08/17/17 Emerald Media - Gameday Edition

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EMBRACING A BLUE COLLAR CULTURE is one way the new Duck coaching staff is turning around the football program, and it includes some interesting tactics.

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ON THE COVER

Defensive line coah Joe Salave Photograph by Theo Mechain

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GAMEDAY

Players to watch in 2017 BY: Aaron Alter @aaronalter95 | PHOTO: Adam Eberhardt, Aaron Nelson and Theo Mechain Oregon Ducks running back Taj Griffin (5) avoids a tackle.

Taj Griffin

Oregon runningback Royce Freeman (21) works on his agility.

Oregon Ducks corner back Thomas Graham Jr. (10) catches an overhead pass.

Royce Freeman

Thomas Graham

This one might seem obvious, but it’s difficult to overstate how Freeman impacts the Ducks. In his first two seasons, Freeman rushed for a combined 3,201 yards and 35 touchdowns. An early season injury against Nebraska put a dent in his production last season. Freeman still rushed for 945 yards and nine touchdowns.

The prospect of a healthy season for Freeman should frighten the Pac-12. He is a physical runner able to break tackles and finish runs with consistency. He also possesses the speed and vision to hit holes and extend runs to the second level. That combination of skills will likely make Freeman the centerpiece of Oregon’s offense this season.

Graham was one of the Ducks’ most touted recruits, and he’s been showing why in practice. Despite his status as a true freshman and the relative depth of the cornerback position, Graham has consistently spent time with the first team defense. He possesses solid speed (4.52 40-yard dash) and a strong technical foundation.

In practice, he’s flashed terrific awareness. Namely, he knows when not to make a play on the ball, and lock up a receiver before they can do more damage. For an Oregon team that struggled to contain pass-heavy offenses, Graham’s discipline and speed will be welcomed.

Oregon Ducks linebacker Troy Dye (35) catches the ball during a drill.

Troy Dye

#5 #21 #10 #35

Griffin was impressive in his debut season with the Ducks in 2015.

A combination of speed and lateral quickness led to three rushing touchdowns and an average of 7.9 yards per carry. However, due to injury he only played in eight games last season. Despite his shortened season, Griffin still found success, scoring three rushing touchdowns.

Now that he’s recovered from his injury, watch for Griffin to contribute in a big way this season. He possesses the versatility to contribute as both a receiver and rusher. When he’s firing on all cylinders, there are few defenders that can match Griffin’s sheer speed.

On a defense that struggled in 2016, Troy Dye was one of the few bright spots. As a true freshman, the inside linebacker recorded 91 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and six sacks. All three of those statistics led the team.

Dye’s vision and speed helped him fly around the field, displaying an ability to disrupt a wide array of plays.

While his freshman season was spent mostly stopping the run, Dye has the instincts and physical tools to be a threat in coverage as well.

While the defense as a whole will be much improved this season, Dye will without a doubt still be its focal piece.

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GAMEDAY

With Carrington gone, it’s next man

up for Oregon’s young receivers BY: Aaron Alter @aaronalter95 | PHOTO: Aaron Nelson and Theo Mechain

Going into the 2017 season, Darren Carrington was supposed to be the Ducks’ star receiver.

The athletic wideout led the Ducks with 606 yards in 2016, and built a reputation for incredible catches.

Unfortunately, he also had become known for his frequent run-ins with law enforcement, which culminated in his dismissal from the Ducks following a DUI. Now, Oregon’s remaining crop of young receivers are preparing to take the reigns for themselves.

The Ducks’ wideouts enter 2017 led by senior Charles Nelson. Nelson was the team’s second leading receiver in 2016, racking up 554 yards and five touchdowns. While Carrington’s departure makes him the top receiver on the team, Nelson seems unfazed by the role.

“It hasn’t changed my approach at all,” Nelson said. “It’s business; it’s the game. I was excited for the season no matter what. I was excited last year, and the year before that. It’s nothing new.”

