Humbly, Oregon’s big O-line takes charge
■The Ducks’ offensive line has allowed just eight sacks this
year, giving it the best record in the Pac-10
By Adam Jude
Oregon Daily Emerald
They are the unknown. They are
the behind-the-scene actors. They
are the hidden heroes.
They are five, big (very big)
humble men who make up the
core of Oregon’s offense.
They are the offensive line —
and they have been one of the keys
to the Ducks’ 4-0 start in the Pacif
ic-10 Conference.
“They’re a very underrated
group of players,” said quarterback
Joey Harrington, who reaps the
benefits of the line’s protection
more than anyone. “Nobody ever
seems to talk about the Oregon of
fensive line, but they’ve done an
exceptional job for an extended
period of time.”
At a combined weight of 1,520
pounds, the starting linemen —
left tackle Lee Gundy, left guard
Jim Adams, center Ryan Schmid,
right guard Joey Forster and right
tackle Corey Chambers — have al
lowed just eight quarterback sacks
this season, by far the fewest in the
Pacific-10 Conference. Stanford is
second with 13 sacks allowed.
Thanks to them, Harrington can
AH Ways Travel
• Last Day of Sale!!! •
London -$269.00*
Paris -$376.00*
Frankfurt -$350.00*
Amsterdam -$373.00*
•tax not included, restrictions may apply.
Subject to change without notice.
Serving UO since 1990!!!
£-mail: awt@luv2travel.com
twice as nice
2 fori
or
50% Off
an enrollmenl tee on a Keep Fit Club ol Enrollment membership Pay a one time process
ing tee and first and last months' EFT monthly dues and youYe in! Otter expires UflO/OO
Downtown Eugeno: 686-4653
Batoway Sport 741-2444
Santa Clara: 461-7834
9 Portland are locations. 2 Vancouver WA locations.
Also in Salem and Medford.
Call now
1800.204.2400
©FITNESS
www.24HourFitness.com
to other tea»m8 on bt used *lh tto ofkr tost be a lest II years old. or 12 with parent to ash substitutions Incmtrts may bt offered (or enrokng in other nwrtiersfeps. Babysitting watoMc fa a nanrnaJ to. Facilities ami
amoiitiB ray vary per loatiai. tot al dubs open 24 ham erery day. Promotion avariabt» at paroopaong 24 tour lines loanons only. Offer doa not apply to Spatsng Oubs by 24 tour Finos to dub fa cation took.
stand in the pocket and pass with
efficiency, and Maurice Morris can
consistently rush for 118 yards a
game.
“There’s satisfaction knowing
that every time Joe throws a touch
down it’s because of us,” said
Gundy, a 6-foot-6 inch, 325-pound
senior. “Nobody says it, but that’s
about how it goes.”
Nobody needs to say a thing.
These mammoth men know their
roles and know they aren’t going to
get much recognition for it. The
satisfaction they have comes with
the success of the entire team.
“I just like watching ‘Mo run,”
said the 300-pound Adams, a jun
ior. “If he can break past that first
line of defense and get into the sec
ondary he has a fair chance of tak
ing it all the way.”
And when the “stars” do put
points up on the board, they don’t
forget how they got there.
“I try to make it a point that
when we have a good drive, to tell
them that I appreciate what they
did and let them know that I didn’t
forget about them,” Harrington
said. “We wouldn’t have a success
ful team without a successful of
fensive line. They’re doing a great
job and I think they deserve a lot of
credit.”
One of the keys for the line, said
head coach Mike Bellotti, is that
most of the linemen are versatile
and able to play several positions.
“I’ve been very pleased. Lee
Gundy has lived up to his role as
the senior leader of that group.
He’s played several positions
which has given us great flexibili
ty,” Bellotti said. “Jim Adams is ca
pable of playing better, but he also
plays two positions and I’m proud
of him for what he’s done.
“Those two and Ryan Schmid
have been the rocks in that group
that have been the foundation of
our performance.”
No matter what is said, the line
men know their roles and know
they have to continue to do them
every game.
“You always have to give your
quarterback time; you always have
to make the big holes,” Gundy
said. “We have to grind people
down. That’s our job. People start
out with just two- or three-yard
runs here and there, but by the end
of the game, they’re poppin’ five or
10 yards; that’s our job — to grind
It I try to make it a point
that when we have good
drive, to tell them that I
appreciate what they did
and let them know that I
didn't forget about them.
Joey Harrington
Oregon quarterback
people down and give Joe time.”
And there’s just something spe
cial about this offensive group.
Gundy says they are a “tight”
group of guys that like to hang out
together off the field as well.
“It’s kind of magical for me be
cause a lot of us came here togeth
er,” Adams said. “We came here
the same time as Joe and [tight end
Justin] Peelle, and maturing with
these guys, and then seeing them
become these star players and
watching them succeed, that’s the
biggest gratification I get.”
They even like to joke around
during post-practice conferences.
“I think Lee Gundy is just a ter
rible, terrible player,” Harrington
says in a loud, hysterical tone.
“Thanks Joe,” Gundy replies
with laughter, ‘’’I’ll get you later.”
While Gundy may get his re
venge, Joe knows that Gundy and
the rest of the line won’t let any
one else get him.
Dan Brunell Emerald
The offensive line knows it must hold up for Oregon’s offense to run smoothly.