Pac-10's Best Players

[dthomas=ddixon]

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/pac10/0-7-22 ... o--10.html

I don't know if anyones been paying attention to Ted Miller's list of the best Pac-10 players but he's got 4 Ducks on it so far:

No. 18

Will Tukuafu, DE, Oregon: Hey, look -- new Oregon coach Chip Kelly and the Pac-10 blog agree: Tukuafu is a bad man. Said Kelly: Tukuafu is "as good as any D-lineman in this conference." Tukuafu didn't make the All-Pac-10 team in 2008 in large part because he played in the shadow of All-American end Nick Reed, but Tukuafu, who will be starting his third consecutive season in 2009 after transferring from junior college, figures to find the spotlight this fall. The 6-foot-4, 272-pounder is strong against both the run and pass -- he actually led all Ducks defensive linemen with 59 tackles in 2008. He also recorded 7.5 sacks and ranked fifth in the conference with 17.5 tackles for loss.

No. 16

Ed Dickson, TE, Oregon: Dickson is somewhat in the shadow of Arizona's Rob Gronkowski, but he caught 35 passes for 508 yards, which ranked second on the Ducks, with three touchdowns a year after snagging 43 for 453 yards and three. So the guy produces, even though he had a midseason lull in 2008 when he didn't catch a pass over a four-game span. At 6-foot-5 and 243 pounds, he sometimes looks more like a big receiver than a third tackle, but he's a good blocker and surprisingly strong -- see a bench press of over 400 pounds. He earned second-team All-Pac-10 honors in 2008 and is a likely first-day NFL draft pick in 2010.

No. 14

LeGarrette Blount, RB, Oregon: Blount and USC defensive end Everson Griffen are the only true 2008 backups on this list (We're not counting USC's backfield-by-committee the same way). Of course, not all backups are created equal, considering the bruising 6-foot-2, 240-pound runner led the Pac-10 with 17 rushing touchdowns, which broke the school's single-season record. He also ranked sixth in the conference with 1,002 yards and his 7.3 yards per carry ranked third behind speedsters Jahvid Best of Cal and USC's Joe McKnight. He's not just a bruiser, though. His long run of the year was 72 yards and many might remember him hurdling an Oklahoma State player in the Holiday Bowl. Now that he's back from a suspension for missing a few classes and a few team workouts, Blount can assert his claim for the starting job.

No. 10

Walter Thurmond III, CB, Oregon: Over the past couple of seasons, Oregon fans were divided into two camps: Jairus Byrd or Walter Thurmond III. Who was the Ducks best corner? Last year, when the Pac-10 blog went with Byrd, the Thurmond camp stormed the Pac-10 blog's castle with torches and pitchforks. Figuratively. Thurmond struggled with various injuries last year and he only managed to tie for the Pac-10 lead with five interceptions, giving him 10 over the past two seasons. The budding four-year starter also has broken up 35 passes over the past two seasons and shown a penchant for fancypants plays at big times, see his 40-yard interception return for a touchdown in the waning moments of the first half of the Civil War against Oregon State. Or his 91-yard kickoff return to start the second half of the Holiday Bowl. He had 66 tackles last year and 103 in 2007 -- eight for a loss -- which shows he can play the run as well as the pass. With Byrd opting to enter the NFL draft a year early, Thurmond, 6-foot, 180-pounds, will be the lead cover corner in the Ducks secondary this year. His combination of size and athleticism makes him a likely first-day pick in the 2010 NFL draft, and he could play himself into the first round with a big season.

[duckduckgoose]

Thanks for posting that DT=DD! I have been reading Miller's posts but was too lazy to put a link to it on here! I was a little worried when the Beavs put 3 members in the 30-20 range and no Ducks, but with 4 players in the 20-10 range the list is looking better all the time!

[brich75]

after that finish last year I bet masoli will be top 5. what do you guys think?

[woundedknees]

I was just thinking something along those same lines.

[duckduckgoose]

after that finish last year I bet masoli will be top 5. what do you guys think?

the only reason I would question Masoli in the top 5 would be that Millers list is based partially on NFL draftability. He just doesn't have the measurables.

[Hoagduck]

Question is, does quizz go higher than Masoli on his list? Miller has mentioned Masoli as a Heisman candidate, so I would imagine he goes higher, but Jahvid Best probably takes the top spot overall either way.

[KeenanHowry15]

Since Walter III was just listed at 10 heres some of my predicted remaining 9(not in any particular order).

- Masoli - UO
- Taylor Mays - USC (he will be #1)
- Cj Gable - USC
- Javhid Best- Cal
- Jaquizz Rogers - OSU
- Rob Gronkowski - UA
- Lyle Movaoe - OSU(I don't think he should be any where in this list but i think Miller will include him)

[stewbertwilloughby]

I bet Masoli will be around 7-8, probably. I mean he has only played one season, and he really only shined for about that last 4-5 games, in my opinion.

I think the top 4 will be:
4. Rob Gronkowski
3. DuckJizz Rodgers
2. Taylor Mays
1. Javhid Best

I personally don't think Rodgers is among the top 5 players in the Pac-10, and I don't think he's better than Blount. But it seems ESPN, and Ted Miller in general, has a love affair with him.

[Tray Dub]

Yeah Masoli in the top five is too high for the preseason. He hasn't done quite enough yet, and his NFL chances aren't good. I think he'll be one of the best players in the Pac-10 this year, but it would be kinda ridiculous for Miller to put him in the top five just for a good finish.