Beyond Nelson, however, the Ducks are largely untested.

Sophomore Dillon Mitchell pencils in as the likely number two option, and that’s with only

two receptions to his name. However, Mitchell performed well in his two spring games, recording 75 and 104 yards.

Looking forward, Mitchell believes the key to his success lies in his head.

“I took a lot of time to think, and I rushed myself a lot last year,” Mitchell said. “It started to really frustrate me, and I had to get my mind right.”

His solution? Adopt a new persona.

“I took on a Conor McGregor personality,” Mitchell said. “I’m willing to go to combat for any of my teammates, and I know that this year is gonna be a special year for me.”

Behind Mitchell, nothing is certain.

Freshmen Johnny Johnson III, Daewood Davis and Jaylon Redd will all have chances to become impact players. In particular, Johnson is making a splash in practice. Sophomore Brenden Schooler has also converted from safety to receiver, and hopes to be a fixture in his new role.

“We’ve got a good group of young wide receivers,” wide receivers coach Michael Johnson said. “We got veterans like Charles Nelson.

We got Dillon Mitchell. … Johnny Johnson’s done a great job in the first couple of days.”

Oregon Ducks wide receiver Dillon Mitchell (13) secures an over-the-shoulder catch.

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The common characteristic all of the above players share, at least according to Johnson, is their work ethic.

“We’ve got a good group of guys that are working hard and trying to get better each and every day,” Johnson said.

The respect Johnson has for his young players is mutual. Mitchell said that he made a point to understand what they had learned prior to this year, but also established a new status quo. He’s tough, but also encouraging.

“He lets us know that we’re gonna do everything correctly, and we’re gonna clean up all the stuff that we don’t do correctly,” Mitchell said. “Even if we don’t have guys like [Carrington], he just put in our minds that we can do it if we believe in ourselves.”

Freshman Johnny Johnson III (80) awaits his turn for offensive drills.

GAMEDAY Team Free running back Royce Freeman (21) throws a ball to a teammate during the warm up.

Oregon runningback Royce Freeman (21) practices offensive blocking drills during Oregon Football training camp.

Taggart believes Royce Freeman compares to another Pac-12 great he coached at Stanford BY: Jack Butler @Butler917 The Ducks enter week three of training camp ready to build on a scrimmage on Saturday. By head coach Willie Taggart’s account it was good, but there were some things that needed to be fixed before the season starts.

“We had a lot of penalties with the refs being out there,” Taggart said. “It was a good scrimmage we all can learn from.

It was a good teaching scrimmage and we’re going to take our time and really watch that film.”

A group of players that need a lot of teaching are the backup quarterbacks.

They are young and inexperienced, but senior Taylor Alie is around to help them.

“I’ve been really impressed with Taylor,” Taggart said. “He’s a kid out there just having fun and it’s good to see. ... Dealing with the younger guys, he’s great with that and interacting with all the guys.”

Taggart, who has a track record of producing and coaching quality running backs, sees Royce Freeman as the next great.

“I tell you what, Royce has some speed,” Taggart said. “It’s pretty cool to have a guy that’s big, strong that can run some people over and run away from

people too. Royce reminds me a lot of Toby Gerhart.”

Gerhart was a runner-up for the 2008 Heisman Trophy while Taggart coached running backs at Stanford. Ducks fans remember Gerhart as the running back who stomped all over their national championship game hopes. In a big upset, Gerhart ran for 223 yards and three touchdowns.

Many believe Gerhart should have won the Heisman that season.

“Yes he should have,” Taggart said. “I don’t know who was voting but that was so wrong. So wrong.”

With young receiver but experienced offensive lineman and running backs, this season could be a banner year for Freeman.

“I think the ground game has always been the strength of Oregon football,” Taggart said. “I don’t see that being any different.”

In the 20-minute open section of practice, the Ducks practiced punt coverage.

Players returning punts were Darrian McNeal, Brenden Schooler, Jaylon Redd, Casey Eugenio and Darrian Felix were practicing returning punts.

