Quack Fix: Ducks move on after CBI, center, defensive line, and Seastrunk get lots of attention
I leave for a week, spring practice has started, Oregon won the CBI, and Will Lyles is stirring up a mess. It was a busy weekend, so we got all sorts of quack, so make sure to continue after the jump for more quack and videos:
- Oregon is the CBI champions! What does that mean? Not a lot if they don't do anything with it. Coach Altman wants his team to have much higher aspirations than the 3rd most prestigious postseason tournament. It was a good experience for the seniors, but the CBI was about experience and improvement. The Ducks were 7-2 in the postseason, and that's something to be proud of, but it will only be remembered if the Ducks do something with it.
- Spring practice started last week, and there is all sorts of football news for your enjoyment. Rob Moseley has an update on the battle for center between Karrington Armstrong and Hroniss Grasu, who have both done well in the early days of spring practice. The Ducks may lose some physicality from the position, but gain athleticism with either player.
- Moseley also has an update on the position worrying most Duck fans, the defensive line. Though the Ducks lose three starters, all of the players competing for time played quite a bit last season, and coach Azzinaro is counting on those players moving from reserves into starters, as has consistently happened the last few years.
- Whenever spring practice starts, everyone likes to talk about those distractions. How will the team respond when random people are writing about them? If last year is any indication, it will help the team, and Ted Miller reports that this year is no different.
- One of the biggest questions this spring has been Lache Seatsrunk, due to his being a relative disappointment last season, and the off-the-field controversy surrounding his recruitment. But he seems to have responded well, and is being praised by RB Coach Gary Campbell. While Lache was having problems grasping the playbook last year, it seems like he's moving beyond that, which would be great news for Oregon's RB depth next season.
- Moseley had a practice update for Saturday, and included this slideshow.
- Ken Goe has a piece on the TZR package that has been much talked about, but little used over the past couple seasons. These plans have been undone by injuries and suspensions that last two seasons, but with the an incredibly deep group of skill position players, the Ducks are sure to use some interesting ways to get them the ball.
- Oregon baseball had a rough weekend in the desert, as they were swept by No. 5 ASU, and lost yesterday's game 8-0. It's going to be really tough coming back from an 0-3 conference start, and the Ducks will try to make some progress as they host the huskies this weekend.
- Oregon softball had a slightly better weekend. Though they dropped the first two games of their series against No. 6 Washington, they won the last game of the series 8-0.
- As originally posted by QuackinAK, Oregon got it's first commitment for the 2012 recruiting class. ATH Oshay Dunmore from Newport has committed to the Ducks! Duck Territory has some more info on the commitment.
- The Will Lyles saga keep dragging on, and you can be sure that it will for some time. After last week's allegations regarding Patrick Peterson, now LaMichael James is coming to the defense of his friend.
If you've got anything else, drop it below. GO DUCKS!
Coach Altman after winning CBI
LaMichael James after Saturday Practice
Video of Saturday Practice
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Ooooo
I’m liking that uni combo in the last video (Green-Green-Yellow), a-la Bobby Moore.
Unversity of Oregon, Class of 2006. Currently spreading the Duck love in Ann Arbor, MI.
Yup
All it needs is stripes down the sides.
"Dispatch yourself with the utmost precision, and proceed as far as your individual excellency will permit." - John McEwan
Cal getting some attention...
Matt Hinton talks about the failures of the offense.
And Bruce Feldman questions Jeff Tedford.
This has been the story for the past few seasons. Tedford hasn’t developed a QB since Rodgers. I see no reaons why he’ll start now.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
Personally, I'm much more worries about the O-line
--Dave
Addicted to Quack, your friendly, neighborhood Oregon Ducks blog
No kidding, any change at that position should be a reason to be concerned. Though with how the O-line seemingly underperformed last season, the change could be a good thing.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
maybe
but I don’t like players making their first starts against a Dline like LSU.
--Dave
Addicted to Quack, your friendly, neighborhood Oregon Ducks blog
and, yes, I'm already in full PANIC! mode about that game
--Dave
Addicted to Quack, your friendly, neighborhood Oregon Ducks blog
Yeah…. that’s not gonna be so fun. At least we have some returning experience.
We’re gonna get a lot of comparisons to BSU, and there are some similarities, but that will be overblown.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
Here's why I'm not as worried about the O-line
This is the first year in awhile where we know going into the season we have a quarterback that can open up the field with his arm. That will help take some pressure off the running game. You have to be willing to throw down the field if a team is going to try to overload the line of scrimmage with defenders, and we have that consistent option now. Obviously we’ll have issues if the line is just terrible and we’re leaving some of the front 4 unblocked, but I don’t see that happening.
