re: USC is "back"

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I am-- no offense-- worried more about Utah than Oregon right now.

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You should be, you play them before the Ducks.

Eta....

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Just like LSU, until you have a proven QB, you don't know how your offense's tempo will be up in Eugene.

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Since the Ducks have been a decent to good program, when has the qb position been an issue?

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Is there a team that plays only the Top 10 teams in the country for their entire year?

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Obviously no one does that. But some clearly play more quality teams than others.

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Someone missed most of 2000's

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You mustn't have read my previous post. Historically, great team. Last Few years, not as much.

A player could run for 2000 yards, win the Heisman, go #1 in the draft and then win ROY. SEC fans will still tell you he would of been the 12th best player in the SEC

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No matter who you are, if you don't have a proven QB there will always be questions. Until "that" game.

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In Chip I trust. Not worried.

Here is my "objective" breakdown of our DL. For all intents and purposes, we run a 3-4 now. It was more of one gap 3-4 defense because of body types in '09 and '10 but I think you will see a shift to a two gap 3-4 defense this year. Basically, this means that the OLBs and ILBs will rack up stats. However, the DL is the strength of the team depth wise by most accounts, especially when you add in the OLB/"drop" end, which I will do here.

OLB DROP

Dion Jordan: 6'7" 245 and was all pac 12 last year. He transitioned form TE during his sophmore campaign and rotated in the lineup. He started all game last year. He had 7.5 sacks last year we expect him to hit double digits. He will also flex out and cover the slot. He is a very versatile athlete as he has a 33 inch vertical, ran third fasted 40 on the team during winter (4.4 hand timed). He was all pac - 12 first team and is a legit candidate for POY in the Pac.

Tony Washington: 6'3" He backed up Terrell Turner last year at SDE. He shed some weight during the offseason going from 262 to 244 and is lighter on his feet. Tony will be strong passing the qb and as a former SDE should hold up well in run support.

Defensive End (anchor side - the other edge)

Taylor Hart: 6'6" 292 He was a 14 game starter last year. He was All Pac - 12 honorable mention as sophmore and rotated his freshman year and appeared in all game. He has a motor that never stop and is seen downfield making tackles. Quick enough at 292 to rush the edge. Will get post season accolades and improve on that honorable mention.

Arik Armstead 6'8" 280 This spot is up for grabs but he was a revelation in spring, so I am going with him for now. He has the raw physical tools and is the ideal body type for our 3-4 DE. He came in at 297 and dropped to 280 and 11% body fat. This kid is well put together and has natural strength.

Nose Tackle

Wade Keliikipi 6'3" 295-305 He started 11/14 games last year (missed starts in the first three with back strains). Wade has played the last two years and appeared in all games while being the primary starter last year. He is probably our strongest Dlineman. I expect Wade or Ricky to get post season accolades but that depend on Ricky. See below.

Ricky Heimuli 6'4" 305 Ricky lost weight this offseason form 321 to 305. He played through a high ankle sprain last season. He came out of high school as the most touted of all our linemen but has been hampered. He is very athletic for his size and he says he feels better at his new weight. Most of our linemen can't handle him one on one in a bull rush. He is our sky is the limit guy that could take a quantam leap depnding on health. He rotated in as a true frosh and appeared in all games last year.

Defensive End

Isaac Remington 6'6 301 Remington gained 15 pounds in the offseason and says he put on good weight. He was stuck starting the NT spot the first 3 games last year against LSU, Nevada and Missouri State. He was JUCO kid that was a major contributor coming off his redshirt season. He has the quickness to pass rush (he is a very lean 301).

Jared Ebert 6'5" 265 Jared went from 285 to 265 because he felt sluggish coming out of JUCO. He is probably our fastest DE but I think his contribution will depend on down and distance. He says he is actually gaining weight in fall camp, so we'll see.

The other two guys that will rotate in are SAM Kamp and Christian French. The former is an unknown quantity to me personally. I don't know where fits in our scheme at 6'4" 251 (I don't think he is a hybrid type guy). He will definitely be situational. Christian French at 242 6'5" will play that hybrid spot. He is a hell of an athlete and is said to be picking up the spot very well. Deforest Buckner at 6'7" 265 is the other guy who could push for time. He would be a versatile athlete. I was shocked to hear he was getting reps at the drop end spot at that size. I thought he would be too big to cover the slot (albeit primarily in zone). There is a lot of buzz about him and he could very well play himself ahead of Armstead.

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Good. That still does not mean anything with an unproven QB.

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Trojan - Mariota is getting De'Anthony esque type of buzz right now. Obviously that equates to nothing until the lights go on. I will say where there is smoke there is fire. People around the program are gushing about him. Like in your breakdown, you believe Williams is a once in a decade type DL. That is what people are saying about Mariota. I mean people in the know too.

Bennett did see game time last year and when he came in, we ran the ball better than when DT was playing. He also threw 6 tds to 0 ints. Bennett started the Colorado game and came in the ASU game when we were down and cleaned up the game against WAZZU when it wasn't going that well.

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Not worried. I can do this all day.

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Many have insinuated that Darron saw the writing on the wall. We had a quasi qb controversy last year with Benentt.

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I've heard that. Mariota has been talked about a lot since first arriving. As I've said, if he beats out BB he's gonna be real good. I don't worry about the qb spot with Chip. I'm just glad he doesn't believe in a rotation for that position like Bellotti. That always drove me crazy.

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Our front end schedule is very forgiving. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if Chip doesn't list Mariota or Bennett on the depth chart and sees who plays better in the OOC. I can't imagine that you could get a very good beat on Bennett in a red jersey when he is a guy that thrives on contact.

I could see that for the first game but that's it. Chip will want to get the starter a lot of real game reps to get prepared for the season.

This isn't a rebuilding year. The Ducks can play for it all.

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I could see that for the first game but that's it. Chip will want to get the starter a lot of real game reps to get prepared for the season. This isn't a rebuilding year. The Ducks can play for it all.

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The ducks are more athletic and explosive at QB than ever. People will see that when the season starts. Marcus Mariota is the truth.