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Oregon College Football Predictions 2009

Written June 27, 2009 by InfoPlays

2009 Oregon Football Predictions Expectations are still high for the Oregon Ducks in the first season of the Chip Kelly era. With longtime coach Mike Bellotti now the school’s athletic director, Kelly wasted little time establishing a businesslike tone throughout the program. Many key pieces are back from last year’s 10-win campaign, but the Ducks will need to keep their playmakers healthy and take advantage of seven home games this season. That includes a visit from the USC Trojans, which lost the last time it played at Oregon in 2007. Current college football lines show the Ducks listed at +4000 to win the 2010 BCS National Championship.

Offense: Jeremiah Masoli, who emerged on the scene last year after starting fall camp as the fifth-string quarterback, enters his junior year with a firm grip on the starting job after compiling 23 total touchdowns last season. He threw for 13 and rushed for 10 more while improving his knowledge about the intricacies of the Ducks’ spread-option offense. He finished last season with 1,744 passing yards and an Oregon QB-record 718 yards rushing. Senior LeGarrette Blount is another junior college transfer who set a rushing record in his first season in Eugene. Despite playing behind Jeremiah Johnson and his 1,201 yards last season, Blount rushed for 1,002 yards while averaging 7.3 yards/carry and set a single-season school-record with 17 touchdowns.

The biggest question for the Oregon Ducks? Who will be doing the blocking. Right tackle C.E. Kaiser and left guard Bo Thran are the only returning starters up front. But each missed most of the spring with injuries. Jeff Maehl and Aaron Pflugrad are the top returning wide receivers, but the star of the spring was junior receiver Jamere Holland. The former USC sprinter was consistently breaking free from defenders in practice and should be Oregon’s top deep threat. Senior tight end Ed Dickson is a reliable target. He set a career-high with 508 receiving yards last season, averaging a staggering 14.5 yards/catch.

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Defense: Senior cornerback Walter Thurmond III was the star of spring practice, which shouldn’t come as much of a surprise considering he tied for the Pac-10 lead with five interceptions last season. Oregon’s secondary should be tougher than last season. T.J. Ward brings a physical prowess to the unit. The hard-hitting free safety led the Ducks with 101 tackles last season. Oregon returns two of three starting linebackers in juniors Casey Matthews and Spencer Paysinger. Sophomore Eddie Pleasant is primed to step in at strongside linebacker. Junior college transfer Bryson Littlejohn will be given a chance to make an immediate impact as well.

The Ducks are led up front by senior end Will Tukuafu, who finished fifth in the Pac-10 with 17.5 tackles for loss last season. Brandon Bair had a strong spring to basically lock up one starting tackle spot. Simi Toeaina and Blake Ferras are in a closely contested battle for the other tackle role. Junior Kenny Rowe, who has made big strides since his transition from linebacker, is the leading candidate entering training camp to start at end opposite Tukuafu.

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