Thursday, May 8, 2008

All Mike Bellotti Team Defense

With the NFL Draft still in the minds of Oregon Fans and NFL fans Ducks Attack decided to come up with a team of Ex-Ducks that would be the best at their position with Head Coach Mike Bellotti coaching the Ducks.

The players don't have to be drafted to make the team but you will notice most were drafted or made the NFL as an undrafted free agent.

DE- Devon Long

Long was considered the best pass rushing defensive end under Mike Bellotti before current Senior Nick Reed has replaced him. Long was the answer to an on going problem with the Oregon defense's lack of a pass rush as soon as he was inserted into the starting line up. Long's senior season produced 40 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, and 5 sacks.

DT- Haloti Ngata

Ngata came to Oregon as the highest ranked recruit in Oregon history before him. He stepped on the field ready to contribute and was a force to be reckoned with whenever on the field. Ngata was key to clogging the middle with his sheer size that checked in over 330 pounds and yet Ngata was able to bull rush through his blocker and run down an opposing ball carrier. Ngata left school early as a Junior and entered the NFL draft and was selected 12th overall in the draft. Ngata's last two years had him placed on All American teams.

DT- Igor Olshansky

Olshanksy came to Oregon as a diamond in the ruff type freshman who wasn't expected to play much as he was new to football but was a physical freak. He left Oregon as one of the most dominate tackles ever in Oregon history. Known for his block against Wisconsin as a freshman, his stout play against Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl, and his tag team seasons with Ngata.



DE- Nick Reed

Reed came to Oregon as a speed rusher who with a year under Devon Long's guidance would become a star at Oregon. Reed, still with Oregon enters his senior season being named to the Lott Trophy Award watch list as well as a chance to etch himself into Oregon glory and record books with a good final seaosn.

LB- Wesly Mallard

Mallard came to Oregon as a walk-on with a great last name for a Duck football player and left Oregon as one of the best players to ever play football at Oregon. Mallard known for his hard hitting and his athleticism was the leading tackler his Senior year in 2001. Mallard allowed the Ducks to bring in the defense closer to the line of scrimmage to stop the run due to his ability to cover a running back or tight end.



LB- Peter Sirmon

Sirmon was one of a few linebackers at Oregon who were a man playing against boys. Sirmon was a stud at the inside linebacker position for the Ducks as the defensive team leader in the late 90s and in 2000. A sure fire tackler that allowed the defense to have one of the best run defenses in the Pac-10. Sirmon took his game to the Tennessee Titans as he was drafted in the 2000 draft in the 4th round.

LB- Kevin Mitchell

Mitchell was the ultimate warrior on the field. There are a few players who played at Oregon that were more talented than Mitchell but few players regardless of position had the heart and desire to make the play that was needed as Mitchell had. Don't forget he was under six feet tall and when soaking wet was 230 pounds. Mitchell hit like a truck and was one of the smartest players to ever play the Linebacker position in Oregon history.

DB- Rashad Bauman

Bauman was one of Oregons biggest trash talkers ever at Oregon. No matter how big his mouth got Bauman was able to back it up with his play on the field. A true lock down corner that coudl live on an island in the Oregon defense. With his small size on the field Bauman made up for it with his instinct and physical nature on the field.

DB- Alex Molden

Part of the Gang Green Defense Molden was a key piece of the Oregon defense in the early stages of the rise of Oregon football. Molden like Bauman could cover anyone and be placed out on an island by himself. Molden went on to play in the NFL and will always be remembered as one of the first players to bring the nastyness to the defensive side of the field for the Ducks.

DB- Justin Wilcox

Another big hitter that played in the early stages of Oregon football's rise in success. Wilcox came to Oregon in replace of older brother Josh but on defense and brought the same blue chip lunch pail attitude on defense. A great safety his first three years and then moved over to corner for his final year where he was All 2nd team in the Pac-10. Wilcox was a starter throughout his entire four year career at Oregon.

DB- Kenny Wheaton

"The Pick". Speaks for itself. The player who is the most popular of all Ducks. The talented freshman made the play of the ages for the Ducks to seal the win against the "Mighty" dawgs to the north and than went on to become of the Ducks best lock down corners before taking his game to the NFL after his junior season.




When I was thinking about what players would make the list and I was jotting down players at each position I started noticing a common theme. Most of the players I was listing on my paper were players that played right around the 1994 Rose Bowl team or a player that came into the program right after that season a year after or a two years after.

