might occur in short-yardage orr
red zone position, leaving a safety
(usually a lesser man-to-man cover
player) to defend a quicker wide
receiver. College teams have learned
a great deal from the pros in this
area, where all offenses try to set up
advantageous match ups, either by
formation, shifting, motion or
personnel substitution.
An example: the offense puts in
three tight ends in a short yardage
situation, requiring the defense to
get another run defender, a down
lineman, into the game to defend
the formation, and then passing.
These are difficult situations for defenses
to contend with.
DIAGRAM D
“We Must Distribute
the Pressure” —
Defensive Goal
for 2003
Three-Deep Disguised
Oregon defensive coaches spent
long hours in the off season dissecting
game films and kicking around ideas
for change. “On defense we’ve looked
at some things to take the pressure
off the corners and distribute that
pressure in a sense, to everybody,”
says Bellotti. “I think our pass rush
needs to be better… We spent some
corner
free
safety
strong
safety
corner
On snap, free safety
goes to the middle
DIAGRAM C
Two-Deep Disguised
“jam
receiver”
“jam
receiver”
corner
strong
safety
free
safety
corner
On the snap, both
safeties retreat quickly
to the middle
time with some professional and
college teams looking at alternate
schemes or adjustments to what
we do. We tried to do some things
before the season last year and then
again at mid-season, and whether we
did or didn’t make the necessary
changes is still up for debate.”
Just as the offense plans to
disguise their intentions to the
very snap of the ball, so too,
does the defense. In fact, Defensive
Coordinator Nick Aliotti said,
“We have made many changes in
our coverages, but the offense will
not be able to tell until the snap of
the ball. We have added some
two deep coverages and some with
a free safety in the middle of the
field. We are going to try and
move to those positions at the snap
of the ball.” This type of coverage
(see Diagrams C & D) can cause
problems for receivers who might
have to adjust their route by the
coverage they see, or quarterbacks
who have less time to recognize
their initial targets. Anything a
defense can do to delay or disrupt
the timing of the offensive skill
players in the passing game is a
big help, and can often mean the
difference in forcing a punt or allowing
a third-down conversion.
by Jerry Thompson
Duck Recruiting
Ducks Receive
News
some “BIG” Verbal
Commitments
Jacob Hucko: 6-8, 290
offensive tackle, Cerritos High
School, Cerritos, California :
Offensive line coach Neal
Zoumboukos cannot comment on verbal
commitments but he has told DI that he is
O FF EN S IV E TA C K L E
J AC OB HU C K O
excited about recruiting. One big reason is
Jacob Hucko (rhymes with Duck-O). Why
Jacob chose to be a Duck: “The thing that
sold me was the really intense community
support as well as the very stable coaching
staff.” He visited Eugene on Senior Day,
August 2nd and was impressed with the
billboards, posters, and even car dealerships
with Oregon football prominently displayed.
He ate at Track Town Pizza and remarked that
Eugene has the kind of college atmosphere
he is looking for. Jacob is an excellent student
who already has a 1240 on his SAT with
a 3.3 GPA. He excels in math and science and
intends to major in physics. When asked for
a self-evaluation Jacob said his lateral move-
ment and quickness and the ability to move
his body for a person his size is why he was
highly sought after. He was undefeated in
wrestling his junior year in the suburban
league in the heavyweight
class. His dad, Greg Hucko,
said Jacob loves football
and really wanted to be
a Duck. When the offer
came to their home
Greg said Jacob leaped
up and down. It looks
like “Zoomer” isn’t
the only one excited
about recruiting!
David Faaeteete:
The 6-3, 275 defensive
lineman was selected first
team All-League and 3rd
team All-State as a junior. He is one of only
two players from the Northwest to make the
Rivals.com top 100 high school players in the
U.S. pre-
descent on the
season list,
team. David’s
rated #85
cousin, Sekeli
overall.
Faaeteete from San Leandro, California is
The other was offensive lineman Aaron
being recruited heavily by USC and Sekeli
Klovas from Bethel High School in Graham,
is trying to talk David into going south
Washington who protected Oregon freshman
with him while David is trying to con-
quarterback Johnny DuRocher at Bethel last
vince Sekeli to become a Duck. Coach
year. The Ducks are also recruiting him.
Beck said that although other schools con-
North Medford head coach John Beck said
tinue to heavily recruit David, he believes
the following about his stellar player: “David
Faaeteete’s commitment is firm as he
has a great motor. He’s strong and a very,
knows that Oregon will not just take
very good athlete. He’s got great intensity
care of him as a football player but as
and willingness to learn the game of football,
a student and person.
not just be an athlete on the field but an
all consuming football player. I think that’s *** Oregon has reportedly received two
one of the things, being a student of the
additional verbal commitments from two
game, that helps him excel and will help
more offensive linemen: Jeff Kendall from
him achieve what he might some day at
Colorado Springs, Colorado and Mark
a higher level.”
Lewis from Arroyo Grande, California.
David has lived in Medford most of his
More on them in an upcoming issue.
life and started playing football in junior
high. Beck cited the relationship he forged
last summer at the Oregon camp with coach
Greatwood and coach Zoumboukos as a
major reason he decided to verbal early to
Oregon. Oregon defensive lineman Seth
McEwen from Medford was also a positive
influence as he highly recommended the
Ducks. Beck said he most will most likely
play defensive tackle and that right now he
runs the 40 in 4.9. “I wanted to pick a school
right now and get it out of the way so I could
focus on my team this year,” David said.
David didn’t meet any current players, so that
wasn’t a factor in his decision, but he said is
he looking forward to meeting them.
D E FE N SI V E LI N EM A N
D A V I D F A AE TE E T E
Faaeteete is a Samoan name and the Ducks
have quite a contingent of players of Samoan
Ducks I llustrated
AUGUST 28, 2003 13