How do you think we end up in recruiting?

[Duck07]

We run a terrible scheme for those guys and I don't get it. So much of what we try to do on D is similar concept wise to the Steelers, Ravens and even Alabama - all teams are zone blitz heavy. All of those teams have giant DTs that they rotate out on passing downs. Yes, they've got those speed guys too, but they all recognize the need for those type of guys. Why we don't do that, don't ask me. Yes, go mention Wade and Fili all you want, neither is what Azz/NA recruit.

Comparing what Alabama and Oregon do in-terms of defensive scheme isn't very accurate in my opinion. Alabama runs more of a read and react two-gap scheme, rather than what we run which involves a lot of stunts and zone blitzing. It's a hybrid 3-4, and by the way our coaching staff is not looking for the massive NT that you are, use what Wade Phillips has done over his career as an example of what we look for, i.e. Jay Ratliff..

Most say Oregon runs a 2 gap, read & react defensive scheme. We do run stunts and zone reads, but our system is more the former, not the latter.

I believe it was Michael Clay this week in the Oregonian talking about the 2-gap scheme vs Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl.

[vagusnerve]

How much more do we need to improve our OL recruiting? Just last year we got tons of studs. The year before that we got Grassu. We don't know how this year will finish with the OL and I'm not totally sure how big the need is this year beyond guesses made by other fans.

I know this year's class was supposed to be super good, but let's take a step back and realize we have a lot of really strong young OL talent already on the roster.

On the DL people keep making it sound like the last time we had a good recruit was Ngata. Hogwash, Heimuli was a top 10 DT and Balducci was a highly coveted beast. Yes, it would be great to get the most hyped guy every year, but we have not exactly been striking out either.

Sorry for the non-chicken little post. Sometimes, I like to be a contrarian just for the sake of it.

Well, for OL i think it's generally accepted that you need to bring in at least 1 starter every year, for continuity.

On DL, we do pretty well with the players we've got. But we are woefully thin at DE. It's pretty dire and it will be next season's weak point without a doubt. We need instant depth there that is provided by those upper 4 star and 5 star kids who have bodies ready to compete for PT.

[Diehardduckfan]

Oh how we long for the days of Igor and Haloti.....

[Boom]

How much more do we need to improve our OL recruiting? Just last year we got tons of studs. The year before that we got Grassu. We don't know how this year will finish with the OL and I'm not totally sure how big the need is this year beyond guesses made by other fans.

I know this year's class was supposed to be super good, but let's take a step back and realize we have a lot of really strong young OL talent already on the roster.

On the DL people keep making it sound like the last time we had a good recruit was Ngata. Hogwash, Heimuli was a top 10 DT and Balducci was a highly coveted beast. Yes, it would be great to get the most hyped guy every year, but we have not exactly been striking out either.

Sorry for the non-chicken little post. Sometimes, I like to be a contrarian just for the sake of it.

Well, for OL i think it's generally accepted that you need to bring in at least 1 starter every year, for continuity.

On DL, we do pretty well with the players we've got. But we are woefully thin at DE. It's pretty dire and it will be next season's weak point without a doubt. We need instant depth there that is provided by those upper 4 star and 5 star kids who have bodies ready to compete for PT.

I think this class addresses that need nicely

[vagusnerve]

How much more do we need to improve our OL recruiting? Just last year we got tons of studs. The year before that we got Grassu. We don't know how this year will finish with the OL and I'm not totally sure how big the need is this year beyond guesses made by other fans.

I know this year's class was supposed to be super good, but let's take a step back and realize we have a lot of really strong young OL talent already on the roster.

On the DL people keep making it sound like the last time we had a good recruit was Ngata. Hogwash, Heimuli was a top 10 DT and Balducci was a highly coveted beast. Yes, it would be great to get the most hyped guy every year, but we have not exactly been striking out either.

Sorry for the non-chicken little post. Sometimes, I like to be a contrarian just for the sake of it.

Well, for OL i think it's generally accepted that you need to bring in at least 1 starter every year, for continuity.

On DL, we do pretty well with the players we've got. But we are woefully thin at DE. It's pretty dire and it will be next season's weak point without a doubt. We need instant depth there that is provided by those upper 4 star and 5 star kids who have bodies ready to compete for PT.

I think this class addresses that need nicely

Well, we have a lot of DEs coming in. But they all seem to be project type players that will need to grow into their bodies... Dion Jordan types.
What we need is probably two DEs that can come in and play in the rotation as true freshmen.

[jimmy12]

By the way, Jordan is our best DE. SO, I am not displeased with who we are targeting.

[Duck07]

Well, unless I completely missed it, we do have 1st team All Pac 12 DE Dion Jordan returning next season. The cupboard isn't completely bare at DE either.

[Boom]

Well, we have a lot of DEs coming in. But they all seem to be project type players that will need to grow into their bodies... Dion Jordan types.
What we need is probably two DEs that can come in and play in the rotation as true freshmen.

