Oregon Ducks Football: 5 Best, 5 Worst Offseason Developments
It seems like just yesterday that the Oregon Ducks were preparing for the National Championship game, but a lot has happened since then.
Although the Ducks have had plenty of good things to talk about since their season-ending loss to Auburn, not all news has been good news.
Here is a look at the five best and five worse offseason developments for the Oregon Ducks.
Worst No. 5: No Jeff Maehl
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Quarterback Darron Thomas is going to be without his favorite target in 2011 with the graduation of receiver Jeff Maehl. Last year for the Ducks, Maehl had the best season of his career with over 1,000 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns.
This season the Ducks will have to rely on Lavasier Tuinei, Josh Huff, and their talented tight ends to catch a bulk of the passes early on. Luckily for Thomas, Oregon has an outstanding class of incoming freshman receivers who all have the potential of making an immediate impact catching the ball for the Ducks.
Best No. 5: The 2011 Recruiting Class
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Oregon’s freshman class this year is arguably the most talented group to step foot on campus. The recruiting class was ranked ninth best in the country by Rivals and is loaded from top to bottom.
What stands out most in the 2011 class is their speed. Devon Blackmon, De’Anthony Thomas, Tacoi Sumler, and Rahsann Vaughn have all clocked 40-yard dash times of 4.4 seconds or better and should each push for playing time this fall.
In addition, the Ducks scored many players that will fill positions of need down the road. Thanks to Chip Kelly, Oregon has reached the point where they no longer rebuild—they reload.
Worst No. 4: Where’s the Pass Rush?
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Last season Oregon’s defense got a lot of attention for their ability to create turnovers. A big reason for that was the ability of the defensive line to put pressure on the quarterbacks of opposing teams.
Although the Ducks rotated a lot of guys on the defensive line, they lost three starters from a season ago; most notably Kenny Rowe and Brandon Bair. The reserves from last season have the size and experience to succeed this season in the Pac-12 but it will be interesting to see how the loss of a few D-linemen effect the rest of the defense.
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Best No. 4: Darron Thomas—The Leader
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This time last season, Oregon had a competition at quarterback but this season there is no question who will be leading the offense. Darron Thomas had a very good 2010 in his first year as a starter and he hopes to build on that success in 2011.
As Thomas enters his second year as a starter, he has become more of a vocal leader for the Ducks, which Chip Kelly loves. Thomas has been working extremely hard all offseason and his teammates have followed his lead.
Oregon wants to improve on last season’s record which is not an easy task, but Thomas welcomes the challenge and should be more than ready come Fall.
Worst No. 3: NCAA Investigation
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Well before Jim Tressel was in hot water at Ohio State, the Ducks were being investigated by the NCAA for their recruitment practices. More specifically, looking at the payment of trainer/scout Will Lyles in relation to Oregon’s recruitment in Texas.
When this story first broke it would have been at the top of the list but most of the chatter has died down and it appears as if Oregon will not face any NCAA sanctions. Oregon seems to have been conducting business the same as every other school in the country, but it is up for debate about whether that is the right way.
Best No. 3: Colt Lyerla’s Spring
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Colt Lyerla was one of the most highly touted recruits of the 2011 class so coaches were very excited that he was able to enroll early at Oregon. In his first spring with the team he did not disappoint.
Lyerla had an outstanding Spring and has began to develop some chemistry with Darron Thomas. Although Lyerla’s future with the team is likely at linebacker he will likely see his minutes on offense this year because of his combination of size, speed, and soft hands. As the season goes on, look for Lyerla to have a bigger role in the offense.
Worst No. 2: Kiko Alonso’s Suspension
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With the graduation of linebackers Casey Matthews and Spencer Paysinger many Duck fans wondered who would take over their starting spots. One of the possibilities to start at middle linebacker was Kiko Alonso, who was returning from a year long suspension as a result of a DUI.
Alonso had been having a great Spring until he was arrested on the suspicion of trespassing. Chip Kelly has given Alonso enough chances and now he will not be suiting up for the Ducks in 2011. Since Oregon rotates so many player on defense there should be guys ready to step in but we will need to wait and see if there is any drop off in production.
Best No. 2: Cliff Harris Is Getting Even Better
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Last year, Cliff Harris solidified himself as one of the most dangerous scorers in college football—and he doesn’t play offense. When Harris gets the ball in his hands, whether it be on a punt or an interception, he has a nose for the end zone.
Despite his slender frame, tacklers have a hard time bring down Harris once he gets going. Duck fans should be excited that Harris spent much of the Spring working on his man coverage which will hopefully lead to less blown coverages.
The only way I see Harris having a worse year than last season is if quarterbacks stop throwing his way.
Worst No. 1: The Depletion of the Offensive Line
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For those of you that watched the Oregon Spring Game this should not come as a surprise. Oregon graduated three starting O-linemen from last year’s team which does not bode well for Heisman Trophy finalist LaMichael James.
The Ducks are fairly deep on the offensive line but most potential starter lack experience. For Oregon to win the Pac-12 this year their offensive line will need to become a cohesive unit that can dominate the trenches and give the Duck’s athletes room to run.
Best No. 1: LaMichael James Returning for His Junior Season
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There should be no argument here. Chip Kelly may be the brains behind Oregon’s offense but LaMichael James is the wheels. Although the Ducks have a lot of talent behind James, there is no replacing the nation’s leading rusher.
He is a special talent who dictates the defensive game plan for opponents. With some new starters on the offensive line, James may not produce at the same level right away but rest assured he is going to have another outstanding season for the Green and Yellow.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