Oregon Ducks running back Royce Freeman (21) leaps over a large medicine ball during a drill.

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COVER

REBUILDING U

Defensice line coach Joe Salave’a wears his mechanics shirt everyday to the Duck’s fall practice to remind players of the Duck’s new blue collar mentality.

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niversity of Oregon defensive line coach Joe Salave’a wears the same shirt to practice every day. He runs around in the sweltering August heat, sweating, yelling, and celebrating when the defense makes a play.

The shirt is blue and collared — just like one you’d see a mechanic wearing at the local car repair shop. Every coach and team manager has one with their names across the front, though not all of them wear it every day like Salave’a.

The blue collar shirts are a physical symbol of what Taggart wants Oregon to be. He wants Oregon’s players to rid themselves of the complacency and entitlement that doomed the Ducks last season by instilling the notion of hard work into the team’s identity. He rebuilt programs at Western Kentucky and South Florida, now it’s time for the Ducks to undergo the same changes.

“I’ve done it everywhere I’ve been,” head coach Willie Taggart said. “It’s just a mindset of what we want our football team to be like. … You hear so much about, ‘Oh, guys just come to Oregon for uniforms and all that.’ … We need to make sure we put in the work to get the program back to where it belongs.”

Salave’a sees himself as the embodiment of what the blue collars represent.

“I don’t know better,” he said. “All I’ve known as a collegiate athlete and a professional athlete is you earn your keep.

It starts with changing the culture.

During the press conference in which athletic director Rob Mullens announced the firing of former coach Mark Helfrich, one line stood out.

“We were on a poor trajectory,” he said.

The downfall of the program was obvious on the field, and it showed with the 4-8 record of the team. But it was behind the scenes, detailed in a report by the Oregonian, where the team lost. Players skipped warmups, arrived late to meetings and eased their way through workouts, among other things, with little punishment from the coaching staff.

Additionally, two players were arrested during the season and numerous others got into trouble with the law. It was a failure to build a culture of accountability and it cost Mark Helfrich his job.

Enter Willie Taggart. He played and coached under Jack Harbaugh and his son Jim Harbaugh. Taggart, a man with energy and enthusiasm, was not shy in his debut press conference.

“I don’t get along with boring people,” Taggart said. “I just don’t.”

He debuted the tag-lines he often uses to define what Oregon is going to be. “Do something” is a popular one.

It’s now a hashtag and Taggart made a wristband with the slogan on it. It replaced the popular “Win the Day,” and it’s more than just a typical slogan.

He has his three tenants: “Make no excuses. Blame no one. Do something.” Those words are now displayed on a banner that runs along a wall at Oregon’s practice fields.

So has Taggart done something to replace the previous culture?

By most accounts, yes. The common thread among players is that they are getting to know each other. Taggart noticed this team seemed separated when he arrived, so he created activities that got the players together.

The activities range from Madden tournaments to going swimming, and all in all, it seems to be paying off.

“We’ve been spending a lot more time with each other,” sophomore linebacker Lamar Winston Jr. said. “That’s huge, building a relationship with the guys that are going to be standing next to you on the field and playing for every down.”

G A WINNING CULTURE “The chemistry takes our game to another level.”

Winston continued: “Not only when you’re getting coached up by a teammate, but also when a teammate is encouraging you, it just means a lot more when you have that type of bond built between, well, all of us.”

The time spent with one another is a stark contrast to the team vibes just one year ago.

“I feel like everybody was on a different page,” sophomore wide receiver Dillon Mitchell said. “Everybody was going through their own tribulations and nobody connected well. Nobody found a way to make camaraderie” So Taggart decided to change that.

Coaches and players stayed in the dorms for the first week of fall camp. The close environment forces people to get to know each other, and the rooms were assigned randomly so players could be with guys that they wouldn’t usually talk to.

“That’s a huge thing,” Mitchell said. “We’ve already been talking and just getting to know our roommates closer.”

