2010 Preview
Don Smalley
They might just have the best offense and defense in the league.
It's quite obvious that's the reason the Oregon Ducks have been picked by the media to win the Pac-10 Conference for the first time in their history. Oregon was picked to finish first and USC, who is ineligible to win the league, was picked second.
"You always want to go out there and validate what happened the year before," senior wide receiver Jeff Maehl said. "But each team is a different team and we know that. We have a really good team and we know what is takes to get to that level . to get to the Rose Bowl."
If the Ducks had any question marks coming into the 2010 season, it would be at the most important position on the field. But Chip Kelly and his staff has chosen redshirt sophomore Darron Thomas to lead the defending league champs.
Thomas won the job oven Nate Costa after a full body of work in spring drills and in fall camp. He presents more of a challenge for opposing defenses with his athletic ability.
"If we could have picked two, we would have," Kelly said of the decision to pick Thomas over Costa. "But we can't. We believe that where we are as a team and an offense, Darron gives us a better chance to win."
The New Mexico game will be Thomas' first start. The Lobos - who went 1-11 last year - figure to be the perfect starting assignment for the redshirt sophomore.
Thankfully for Thomas and the Ducks, he won't have to produce all by himself. The offensive line returns as a whole and will be counted on to protect their new signal caller and create running lanes for the likes of LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner.
The line is anchored by center Jordan Holmes. On the left side will be guard Carson York and tackle Bo Thran. On the right side will be C.E. Keiser and Mark Asper. The line was an open question entering last season, but that's not the case entering the 2010 season, the group is decidedly one of the team's strengths.
"This line is comparable to the line we had two or three years ago," offensive line coach Steve Greatwood said. "We have six guys who played a lot last season. I feel a lot better now than I did at this time last year."
Behind Thomas will be a pair of speedsters. James is coming off an incredible freshman season where he rushed for 1,546 yards and 14 touchdowns. He is regarded as the second-best back in the conference behind Oregon State's Jacquizz Rodgers. James is expected to have a similar type of year, but his season will start in Week 2 at Tennessee due to a team-imposed suspension after an off-season incident.
Starting at tailback against New Mexico will be Barner, who is no slouch himself. The converted cornerback was something of an unknown last season but the sophomore collected more than 300 yards rushing with three scores and became on of the best kick and punt returners in the conference. And he is coming off a Rose Bowl game where he collected 227 all-purpose yards.
While the backfield will get most of the touches, Thomas is going to have to throw the ball once in a while and he will a number of options. His first will likely be Maehl. The 6-1 senior caught 53 passes for 696 yards (13.1) and six touchdowns in 2009. Lavasier Tuinai, a 6-5 junior, will be a big target as well and DJ Davis will be the deep threat.
Replacing all-conference tight end Ed Dickson will be David Paulson. He showed flashes of what is to come last season by averaging over 15 yards per catch. Oregon is deep at the tight end spot. Senior Malachi Lewis and junior Brandon Williams is expected to see significant time on the field as well.
"Just from the feedback of some of the guys who run the workouts over the summer, guys are a step faster and worked hard in the weight room," offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich said.
While the offense is dynamic and can light up the scoreboard, it's the defense that might win the Ducks another Pac-10 championship. It returns nine starters from the best defense in the conference.
The only "position battle" was at one cornerback spot opposite of Talmadge Jackson III. Anthony Gildon, who started in the Rose Bowl, ultimately won the spot over Chad Peppars and Scott Grady.
The defensive line, led by Brandon Bair and Zac Clark will wreak havoc with pass rusher Kenny Rowe and Terrell Turner. And if the defensive line doesn't get to the quarterback, linebackers Casey Matthews, Spencer Paysinger and Josh Kuddu will.
"As a defensive mindset, we always try to set the tone from the opening kickoff," Matthews said. "There's a lot of defensive guys on the special teams and we lost a lot of keys guys from last year . leaders like T.J. (Ward), Walter (Thurmond) and (Will) Tukuafu. But we're confident in the guys who will replace them."
What's unique about this defensive is its versatility. Turner at defensive end is capable of standing up and go into pass coverage. The linebackers are fully capable of doing the same. The defense might be as fast as any at Oregon's history and deep. The Ducks fully expect to play 20-25 players regularly on defense.
On special teams, Jackson Rice returns as the punter, but it was true freshman Eric Stolls who beat out Alejandro Maldonado as the place kicker and kickoff specialist. He will be replacing Morgan Flint, who hit 16-of-19 field goals and was perfect with his extra points.
All will recall the Ducks opened last season in the worst of ways at Boise State. After the disappointing 19-8 loss, Oregon battled their way back to the conference crown. The non-league schedule isn't as of a daunting task this time around, but a road date at Tennessee won't be a piece of cake. Although the Volunteers are not expected to do much in the SEC but a quarterback in his second career start in front of 100,000 fans leaves nothing certain.
If Oregon is going to repeat as conference champs, they'll have to win key road games at USC (Oct.30), at Cal (Nov. 13) and in Corvallis (Dec. 4). For the past two seasons, someone from the Civil War had the Rose Bowl on the line. The Ducks won both of them. Will they be hoisting roses at Reser Stadium?
The Ducks certainly plan on it. | 
