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| | Monday, September 6 | |||||
| 1998 Record: 8-4 (5-3) | 1998 statistics | 1999 schedule Head coach: Mike Bellotti Returning starters: 14 (offense 6, defense 7) Outlook Say goodbye to Akili Smith. Say hello to....well, we're not sure yet. Smith, the third player selected in the NFL draft, threw all but 21 of the Ducks' 392 passes last season and led the Pac-10 in yards passing (3,307) and touchdowns (30). A.J. Feeley and Joey Harrington have combined to throw 11 passes in their college careers, but just one last year. That's not the only question Oregon faces this season. The defense went AWOL late last season, giving up 96 points in the last two games -- a 44-41 overtime loss to Oregon State and a 51-43 loss to Colorado in the Aloha Bowl. The return of Pete Sirmon, who missed most of last season due to injury after leading the Pac-10 in tackles in 1997, should bolster that crew. Defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti, the architect of the "Gang Green" defense which helped Oregon to the 1995 Rose Bowl, is back and he might light a fire in the defense, too. But if Oregon doesn't have all its Ducks in a row by midseason, an October stretch of road games at Washington, UCLA and Arizona could ground the team before it gets a chance to take off. Offense Of the two quarterbacks, Feeley (6-4, 220) has the stronger arm while Harrington (6-4, 212) is more mobile. Feeley was named the starter, but he isn't guaranteed of keeping the job all season. Having questions at quarterback isn't new for the Ducks, however. Smith was even with Jason Maas heading into last season's fall practice. No matter who is quarterback, the Ducks will have a different look on offense. Big-play running back Rueben Droughns is back after breaking his right leg and damaging ligaments in his ankle last year. Droughns dazzled with 824 yards and nine TDs in only five games -- his 7.4 yard-per-carry average would have led the conference but he was eight carries short of qualifying. He spent much of the spring on the sidelines still rehabbing his injury. Derien Latimer and Herman Ho-Ching also return to add depth to the backfield. Somehow Oregon kept Tony Hartley and his 1,015-yard, 10-touchdown season from jumping to the NFL, so the Ducks are set at one wide receiver. The other spot will likely go to Ray Burst, who redshirted last season due to knee surgery. The Ducks need to replace tight end Jed Weaver, who led the conference in receptions for his position. Enyi Nwamuo and LaCorey Collins will battle for that spot. The line also faces some overhaul -- Deke Moen, who started at center the past two seasons, has moved to guard. The only other full-time starter returning is tackle Josh Beckett, while Scott Fergus was a part-time starter. The Ducks won't have the services of top-notch redshirt freshman Mike Belisle, who tore the ACL in his left knee playing basketball in May and isn't expected to return until next season. It's a good sign if: Feeley and/or Harrington comes anywhere near the production that Smith delivered last season. It's a bad sign if: Droughns' ankle doesn't allow him to go full speed while the team sorts out the quarterback situation. Defense Aliotti's return to Oregon isn't entirely a story of a happy homecoming. After three years in the NFL, he failed to meet expectations as UCLA's defensive coordinator and saw his hopes of nabbing a head coaching job in the next few years all but disappear. Aliotti inherits a group with six starters back. The ends are still small -- Terry Miller at 250 pounds and Saul Patu at 260 -- but have plenty of experience. The middle of the line needs someone with bulk to step up. Caleb Smith also returns from last year's starters, but he'll be pressed by 300-pound James Rose, the top junior college linemen, and Zack Freiter, who missed spring drills. Sirmon's return gives the linebacking corps a hard-hitting identity again. The other returning 'backer was 211-pound Dietrich Moore. Senior Aaron Cheuvront had to give up football because of migraine headaches, but Matt Smith has come on as a possible middle linebacker. The secondary looked to be in very good shape until Rashad Bauman had knee surgery in May and was lost for the season. Bauman's tight man-to-man coverage allowed the Ducks to gamble more at the line of scrimmage. Now relatively untested Tamoni Joiner and Brian Johnson will be thrown into the fire. Oregon returns both safeties (Michael Fletcher and Brandon McLemore) and has a couple more in the cupboard, so there's depth there. It's a good sign if: The Ducks quickly figure out exactly what Aliotti is trying to get them to do. It's a bad sign if: Aliotti's troubles from UCLA follow him to Eugene. Special Teams There's no question who's the man here. Placekicker Nathan Villegas nailed 20-of-22 field goals last season (including all six from 40 yards or more) and all 57 of his PATs as a Groza Award finalist and is garnering All-America attention this fall. There's a hole to fill at punter, where the strong-footed Josh Bidwell (and his 46-yard average) is gone. Junior college transfer Kurtis Doerr will be called on to fill Bidwell's big shoe(s). Fletcher averaged 11.6 yards per punt return and 20.5 yards per kickoff return last year. -- Greg Collins |
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