But it wasn’t all fun. One early morning, the Oregon band played the fight song in the halls as an alarm at 5:30 a.m.

“That sucked,” senior safety Khalil Oliver said. “They actually woke us up like an hour earlier than we had to leave.

It was fun though. I think the band enjoyed it a lot more than we did.”

It’s all part of Taggart’s plan.

“Some guys were like, ‘Coach we beat you to it. We was already over here,’ so that was cool,” Taggart said. “Some players were like, ‘C’mon Coach, why you got to do us like that?’ I told them they’ve got to learn the fight song.”

Team bonding is important. It makes sense. How could you play together if you don’t know and respect one another?

But it is also known within the program that tangible improvements need to be made. Playing video games and team dinners are nice, but being able to physically dominate an opponent will have more impact on the field.

Oregon Ducks head coach Willie Taggart encourages a group of offensive players as they move the ball down the field.

BY: Jack Butler @Butler917 PHOTO: Aaron Nelson and Theo Mechain

Taggart was honest in his assessment of the state of the football team when he arrived, stating he was surprised how the team was out of shape.

He hired a new strength and conditioning staff to manage the team. Irele Oderinde leads in the weight room now, and players are raving about their new physical conditions.

There are many players saying “Coach O got us right.”

Taggart even joked about the body improvements of generally shy quarterback Justin Herbert.

“Justin’s walking outside with his shirt off now, and if you all know Justin, that wasn’t him before.”

If the team truly is in a new found physical condition, then that will become obvious on the field. It’s possible the Ducks will make big strides after an offseason of proper strength and conditions. In football, the slightest edge in physical condition can tilt the field.

New coaches always encounter bumps along the way.

Oregon is no different. These weren’t typical bumps, more like hills.

During winter conditioning, three players were sent to the hospital after “military style workouts,” as initially reported in the Oregonian.

Taggart refuted the claim that the workouts were akin to the military, but the fact remained that three players went to the hospital. The news spread across the sports world. It was a public relations nightmare, and Oregon suspended Oderinde three months without pay.

Then, newly hired assistant coach David Reaves was arrested in Eugene for DUI. Another assistant coach, Jimmie Dougherty, was a passenger in the car. Reaves was fired, and Dougherty left to coach at UCLA. It hasn’t all been smooth sailing for the Ducks, but time has passed since those incidents, and all eyes are on the upcoming season.

As always, expectations are high at Oregon. But this is a rebuild, so the blue collar attitude will need to continue throughout the season, and probably carry over to 2018.

Let’s just hope Salava’e remembers to wash his shirt.

Oregon Ducks defensive line coach and assistant head coach Joe Salave’a chases after one his players following a successful Oklahoma drill.

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GAMEDAY

Oregon Ducks defensive linemen Jordon Scott (34) reaches for a tennis ball during an individual drill. .

Young players will make an impact this season BY: Gus Morris @JustGusMorris | PHOTO: Aaron Nelson When Willie Taggart arrived at Oregon in December, he had a message for all returning players: time to earn your spot.

Taggart wasn’t about to let Oregon repeat its mistakes after a tumultuous 2016 campaign where a reported lack of leadership and accountability inevitably doomed the Ducks’ season.

So far in his tenure, Taggart has made recruiting a focal point of the program in hopes of not only getting the best players, but players who will push returners who may have gotten too comfortable with their roles on the team.

As week three of fall camp wraps up, it’s apparent that approach is working. Some members of Taggart’s inaugural class have impressed Oregon’s staff enough for them to be discussed as potential starters.

Even though Oregon returns a seasoned core for its 2017 season, there should be no shortage of young players who will see significant playing time in the months to come.

“They got an opportunity to take somebody’s job,” Taggart said. “We’re giving them that and I think you’ll see a lot of freshmen play for us this year.”

While Oregon’s 2018 recruiting class is the one making headlines for its historically high ranking, it’s the quickly-compiled 2017 class that is already making an impact on the practice field. To some,

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it’s their talent that stands out most about this fall camp.

