Post Spring Review: Offensive Line

Going into the 2007 season Oregon’s offensive line was projected to be the worst if not one of the worst unites in the Pac-10 and in all of the BCS. My how have things changed for the Oregon Offensive Lineman going into the summer workouts leading up to the 2008 season. Oregon’s big uglys paved the way for ball carriers for a Pac-10 leading and 6^th nationally for 251 yards a game. With the loss of two starters in Geoff Schwartz and Pat So’oalo the Ducks will look to find replacements and continue to bulldoze down defensive players and open holes for ball carriers.

Going into spring practices Oregon coaches knew they had a rock solid foundation in two Outland Trophy Award nominees which goes to the top offensive lineman of the year in Seniors Max Unger and Fenuki Tupou. Add in Seniors Jacob Hucko,Jeff Kendall, Mark Lewis, and Jon Teague the Ducks return a group of lineman blessed with experience. Sprinkle in the youth movement of Sophomores Mark Asper, Jordan Holmes, C.E. Kaiser, and Bo Thran with Freshman Charlie Carmichael, Nick Cody, Hamani Stevens, Darrion Weems, and Carson York the Ducks might field the most talented and most experienced group Oregon has seen in ages.

Leaving spring practice and the spring game Oregon’s offensive line leaves with little questions and instead leaves with options. Oregon needed to find replacements for Schwartz and So’oalo and ended practice with no definite starter found but instead more depth than expected and the ability to shuffle players around to what fit the team best for that day or game. Oregon also needed to find another center and at times struggled finding one but with Jeff Kendall and Jordan Holmes each improving each week the Ducks will have two choices if Max Unger should fall to injury or be forced to move somewhere else due to injury. Kaiser and Carmichael both were surprises this spring in how much they improved over the winter and Kaiser especially. Kaiser went from a player who could possibly see time to fighting for a starting position.

There were some interesting developments on the other side of the spectrum where Oregon coaches saw disappointment. Weems came into camp out of shape and a little over weight. He struggled his first week getting back into the flow of football practice and being able to compete at a high level. Mark this down as a freshmen going through his first off-season. Many players have made the same mistake in the past for the Ducks but what will be key is if Weems has learned his lesson and will get in better shape heading into summer ball or will he slip back down again. The coaches were also hoping that Seniors Kendall, Lewis, and Hucko would separate themselves enough from the younger players where they could start an all-senior lineup that was filled with experience to help ease in a new quarterback and starting running back along with a very green wide receiver group. This failed to happen and yet this problem might turn into a blessing as Oregon might have more players get experience for the following season and beyond.

Break Downs (* denotes projected starter)

C- Max Unger(SR)*: Unger came into spring ball as the top dog in the unit and left as the top dog. Unger is arguably one of the most talented players to ever don the green and yellow for Oregon in the trenches and will be called upon to continue the growing tradition of Oregon football teams leading the conference in rushing yards. Unger’s spring was consistent and productive. He made few mistakes all spring and was crucial to providing leadership to the younger players who are going to be expected to contribute this season.

C-Hamani Stevens(FR): Stevens will come into fall camp buried on the depth chart with Seniors and Sophomores ahead of him. His only chance to see the field is to beat out Kendall and Holmes for the backup center position and even then it will be hard for the coaching staff to bring him on the traveling roster. He will get the best out of his summer if he follows Unger around like a sponge and soaks in as much as possible.

RT- C.E. Kaiser(SO)*: Kaiser entered spring practice outside looking in on the race for the starting position. It was partially on his play as a freshman but also the expected play of the seniors on the team. With spring practice over Kaiser has drastically improved each week and was able to nab a starting a spot at right tackle in my eyes. He showed great downfield blocking and the ability to move his feet quickly to keep his man from turning the edge and getting a step on him in pass blocking. Kaiser is also able to move around the line, which adds to his value.

RT- Mark Asper(SO): Asper is ahead of Weems at the moment because of Weems injury and late start in spring due to being out of shape. Asper is a solid prospect but doesn’t move as well as other tackles in the program. Another year to develop and work on his mechanics will be key. Summer will bring time where he will need to work on improving foot speed and his strength; the two biggest areas for a young lineman.

