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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 15, 1996)
MATHEW STlFFLER/EmerakJ The Oregon offensive line has met many expectations set for them this season. The line’s protection of its quarterbacks has been the best among Pac-10 schools this year. The Offensive Lines Last Dance After jour years together, four of Oregon’s five starting offensive linemen will play in their last home game on Saturday By Chris Hansen Sports Reporter Even before the start of the season, Ore gon head coach Mike Bellotti was touting his starting offensive line as the strength and stability of his offense. And who could blame him? After all, the line had all five starters returning, including four seniors. But early on in the season, Oregon had problems establishing and sustaining a run ning game, guard Willy Rife went down for the year with a knee injury and the Ducks then found themselves in the midst of a five game losing streak. Suddenly, Oregon’s of fensive line looked like a group of under achievers. Then, last Saturday against Arizona, tail back Saladin McCullough ran for 223 yards and five touchdowns, and quarterbacks Tony Graziani and Ryan Perry-Smith had all the time in the world to throw the ball. Just like that, the offensive line was once again being praised for its greatness. But if you were to ask any of the lineman, they would say they have played pretty con sistently all season, and the great games by McCullough and the quarterbacks last Sat urday just complemented the solid game that they played. “People say we haven’t been able to run the ball well, but it is not because we haven’t wanted to,” left tackle Paul Wiggins claimed. “It just seems we have been in many situations where we have to give up the run because we need a quicker way to get into the game.” True, the Ducks’ poor play on defense has put the offense in die position of having to come from way behind many times this sea son. This has led to Fa pass-dominated of fense. But even then the line has played ex ceptionally, leading the conference in fewest sacks allowed while also leading the Ob . r~_~/,j r\_ conference in passes attempted. “They have performed up to all expecta tions that I had, for the most part,” assistant head and offensive line coach Neal Zoum boukos said. “They have protected the quar terback extremely well in all the games. I am very pleased with what they have done.” What they have done is show what a group of guys who have played together for four years can do when they become one co hesive unit. “The experience of playing with each oth er for four years really helps our game,” right guard Tasi Malepeai said. “We were all on the scout team together and moved up at roughly the same time,” center Mark Gregg said. "That has helped us to gel and come together. We’re so in tune with each other that we always know what the other is doing and what each others’ ten dencies are.” Even though they are all together as a unit, each player brings something different, a characteristic of his own, to the line. Wiggins: The most athletic of the group and definitely the strongest. “We nicknamed him the Tower of Pow er’ because he is the muscle of the group,” Gregg said. “This young man obviously has a future playing on Sundays,” Zoumboukos said. Malepeai: At 6-foot-2, 340 pounds, he is the largest on the line. He has deceptive quickness for a person his size and is also very agile. “He is one of the better guards around,” Wiggins said. “He can do it all out there. It is amazing to watch him.” Gregg: Not as physically imposing as the other lineman, but makes up for it in intelli gence. Along with Malepeai, Gregg is known for talking on the field. “It is like having another coach out there on the field,” Zoumboukos said. “He is the ultimate competitor out there,” Wiggins said. “He is a brawler.” Baldwin: Speedy, athletic and motivated. Stepped in for the injured Rife and has done well. Turn to OFFENSE, Page 7B _ MARK McTYR E/Emerald Oregon s often eh/e lineman Tael Malepeal uses his size and deceptive quickness to protect the quarterback and open running lanes for the running backs.
