks on Thursday.

Prediction

I also expect this game to be close throughout most of the game. I see Oregon finally getting a breakthrough in the running game late in the third quarter. The offensive line will finally gel and start wearing down the Broncos defense. The defense will come up with some timely stops and the Ducks will hold off the Broncos for the win.

Oregon 38, Boise State 27

For the Boise side of this “Creature vs. Creature” check out Drew Morgan’s piece.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/246613-creature-vs-creature-a-bronco-on-oregon-boise-state

Oregon Ducks Football All Decade Team (2000-2009)

Jeff Kneis — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:29:58 -0400

(When there are multiple players for each position, there is no particular order)

QB: Joey Harrington

Over his three years starting for the Ducks his stats were 6911 passing yards, 59 touchdowns, 23 interceptions. Joey lead the Ducks to the #2 ranking and a win in the Fiesta Bowl. He was also named Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year the same year.

Honorable Mention: Dennis Dixon, Kellen Clemens

RB: Jonathan Stewart, Onterrio Smith

Jonathan Stewart finished his career in 2007 with the Oregon individual single season record for rushing yards with 1722 and the most 100 yard rushing games in a season with nine. Most should remember the impact he had with the Ducks in his three year stay.

Onterrio Smith holds the Oregon records for the most rushing yards in a game with 285 and the most consecutive 100 yard rushing games with seven. He was a key player in the early 2000’s and was a key contributor in the Fiesta Bowl winning year in 2002.

Honorable Mention: Terrance Whitehead, Jeremiah Johnson, Maurice Morris

WR: Demetrius Williams, Keenan Howry, Sammie Parker

Demetrius Williams tied the Oregon record for receiving touchdowns in a single season (ten) and has the most 100 yard receiving games in a career with 11. Demetrius was the big play threat for the Ducks in the middle 2000’s.

Keenan Howry has the Ducks record for the most receiving touchdowns in a game with four. He was a key receiver for Joey Harrington in the early 2000’s.

Sammie Parker holds the Ducks records for receptions in a game (17), season (77), career (178) and the most receiving yards in a career (2761). Was a favorite target of Joey Harrington in the early 2000’s.

Honorable Mention: Jaison Williams

TE: Justin Peelle

This position was the toughest to pick. Oregon has had a great string of Tight Ends since 2000. His final career stats were 63 receptions for 944 yards and 14 touchdowns. He got the final bump ahead of the others because of being on the Fiesta Bowl winning team.

Honorable Mention: Ed Dickson, Tim Day, George Wrighster, Daunte Rosario

OL: Adam Snyder, Fenuki Tupou, Max Unger, Geoff Schwartz, Ian Reynoso

Adam Snyder and Ian Reynoso were the rocks of the offensive line in the mediocre years in the middle 2000's. They had to go through two offensive coordinators and had to go through the transition to the spread offense. Both were solid players when many other positions were having down seasons.

Fenuki Tupou, Max Unger and Geoff Schwartz were the stars on the offensive line during the first Chip Kelly year and the last year with Dennis Dixon. Each has moved onto the NFL and each were key players in recent years. Max Unger is known for his versatility, Fenuki Tupou known for being an excellent pass blocker and Geoff Schwartz I remember most when Dennis Dixon accidentally pitched him the ball on a broken option play.

Honorable Mention: Nick Steitz

DL: Nick Reed, Igor Olshansky, Haloti Ngata, Devan Long

Nick Reed should still be fresh in everyone’s minds. A 7th round pick by the Seahawks, Nick looks to continue what he did at Oregon, get tackles for a loss and sacks. He was known for having a great motor and was very technically sound. Nick Reed holds the school record for sacks (29.5) and tackles for a loss (51.5).

Igor Olshansky another giant defensive tackle, was a beast for the Ducks in the early 2000’s. Igor went on to star for the Chargers and recently signed a multi-million dollar contract with the Cowboys. Olshansky tested the best bench press in Ducks history at 505 pounds.

Haloti Ngata, now a star on the Ravens, was the prototypical defensive tackle for the Ducks. He managed to be a first team All-American while being double and sometimes triple teamed. Outside of Olshanski, Ngata was one of the strongest Ducks ever.

Devan Long was a standout defensive end for the Ducks in the mid 2000’s. Long was another hard working and undersized defensive end. He always seemed to be in the right place and made a lot of big plays for the Ducks.

Honorable Mention: Matt Toeaina, Ra'Shon Harris, Junior Siavii

LB: Wesley Mallard, Blair Phillips, Anthony Trucks

Wesley Mallard walked on at Oregon and eventually became the team leader in tackles his senior year. He is going into his eighth season in the NFL and is looking to make an impact with the Seahawks this season. Was also a very strong special teams player during his Ducks career.

Blair Phillips in his short time as a Duck made a huge impact at middle linebacker. He came into his own as a senior, He was known to be a run stuffer and was known for big hits. Blair was the start of Oregon recruiting bigger linebackers to help in run support and was pretty good in his pass drops.

Anthony Trucks came onto the scene in his senior year. He was very successful at pressuring the quarterback and was a force off the edge.

DB: Patrick Chung, Keith Lewis, Jarius Byrd, Aaron Gibson

Patrick Chung and Jarius Byrd should be remembered by all Duck fans. Both of these players were second round picks in the 2009 NFL Draft and both were long time outstanding players that both started since their redshirt freshmen years. Patrick will be remembered as a leader of the defense and an enforcer out on the field. Jarius will be remembered for having a very solid all around game and for coming up with big plays when the defense needed them.

Keith Lewis was the start of the trend of big physical safeties for the Ducks in the decade. He was a big hitter and was also good in coverage for the Ducks. Lewis was drafted by the 49ers in 2004 and is looking for a fresh start on the Cardinals this season.

Aaron Gibson was a great corner for the Ducks in the middle 2000's. Excellent in all areas of his game, as a senior was tied for the most interceptions in the league. I remember him most being a very good cover 2 scheme corner that would bait the quarterback into making the wrong read. Would have made for a great cover 2 corner in the NFL, if he would have had a little more size.

Honorable Mention: Walter Thurmond III, Rashad Bauman, Justin Phinisee, JD Nelson

Kelly, Helfrich, Greatwood: Their Roles In Oregon's Offense for 2009

Jeff Kneis — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:22:34 -0400

With Chip Kelly becoming head coach, Mark Helfrich recently coming from Colorado to become Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach and Steve Greatwood getting the Running Game Coordinator label, it is getting tough to figure out who is really running the Oregon Ducks offense.

