Offensive
Outlook
by Jerry Thompson
Oregon was a very good first half
team in almost every game last year
but the big question is whether they
have solved their lackluster performances
in the second half. A tough Mississippi
State team at home will be a good test
to see if they have found the needed
answers. We’ve looked at the line
and quarterbacks. Here are the rest
of the players who should be the biggest
contributors on offense.
Tailbacks: 24 - Terrence Whitehead,
5-10, 202; 22 - Chris Vincent, 6-1, 223;
27 - Ryan Shaw, 5-11, 205
Fullbacks: 32 - Matt Floberg, 6-3, 250;
33 - Luke Rowley, 6-1, 239;
44 - Dante Rosario, 6-4, 240
Wide Receivers: 1 - Samie Parker, 5-11;
180, 6 - Demetrius Williams, 6-2, 185,
80 - Kellen Taylor, 6-1, 185;
83 - Marcus Maxwell, 6-5, 194;
89 - Garren Strong, 6-4, 180;
26 - Kyle Weatherspoon, 6-1, 186
Tight Ends:
85 - Tim Day, 6-4, 267; 88 - Nate
LiaBratten, 6-4, 245; 82 - Dan Kause,
6-4, 246.
Special Teams: Kicker: 25 - Jared Siegel;
Snapper: 48 - Ryan Loftin; Punter:
36 - Paul Martinez
Some of last year’s second half
problems were due to the loss of
Onterrio Smith. This year sophomore
Tererence Whitehead has had a full
spring and summer to get in better
shape as well as knowing he will he
a running back and not be on defense.
The result is he is faster,
quicker, and stronger. The
same is true for redshirt freshman
Chris Vincent and junior Ryan Shaw.
Whitehead appears to have the best
vision and cutting ability while Vincent
is great for power running and carrying
tacklers for extra yards. Shaw, one of
the strongest players pound for pound
on the team is great on getting to the
corner on sweeps. The elusive Kenny
Washington is also healthy and
provides needed depth since no new
running backs were signed during
recruiting. At fullback seniors Matt
Floberg and Luke Rowley are big and
very tough blockers. Look for them to
run the ball a little more this season.
Freshman Dante Rosario has been very
impressive running from the fullback
position and looks like a can’t miss star
of the future there.
At the receiver positions the
Ducks combine both speed and size
this year. They lost Keenan Howry and
Jason Willis to graduation and also
lost projected starter for the season
Keith Allen to a knee injury at the
beginning of fall camp. Fortunately the
cupboards are not bare. Samie Parker,
maybe the fastest collegiate receiver in
the U.S. returns for his senior year and
he hopes to add to his 49 receptions
with 8 TDs from last year. The lanky
and sure-handed Demetrius Williams
has earned his chance for the limelight
on the other side. Junior college
transfers Kellen Taylor and Marcus
Maxwell also provide
size and toughness
and will be counted
on heavily to con-
tribute. Behind them
are a bevy of fresh-
man: Garren Strong,
Kyle Weatherspoon,
Brian Paysinger, and
Jordan Carey. The
Ducks would like
to redshirt of couple
of them. As for
W ID E RE CE I V ER
SA MI E PA RK E R
now it looks like
Weatherspoon will be
first in line for play-
ing time this year.
The tight end
position is in good
hands as long as the
big guys can stay
healthy. Valualbe
back-up Josh Rogers,
a senior, was lost for the season
in fall camp and J.C. transfer Eddie
Whitaker will miss the first game
due to an ankle injury. The Ducks
use two tight ends quite extensively
so Day, LiaBraaten, and true freshman
Dan Kause as well as senior Ryan
Loftin should be kept very busy.
The kicking game is in good hands
with Jared Siegel as long as he stops
trying to act like a defensive back,
risking his valuable leg. His 59-yarder
Ducks Illustrated photo: Walt Grondona
was margin of victory over UCLA last
year. On kickoffs he needs to stay
on his side of the 50 and only make
a tackle to save a touchdown. The
punting situation is a real concern as
true freshman Paul Martinez appears
to have won the job but has not be
real impressive. Hopefully the offense
will be so high-powered this year
that the talented newcomer will not
be placed in too many pressure
situations too early.
Defensive
Outlook
by Jerry Thompson
The defensive coaches have
done their homework and will
do their best to prevent the horrible
past defense of last year. Coach
Bellotti has stressed that it’s not
just the cornerbacks to blame but
all 11 players need to
step us their game. A better
pass rush should be in the offing and
that could help immensely. We’ve
looked at the D-line, here’s the
linebackers and defensive backs:
L I N E B AC K E R
K E VI N M IT C HE L L
Middle LB: 52 - Jerry Matson, 6-1, 224;
37 - Justin Andrews, 6-1, 242; 10 - Scott
Vossmeyer, 6-3, 223
Inside LB: 39 - Kevin Mitchell, 5-11, 220;
18-Ramone Reed, 6-2, 213;
49 - Marcus Miller, 6-2, 218
Outside LB: 84 - Anthony Trucks, 6-1,
219; 54 - Reggie Kerney, 6-2, 200;
21- David Martin, 6-0, 218
Corners: 4 - Steven Moore, 5-9, 182;
5 - Aaron Gipson, 5-9, 183;
2 - Marques Binns, 5-11, 163;
14 -Sam Hughes, 5-10, 190;
11 - Charles Favroth, 5-11, 185;
17 - Rodney Woods, 5-10, 185.
Free Safety: 16 - Keith Lewis, 6-1, 200;
31 - Justin Phinisee, 5-10, 195;
28 - J.D. Nelson, 5-11, 197
Rover: 23 - Marley Tucker, 6-0, 183;
7 - Stephen Clayton, 5-11, 193;
3 - Demetrius Spates, 5-11, 196.
The linebackers and defensive
backs instead of being the “smash unit”
has been the “M.A.S.H.” unit this fall.
Promising linebacker Rob Hamilton was
lost for the season the second week of
fall camp and starters and key back-ups
Kevin Mitchell, Jerry Matson, Justin
Andrews, Ramone Reed have missed
most of fall camp as far as physical
contact. Starter David Martin ran into
academic questions and his status is
is question. Only converted QB Scott
Vossmeyer and walk-ons Steve Lynn,
Jonathan Levine, and Brent Haberly
have been healthy throughout
camp. Highly touted freshman Lance
Broadus who chose the Ducks over
Nebraska has never been cleared and
A.J. Tuitelte who was switched from
rover to linebacker broke his finger
last week in camp. Things aren’t much
better for the backs as much needed
corner Marc Walker never was cleared
to play and Rodney Woods has been
hurt off and on.
In some ways nothing has
changed from last year as it looks
like the diminutive duo of Moore
and Gipson are the starters with the
slender Binns as the back-up. We
keep hearing size doesn’t matter in
cornerbacks and I hope I am proven
wrong this year. I just don’t buy it.
I’d like to see Gipson backing up
Moore and Justin Phinisee, Sam Hughes,
and Charles Favroth much more in
the mix on the other side. If that
doesn’t work how about playing Keith
Lewis, the fastest db on the team at
corner? I think he’d relish the chance
to show what he can do. The attitude
is better this year and here’s hoping
that the players’ improvement as well
as adjustment of schemes keeps the
opponents out of the endzone a lot
more this season.
Ducks Illustrated photo: Walt Grondona
Ducks I llustrated
AUGUST 28, 2003 11