Ducks Attack Message Board Forum

Every year I like looking at what the combined classes of the past two years looks like, as it gives a much better indication of the program's future than any one year alone, and shows what holes may be burgeoning. With the latter part in mind, guys with 2 years or less of eligibility are excluded. So let's take a look-

QB- Thompson, Butterfield
RB- Benson
WR- Hutson, Franklin, Thornton, Brevard
TE- Ferguson, Matavao
Interior OL- Denis, Harper, Laloulu, Sagapolu, Light, Miller
Exterior OL- Jeffers, Suamataia, Walden
'Athlete'- Ashford (QB, WR, defense), McGee (RB, WR)

Exterior DL- Swinson, McNeill, Tilmon
Interior DL- Jones, Shipley, Afaese, Smith, Williams
ILB- Sewell, Flowe (big), LaDuke
OLB- Navarette, Brown, Buckner, Flowe (little), Bassa
S- Greenfield, David
CB- Manning, Davies, Barkins

Some guys' positions may move around, but generally I've either listed what position they are on the goducks.com roster, or used their high school position (ex. Bassa).

Quite a haul outside of D-line and safety. Hopefully since we do have #'s there we can develop a few and add 1 Mr. Ika.

I do like what I've seen from Greenfield on special teams this year though.

My evaluation of it is that there is significant risk at these positions: Safety, Cornerback, OT, and Running Back.

We usually play 5 DBs on the field at a time, and on that list, Greenfield looks like the only sure thing. From there, you hope Manning's skills catch up with his athleticism, and hope that Davies is ready to play early. But given that it's already a lackluster group in 2020, I'm more than a little concerned. They're in a position where basically every single guy needs to pan out.

At OT, you have to like the guys we did get, but it's perhaps a little thin. Given how frequently offensive linemen medically retire, at least one more body would be nice. There are a lot of interior OL who could flex out, but none of them are as fleet of foot as you'd really like.

And then RB. If McGee beefs up and becomes a solid RB, no problem. If he doesn't, Oregon needs to hit a home run at the position in '22 regardless of whether Benson is good or not, because depth will be an issue.

Overall, though, I think you have to feel good about this outside of the glaring DB issue. I'll also note that QB is always a situation where you don't know what you have until you see it on the field, so that is a perpetual concern for everyone in the country. But I think the rest of the roster looks pretty good.

Good enough to beat a pac-12 team or two!

It's a good point STU regarding the DB/S position. Hopefully with these 4-5 spots left we can add one more to this class.

There's also a chance it clicks for a guy like, Waters, Bridges, or DJ James and they can contribute depth as a junior or senior. Manning absolutely has to be a hit. I doubt the staff counted on Luke Hill doing something horrible last year.

Steve Stephens is still a guy I'm hoping clicks too.

StevensTechU wrote:My evaluation of it is that there is significant risk at these positions: Safety, Cornerback, OT, and Running Back.

We usually play 5 DBs on the field at a time, and on that list, Greenfield looks like the only sure thing. From there, you hope Manning's skills catch up with his athleticism, and hope that Davies is ready to play early. But given that it's already a lackluster group in 2020, I'm more than a little concerned. They're in a position where basically every single guy needs to pan out.

At OT, you have to like the guys we did get, but it's perhaps a little thin. Given how frequently offensive linemen medically retire, at least one more body would be nice. There are a lot of interior OL who could flex out, but none of them are as fleet of foot as you'd really like.

And then RB. If McGee beefs up and becomes a solid RB, no problem. If he doesn't, Oregon needs to hit a home run at the position in '22 regardless of whether Benson is good or not, because depth will be an issue.

Overall, though, I think you have to feel good about this outside of the glaring DB issue. I'll also note that QB is always a situation where you don't know what you have until you see it on the field, so that is a perpetual concern for everyone in the country. But I think the rest of the roster looks pretty good.

OK-- you can add 4 more players: Do these players alleviate your concern:

Ika? https://247sports.com/player/siaki-ika-46040395/
Balfour? https://247sports.com/player/dontae-balfour-46101878/
Moko? https://247sports.com/player/jordan-moko-46101830/
Caldwell? https://247sports.com/player/byron-cardwell-46081467/

Obviously this doesn't include JTT. You can switch in Perkins for Balfour.

Do these make you less concerned?

jimmy12 wrote:
OK-- you can add 4 more players: Do these players alleviate your concern:

Ika? https://247sports.com/player/siaki-ika-46040395/
Balfour? https://247sports.com/player/dontae-balfour-46101878/
Moko? https://247sports.com/player/jordan-moko-46101830/
Caldwell? https://247sports.com/player/byron-cardwell-46081467/

Obviously this doesn't include JTT. You can switch in Perkins for Balfour.

Do these make you less concerned?

Ika, Moko, and Perkins are all transfers, so still would have the same gaps a couple years down the road.