Helfrich has yet to coach any official practices, as he didn't assume coaching duties until after spring ball, so only Chip Kelly knows how each person truly fits into his plan for the offense in 2009.

Figuring out who will assume which role will not be 100% clear until fall camp begins for the Ducks, but I will do my best to breakdown how I think each person will fit into the plan.

Bellotti/Kelly

A quick look back to the Bellotti/Kelly relationship might provide some insight into how the offensive duties will be divided.

Bellotti put trust in Chip Kelly’s plan from the start of his coaching gig at Oregon. Kelly and occasionally Bellotti would teach the quarterbacks, but the game planning/film watching was left up to Kelly.

Since Kelly’s offense is still the style Oregon will use, I believe Kelly will have more of an active role in the offense as a head coach. Helfrich will have to learn the offense from Kelly and the right situation for certain plays.

Bellotti let both coordinators have full control of the game plan and play calling. I think because Kelly wants to have more influence on the offense that is run, he will slowly transition the play calling duties to Helfrich.

Kelly's Role

I think, especially this year, Chip Kelly's role with the offense will not change much from his previous role as offensive coordinator the past two seasons. I believe he will call all the plays and make final decisions on the game plan each week.

One way which his role will change will be the added duties of being the head coach. At practices, he will have to be more involved in other areas and will not be able to spend as much time mentoring the quarterbacks.

Kelly will also need to rely on both Helfrich and Greatwood to help break down film on upcoming opponents. With added responsibility of moving up to head coach, Kelly will have to cut back on his film preparation and will need both coaches to help him come up with an offensive game plan against each opponent.

Helfrich's Role

To start the season, I believe Helfrich’s role will mainly have to do with working with the quarterbacks in practice and helping them with their decision making. As the season progresses and he learns the playbook, I believe he will start to have more responsibility with the game plan.

Chip Kelly’s offense takes a long time to learn and even longer to master. I think he will bring Helfrich along slowly and teach him the ins and outs of what makes the Oregon offense so dangerous before letting Helrich take over play calling duties.

I think Helfrich will provide an immediate impact in the development of the quarterbacks and will start to show more of his offensive coordinator skills later in the season and in 2010.

Greatwood's Role

The most interesting part of the offensive coaching situation was the announcement of Steve Greatwood as Running Game Coordinator.

I am not sure what a Running Game coordinator exactly does, but I would assume he will have more input on how to game plan against opponents.

Greatwood has done an amazing job producing top rushing attacks for the Ducks over the years and this is a positive step in getting him more involved in the offense.

I feel Greatwood’s role will not change much during practice, but will have more influence in the game plans and with breaking down opponent’s defenses.

These changes are still up in the air to the fans and come fall practice, I am confident there will be an effective system in place for the Ducks to have a great offensive year.

Jeremiah Johnson and Jaison Williams: Will They Find a Roster Spot?

Jeff Kneis — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 17:26:37 -0400

The Oregon Ducks had great representation in this year's draft with six Ducks chosen. Patrick Chung, Jarius Byrd, Max Unger, Fenuki Tupou, Rashon Harris and Nick Reed were all picked between the second and seventh rounds of the draft.

However, two former Ducks stars were not chosen, but were signed as free-agent rookies shortly after the draft. I am going to look at the chances of both of these players making the rosters for their respective teams.

Jeremiah Johnson - RB - Houston Texans

Career Stats: 2,336 Yds Rushing, 30 Rushing touchdowns

The Texans currently have running backs Steve Slaton, Ryan Moats and Chris Brown returning and did not use any draft picks on a running back. They also have Vonta Leach on the roster, but he is strictly a fullback.

It was an interesting move by the Texans to also bring in Arian Foster, the former running back from Tennessee as a rookie free-agent. It looks to me that they will have Jeremiah and Arian battle for the third or fourth running back position.

Jeremiah looks to have a good chance of making the roster, if he works hard and can show more promise than Arian Foster, he should have a shot at making the team at the start of the season.

Chris Brown has suffered a ton of injuries in his career and Steve Slaton/ Ryan Moats are not the biggest, most durable running backs either. It looks as if the Texans will need at least four running backs, depending on injuries.

40 Percent Chance of Making the Roster, 90 Percent Practice Squad

Jaison Williams - WR/H-Back/TE - Washington Redskins

Career Stats: 2,546 Yds Receiving, 21 Receiving touchdowns

The Redskins currently have; Santana Moss, Antwaan Randle-El, Devin Thomas, James Thrash, Marko Mitchell, Malcolm Kelly and Anthony Aldridge. At tight end they have; Chris Cooley, Fred Davis, Mike Sellers, and Todd Yoder.

At wide receiver, I don't see anyway he could make the roster this year. They have far too many veteran, experience receivers and already are going to have to make some cuts from their roster.

Jaison's best chance is to beat out one of the aging tight ends on the roster for the third spot on the team. Both Mike Sellers and Todd Yoder are in their 30's and don't have many more years left in the league.

Although he strictly played wide receiver at Oregon, at 240-plus pounds, the best chance for Jaison to make the roster is at tight end.

His blocking has improved and if he puts on more weight could provide some real match-up problems with linebackers or safeties on him. It looks like his best case scenario is to make the practice squad and get a chance to develop into a tight end.

10 Percent Chance of Making the Roster, 40 Percent Practice Squad

Oregon Ducks Basketball: Will More Experience Equal More Wins?

Jeff Kneis — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 20:21:08 -0400

Returning Players

The Ducks return the top nine scorers from last season with only two returning players being seniors next season.

Tajuan Porter – G - PTS15.4; REB2.5; AST1.8

Garrett Sim – G - PTS6.8; REB1.7; AST2.0

Kamyron Brown – G - PTS4.5; REB1.6; AST2.2

Matthew Humphrey – G - PTS4.4; REB1.5; AST0.8

Teondre Williams – G - PTS2.6; REB0.9; AST0.2

LeKendric Longmire – G - PTS9.9; REB3.7; AST0.8

Drew Wiley – F - PTS4.2; REB1.3; AST0.4

Joevan Catron – F - PTS7.2; REB6.6; AST2.3

Michael Dunnigan – C - PTS8.4; REB4.6; AST0.5

Josh Crittle – F/C - PTS3.6; REB3.3; AST0.4

Players Lost

One huge positive with the coming of next year is that the Ducks return all their starters and the six true freshmen this year will have another year in the system under their belt.

