2008 Oregon Ducks Football


July 29, 2008 | Posted By Larry Cook

The Info Plays team goes over their 2008 Oregon Ducks football predictions and give their insight on the offenses and defenses you’ll see on the field this season.  Mike Bellotti has served 13 years as Oregon head coach, compiling a 106-52 record during his stay.  The Ducks had their best chance to make a run at a national title last season before start QB Dennis Dixon went down with a knee injury.  Still, they managed a 9-4 record, capping off the season with a 56-21 ousting of South Florida in the Sun Bowl.  Below is a team preview of what you’ll see in Duck Country this season.

Offense:

It looks as if Oregon will be playing musical quarterbacks heading into the fall.  Sophomore Justin Roper performed admirably in Oregon’s Sun Bowl victory over South Florida, but it wasn’t enough to secure his spot as the team’s starter this season.  Sophomore Nate Costa appears to have the early edge right now because of his mobility, but his participation in the spring was limited with a knee injury.  Sophomore Cody Kempt, junior Cade Cooper and freshmen Darron Thomas and Chris Harper round out the depth chart in a long list of quarterbacks to pick from.  Bellotti has admitted that he could see using more than one QB very easily.

Oregon is more stable at running back this season despite losing Jonathan Stewart and his school-record 1,722 rushing yards from a year ago.  Senior Jeremiah Johnson figures to start after rushing for 344 yards and five touchdowns in six games before suffering an ACL injury last season.  Junior college transfer LeGarrette Blount impressing in spring workouts.  He rushed for more than 1,000 yards in two season at East Mississippi Community College.  Senior Jaison Williams is the Ducks’ top receiver, catching 55 passes for 844 yards and eight touchdowns last season.  Junior tight end Ed Dickson is one of the best at his position in the league, compiling 43 catches for 453 yards and three scores a year ago.  Oregon’s line will be anchored by Max Unger and Fenuki Topou, both of whom were selected to the preseason Outland Trophy watch list.

Defense:

The best news for Oregon in the offseason came when senior rover Patrick Chung withdrew his name from consideration for the NFL Draft.   That gives Oregon seven returning starters on defense which will be the team’s strength.  Chung led Oregon with 117 tackles last season, and he’ll be joined by junior cornerbacks Walter Thurmond III and his 103 tackles along with Jairius Byrd and his team-high seven interceptions.  On paper, this is the best secondary in the league.

Senior defensive end Nick Reed led the Pac-10 in sacks with 12 and tackles for loss with 22.5 last season.  Oregon is solid at the other end position with junior returning starter Will Takuafu and his 4.5 sacks from a year ago.  Senior John Bacon and senior Jerome Boyd are returning starters at linebackers and they’ll team up with up-and-coming star sophomore Casey Mathews, who played in 11 games as a true freshman.  Mathews will be in a long battle with Bacon at starting middle linebacker, while junior Kevin Garrett is poised to take over the weak side position opposite Boyd. 

Oregon Football Predictions at Info Plays:  3rd in the Pac-10

It appears there is still life after quarterback Dennis Dixon and tailback Jonathan Stewart.  Oregon returns enough talent on both sides of the ball to be considered among the best in the conference.  As long as the new starting quarterback can be adequate and the team avoids another injury-filled fall, the Ducks should continue to cause headaches for opposing coordinators.

Pac-10 Wins Expected in ‘08:  WASHINGTON, at Washington State, UCLA, STANFORD, ARIZONA

Potential Scares/Losses:  at USC, at Arizona State, at California, at Oregon State

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