“They really look good coming in,” senior offensive lineman Jonah Moi said. “I mean, they’re just flowing into college practices and stuff and they look good.”

“That’s what’s been most surprising for me, is how fast they are, how strong they are.”

Moi added that this group of freshman has learned schemes and plays at a much quicker rate than he’s seen from freshmen in the past.

He credits a lot of that to their work ethic — staying late at practice, for instance — and how they’ve listened to what upperclassmen are teaching them.

For some freshman, their talent alone has elevated them into conversations about starting roles. For instance, defensive lineman Jordon Scott and corner Thomas Graham Jr., both who also impressed coaches during spring practices, are so far succeeding in their position battles with a slew of veterans.

While other freshmen, like defensive lineman Austin Faoliu and linebackers Sampson Niu and Isaac Slade-Matautia, don’t appear to be in the running to start, they should still be in line to receive a fair amount of playing time this season.

But for others, extended playing time may come out of sheer necessity. With the transfer of Travis

Jonsen and the dismissal of Darren Carrington, depth at wide receiver and quarterback is thin.

On the surface, Oregon should be fine at those positions. Charles Nelson is coming off a career year, Dillon Mitchell is set for a breakout season and Justin Herbert should improve from his freshman year. But it’s when you look past the firststring depth chart that questions arise.

At quarterback only former walk-on Taylor Alie has converted an in-game pass attempt. And aside from Nelson, Oregon’s returning wide receivers own a total of three collegiate receptions. The lack of depth at the position have even forced safety Brenden Schooler to the offensive side of the ball for the first time since high school.

Co-offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo said that the newcomers are learning, but that they’re also “drinking out of a fire-hose right now” in terms of new information and schemes being thrown at them.

“90 percent of the wide receiver room ... every guy that raises their hand it that room is in their seventh practice,” Arroyo said during the second week of fall practice.

Oregon possesses plenty of talented young players who may be forced into the starting lineup sooner than expected. Don’t be surprised if there are at least a few freshmen starting in the Ducks’ season opener on September 2.

GAMEDAY

Coaches on the virtual recruiting trail BY: Gus Morris @JustGusMorris | PHOTO: Aaron Nelson

Oregon Ducks safeties coach Keith Heyward leads safety Brenden Schooler (43) through a one-on-one drill.

Oregon Ducks quarterback Justin Herbert (10) runs a footwork drill with cooffensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Marcus Arroyo.

If you follow almost any member of Oregon’s new coaching staff on Twitter, their tweets probably light up your timeline when a new recruit commits or a player makes a highlight play in practice. Don’t forget Willie Taggart’s ringing recruit phone, Marcus Arroyo’s seemingly infinite amount of hashtags or Jim Leavitt’s Pepsi obsession.

In terms of activity on social media, this new staff is a 180-degree turn from the previous administration. They can read the writing on the wall when it comes to where football is heading, and they are using social media as a tool that has the potential to change the face of Oregon football.

“I think that’s kind of the world we live in today,” said Arroyo, Oregon’s new co-offensive coordinator and the most active social media member on the staff. “I think it helps promote the value of this place, the value of our program, our players, our staff.”

That’s the overall message that Oregon’s staff wants to convey. They possess state-of-the-art facilities and a beautiful campus. Why wouldn’t you advertise that?

Pair that with Taggart being the first outside hire at head coach since 1977, who also brings in an entirely new staff, getting your brand and faces out to the public seems like a smart move.

Other than attempting to publicize who they are, Oregon’s staff puts social media, specifically Twitter, to use in recruiting.

Taggart and his staff put a new emphasis on recruiting since the moment they donned the green and yellow. They’ve used every tool in their arsenal — including social media — and so far, it’s paid off.

In just nine months, Oregon pulled together a respectable 2017 recruiting class with multiple members who could see hefty playing time this season.

But what’s even more impressive is what the staff has done with the 2018 recruiting class, which has the potential to be the best in program history.