Churchill Odia – Although Churchill wasn’t a big scorer, he was a great at distributing the ball and was a great team player. He could play anything from point guard to power forward and always seemed to make good decisions on the floor.

He averaged 3.2 points per game this past season. I always wondered what his role would have been with the team if he had been on the team for four years and found a more prominent role in the rotation.

Frantz Dorsanvil – Frantz faced everything from missing a year with problems trying to get a student visa to injuries that hampered him much of the past two seasons. I feel he could have been a good role player, as he was a big and athletic big man. He had limited post moves from what I saw, but good enough to score some points of the bench.

Incoming Players

Jamil Wilson – Anytime Oregon beats out Michigan State and Texas for a recruit it is safe to assume he should be a great player. Jamil is a very athletic wing player that will bring an immediate scoring boost to the Ducks. I think he can play multiple positions and has the ability to start, but I think he will be one of the first off the bench.

E.J Singler – It is always nice to see a player from Oregon stick around and play for the Ducks. E.J. averaged over 20 points and 10 rebounds a game. I think E.J. will have to battle for playing time as there will be a few other wing players with more experience in front of him. Has a similar game to his brother Kyle at Duke and should be a good player for the Ducks over the next few years.

Jeremy Jacob – The former Louisiana Player Of he Year spent one injury filled season at Georgia and then attended one year of Hargrave Military Academy. I think Jeremy will be a surprise to many Duck fans, as he is not as well known as the other to signees. I think he will provide good energy off the bench and will be another athletic big guy to cause problems for opposing defenses.

Coaching

Duck fans are split on whether Ernie Kent should be brought back for another season with Oregon. I believe he will and I think he deserves the chance to do so. With six freshman that got most of the playing time, I think fans had too high of expectations for the previous good recruiting class (Remember the 2004-2005 season?). I think once the players feel more comfortable in the system and gain another offseason of workouts, they can really make a huge improvement.

Development

The development of the returning players is the most important factor going into next season. Can this year's freshmen start becoming reliable scorers every game? Will this year's juniors step up as leaders on the court and in the offseason?

The team will come together through the summer and will be much improved next season. Each freshmen this season has shown flashes of playing very well, but like most freshmen, they have made a lot of mistakes. I am confident the players will work hard in the offseason and will prove to be a much more confident and consistent team.

Prediction

Next season's full schedule has not been announced, so I will look at how I feel the Ducks will fare in the Pac-10 in 2009 and 2010.

USC could be a dangerous team next year if no players leave for the NBA. As much as I don’t want it to be true, Oregon State will be a better team with the second year under coach Robinson. Arizona State loses Pendergraph and most likely Harden, so they will struggle next season.

Arizona will also probably struggle with the likely loss of Hill and Budinger to the NBA. Washington State loses a couple key players and may face a down season. Washington definitely will face early season problems after losing Brockman and Dentmon. Stanford loses Goods, Johnson, and Hill, so next year they should be in rebuilding mode.

Cal looks to be the most dangerous team in the Pac-10 with all players from this season returning. While UCLA loses Shipp, Aboya, and Collison, UCLA may not be fighting for the Pac-10 title, but they always have talented players waiting on the roster.

Realistically, I feel the Ducks can get around seven wins in the Pac-10 and could get as many as 10 and have a chance to make the tournament. The Pac-10 will be strong again next year and unless teams lose a ton of players to the NBA, the Ducks will have to show a lot of growth to make it back to the top of the Pac-10.

10 Questions with White Sox Prospect Aaron Poreda

Jeff Kneis — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:32:47 -0500

I recently asked former High School teammate, and White Sox top prospect Aaron Poreda 10 questions about everything from his expectations for the season to the daily life during Spring Training.

Aaron is a 6'6" 240 lb. left handed pitcher from Campolindo High School in Moraga, CA. He attended University of San Francisco for three years and was the No. 27 pick in the first round by the Chicago White Sox.

Aaron is competing for a spot in the starting rotation this year and was recently named the No. 34 in the Top Fantasy Baseball Prospects for 2009 article on ESPN.com.

Here are the questions I asked to Aaron.

1) What are some of your goals for this season and what do you hope to accomplish?

AP: My biggest personal goal is to be a starting pitcher in the rotation this year. I also want to stay healthy for an entire MLB season and of course win a World Series championship.

2) You used to have one of the best pick off moves I ever saw. Have you had success with the move as you worked your way up through the Minors?

AP: I now use my pick off to just hold runners close and keep them from stealing. I have been known to pick off a few base runners here and there, but nothing like in high school.

3) If you were a starting pitcher in the Nation League, how many home runs would you hit?

AP: LOL, well if were speaking hypothetically, I think I could hit 5-10 for sure!

4) So far in spring training, which player has been the most fun in the clubhouse?

AP: I would have to go with my manager Ozzie because he is such a character and a riot in the clubhouse

5) What is a typical day like for you at Spring Training?

AP: We stretch, throw, do some fielding practice, maybe swing the bat if were lucky, throw a bullpen, do our conditioning and lifting, eat some lunch and head home. We take our work seriously, but we have fun at the same time.

6) Have you heard any great Ozzie Guillen quotes you want to share?

AP: He likes to use a lot of colorful language, but sorry no quotes. That stuff should stay in the clubhouse.

7) What have you improved on most since last season?

AP: My slider has improved dramatically and my change up is getting better and more consistent everyday

8) What song do you enter the game with?

AP: I pick a different song every year, but this year I was thinking of either Day Dreaming (remix) by DJ Drama, that's right behind Akon & 3 6 mafia, or lollipop remix by Lil Wayne & Kanye West.

9) What are some of your favorite things to do off the field in Glendale, AZ?

AP: I like to get my tan in February because no one else the U.S. can, go out to the clubs in Phoenix and Scottsdale, drive around in my car while blasting my subs, and play guitar and video games.

10) What are some other things you would like White Sox fans to know about you?

AP: I'm a nice, good looking guy that is going to work as hard as I can to win a World Series.

Oregon Ducks Baseball Is Back: Observations from the St. Mary's Series

Jeff Kneis — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 20:42:38 -0500

When I first heard baseball was coming back to the University of Oregon I was ecstatic. I was upset that the first season had to start the year after I graduated, but was just happy to see baseball back.

