FanPost

Mariota is Going to Take the Ducks to the National Spotlight

The Oregon Ducks are starting the year right where they hope to end it, at the top. They are ranked No. 3 in the preseason Associated Press poll and No. 4 in the coaches' poll. But they aren't fazed by the media hype. They've been focused on this season since the end of the last one. They know they belong to be in the 4-team playoff that will end the year.

When Marcus Mariota opted out of going to the NFL draft and instead returned to Oregon he became the favorite for the Heisman and the Ducks the leading candidates to win the Pac-12. He accounted for 3,665 yards and 31 touchdowns while leading the team to 45.4 PPG. The team ended the year 11-2 under first year coach Mark Helfrich and their sights are set even higher now.

Offensive coordinator Scott Frost has one of those good type of problems. Junior Byron Marshall is the Pac-12's top returning rusher. Sophomore Thomas Tyner may have the most potential in the Pac-12. Either way he goes, he can't lose. Both of these guys could start and be successful on a lot of teams, but that's not the same as shining at a top program. They've been the top running team in the Pac-12 in recent years for a reason.

Mariota isn't the only one who decided to come back. All-American center Hroniss Grasu's chose to stay at Oregon and he may be the leader on the best offensive line in the Pac-12.However, they learned last year that they aren't physical enough, and they learned it the hard way. Stanford ended their dreams of a National Championship each of the last two years and the Ducks vowed to get bigger and stronger in the offseason. The line knows they can't afford to be pushed around by more physical teams if they plan on winning the big show.

Respected defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti retired after his unit outscored Texas' entire offense in the Alamo Bowl. It's hard to top that one. But Don Pellum, the linebackers coach, was promoted to the position. Last season they ranked second in the Pac-12 in scoring and 3rd in total defense. They need to replace six starters, but what they lack in experience they make up for in talent. Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner was a stepped up huge for the defensive line in 2013. The Ducks need similar star turns from his starting counterparts, defensive end Arik Armstead and nose tackle Alex Balducci. Armstead should be particularly interesting to watch, he stopped playing basketball so he can focus on football full-time.

The linebacker unit is definitely the strongest one on paper for the Ducks heading into 2014. Last season's leaders Derrick Malone and Tony Washington return to handle their own unique responsibilities. Malone lines up on the weak-side of the ball and focuses primarily on stopping the run. He ended last season as the teams leading tackler. Meanwhile, Washington brought pressure off the edge from the drop-end position to lead the Ducks both in tackles for loss and sacks.

One of the biggest problems for the Oregon defense was getting off the field on 3rd down. In the two losses last season, Stanford converted on 15 of 22 3rd downs and Arizona was 12 for 17. It's hard to win football games with your offense standing on the sidelines.

The Helfrich era began with 11 wins, impressive for any program but especially so for one that doesn't have the deep and storied football history like an Ohio State of Michigan. He's got all the pieces in place to make this a special season...and he knows it.

"It was going to be a show," Helfrich said.

If Mariota stays healthy this team has what it takes to put the rest of the nation on notice, we're a threat for the National Title, and we're not going anywhere anytime soon.

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