Scout.com currently lists Oregon’s 2018 class as the best class in the country, while 247sports.com holds Oregon in the top five. Even with a program as good as Oregon’s has been over the past decade, the Ducks have never pulled in a recruiting class ranked in the top-10 nationally.

The new staff wants to dispel the notion that Oregon can’t draw big-time recruiting classes.

“Again, anytime we can spread the word and spread the word about what we’re about and get people to know who we are, especially as a new staff and a place that apparently ‘couldn’t get people to it,’ we gotta be able to do it,” Arroyo said.

While Arroyo is arguably the most active on Twitter, it’s safeties coach Keith Heyward who probably utilizes it the best. Ranked as a top-10 national recruiter by 247sports.com, Heyward has already secured five commitments, four of which are four-star recruits. His resume also includes nabbing second-round NFL pick Juju Smith-Schuster during his time at USC. “I recruit the same way I’ve always done it,” Heyward said. “I just think it’s about building a good relationship because in the end, the kids are going to choose to go with who they feel comfortable with.”

Heyward said that the emergence of social media as a major platform for recruits has made reaching out to them and beginning a dialogue easier. It’s the main way he communicates with recruits.

“You can do a lot of different things through social media, whether it’s messaging them, whether it’s edits, just hitting them up to have them call you,” Heyward said. “So it’s all different kind of things.”

Oregon’s new staff has certainly made a point of ushering in a new era of Duck football one tweet at a time.

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GAMEDAY Oregon Ducks cornerback Arrion Springs (13) listens to a question from a reporter before practice.

Defense feels

one step ahead BY: Jack Butler @Butler917 | PHOTO: Aaron Nelson and Adam Eberhardt

Oregon defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt talks with Team Brave cornerback Tyree Robinson (21) during the warm up..

Oregon Ducks defensive back Khalil Oliver (26) answers questions from a reporter.

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Defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt answers questions from the media with speed and efficiency. He stands in the scrum looking ancy, clearly wanting to be on the field. He even ends media time himself by announcing he only has time for one more question. Then he runs to the practice field.

If you had to fix Oregon’s defense you’d want to spend all hours of the day working on it.

Brady Hoke couldn’t do it. The defense regressed in his one season as defensive coordinator. Leavitt brings a familiar 3-4 scheme, a similar one to which Oregon played with under longtime coordinator Nick Aliotti.

Defensive players have their third defensive coordinator in a four year span, but this time, players feel they understand the system and feel more comfortable, especially compared to last season. If the defense is to reach respectable levels, that’s a good place to start.

“The way we’re communicating, and on the same page — it’s a lot better,” senior safety Khalil Oliver said. “More talking after the play.

More talking on the sidelines. … More accountability in [the secondary] as far the ones and twos go. If something happens we’re all communicating.”

The defense returns almost all the starters from a season ago. The secondary, once a young starting group, is now the veteran strength of the team. Safeties Tyree Robinson, Khalil Oliver are both entering their fourth years with the program.

They have significant playing time under their belts. Senior cornerback Arrion Springs is entering his third year starting.

There is possibly new blood in the other cornerback position with Thomas Graham Jr. making plays since he stepped on campus. He is competing with junior Ugochukwu Amadi, who

started last season, for the final spot.

Talent and experience lines the secondary, so the Ducks new defense will take advantage.

“Our defense now puts more pressure on the quarterback; we’re sending people,” Amadi said.

Granted, if the Ducks want to blitz often, they give something up, and that’s numbers in pass coverage.

The strategy relies on corners to win 1-on-1 battles. It’s a departure from the zone defenses played before.

“Because it’s a passing conference, you don’t want corners who are scared and not confident,” Amadi said. “You want to have that ‘it’ factor. … It’s a lot better because you don’t have to worry about anything.

You don’t have to make the play confusing out there. It’s just, ‘hey, you just got him. Do it.’”