When the schedule was announced, I realized I would only have to drive two or three minutes down the street to watch the Ducks play their first baseball series in 28 years.

I attended the second Saturday game, and here are some things I took away from the game:

Since uniforms are always a topic of conversation with Oregon sports I will give some details.

Oregon was wearing the grey jerseys with green pinstripes. The tops were cut-off sleeves with Oregon in green on the front, with a green undershirt. The team was wearing grey hats with Green O's on the front and with Ducks on the back.

I personally thought they looked great and were a good mix of classic baseball jerseys with newer style jerseys.

The turnout was great by Ducks fans, and the first base side was packed full. The stadium does not have a lot of seating and the weather didn't make it feel like baseball should be starting already, but Duck fans seemed to be excited and did a great job cheering on the team.

The field conditions were not great—the outfield was very soft and a few times the ball didn't roll at all after hitting the outfield. It didn't look too muddy, but a few extra bases were added or subtracted depending on where the ball was hit.

I expected the team to struggle offensively, have good pitching, and make the few mistakes a young team with no college baseball experience would make. The team met these expectations, and I am confident the team will continue to improve over the course of the season.

The team looked to be enjoying themselves and were putting in a good effort on the field.

Two things I saw that could have impacted the outcome of the game—they should get better in upcoming games—was defense and clutch hitting.

On one outfield hit by St. Marys, I saw an outfielder take a very poor route to the ball that could have been caught if he got a better read on it.

With practice and seeing more live balls in future months, this problem should correct itself.

In the eighth inning, the Ducks were only down two runs and had the bases loaded with one out. It was disappointing to see the great situation lead to no runs. Clutch hitting will come in time, but this may continue to be a problem as the season moves forward.

Looking at the Ducks' schedule I feel they can get somewhere in the range of 15 to 20 wins, possibly with more depending on how much the Ducks improve and how much other teams have improved since last year.

How Will the 2009 Class of Oregon Ducks Do at the NFL Scouting Combine?

Jeff Kneis — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:05:17 -0500

With the NFL Scouting Combine about a week away it is time to look at which Ducks are going to attend and which players stock will rise and which will fall. I think as an overall group, the Ducks will show why they were a top team last season and why they were one of the most athletically gifted teams in the country.

I am not going to speculate on the physical and mental tests of the Combine because I don't know enough about the players or the tests themselves. The tests I will focus in on will be the 40-yard dash, Bench Press, Vertical Jump, Broad Jump, 20-yard shuttle, three-cone drill, and the 60-yard shuttle.

Jarius Byrd - CB/S - 6' 205. - Projected second-third Round Pick

Although Byrd was a corner, he is being projected as a safety in the NFL. Byrd is very athletic and will put up good numbers in most tests he takes. I feel he will do well in the bench press, vertical jump, broad jump, and the 20-yard shuttle.

The two tests I am not sure of the results are the 40-yard dash and the three cone drill. I feel that Byrd's 40 time will be somewhere in the 4.5 to 4.6 second range.

He has excellent agility and is very good in coverage, but he has been beat deep by faster receivers at times. I feel the second to third-round projection is accurate and has the possibility of moving up with a good 40 time. His punt returning ability can possibly give him a boost in the eyes of some scouts.

Max Unger - C/OT - 6'5" 300. - Projected second-third Round Pick

Unger is one of the tougher people to project out of this group. He is a very athletic linemen, but I have seen scouts question which offensive line position is best for him.

I feel Unger will have very impressive individual position drills, as well as the 40-yard dash, agility and jumping drills. He should post one of the best 40-yard dash times for offensive linemen.

The major weakness I see is with the bench press. In the senior bowl practices, some scouts were questioning his ability to block powerful defensive tackles. Because of the Oregon running scheme, I think Unger may not be a fit for some NFL teams, but any zone blocking scheme would be a good fit for his talents.

As they say you can't teach speed, so I expect Unger's stock will rise after more time with the weights and after he likely improves his bench before his workout on campus later in the process.

Patrick Chung - S - 6' 210. - Projected third-fourth Round Pick

Patrick Chung will be a very interesting prospect for scouts to watch at the combine. As a 21-year-old fifth-year senior, Chung has the experience of players much older than him, while he is as young as players leaving after their third year.

Any player that can start for four years in the Pac-10 and start college as a 16-year-old, is a very special person and athlete.

Chung should put up good strength numbers and should do well in all of the other tests. I feel if Chung works on his coverage skills and keeps tackling as well as in college, his draft stock will be on the rise.

Jeremiah Johnson - RB - 5'10" 200. - Projected third-fourth Round Pick

Being one of the top senior running backs this year, Jeremiah will receive a lot of looks by scouts. The major concern that I see coming up in the combine will be his size. I am betting he will be somewhere around 5'8-1/2" about 190.

There will definitely be a spot on a roster for him, but I think his lack of size unfortunately will keep his stock the same or maybe drop it some.

He should post very well in agility and jumping tests. His 40 yard dash should be on par, since his knee injury should be completely healed. The bench press may hurt his some, but shouldn't be too much of a factor.

I hope I am wrong about this one, since I really enjoyed watching him play in college, but size really does matter in the NFL.

Fenuki Tupou - OT - 6'6" 330. - Projected third-fourth Round Pick

Fenuki Tupou has a lot of positives going into the combine. He started getting a reputation as one of the best pass blocking tackles in the country and has outstanding strength. He also has the physical size that the NFL likes in an offensive tackle.

The question I have is with Tupou's speed and agility. I think because of Oregon scheme, any offensive linemen that is in the program has good agility. With his size he probably won't be one of the best in agility, but should post solid numbers.

I have a feeling his 40-yard dash time will not be one of the fastest and may keep his stock even with where it is now.

Ra'Shon Harris - DT - 6'5" 300. - Projected seventh or Undrafted

Ra'Shon Harris is an interesting player to look at for the combine. He had a very solid career at Oregon and definitely has the size to play in the NFL. I definitely think a team will give him a shot in the NFL, but I am not sure how he will do at the combine. I am not sure if he will stand out in any of the tests and the combine.

I feel he will have an average combine in the speed, agility and jumping tests. He will have good strength tests, but I am not sure if the bench press will distinguish him much from other defensive tackles. I think the combine will keep Ra'Shon's stock the same and may hurt his stock some.