RT- Darrion Weems(RFR): Weems entered spring ball overweight but was able to get back into shape right before an ankle injury limited his participation the rest of spring practice. The chance for Weems to succeed is there for the taking; it just needs added dedication in the off-season to the weight room and eating healthy. Weems will benefit greatly if he were to follow Unger around town all summer long. With Weems size and strength Oregon should have a great blocker on their hands down the road.

RG- Mark Lewis(SR)*: Lewis entered spring ball hoping to land a starting spot for good as a Senior and he left spring practice with it intact. Lewis showed great strength and ability to block downfield all spring and should be a solid anchor on the line. Each year he has improved here in Eugene and Oregon should expect a very solid senior season for the Ducks out of Lewis. He fought off any competition for the starting spot this spring and was one of the better linemen all spring.

RG- Bo Thran(SO): Thran entered spring practice as a player who with a good spring could jump into the fire for a starting spot. He had a solid spring but nothing that stood out enough to warrant contention for a starting role. He did however shore up any worries about lack of depth at the guard position and should be in the rotation for playing time this fall. Won’t see tons of snaps in games but will get his fair share.

LT- Fenuki Tupou(SR)*: Entered spring practice entrenched as the team’s blindside defender for the Quarterbacks. He left spring slated for the same starting spot. Getting spot duty here and there all spring long while he nursed a minor injury Tupou was more valuable as a leader and an information bank for younger players learning the spread offense. Tupou is an Outland Trophey Award nomination and also a player who will be wearing a suit and tie this time next spring as he heads to his new NFL team instead of posing as a body guard in a calendar.

LT- Jacob Hucko (SR): Hucko entered Spring as a starter in my eyes and left as the odd man out as he was passed by younger Tackle Kaiser. Hucko will be important and the first player off the sidelines and into the game. With lots of game experience under his belt he will be viewed as the sixth starter in the coaches eyes. Hucko has a big body and knows how to use it when blocking. Very capable of being a solid starter for the Ducks if an injury was to happen to a player above him.

LT- Carson York (FR): York impressed everyone as he entered his first action with the Ducks football team as a grayshirt. Expected to provide depth and depth only his first year at Oregon, he has turned his situation for the better,where York might see the field as a freshmen if he can continue building on his improvements made over this off-season. York was a pleasant surprise and should fight for a starting role the following season.

Nick Cody(FR): Cody wont be expected to play right away as a true freshmen but that’s not stopping him from being capable of starting. Thankfully Cody is coming into a position that will allow him to redshirt if he does not beat out anyone for a starting spot or a spot in the rotation for the line. Cody was a sought after recruit in high school getting offers from almost every major program on the west coast and then the Midwest. Cody will bring a large athletic body that has great strength and smarts to his position.

LG- Jeff Kendall(SR): Kendall might be the most athletic lineman not named Unger as he can play all positions on the line and will be the backup center to Unger going into fall camp as well as the starting left guard. Kendall has starting experience and will be a key player in blocking runs and passes for Oregon. Seeing major minutes last season Kendall’s claim to fame was his famous stint on the Jim Rome Show where he let the world know Oregon’s line were “Fat kids living the dream.” This season Kendall will make sure that’s not the only thing he will be known for. Kendall will be expected to be the third best player on the line.

LG- Jordan Holmes(SO): Its very rare for a player that’s a Senior and one of the most athletic lineman to almost not start. That’s because Holmes is also very talented and athletic. Holmes gave Kendall a real challenge this spring for the starting spot at left guard but was beat out by the more experienced guard in Kendall. Holmes most certainly has starting material in him and would start for other teams in the Pac-10. He suffered a few practices of bad reps in blocking drills and live action so he was bumped down a spot to the senior. Should be a guy who gets in the game often and early.

LG- Charlie Carmichael (FR): Carmichael will provide great depth at the guard position for both side and should see some action here and there during games. Wont be a player that coaches will rely on right away but as the season goes on should be a player who if he can adjust to game speed should see the field here and there. Great player down the road with high upside. Spring was spent learning the offense and working on mechanics.