Oregon Ducks 2010 Preview

The Oregon Ducks look to get their second Pac-10 title in a row.

2010 Oregon Ducks Preview

Conference: Pac-10

2009 Record 10-3, Lost Rose Bowl Vs. Ohio State

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Overview:

Last season the Oregon Ducks waited until after their first game at Boise State to surround their team with a cloud of controversy, this year they didn't even make it through the Summer. Most had the Ducks in their top five or so heading into this season as they were returning virtually the entire offense and a solid core of their defense that won the Pac-10 and went to the Rose Bowl a year ago but some of that went out the  window when Heisman Trophy candidate and starting QB Jeremiah Masoli was suspended from the team for the year. In Head Coach Chip Kelly's second season the Ducks still have plenty to work with and are going to be a handful.

Offense:

Of course Masoli's bad decisions don't just affect him, they affect the team and immediately after everything transpired over the Summer, the expectations of the Ducks and their chances of a National Championship were lowered. Fortunately for the Ducks, revolving QB's is nothing new as two season's ago they went five deep on the depth chart and the cupboard isn't bare this year either. Nate Costa is a fifth year senior with a good arm and Darron Thomas has good wheels and can motor to create opportunities. LaMichael James ran for over 1,500 yards a year ago though he wasn't expected to see much action before the season began and was called into action after LaGarrette Blount was suspended. Kenjon Barner will see action as well and what we have seen of him he can absolutely fly. The Ducks return three starting Wide Receivers with over 100 catches between them. The most consistent receiver of the bunch is Jeff Maehl who had 53 catches a year ago. The Offensive Line was one of the best in the country a year ago and they return all five starters. Last year the Ducks allowed 13 sacks total, had 109 pancake blocks just from the interior right side, and we already talked about the rushing numbers. Bo Thran is considered their best in the offensive trenches and Jordan Holmes and mark Asper are tough run blockers.

Defense:

To say the Oregon defensive unot is an experienced and veteran group it would be an understatement wit eight returning starters and nine Seniors and two Juniors making up the starting line up. Two returning starters and two new starters make up the Defensive Line but Kenny Rowe is a beast with 11 and a half sacks a year ago and Tackle Brandon Bair led all Oregon Defensive Linemen with 45 tackles. At Linebacker Casey Mathews is an All Pac-10 in the Middle and Spencer Paysinger averages over seven tackles a game. Eddie Pleasant was moved to the secondary and it looks like both Josh Kadu and Bo Lokombo will see significant time as both have star of the future written all over them. With Pleasant moved to Safety the Ducks have a pair of safeties who can tackle as John Boyett led the team in tackles last season. No one seems to have locked down a starting job in the secondary as this unit gave up 18 TD's a year ago. More than likely we'll see Cliff Harris, Talmadge Jackson, Scott Grady, Javes Lewis, and Chad Peppars all get significant playing time.

Special Teams:

Barner will be returning kicks and he averages nearly 25 yards each opportunity he gets on kickoffs and over 10 yards per punt return. Alejandro Maldonado will be doing the kicking but will probably be under a short leash as they don't seem sold on him and Rob Beard handled the kickoffs last season. Jackson Rice has proved to be a capable Punter and he should improve over his Freshman campaign.

Prognosis:

There is little reason to believe that Oregon won't contend for the Pac-10 title and at the very least be in position to make a return to the Rose Bowl. Oregon has a ton of returning talent and a nice influx of others who can contribute. The problems Oregon faces are mainly on the schedule with games at Tennessee, USC, Oregon State, and Cal. 

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