Jaison Williams - WR - 6'5" 242. - Projected seventh or Undrafted

As many Duck fans know, J. Will has as much physical talent as any WR in the country. Trust me, if you haven't seen him in person, he is definitely 6'5" 240. I project him to have an amazing combine and show the scouts he is being overlooked.

All the speed, agility and jumping tests should be no problem for Williams and the scouts I feel will take notice. He was clocked at a 4.61 electric timed 40-yard dash and if he can get that down into the 4.5's he will turn some heads.

The work Jaison Williams put in on blocking over the last off season showed on the field and could really help him find a spot on a roster. Again his hands have to be a major question, but I am confident that in a new setting and being able to focus on football only, he has a great chance to send his stock soaring after the combine.

Eleven MLB Players I'd Bet Are on the List of 103 Other Positive Steroid Tests

Jeff Kneis — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 17:47:39 -0500

With the recent news of there being a list of 103 players with positive steroid tests in 2003, I decided to think of who may be on the list. This is a list of people I believe have or still do take steroids. This is purely speculation and may turn out not to be true in the near future. Steroids again are coming up as an issue in the MLB and it is a shame that with all the players that have been clean, that they must be grouped together with the ones that have cheated the fans and the game. Things I look for are players who have had one of two very productive seasons around near the 2003 season, players who have gained or lost a tremendous amount of weight in one off-season, or have been injured constantly since the new steroid regulations started. I encourage people to agree or disagree with me. Leave any thoughts on who I may have missed and feel free to write an article with a list of your own.

Begin Slideshow

Oregon Ducks Football: Recruiting Analysis and a Look at Needs For 2010

Jeff Kneis — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:16:54 -0500

QB: With four quarterbacks returning (five if Chris Harper gets another shot), including starter Jeremiah Masoli. Quarterback was not a concern for this year's class. Oregon was very selective in which quarterbacks they offered and they would likely only take a highly rated one.

Didn't choose Oregon but were offered: Tahj Boyd (Clemson), Richard Brehaut (UCLA), Tate Forcier (Michigan), and Jordan Reed (Florida). Tahj Boyd would have been a great addition, but with three junior and two sophomore quarterbacks coming back it is hard to blame him to look elsewhere for earlier playing time.

Still on the Board: None

Committed: Daryle Hawkins, Omaha, Nebraska. He committed to the Ducks late last night so his full story has yet to come out. It seems like he will get a shot at quarterback, much like Chris Harper, but is a fantastic athlete that could be moved to wide receiver down the line.

2010 Needs: With three to be seniors, and possible one red shirt sophomore, it would seem quarterback is much more of a need and two quarterback signings could be necessary.

RB: With LeGarrette Blount returning and having Alston and Crenshaw, who have some experience, running back looks like a strong position for next year.

LaMichael James impressed many in his redshirt year, so watch out for his immediate impact. It seems the Ducks could use another big running back, since Blount is a senior and there are no other returning running backs over 200 pounds.

Didn't choose Oregon but offered: Cierre Wood (Notre Dame), Dasarte Yarnway (California), Montrell Conner (Mississippi State), Cameron Marshall (Arizona State) and Kendrick Hardy (Southern Miss).

Dasarte Yarnway would have been a great fit in the offense, but chose to stay close to home.

Still on the Board: Bryce Brown. Getting the best player in the country is always a good thing and Bryce would provide an immediate impact if he decides to be a Duck.

Committed: None.

2010 Needs: With seniors Blount and Crenshaw there will only be two running backs left on the roster, another position where two commits will be necessary and more likely if Bryce Brown does not commit. Luckily 2010 is supposed to be an excellent running back class. The very fast Ethan Grant from Florida has already committed and is a good start to this class.

WR: With only seven returning scholarship receivers, the Ducks were looking to get a few more with a mix of ready to play junior college receivers and a few high school ones.

Offered but didn't choose Oregon: Too many to list. It seems Oregon was on the mind of many of the nations' top wide receiver recruits, but many chose to play elsewhere.

Still on the Board: Rolando Jefferson and Tyrece Gaines. Jefferson has said he won't announce until he is sure he will make it in to any of his choices academically. There were reports Gaines committed to Oregon, but I will not count him as a commit until the school receives his LOI.

Committed: Braxton Lane, Lavasier Tuinei, Tyrece Gaines, Nick Cole and Diante Jackson. One quick and one tall receiver. Hopefully the lure of the MLB and grades will not be issues for these players in signing with Oregon. Diante Jackson decided to stick with his original commitment and may compete for immediate playing time.

2010 Needs: There will be no more graduating wide receivers next year, but depth may still be an issue. Because the Ducks have so many sets with four or more receivers, a couple more receivers will most likely be needed in this class.

With Masoli becoming more comfortable throwing next season, hopefully more receivers will find Oregon an attractive place to play.

TE: With no tight ends graduating and four returning, tight end was not a position that needed any help. Ed Dickson is back, Malachi Lewis is getting more playing time and with NaDerris Ward able to play after transferring, tight end will be one of the strongest positions coming back.

Offered but didn't choose Oregon: Morrell Presley (UCLA). No harm in offering the number one tight end in the country. Could have been split out also as a wide receiver, but realistically was never going to come to Oregon.

Still on the Board: None

Committed: None

2010 Needs: With Ed Dickson graduating after next season, Oregon's depth should help fill in nicely. Not a huge concern, but if a good tight end is available, one may be taken.

OL: Losing three offensive linemen may seem like a concern to most, but the Ducks return nine scholarship players with a good amount of game experience. A few commits are needed to help continue the tradition of good Oregon offensive lines.

Offered but didn't choose Oregon: Taylor Lewan (Michigan), Charles Siddoway (Cal), Michael Phillip (Oregon State), Pete White (Undecided), and Stan Hasiak (Undecided). Oregon was in on a lot of the top offensive line prospects, but missed out on some of them.

Still on the Board: None

Committed: Everette Benyard, Trevor Fox, Karrington Armstrong and Jamaal Burrell. This is one position in which I am very confident in the players we signed. Coach Greatwood seems to always find great prospects, so I will trust these three will be great down the line.

2010 Needs: On the official roster there will be no graduating offensive linemen. It seems another offensive linemen or two would be helpful for Oregon's depth. Look for the Ducks to pick up some highly rated prospects as they can be highly selective.

