Oregon Magazine

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Oregon, Arizona State
Top Pac10 Spring Drills

By Fred Delkin

Checking in at the end of spring drills, Pac10 play in 2008 looks like Oregon and Arizona
State as the top title picks. The Ducks unleashed an impressive show of offensive strength in
their spring intra-squad clash. Last season's bowl game hero, QB Justin Roper, threw for a
long TD and ran another six-pointer in by himself. This key position looks loaded, with frosh
Wichita, Kansas recruit Chris Harper aleady able to adapt his 230 punds of agility to the
demands of the Duck spread offense. Another frosh signal-caller, Darron Thomas from
Houston, showed well, as did BYU transfer Cade Cooper. Cody Kempt, a backup pressed
into late season service by injuries to Dennis Dixon and Brady Leaf in 2007, showed less talent
than the other QB competitors. Yet another highly-rated signal-caller, Nate Costa, was held
out to rehab his knee operation and won't show his credentials 'til this Fall.

Duck offensive coordinator Chip Kelly must consider shifting some of his quarterback riches to
other positions. Webfoot fans should hope this wealth of talent does not encourage alternating
starters when the season begins. We see Roper as #1, Costa as backup and Harper worked
into the backfield as a threat to run or pass.

Running back Jonathan Stewart left an NFL first round choice hole to fill, but the spring game
showing of Mississippi JC transfer LeGarrette Blount indicates that gap will be filled with both
speed and power. Then there's the returning Jeremiah Johnson who showed all-conference
capabilities last season and rested his rehabbed knee this spring. Andre Crenshaw, a capable
backup in '07, looked improved and freshman Remene Alston also showed some good moves
in the spring contest.

Duck receiving in good hands

The Oregon tradition of standout tight ends should continue with Ed Dickson and the quick and
lanky Jason Williams appears able to erase his 2007 inconsistencies as a deep threat. Aaron
Pflugrad is small as receivers go, but shows his ability to get open and ability to hang onto the
rock when smacked. Sam Doman, a tight end transfer from BYU, will play, and wide receiver
freshman Elvis Akpla from Portland shows good receiving depth is a Duck asset, as does
converted running back Malachi Lewis.

Bend's Matt Evensen looks to be the equal of any current Division I placekicker.

Defense had dominated in spring Duck drills until the finale. That aspect should be OK when
the '08 schedule begins, with several key veterans excused from the intrasquad matchup. Up
front, Oregon returns several outstanding linemen on both sides of the ball, though depth is a
concern.

The Ducks now show a national focus in their recruiting efforts, with Kansas, Texas, Colorado,
Illinois, Georgia and Missouri joining California, Washington, Oregon and Idaho as recruiting
sources. We must give some credit the Oregon athletic facilities that now are superior to most
Division I rivals.

Looking around the league

Spring drills indicate Dennis Erickson has all the tools at Arizona State to craft national toip 10
success. Veteran Sun Devil QB Rudy Carpenter returns and Dennis will unveil some large and
talented running backs. The Devils host the Ducks in mid-season, but face tough road game at
Cal and USC.

Perennial powerhouse USC will challenge all comers, but are relying on last year's backup QB
Mark Sanchez and reportedly will see a slack in running back talent. California, with Jeff
Tedford's oft-demonstrated coaching talent and the return of veteran QB Nate Longshore, will
earns some national notice.

Oregon State should wind up in the middle of the Pac10. Mike Riley has QB's Lyle Moeavo
and Sean Canfield back, but neither was outstanding in '07 and running back is a definite need.
The Beavers can be expected to show a strong defense. They do get SC, ASU and Cal at
home, but travel to Penn State in their second game.

UCLA suffered disaster this spring (if hiring tricky Ricky Neuheisel wasn't mistake enough)
when both veteran quarterbacks Ben Olson and Pat Cowan went down with injuries expected
to eliminate their '08 seasons.

We think Washington may return to respectability as the minions of Ty Willingham had a good
spring performance behind QB phenom Jake Locker and unveiled quality recruits in both
receiving and defensive ranks, plus a new defensive coaching guru.

Stanford, Washington State and Arizona have yet to demonstrate the depth or talent to
upendtheir league brethren and the Cougars are breaking in a new head coach.