Darron is also a smart quarterback, and I expect his experience with protections and working with an experienced O-line last year will help the new guys get up to speed as a unit.
Finally, our O-line the last couple of years was a smart and tough group, but they were one of the least talented groups we’ve had at Oregon over the last several years. This new crop coming in is more athletic and that allows us to use our mobility to stretch the field and matchup our line against theirs in space. Footspeed and athleticism is every bit as important as size and strength in our system, because the zone blocking scheme requires that O-lineman be able to block and move within larger areas. In some respects, our lineman are there to get in the way, not bull rush. These new groups coming in have more potential to be great in that area.
Prince: This bores me. Is anyone up for a game of basketball?
I think i'm siding with you more than the worriers.
Remember, who was the one running up to our experienced lineman last year before the snap to tell them what to do? DT. He’ll be able to get the new line to a good enough level to beat LSU, and I don’t think we’ll see anything close to a repeat of fBSU.
They once showed a clip of the Oregon offense to the French. The French decided to surrender, just to be on the safe side.
by QuackQuackAttack on Apr 4, 2011 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions
I'm with you on the passing game.
BSU in ‘09 featured only a returning Maehl as far as starting wide receivers, and he was playing a new position on the outside. This year LT is returning and Huff was seeing the field enough by season’s end to be considered a starter. Add in Kenjon and you’ve got good experienced targets.
And I’ll take DT in a passing game any day over our starting QB in the Boise. If I remeber correctly that QB was not that accurate. Though I’ve tried to block that game from memory.
Who needs normal sleep patterns?
by AcadianTraverse on Apr 4, 2011 4:01 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Good call.
And actually, Huff DID start while LT was out, and he had played plenty before then as well.
Boise and tOSU understood what Masoli was, and took away his strengths. Making Masoli beat you with his arm was a no-brainer; the guy has exactly one pass, flat and laser-fast. Take away his legs and defending the Ducks becomes much easier, especially since he tended to tuck the ball when he should either have handed it off or continued to scan downfield for a receiver.
Fuck you, Juju. We'll do it ourselves.
by BigGreenWreckingMachine on Apr 4, 2011 6:52 PM PDT up reply actions
O-line underperformed?
I’ll take our O-line underperfoming ourselves to the NCG any time.
Quack Quack Bitches!
by Quack Addict on Apr 4, 2011 10:45 AM PDT up reply actions
annoy?
DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES PLAY WATER POLO FOUR DAYS AFTER YOUR SCROTUM WAS OPERATED ON - Gorbachav5
Yeah, dude keeps poking axemen23 in the shoulder during class
launching spitwads, and making obnoxious comments. I keep telling him to stop, but he won’t. What a jerk.
Prince: This bores me. Is anyone up for a game of basketball?
by baseb3383 on Apr 4, 2011 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
That's a whole lot of junior high bully for axeboy to deal with.
Take a doo doo pie. I love you.
by Bill Musgrave on Apr 4, 2011 5:32 PM PDT up reply actions
I missed u vary much Jarred :)
"I'll give any teller who gives me a lollipop 4 stars."-Chip Kelly
by TennesseeQuackAttack8 on Apr 4, 2011 9:15 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
Or don't acknowledge my kindness, you egotistical prude.
"I'll give any teller who gives me a lollipop 4 stars."-Chip Kelly
by TennesseeQuackAttack8 on Apr 4, 2011 9:38 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I'm sure Jarred appreciated it vary much
--Dave
Addicted to Quack, your friendly, neighborhood Oregon Ducks blog
;)
Me too.
"I'll give any teller who gives me a lollipop 4 stars."-Chip Kelly
by TennesseeQuackAttack8 on Apr 4, 2011 10:52 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I thought you were making a sarcastic comment about misspellings or something…
But, thanks for the kind words. And thanks for putting up the CBI Open Thread. I’m just glad someone was excited about it.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
I was being sarcastic.
I had fuckin’ CBI fever, man.
"I'll give any teller who gives me a lollipop 4 stars."-Chip Kelly
by TennesseeQuackAttack8 on Apr 4, 2011 10:52 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
It’s not the size of the Quack Fix that counts, but how you USE that Quack Fix. Right? RIGHT?
I don't mean to impose...
Speak for yourself
I have a fetish for big Quack Fixes.
Prince: This bores me. Is anyone up for a game of basketball?
I'm glad that LaMichael gets the "journalistic" qualities of someone like Bachhman or Canzahno.
