Preseason Camp Preview: DB

Photo by: Andy McNamara/GoDucks.com

07/26/17 | Football, @GoDucksMoseley

The Ducks return much of their secondary intact, but the veterans will be pushed by some talented freshmen.

By: Rob Moseley

Assessing where things stand for the Oregon football team entering the start of preseason camp July 31.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Who's back: The UO secondary returns for 2017 with a personnel group largely intact from a season ago, but few certainties entering preseason camp. Seniors Arrion Springs and Tyree Robinson and junior Ugochukwe Amadi shared the two starting cornerback spots among them in 2016, but turnovers were few and far between. On the back end, Brenden Schooler emerged as a ballhawk in his true freshman season, and veterans Khalil Oliver and Juwaan Williams have been steady if unspectacular so far in their careers. All in all, it's a group looking to make many more plays than it did a year ago. One positive sign since the fall was the spring practice performance of Springs; he had an interception in every major scrimmage including the spring game. Getting his hands on the football hasn't been an issue at Oregon — Springs broke up a team-leading 12 passes as a junior — but securing them has been more difficult. If Springs can produce turnovers this fall the way he did in the spring, the Ducks will feel very secure about at least one corner spot in 2017.

Who's new: The other spring sensation in April was a newcomer, cornerback Thomas Graham Jr. He impressed coaches from the very first practice, and was taking reps with the first unit by the end of the opening week. Graham is physical and instinctive, welcome traits for a UO secondary looking to play with more of each. Safety Billy Gibson also enrolled in time for spring drills, and he capped the month with an interception in the spring game, off a deflected pass. This summer they were joined by highly rated classmate Deommodore Lenoir and his close friend, safety Nick Pickett. A rising tide lifts all boats, and the Ducks added some athletes who should improve the level of competition in the secondary even further as preseason camp opens.

ROB'S TAKE

Projected depth chart
CB: Arrion Springs, Sr.; Tyree Robinson, RSr.; Deommodore Lenoir, Fr.; Jihree Stewart, So.
CB: Ugochukwu Amadi, Jr.; Thomas Graham Jr., Fr.; ; Ty Griffin, RFr.; Sean Killpatrick, So.
S: Khalil Oliver, Jr.; Brady Breeze, RFr.; Mattrell McGraw, Jr.; Nick Pickett, Fr.; Dexter Myers, RFr.
S: Brenden Schooler, So.; Juwaan Williams, RSr.; Billy Gibson, Fr.; Pou Peleti-Gore, Jr.
DUCK: Fotu T. Leiato II, Jr.; La'Mar Winston Jr., So.

What to watch: One question as camp nears is how new coordinator Jim Leavitt intends to array his defense formationally. In the spring he experimented extensively with a "Duck" package that used safety Fotu T. Leiato II or athletic outside linebacker La'Mar Winston Jr. in a hybrid role, pressuring the passer off the edge. The Ducks also were deployed in a traditional 3-4 with four defensive backs, and of course the standard nickel and dime packages. Will there be a "base" defensive look in which Oregon takes the field for a majority of snaps, or will Leavitt rotate freely? A couple individual players to watch include Amadi, who made a big-time push late in spring drills; redshirt freshman Brady Breeze, arguably the most physical presence in the secondary; and the new addition Lenoir, who has the skills to play either cornerback or safety.

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