DL: With only seven returning scholarship players, defensive line is one of the major units that needs help. Only Will Tukuafu is returning as a starter.

Offered but didn't choose Oregon: Way too many to list. All of the top defensive ends and defensive tackles from high school and junior college were offered by the Ducks.

Signing defensive linemen such as, highly rated high school recruit, Nick Kasa or Deandre Coleman would have been nice.

Still on the Board: None.

Committed: Defensive tackles Wade Keliikipi, Andrew Iupati, Terrance Montgomery and Justin Brown. A good group with some high school prospects to develop along with a few junior college transfers to play right away.

Defensive ends Anthony Anderson, Taylor Hart, Zac Clark, and Keaton Arden. Defensive end has more returning depth so a good group of high school players is needed. A pretty solid group that could develop in the next couple of years.

2010 Needs: High School defensive linemen again will be a must get with Tukuafu and Ferras being seniors. Curtis White has already committed and looks to be a very talented prospect that should help immediately when he gets onto campus

LB: With two of the three starting linebackers coming back and nine scholarship players, this is a very young but talented group.

Offered but didn't choose Oregon: The Ducks offered other linebackers but seem to have gotten their top targets. A five-star linebacker would have been amazing, but the three that committed have very impressive offers.

Still on the Board: None.

Committed: Bryson Littlejohn, Boseko Lokombo, and Michael Clay. A great mix of ready to play junior-college transfers (Littlejohn) and two athletic high school linebackers.

2010 Needs: No linebackers are leaving due to graduation, so the Ducks will not pursue many of them. If a highly rated prospect is interested, I am sure the coaching staff will make room for one more.

DB: Defensive back has been one of the most consistent position for the Ducks and has had great depth over the last few years. With 13 returning scholarship players the secondary should bounce back even with the loss of Chung and Byrd.

Offered but didn't choose Oregon: Anthony Leon (Arkansas) and Travis Hawkins (Maryland). Losing Leon because of alleged grade issues was tough, but I feel the class the Ducks brought in is very talented.

Still on the Board: None.

Committed: Cliff Harris, Avery Patterson, and Brian Jackson. Harris is a great player and could receive some immediate playing time and could be the second or third corner.

2010 Needs: With Thurmond, Glasper, and Ward graduating next year a lot of experience will be lost. A safety or two will be needed next class, but overall a talented young group will be coming back.

SPT: While losing the starting kicker and punter, the Ducks do return some players and have gone out and got a top high school punter and a place kicker.

Committed: Kicker Mike Bowlin and punter Jackson Rice. Bowlin will compete with Taylor for the punting job. Rice will compete with Flint and Padilla for the starting job.

2010 Needs: None

After This Weekends' Matches, It Is Time To Pick a Team

Jeff Kneis — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:20:52 -0500

Alright Bleacher Creatures, I need your help. I have decided that after all the amazing action of this past weekend's matches, it is time for me to start rooting for a single team.

I have never had any allegiance one single soccer team. This is where I need help. I haven't made a decision yet, because I am not a fair-weather fan and I will root for this team for life. I feel like I need some help in deciding which team will be a good fit for me.

As I am sure you can tell from the first paragraph, I am an American, and have not been a life-long fans. I have never been to Europe, though I hope to go soon and check out a few matches while I am there.

Here is a little bit of my history with the beautiful game.

I played soccer when I was young, but once I was old enough to play American football, I switched and never looked back. I started really enjoying watching soccer starting with the 2006 World Cup. I have learned a ton since then and watched every single EURO 2008 match. I am in no way an expert, but I hope to learn even more over the rest of the season.

Let me list a few things I feel are important to have for any team I root for.

The game day atmosphere has to be top notch.

A loud, knowledgeable fan base who helps the team to victories at home and on the road is the most important factor. The play of the team is also an important factor.

I feel like I am a rational fan, and I can accept a few down seasons, as long as the team has a plan to be competitive again. I also like fast, upbeat teams—think the Oregon Ducks spread offense in College Football and the Golden State Warriors fast break offense in the NBA.

Here is a list of a couple of players and why I enjoy watching them.

Cristiano Ronaldo—I love his versatility and his speed. It seems as Rondaldo can score at any time ,and is fearless attacking defenders. I also enjoy watching his tricks. I do not like his complaining to the referees or his diving, or he would probably be my favorite player.

Fernando Torres—He is quickly becoming one of my favorite players. He is powerful, hard working and very skilled.

Lionel Messi—I am not even sure what characteristics to list here, as he seems to have them all. He is well liked, hard working, determined, and has all the skills. His goal this weekend left Osasuna players shrugging their shoulders in disbelief of how amazing it really was.

Michael Essien—I became his fan during the World Cup in 2006. His speed, versatility, and power have caught my eye ever since them. I actually rooted for Ghana to win against the United States because of his excellent play. The speed of this game makes the U.S. squad look like they're going at a snail's pace. I look forward to his return for Chelsea.

Let me know in the comments section which team you think would be a good fit for me. Please be nice if I incorrectly analyzed any players, or forgot any other great ones.

Thanks for everyone's advice.

The 11 Variations of "Sean"

Jeff Kneis — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 08:40:17 -0500

Watching college football this season I learned about the excellent running back from Iowa named Shonn Green. I had never seen the name "Sean" spelled that way and I started thinking about the many variations of the name "Sean." Parents have been creative naming their children and athletes from gymnasts to skateboarders to college football players. I have decided that this is a great topic for a Slideshow and I hope everyone enjoys the many different spellings of the name. Most of these athletes should be well known, but a few are from some of my favorite teams. I have come up with 11 variations of the name and I know there are more, so I am asking for help in the comments section if I have missed any. The 11 athletes are Sean May, Shawn Johnson, Chone Figgins, Shaun White, Shawon Dunston, Shonn Green, Shawne Williams, LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson, DeShawn Stevenson, Ra'Shon Harris.

Begin Slideshow

Is Oregon Going To Bring Out New Uniforms This Weekend?

Jeff Kneis — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 06:16:27 -0500

Thanks to gregspechtismyhero and dthomas=ddixon on Ducksattack for the photo and link.

Here is another link with T-shirts, a hat and a sweatshirt. Eoregonsports

UPDATE 11/12: Goducks.com has confirmed that Black Helmets have been made and may debut in the next couple weeks.

There has been no official word from the Oregon Athletic Department regarding new uniforms, but this is some pretty strong evidence. This picture is reportedly from a clothing store in Eugene.

