College Football 2011: How Much Better Will Oregon's LaMichael James Be?

After an outstanding first year at Oregon, Ducks fans were ready to see LaMichael James come out and have an outstanding sophomore year. 1,731 yards and 21 touchdowns later, fans got everything they could have hoped for and more.  

Not only was 2010 a magical season for the Oregon football program, but it was a dream season for James as well. He followed up his first year, where he set the Pac-10 rushing record for a freshman, by setting the Pac-10 rushing record for a sophomore.  

While racking up all those yards, James won the Doak Walker award, finished third in the Heisman voting and was a unanimous first-team All-American.

More impressive is the fact that he was able to do this while missing the opening game of the season and often being on the sideline by the fourth quarter.  

With a break-out sophomore season behind him, James made the decision to return for his junior year at Oregon. The question has been asked how much better can he be in 2011.

The answer is, a lot.  

James is one of the rare players in college football who you always need to know where he is on the field. With Chip Kelly's offense, it would not be unusual to find James in the backfield, lined up wide or in the slot. No matter where he is, you know that one of the first options on the play is to get him the ball. 

So with his record-setting performances his first two seasons, how can LaMichael James look to get better?

One clear spot of improvement will be his abilities in the receiving game.  

The Ducks are a run-heavy team, but with the amount of talent they have in the huddle, they look to spread teams out and put their best players in space. Coach Kelly has found ways to put James in the open field in the running game, but while the opportunities have been there in the passing game, James has had some issues.  

Once the 2010 season ended, the Ducks lost senior starters D.J. Davis and Jeff Maehl to graduation. With the loss of these two receivers, there is a huge hole left in the passing game.

If James is looking to step up and round out his game, this is the opportunity to do so.  

During the 2011 season, the Ducks will look to utilize a lot of screen and swing plays that could free up space for James to make plays. He has been working hard in the offseason to improve his hands and could be a force in the passing attack.  

If James can take his ability to consistently catch the ball to the next level, the Oregon offense will reach a new level of efficiency. The fact that he is still missing a component from his game should be a scary realization for opposing teams.  

Along with helping out in the passing game, James could help the offense as a whole by improving on his blocking skills as well. In Kelly's offense it is not often that James finds himself blocking, but with the loss of three starters from the line, the Ducks could look to find additional support from the tight ends and backs.  

Not only will James improve on his receiving and blocking skills, but he will also be a year older and have more experience on his side. He will naturally improve as his vision will become better, and he will be able to lean on his game experience.

Overall, James is set to have another outstanding year. There would be no Ducks fan disappointed if he was just able to repeat his performance from last year. Oregon again finds themselves loaded with offensive talent, and they will need James to lead the way throughout 2011.