Now, I'm just thinking out loud here but I think we see that for a few reasons. These players were clearly not the most talented players at their positions but they brought that underdog attitude and didn't want to be told they couldn't stop this team or that team. They brought that extra physicalness to the field Oregon defenses lacked at times over the past few years.

Now this years Defense really reminds me of the mid 90s defenses where the players are talented no doubt but are also dubbed as guys who are overachieving. Chung, Thurmond, Byrd, and Ward were all players that alot of bigger schools didn't recruit or even offer. These players are in my eyes throwback players who have overachieved or used the drive and dedication to get better to become top players at their respected positions.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

How could Chad Cota not be listed? You lost some credibility on that one.

Anonymous said...

That was my first thought too, but I think Cota was gone before MB took over? I love Justin but I would still put Chung ahead of him.

jtlight said...

I'm sorry, Mallard was good, but not that good. Matt fricken' Smith anybody? Mallard had one good season. Smith, like Sirmon and Mitchell, had great careers.

Unknown said...

Lists like this always kill me! The people on them go back no further than the memory of the list maker.

Mops said...

This list was All Mike Bellotti team. So Chad Cota would not make the list because he played under Rich Brooks.

Had Cota been on a Mike Belloti coached team he would have most certainly made the list.

As for the comment about the list only going back to the person's memory.

This list was made like I said above for players who played under Mike Bellotti as the head coach only. This is not the All Time Oregon team.

Anonymous said...

Justin Wilcox? How about Patrick Chung - and he is still going!

Anonymous said...

JD Nelson - ?

Mops said...

The Defensive Back unit was the toughest to figure out.

You could go with so many different players and really have a legit reason for them being on the list.

Guys who I thought could easily have made the list:

Michael Fletcher
Keith Lewis
JD Nelson
Patrick Chung
Steve Smith

Anonymous said...

Oh the pick...like a fine wine, keeps getting better with age. That Mallard hit still continues to give me goosebumps. Let's hope that some '08' players can soon be remembered like hose on this list.
GO DUCKS!!

Anonymous said...

What about JD Nelson

Anonymous said...

Justin Wilcox was recruited as a QB. Unless I'm really getting old, he was not a four-year starter on defense. He was originally a QB during his redshirt season. I recall him playing in nickel packages at first and not starting in the secondary. You swung and missed on this one.

Anonymous said...

I'd take Eric Castle or Chad Cota over Justin any day. Both of them started as redshirt freshman and were outstanding players all four years. Both had decent pro careers (Cota > Castle). What about Chris Oldham?

Anonymous said...

Oops, missed the Bellotti part. So sorry.

Anonymous said...

I have to say, Fletcher, Lewis, Nelson and Chung would all get my vote over Wilcox. No offense to either him or you, but Wilcox just didn't impress me that much.

Anonymous said...

Yeah I have to agree with the consensus on Justin Wilcox. Smart kid (as seen by his coaching), great name (and family! - which is maybe why he's on this list), but he got burned A LOT. He wasn't even the best DB of a receiver's brother! That honor, in my opinion, belongs to Brandon McLemore. By the way, if there is a special teams "All Mike Bellotti Team", you best not leave off Michael "What's a Fair Catch?" Fletcher! That little guy flew and brought the pain on both sides of kick teams!

Anonymous said...

Michael Flether: How about a Sack Lunch? NUM NUM NUM NUM .

Anonymous said...

Kevin Mitchell? give me a break, let me name a few that were/are better....Trucks, Phillips, Asher, Ruhl, Moretti, Boyd.

Justin Wilcox is a joke too considering you left off Eric Castle, Keith Lewis, Chad Cota, Patrick Chung, JD Nelson...all way better. I have to question whether you know much about Oregon football.

Anonymous said...

For a guy that got switched to corner his senior year and battled injuries for three years to be named 2nd team all-pac 10 by the coaches I would question how much he got burned and how big of joke he is. I will not deny I have an emotional intreset in this, and everyone can have their own opinion, and Fletch or B-Mac Could/Should be on this guy's team, but lets not make blanket statements. And for the record Chad Cota and Eric Castle did not play for Oregon when Mike when he was the head coach.

Anonymous said...

Wilcox would not even start for us right now, with a safety spot up for grabs...enough said.