I am going to reserve my full judgement on the uniforms until I see them on the players. I think with similar pants and black helmets, the uniforms could be a hit.

I don't think this is the best time to bring out the new uniforms. The Arizona vs. Oregon game is televised locally and won't get the exposure the Athletic Department is trying to get.

The reasons they could bring them out this weekend are to pump up the players and crowd, as well as help get recruits interested.

What do you think about the new design?

NBA's All Anything Team: 6'11" and Over Team (Current Players)

Jeff Kneis — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:43:36 -0500

Starting 5:

PG:Tim Duncan - 01-02 - 25.5 Pts, 12.7 Reb, 3.7 Ast

SG: Rasheed Wallace - 01-02 -19.3 Pts, 8.2 Reb, 1.9 Ast

SF:Dirk Nowitzki - 04-05 - 26.1 Pts, 9.7 Reb, 3.1 Ast

PF: Kevin Garnett - 03-04 - 24.2 Pts, 13.9 Reb, 5.0 Ast

C: Shaquille O'Neal - 99-00 - 29.7 Pts, 13.6 Reb, 3.8 Ast

BENCH:

PG:Andrea Bargnani - 06-07 - 11.6 Pts, 3.9 Reb, 0.8 Ast

SG: Mehmet Okur - 05-06 - 18.0 Pts, 9.1 Reb, 2.4 Ast

SF: Jermaine O'Neal - 04-05 - 24.3, 8.8 Reb, 1.9 Ast

SF: Chris Bosh - 06-07 - 22.6 Pts, 10.7 Reb, 2.5 Ast

PF: Pau Gasol - 06-07 - 20.8 Pts, 9.8 Reb, 3.4 Ast

PF: Dwight Howard - 07-08 - 20.7 Pts, 14.2 Reb, 1.3 Ast

C: Yao Ming - 05-06 - 25 Pts, 9.4 Reb, 2.0 Ast

Oregon-ASU: Ground Game, Defense Gain Steam for Ducks

Jeff Kneis — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 11:56:09 -0400

I watched Oregon play on my computer almost 24 hours after the score became final. (Only students at the U of O and a few bars that got the signal could watch the game live. This is an issue I don't want to get into, but it needs to change.) Here are a few things I saw that made me feel like all parts of the Oregon team are finally starting to come together.

Oregon's running game looked amazing against Arizona State. LeGarette Blount and Jeremiah Johnson carved up the ASU defense from the start and quickly began to demoralize the ASU defense.

The Blount run where he rolled over a defender without hitting any part of his body on the ground, landed on his feet, and ran for a touchdown, was another amazing play by the junior college transfer. Johnson looked like his old self as he split two defenders and used his speed to get to the end zone.

Jeremiah Masoli looked more comfortable with the offense after the bye week. He made a lot of good throws and, for the most part, made good decisions with the ball. He led the Oregon offense in rushing and continued his rushing success from the UCLA game before the bye week. The only concern I have is that the offense does not take many shots down the field.

The best part about the game for me was the defensive performance by the Ducks. I never expected to see Oregon's defense look so bad, as it did a few weeks earlier, and then put in an outstanding performance. Nick Aliotti's defense put in a great effort, just a few weeks after being heavily criticized after the loss at USC.

The D-line was constantly putting pressure on Rudy Carpenter and was not allowing much on the ground. The defensive backs were locking down the receivers and capitalized on a few poor throws from Carpenter. Patrick Chung sacked Carpenter so hard that he was seen bleeding from the nose and mouth on the sideline.

ASU is now on a five-game losing streak and has a lot of problems on both offense and defense, but this week against Cal should be a true test for Oregon. The Bears' defense is much better and the Cal running game is very dangerous. I am hoping for rain at Cal, as it will benefit the Oregon rushing attack as well as help keep bay-area fans out of the stands. I hope I didn't miss anything, but, if I did, please leave a comment.

Translating Pterodactyl With Arian Foster

Jeff Kneis — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 09:06:11 -0400

On Tuesday the starting running back for Tennessee, Arian Foster, was asked to be interviewed after practice. A fairly common occurrence for starters on a college football team. The response he gave was much more unique than the question asked.

He responded that he would only conduct an interview if he could speak in Pterodactyl. Some may not know that Pterodactyls were flying reptiles that lived between 220 million and 65 million years ago, and have wingspans as much as 30 feet. No reporters would conduct the interview, so I decided I will do some research, learn pterodactyl, and conduct the interview.

(Thanks to Wikipedia and the Tennessean for information)

I have translated the "interview" into English so everyone can understand the conversation I had with him.

ME: Who would you rather have at quarterback Jonathan Crompton or Nick Stephens?

AF: I think I should play quarterback. I think we should run the "Wildcat" formation and I should touch the ball every play. If I could have run the "Wildcat" formation my whole career, I would have had the Tennessee rushing record a long time ago.

ME: How do you feel as you get closer to the Tennessee rushing record?

AF: As I already said, I should have already had the record, probably sometime last year. I also think I should hold all the SEC and NCAA records for rushing. I probably should have a couple Heismans and Doak Walker Awards. Again it isn't my fault, it is the style of offense we run.

ME: It sounds like you have a problem with the coaching staff. Is that a fair statement?

AF: Yes I do have a problem with the coaching staff. The problem is I am not on it. I should be Head Coach that has veto power over all of the incoming offense and defense plays. I think I could handle all the responsibility.

ME: You sound like you would be one special individual with all the responsibility you want.

AF: Yes, I am. Not many people are bi-lingual in English and Pterodactyl. Not many people are as physically gifted as I am. No further questions.

(Arian Foster squawks and proceeds to fly home)

USC-Oregon: My Observations on the Game

Jeff Kneis — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:48:56 -0400

This past weekend I flew down to LA to watch my Ducks play for the first time in the Coliseum. I wasn't sure to expect, but I knew there would be a lot of USC fans there.

Here are some of my opinions about how the game went and how the game day atmosphere stacks up to the competition.

The problems I have with the Coliseum

The visitor section is in the worst section possible in the stadium. You are in the top deck, in the corner of the stadium and you can't see the scoreboard.

The stadium was really quiet for 90,000-plus people (I understand the game wasn't close until the second quarter, but the first quarter wasn't much better). I think one section of Autzen is louder than the whole stadium.