Balfour would be good depth at free safety. He's not very 'explosive' as Cristobal likes to say, more of a long-strider, and projects better as a safety playing centerfield than a guy who's going to stick to a twitchy WR's hip (I could go on a full tangent, but I think this staff's fixation on size has resulted in recruiting safeties to play cornerback- Trikweze Bridges runs a 4.8-4.9 40 and has zero business playing cornerback in the Pac-12 regardless of height). They need to sign a true cornerback.

StevensTechU wrote:

jimmy12 wrote:
OK-- you can add 4 more players: Do these players alleviate your concern:

Ika? https://247sports.com/player/siaki-ika-46040395/
Balfour? https://247sports.com/player/dontae-balfour-46101878/
Moko? https://247sports.com/player/jordan-moko-46101830/
Caldwell? https://247sports.com/player/byron-cardwell-46081467/

Obviously this doesn't include JTT. You can switch in Perkins for Balfour.

Do these make you less concerned?

Ika, Moko, and Perkins are all transfers, so still would have the same gaps a couple years down the road.

Balfour would be good depth at free safety. He's not very 'explosive' as Cristobal likes to say, more of a long-strider, and projects better as a safety playing centerfield than a guy who's going to stick to a twitchy WR's hip (I could go on a full tangent, but I think this staff's fixation on size has resulted in recruiting safeties to play cornerback- Trikweze Bridges runs a 4.8-4.9 40 and has zero business playing cornerback in the Pac-12 regardless of height). They need to sign a true cornerback.

I think Ika has 3 years. Moko also has 3 (I think) Caldwell would be a true frosh.

I want to see 7 be an athlete (used as a slot, RB etc). He's never going to be an every down back.

I agree on a true CB. It's a shame Ceyair will likely be to USC. If you can add him vs Perkins, I think it checks that box.

Jordan Moko released today a final 3 of Oregon, A&M, and LSU. One to watch, would be an awesome late add.

The 2022 season might be something special. We'll have:
- experienced OL
- hopefully a good [experienced] QB in place
- hopefully a good RB who can actually pound the ball behind this OL [no more Verdell/Dye/CHL]
- elite WR's/TE's with some experience

- no KT but I would imagine the coaches will figure something out for the DL
- possibly one of the best LB cores in program history
- experienced secondary (if Jamal Hill/DJ James stick around). Manning will still be around but we might need to turn to inexperienced players there. Overall corner play has been good the past few years so I'm not too worried - maybe it's because of Lenoir/Graham/Breeze but still not too worried about the secondary.

The limbo at the QB/RB positions will probably hold us back next season - im guessing a 10 win season give or take a game. Even if there are injuries at key positions, CMC has built some pretty darn good depth on this team.

ducks5ever wrote:The 2022 season might be something special. We'll have:
- experienced OL
- hopefully a good [experienced] QB in place
- hopefully a good RB who can actually pound the ball behind this OL [no more Verdell/Dye/CHL]
- elite WR's/TE's with some experience

- no KT but I would imagine the coaches will figure something out for the DL
- possibly one of the best LB cores in program history
- experienced secondary (if Jamal Hill/DJ James stick around). Manning will still be around but we might need to turn to inexperienced players there. Overall corner play has been good the past few years so I'm not too worried - maybe it's because of Lenoir/Graham/Breeze but still not too worried about the secondary.

The limbo at the QB/RB positions will probably hold us back next season - im guessing a 10 win season give or take a game. Even if there are injuries at key positions, CMC has built some pretty darn good depth on this team.

Why no KT? He’s just a Sophomore.

KT is likely gone after next year so we just assume as much.

Due to Covid we should include the 19 class because technically they will all be RS Fr in regards to class standing as 20 and 21 recruits are all essentially the same class. (Minus the nfl 3 years out rule)

Duck07 wrote:KT is likely gone after next year so we just assume as much.

Due to Covid we should include the 19 class because technically they will all be RS Fr in regards to class standing as 20 and 21 recruits are all essentially the same class. (Minus the nfl 3 years out rule)

I read 22 as 21. Whoops.

2021 is going to be a very mature OL group. Moore, Jones, MAL, Bass, Forsyth. I can see all returning for 2021 and Moore is gonna be in what, year 7? MAL year 5, Forsyth year 5, Jones, Bass year 4?

2022? I can see everyone gone except maybe AF (who might or might not take advantage of an extra year). The good news is 2021 should allow the staff to put together a full second string and let them play together a year as a second string. I think doing this in 2019 greatly aided in bringing in the "new" line in 2020 and should pay benefits again in 2022.

Grabbing the JC kid would be huge.

OrTDuck wrote:Jordan Moko released today a final 3 of Oregon, A&M, and LSU. One to watch, would be an awesome late add.

Hope we get Moko. Big, agile Polynesian linemen, who grew up playing rugby, usually pan out pretty well in playing football.