As an aspiring sports journalist, it makes me disappointed that they’re just looking for page clicks and $$$, and not the actual truth.
They once showed a clip of the Oregon offense to the French. The French decided to surrender, just to be on the safe side.
by QuackQuackAttack on Apr 4, 2011 10:02 AM PDT reply actions
Here's video from the CBI Championship game
(Starts @ 1:10) Dude clearly steps over the line
Unversity of Oregon, Class of 2006. Currently spreading the Duck love in Ann Arbor, MI.
Currently unavailable. 8-[
"WIN THE DAY!"
by DuckUntilDeath on Apr 5, 2011 12:09 PM PDT up reply actions
He looked good (to my VERY untrained eye) in practice.
He commanded a double team on pretty much every snap.
Self anointed President of the Kenjon Barner fan club.
Rumors are the new Centers are having lots of trouble keeping him out of the backfield
/stillnotworriedabouttheDline
Lavender double U's have no soul
Addicted to Quack
That’s just because our centers are bad and inexperienced.
/worriedaboutboththeDlineandOlinenow
Defending maligned chants since 2009
I’m really excited to see a bull rush 321lb Heimuli next to a quick on the corner long and athletic Dion Jordan. Those two are going to cause a lot of trouble in the opposing backfield this year.
Lavender double U's have no soul
Addicted to Quack
This just gave me tingles thinking about it.
Throw a Linebacker or Safety into that rushing scenario and it could be deadly.
"What the hell was that?"
"Spaceball One, they've gone to plaid!"
I say you set those two up on one side and then Hanna/Turner/Kellikipi on the other and throw all kinds of weird drop into the flat, zone blitz rushing schemes at the QB, so he has to drop back quickly read what’s going on between that 3 headed monster and any LB with a short clock because Jordan and Heimuli are going to be breathing down his neck real quick.
Lavender double U's have no soul
Addicted to Quack
Moseley has more good news from a Monday practice report:
Ricky Heimuli was pretty dominant in pass-rush drills, and Wade Keliikipi made a nice 11-on-11 play, patiently holding his ground and fighting off Hroniss Grasu to contain a quarterback on a run play.
It’s nice to hear that Ricky is stepping up, but I really like hearing about Wade’s play as well. Eating up space like that will be awesome. We’re definitely gonna be a lot beefier up front this season.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
I'm really starting to think that our D line might end up being better this season than last year.
It will depend on the depth we’re able to add behind Hanna, Kellikipi, Heimuli, Turner and Jordan (would like to see Remington, Washington, or Anderson step up and I’m really glad Ebert is already here).
Lavender double U's have no soul
Addicted to Quack
I feel good about the interior of the line and the DE (with Jordan and Turner). Those positions are going to be great. But I’m just not as comfortable with Hanna being our starting drop end. He’s been solid, but just doesn’t blow me away at all. It would be nice to see Anderson or Washington emerge as a consistent player. If that happens, we’ll be in great shape along the line.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
I thought Hanna did a really good job filling in for Rowe last year when he needed to come out (which wasn’t very often). I think the pressure side has just flipped from last year. The DUE with Rowe was great because he was so versatile, but he was also our best pass rusher on the line. As much as I loved having him drop into the flats (except the BCS game (/slamsheadondesk) and cover guys, he was better at getting after the QB.
It will be nice to have a solid guy like Hanna be that drop end so we can consistently bring pressure off the other side with Jordan, Turner and Heimuli and then mix it up with our zone blitz side.
Lavender double U's have no soul
Addicted to Quack
WHHHHYYYYYY?

Why is the damn spring game on a day when I can’t watch? WHY?
"I'll give any teller who gives me a lollipop 4 stars."-Chip Kelly
by TennesseeQuackAttack8 on Apr 4, 2011 10:58 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
There there.
You have a CBI banner to wipe your tears and blow your nose with.
Prince: This bores me. Is anyone up for a game of basketball?
I don't know if I can carry that on.
"I'll give any teller who gives me a lollipop 4 stars."-Chip Kelly
by TennesseeQuackAttack8 on Apr 4, 2011 11:10 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
DVR?
or at least hook up a VHS player and record it. Old school.
They once showed a clip of the Oregon offense to the French. The French decided to surrender, just to be on the safe side.
by QuackQuackAttack on Apr 4, 2011 11:21 AM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, but I'd prefer not to have to wait until Wednesday to watch it.
Oh well.
"I'll give any teller who gives me a lollipop 4 stars."-Chip Kelly
by TennesseeQuackAttack8 on Apr 4, 2011 11:27 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I missed last years from a bowling tournament.