Well, Unless we have injuries at the position... I think even a 4/5* guy is going to have a hard time beating out the guys that we already have on the roster.

Dion Jordan 6-7, 240
Tony Washington 6-3, 262
Sam Kamp 6-4, 247
Koa Ka'ai 6-4, 245

Plus Remington & Hart occasionally rotate to the outside

But even then... I think we have several guys coming in that could be physically ready to compete.

[OregonFan4Life]

I've heard some Oregon fans calling for Jerry Azzinaro to be fired due to his lack of ability to recruit the elite DT's. While I completely disagree with firing him, it's a little concerning to see the lack of DT recruits Oregon has gotten over the past few years. So many guys that heavily consider Oregon, then leave for either USC or Cal at the last minute.

[jimmy12]

Good lord. the same fans have been calling for Aliotti's head for years. Last I checked we went Rose, Natty, Rose.

Not too shabby for supposed sub par DT's and defense.

We are fine. Hart (Stud), Hemueli (will be stud), Kilepiei (sp?) also will be stud. WE ARE FINE kids.

[OregonFan4Life]

Good lord. the same fans have been calling for Aliotti's head for years. Last I checked we went Rose, Natty, Rose.

Not too shabby for supposed sub par DT's and defense.

We are fine. Hart (Stud), Hemueli (will be stud), Kilepiei (sp?) also will be stud. WE ARE FINE kids.

I guess we're fine, but every Duck fan has to admit, in order to jump to the next level, they'll need to start landing some of the elite recruits on both the O-line and D-line. Oregon had more team speed against Ohio State and Auburn, and possibly LSU, but that didn't matter because their D-line shredded our O-line. LMJ, Baby DT, DT, Huff, all great players that have helped the rise of the program, but without solid lines, they won't be able to beat the elite teams. However, it does seem that Oregon is headed in the right direction, Perhaps making Oregon an elite team is a longer project than a lot of Oregon fans hoped it would be.

[vagusnerve]

Good lord. the same fans have been calling for Aliotti's head for years. Last I checked we went Rose, Natty, Rose.

Not too shabby for supposed sub par DT's and defense.

We are fine. Hart (Stud), Hemueli (will be stud), Kilepiei (sp?) also will be stud. WE ARE FINE kids.

I guess we're fine, but every Duck fan has to admit, in order to jump to the next level, they'll need to start landing some of the elite recruits on both the O-line and D-line. Oregon had more team speed against Ohio State and Auburn, and possibly LSU, but that didn't matter because their D-line shredded our O-line. LMJ, Baby DT, DT, Huff, all great players that have helped the rise of the program, but without solid lines, they won't be able to beat the elite teams. However, it does seem that Oregon is headed in the right direction, Perhaps making Oregon an elite team is a longer project than a lot of Oregon fans hoped it would be.

I don't think it's our DL we need to be worried about there.

We definitely could use more talent and depth at the DE position right now, but we've done pretty well the past few seasons with what we've had. Especially given all the attrition at the position.

OL is a different story though. It's the weak link of the offense. We got some talent in last year, but Fisher, Y and Johnstone are the real names here. The other two guys were (are projects). We lost Nick Rowland from the year before (already) who was a talent. We really need to be bringing in a top rated OL or two this year (and every year).

[TheMaehlMan]

Good lord. the same fans have been calling for Aliotti's head for years. Last I checked we went Rose, Natty, Rose.

Not too shabby for supposed sub par DT's and defense.

We are fine. Hart (Stud), Hemueli (will be stud), Kilepiei (sp?) also will be stud. WE ARE FINE kids.

I guess we're fine, but every Duck fan has to admit, in order to jump to the next level, they'll need to start landing some of the elite recruits on both the O-line and D-line. Oregon had more team speed against Ohio State and Auburn, and possibly LSU, but that didn't matter because their D-line shredded our O-line. LMJ, Baby DT, DT, Huff, all great players that have helped the rise of the program, but without solid lines, they won't be able to beat the elite teams. However, it does seem that Oregon is headed in the right direction, Perhaps making Oregon an elite team is a longer project than a lot of Oregon fans hoped it would be.

You do realize that Nick Fairley was not an elite recruit, right? He was an example of good scouting, and great coaching. It helps to get blue chippers on the lines, but that isn't the only way to find those guys. Hell, players like JJ Watt were not highly touted coming out of high school either, but by the end of his career no one was questioning his talent..

[GrantDuck]

I'm not sure where all the complaints about OL recruiting are coming from???

Apparently people forget that we had one of the top 3 OL recruiting classes in the nation last year. We weren't going to take more than 1-2 guys at the position given that.

Defensive line has and will be an issue with Jurrassic Jerry on recruiting. He's failed repeatedly to land the big name guys over the course of 3 seasons. Getting out recruited in that area by Kal is pretty sad.

[ncduck]

Failed? Getting Heimuli was a failure? The guy was a top DT nationally. So, define success. Do we need to land 15 four star DTs every year?