I was hoping to get in a few spirited debates with fans and was ready with facts I didn't think any USC fan could counter. I only received a few stupid comments (A few quacks and a few incoherent mumbles in my direction).

For some reason the gong sound before every third-down play for the USC defense really bothered me. You know your fans don't know about football when you need a bell to tell you to start yelling.

The things I liked about the Coliseum

I really enjoyed the pre-game tailgating. Not much is cooler than thousands of people drinking and eating on the actual campus. I am not a tailgating veteran, but that was one of the better locations for tailgating.

The ladies. Really not much else to say about that.

Observations from the Game

I am not going to focus much on USC, mostly because they did a pretty good job beating up the Ducks, a team I thought could compete with them.

My biggest problem with Oregon's performance was with USC dominating them on both the offensive and defensive line. Oregon's run game was horrible, as well as Masoli was constantly on the run from the USC defense.

The Oregon defensive line couldn't get pressure all game and let Mark Sanchez throw the ball downfield with ease.

As many other people on the message boards already pointed out, play action was killer. It was the same bootleg play action that the Ducks defense could not figure out. I remember seeing it a couple times in a row.

The last thing was turnovers. USC had a costly turnover that led to three points, while Oregon's turnover led to the back-breaking seven points right before half.

These are the main things I remember from the game. What did I miss? Think my observations were wrong? Give me some comments.

The All-Ugly NBA Team

Jeff Kneis — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 10:44:06 -0400

Here is your current NBA all-ugly team!

(In no particular order)

1) Robyn Lopez

2) Brook Lopez

3) Sam Cassell

4) Charlie Villanueva

5) Joakim Noah

6) Shelden Williams

7) Steve Blake

8) Jarred Jack

9) Kosta Koufos

10) Mehmet Okur

11) Kendrick Perkins

12) Chris Kaman

Who did I miss? Leave a comment of who you would add to the list.

The "All Time" Oakland A's Team

Jeff Kneis — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 10:45:13 -0400

The first thing you will realize about this "All Time" team is that it really is a starting line-up of the worst A's players in recent memory. This is all in good fun. This isn't necessarily about their whole career, just their time with the A's. I can't include everyone, so if your favorite horrible player doesn't make the list, I am sorry. Here is my list.

CATCHER: "Big" Sal Fasano—Overweight, can't hit, and supposedly is good defensively. If I was 500 pounds, I could be a good defensive catcher too. He did have a sweet mustache, though.

FIRST BASE: Jeremy Giambi—One of the slowest players to ever play baseball. One SB in his whole career. He did hit .262 lifetime, but come on Jeremy slide into home and lay off the steroids.

SECOND BASE: Frankie Menachino—A bowling ball of a shortstop. A career .240 hitter, that somehow keeps finding his way onto another team each year. I did enjoy the old commercial where he dried his underwear in the oven.

SHORTSTOP: Bobby Crosby—The guy who was supposed to be better than Miguel Tejada. Really? He is hitting .240 (the A's love career .240 hitters I guess), and is 27-years old. Hey, at least he is hitting above his career average this year (it is now .241).

THIRD BASE: Eric Chavez (Post 2006)—Eric Chavez was a very good player until 2006. Ever since then, his body has broken down. He is constantly injured, and is lucky to play half the season. The last three seasons he hit .241, .240, .247. He is only 30, but I guess playing for the A's makes you feel like you are 40.

OUTFIELD No. 1: David Justice—He had a great career, just not with the A's. He had decent numbers for a 36-year-old, but he looked lost in the outfield. He spent more time adjusting the bottoms of his pants than actually watching the game. He wins the most fashionable award, if there was such a thing.

OUTFIELD No. 2: Adam Piatt—Had a decent first year. Hit .211 and .234 his next two years. An excellent seventh string outfielder. He did look the most like a girl on the team, while he was there to give hm some credit.

OUTFIELD No. 3: Terrance Long—One of the worst fielders ever. I was at an A's game and he dropped two line drives that were right at him (he didn't have to move). He is best known for playing all 162 games, two years in a row. The second year he hit a nice average of .240.

UTILITY: John Jaha—Yeah, I know he was good in 1999. He hit 35 HR, 111 RBI, and hit .276. His last two years on the A's he hit .175 and .089. Can you say steroids?

Pitchers will come in the future.

Give some comments if you disagree, or if can think of some other bad A's players over the years.

Nike Founder Phil Knight Hints At New Oregon Football Uniforms

Jeff Kneis — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:12:50 -0400

Last Saturday, there was some news Duck fans were not expecting to hear. The news from Phil Knight, was there are new uniforms on the way.

On the message boards there has been speculation on what these new jerseys could be and whether it is really time to get new ones.

In my opinion a complete new set of jerseys is not yet needed. The recruits love them and everyone else has their varying opinions, which seem to be slowly becoming favorable (It is nice to see a poll for worst uniforms and not to be number one). I like most of the jerseys the way they are, (I am still trying to get used to the "grellow helmets" and the all yellow jerseys), so I would want them to stay the same for at least a few more years.

Here are a few suggestions that others have speculated on and whether I approve or disapprove of what the new uniforms could include.

Acceptable:

A Black Helmet: I know black is not one of Oregon's colors, but ever since we started using black in our sports uniforms, I have really grown to like the green, yellow and black combination. A black helmet would lead to more combinations and could perfectly fit in with our previous "Storm Trooper" (all white) look, as maybe a Darth Vader (all black) look.

Camouflage: It would be a great tribute to the troops and I think, if done correctly, could look really cool as an alternate jersey. Think of Oregon basketball's new green uniforms.

Undecided:

Duck Feathers instead of Diamond Plating: This is one I could see working, or one that could really ruin the uniforms. As long as the Duck Feathers are subtle and don't really change the overall look of the uniforms, I would be for it. I don't even want to write what could go wrong with the feathers, as I don't want to give anyone any horrible ideas for uniforms.

Unacceptable:

Neon Colors: Sure, neon works at drawing attention, but it is way too extreme. I don't want anyone to ruin their eyesight by looking at the Ducks for too long. I don't want to see a defensive back make a mistake and recover on one of the Duck receivers because the DB could see the neon out of the corner of his eye. We also need all the help we can get with not upsetting some of the people that vote on the weekly polls.

I can think of many more ideas, but I am interested in what everyone else thinks about new uniforms and what they would want the new uniforms to be like.