It’s still fun to watch not live.
They once showed a clip of the Oregon offense to the French. The French decided to surrender, just to be on the safe side.
by QuackQuackAttack on Apr 4, 2011 11:42 AM PDT up reply actions
This is a rare sporting event where watching it several days later isn’t a big deal. It’s not like it matters who won, so the only reason you watch it is to see how guys perform. You’ll be okay.
Defending maligned chants since 2009
True, but it still bothers me.
"I'll give any teller who gives me a lollipop 4 stars."-Chip Kelly
by TennesseeQuackAttack8 on Apr 4, 2011 3:23 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I saw this yesterday
If only it really happened that way. I tried the drown your debt worries in beer, and hope the millennium bug gives me a fresh start route many years ago. Needless to say it doesn’t work.
"What the hell was that?"
"Spaceball One, they've gone to plaid!"
I'm proud of Altman and Crew
Yeah, the CBI isn’t the “real” postseason, but this was a year where everyone involved could have folded and gone through the motions, accepting the wasted season that everyone wrote in the newspapers. We would have shrugged and said “Yeah, that was pretty much what we expected, the Altman era REALLY begins in 2011!”
Instead, our guys fought back in some games, kept others close (at least for a while) when they probably shouldn’t have, and made a great run in the postseason. We’ll end this season as one of only 3 postseason teams to end their year with a win, and that’s impressive. Sure, it’s a CBI win, but it says a lot about this group that they came through and got that win, and I’m sure it means a lot to our seniors to end a rough period on a high note. Watching Catron out there, I don’t think HE said “Oh it’s just the CBI, who cares?” He wanted it, he fought hard for it, and he ended his career at Oregon by winning what he set out to win. I applaud him for that and I hope next year’s young guys can capture the same passion our seniors left with.
You hit the nail on the head there, JPDX. Heck, they could have folded after an awful start to the Pac-10 season (well, the end of the non-conference slate didn’t go so well either). This was a very eager to learn and hardworking bunch, and it showed near the end of the season, the Pac-10 tournament, and the CBI. I understand the people who say the CBI really doesn’t matter in the long run, because it doean’t. However, the title is is heck of an accomplishment for a team that was considered the pre-season consensus doormat.
Dana Altman did one of the absolute best coaching jobs in the country. That is not debatable in my mind. Teams with as little size and talent as the Ducks had this year just don’t do so well normally, especially in a power conference. These guys were apt learners and hard workers, and they have a solid season and a postseason tournament championship to hang their hats on.
"I'll give any teller who gives me a lollipop 4 stars."-Chip Kelly
by TennesseeQuackAttack8 on Apr 4, 2011 3:46 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I'm not really a big fan of long hair
but at one point on Saturday Dungy was about 4 ft. in front of me and I said to myself, that doesn’t look half bad.
Practice Schedule?
Anyone know what the weekend practice schedule looks like before the Spring Game? A friend told me today that he might need to make a run down to Eugene (from Portland) so I’m thinking maybe I could take him down there and catch a practice. After reading so much about them it would be fun to see it in person.
Oregon's going to be featured in a spring practice special on ESPN on Wednesday.
It’ll be shown at 3 Eastern and will feature Urban Meyer at a spring patrice.
"I'll give any teller who gives me a lollipop 4 stars."-Chip Kelly
by TennesseeQuackAttack8 on Apr 4, 2011 3:49 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
I would guess so.
"I'll give any teller who gives me a lollipop 4 stars."-Chip Kelly
by TennesseeQuackAttack8 on Apr 4, 2011 4:05 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
ESPN 2, right:?
I’ve got the Masters Par 3 contest on ESPNuno.
They once showed a clip of the Oregon offense to the French. The French decided to surrender, just to be on the safe side.
by QuackQuackAttack on Apr 4, 2011 4:07 PM PDT up reply actions
Yes.
"I'll give any teller who gives me a lollipop 4 stars."-Chip Kelly
by TennesseeQuackAttack8 on Apr 4, 2011 4:14 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Knowing axemen,
This poll question is probably along the lines of “which state is farther north?”
Self anointed President of the Kenjon Barner fan club.
by CaDuck on Apr 4, 2011 5:45 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Winning a SuperBowl has its advantages
R-G always has great slides shows, 3rd to last picture shows Tony Dungy" watching practice.
Unversity of Oregon, Class of 2006. Currently spreading the Duck love in Ann Arbor, MI.



























