Season In Review: Secondary

Reviewing Oregon's 2016 season and looking ahead to spring drills.

DEPTH CHART
CB: Ugo Amadi, So.; Arrion Springs, Jr.; Michael Manns, Sr.; Jihree Stewart, RFr.; Dexter Myers, Fr.
CB: Tyree Robinson, Jr.; Malik Lovette, RFr.; Ty Griffin, Jr.; Sean Killpatrick, RFr.
S: Khalil Oliver, So.; Fotu T. Leiato II, So.; Reggie Daniels, Sr.; Mattrell McGraw, So.; Pou Peleti-Gore, Jr.
S: Brenden Schooler, Fr.; Juwaan Williams, Jr.; Jhet Janis, RFr.; Brady Breeze, Fr.; Jaren Zadlo, RFr.; Ronnie Rust, Fr.

Starters: After struggling through 2015, the good news was that Oregon's secondary returned largely intact for 2016. While that portended improvement, the UO backfield struggled along with the rest of the defense while adjusting to a new scheme in the recently completed season. Once again, coaches did midseason tinkering with the lineup in an effort to identify the best foursome; true freshman Brenden Schooler emerged as a regular at safety along with sophomore Khalil Oliver, with Tyree Robinson shifting down to corner for the second year in a row, and Ugo Amadi beating out his close friend Arrion Springs at the other corner spot. Springs still led the team in passes defended with 12, double the totals for Amadi and Robinson. Schooler showed signs of becoming an Erick Dargan-type ballhawk, intercepting four passes; nobody else had more than one.

Reserves: At corner, the Ducks leaned heavily on their three regulars. Malik Lovette, Ty Griffin and Michael Manns filled out the travel squad, but Robinson, Springs and Amadi got the lion's share of the playing time. It was a different story at safety. Veterans Reggie Daniels and Juwaan Williams began the season atop the depth chart, before injuries and some inconsistent play opened the door for Schooler, Oliver and Fotu T. Leiato II. Jhet Janis and Mattrell McGraw bounced between the travel squad and scout team over the course of the season.

Redshirts: Prior to the season, coaches were considering Brady Breeze for playing time in the secondary and on special teams. A minor knee injury late in preseason camp changed their thinking, and he redshirted. But Breeze proved himself in practice to be a fearless hitter, and he was a thorn in Justin Herbert's side as a scout-team safety, regularly picking off passes. Another in-state prospect, Ronnie Rust, was sidelined all season by a shoulder problem. Jihree Stewart, Sean Killpatrick, Dexter Myers, Pou Peleti-Gore and Jaren Zadlo filled out the scout-team rotation.

SPRING PROJECTION
CB: Ugo Amadi, Jr.; Malik Lovette, So.; Jihree Stewart, So.; Dexter Myers, RFr.
CB: Arrion Springs, Sr.; Tyree Robinson, Sr.; Ty Griffin, Sr.; Sean Killpatrick, So.
S: Khalil Oliver, Jr.; Brady Breeze, RFr.; Fotu T. Leiato II, Jr.; Pou Peleti-Gore, Sr.; Jaren Zadlo, So.
S: Brenden Schooler, So.; Juwaan Williams, Sr.; Mattrell McGraw, Jr.; Jhet Janis, So.; Ronnie Rust, RFr.

What to watch: For the second year in a row, the Ducks welcome back a ton of experience in the secondary. But those defensive backs will also be playing in their third defense in three years, a potential barrier to significant improvement. The new position coach will have three corners with significant Pac-12 experience for two spots, a nice luxury assuming Amadi, Robinson and Springs play up to their potential. Overall it's a group that could stand to be more physical, which makes Breeze a guy to watch during spring practices. Like Leiato, Breeze isn't afraid to lower his shoulder and hit someone, and he's got coverage skills too. It's not hard to envision Schooler as the playmaker in center field and Breeze as the enforcer underneath for Oregon's secondary for years to come.