The “do it” part is easier said than done. For Amadi, at least, he’s been doing it most of his football life.

“You grew up playing 1-on-1,” he said. “Flag football, anything, let’s go outside and go 1-on-1. You’ve been raised to do that.”

The secondary has their business, but if left on an island for too long, they will get exposed. Before that, the Ducks hope they’ll have the quarterback sacked or pressured into a foolish turnover, which the Ducks desperately missed last season.

“There’s no question it’s not luck,” Leavitt said. “It’s a conscious effort.”

So who is going to be the guy to effectively chase the quarterback?

Justin Hollins is a name that is thrown around, but at the moment, a couple guys are in play.

“He’s pushing for a starting spot,” linebackers coach Raymond Woodie said. “Right now we’re teaching him to play the run. We know he has pass rushing ability, but if he gets [run defense] down, he’s going to be a force.”

A force the Ducks and Leavitt desperately need to revive a defense.

GAMEDAY

Ranking the best units the Ducks will face this season BY: Jack Butler @Butler917

QUARTERBACK A tough call between UCLA’s Josh Rosen and Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen. The Ducks face both on the road this season and they are a big reason why the road games in 2017 are so daunting. Rosen was labelled college football’s golden boy since he came in as a freshman two seasons ago. He has yet to meet expectations, partially because of injuries, but he has all the talent one needs to succeed. In six games last season Rosen completed almost 60 percent of his passes, throwing 10 touchdowns and five interceptions while averaging 319 yards per game. Solid numbers, so the Ducks defense will have their work cut out for them on October 21.

Honorable Mention: Allen, Wyoming. Jake Browning, Washington.

DEFENSIVE LINE The Utes come to Autzen stadium looking to avenge the upset from last season. The Utes bring the best defensive line the Ducks will see all season. Kyle Fitts provides a good edge-rush while Lowell Lotulelei and Filipo Mokofisi clog the middle. Lotulelei has been a fixture on the first team All-Pac-12 team while a healthy Fitts can provide the edge all defenses need.

Honorable Mention: Washington

RUNNING BACKS LINEBACKERS The Cardinal have no specific linebacker that stands above the rest, but the unit is as deep as any in the country. They return all four starters from last season and they have a six- man rotation just at inside linebacker. Kevin Palma, Bobby Okereke will start inside but will constantly be rotating and fresh. Fifth-year senior Peter Kalambayi defends one edge while Mike Tyler and Joey Alfieri combine for the other.

Honorable Mention: Washington

DEFENSIVE BACKS Opposite of the linebackers, Stanford has secondary players who can individually be stars. Cornerbacks Quenton Meeks and Alijah Holder were promising young players who had a knack for grabbing interceptions. Now, they’re veterans who can still cover anyone 1-on-1. Both are All-Pac-12 candidates along with safety Justin Reid. The Cardinal have depth at all the secondary positions, and coach Duane Akina is considered one of the best in the nation.

Honorable Mention: UCLA

Myles Gaskin averaged close to 100 yards per game last season for an offense that returns a starting quarterback and multiple offensive lineman. He is a shifty runner with good lateral quickness that makes him hard to pin down. His pass protection is great too along with his ability to catch out of the backfield. He was UW’s leading rusher and fourth leading receiver.

Honorable Mention: Ryan Nall, Oregon State.

OFFENSIVE LINE The Huskies return a combined 97 starts despite losing two first team All-Pac-12 members. Trey Adams and Coleman Shelton should become some of the more dominating lineman in the conference as Washington hopes to bulldoze its way to another Pac-12 title.

Honorable Mention: Washington State, Stanford

WIDE RECIEVERS You’re probably tired of seeing Washington on this list, but the Huskies have weapons on the perimeter too. Yes, they lost John Ross to the NFL, but receivers Dante Pettis, Chico McClatcher and tight end Drew Sample are All-Pac-12 caliber weapons. Pettis is a fast receiver who stretches the field. He is small, but his speed kills.

Honorable Mention: California, UCLA

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