[Quack Attack]

Meddling in the middle Oregon’s task at hand will be to find the right combinations to round out the defensive center


By Rob Moseley
The Register-Guard

Published: August 6, 2008 12:00AM


Casey Matthews (left), and John Bacon are battling to fill the starting middle linebacker spot for the Ducks this season.

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At first glance, the gash is alarming. It’s gleaming red and a couple inches long. John Bacon busted out its stitches during Monday’s first practice of fall camp for Oregon. No, the wound isn’t on Bacon’s surgically repaired knee, but instead on the UO senior’s forehead, the result of a mishap at home. And looks seem to be deceiving: Bacon shrugged it off Monday afternoon, perhaps not unexpected from a big, tough middle linebacker.

“No big deal,” Bacon said. What on the surface looks like a serious problem isn’t a major concern, he implied. By the time the UO football season begins in just more than three weeks, the Ducks hope the same can be said of the middle of their defense, where Oregon must replace both starting tackles and one of two inside linebackers.

Bacon is the lone returning starter in that group, but is recovering from reconstructive knee surgery and trying to fend off sophomore Casey Matthews at middle linebacker (Mike). Spencer Paysinger hopes to spell the departed A.J. Tuitele at weak-side linebacker, and seniors Cole Linehan and Ra’Shon Harris have been installed at the tackles.

The quartet is surrounded by a stellar secondary, disruptive ends and a playmaking outside linebacker. They’re the most significant question marks on a defense that could be among the best in the Pac-10. “We’ll just have to wait and see, and that’s the thing,” said Linehan, who is teaming with Harris to replace David Faaeteete and Jeremy Gibbs. “I know how good the guys can be that I’m playing with. They know how good they can be. Now it’s time for us to prove it.”

Linehan has 12 career starts to his name, and Bacon opened the first nine games of 2007 before injuring his knee. Harris has yet to start for the Ducks, but perhaps the biggest unknown is Paysinger, who became the leader at weak-side (Will) linebacker following the suspension of Kevin Garrett.

Paysinger began his career on the strong-side (Sam), began working at Will a year ago, then moved back to Sam this past spring when Jerome Boyd underwent foot surgery. With Boyd back and Garrett out, Paysinger has crossed the defensive formation yet again.
Paysinger said he felt both excitement and disappointment upon hearing of Garrett’s suspension.

“Obviously it was mixed feelings, because he is my friend and I wanted us to all go in strong,” Paysinger said. “But we’ve got to move on. He’s not here right now. It can’t be empty, so somebody has to step up and fill his shoes.”

The Ducks open the regular season Aug. 30 with a home game against Washington and its dangerous dual-threat quarterback, Jake Locker.
“I’ll get there,” Paysinger said. “Hopefully I’ll get there by game day. Some times I have a little trouble with my run fits, but in the passing game I feel pretty confident. The next couple days I should get that locked down so when we put on pads (Friday), I’ll be good.” Paysinger’s mobility will be an asset against a running quarterback like Locker. Against more traditional offenses, particularly those with power rushing attacks, the Ducks may prefer a more physical presence at linebacker, perhaps using Bacon and Matthews together. Matthews said he’s “taking Will notes as well as Mike notes” to prepare for such a scenario. But he also expects a season-long battle with Bacon in the middle.

“I don’t think it’ll stop,” Matthews said. “It’s the coaches’ decision on game day, and it could change halfway through the season.”
Linehan and Harris seem more entrenched at the tackles, particularly given junior college transfer Justin Thompson’s inability to join the team for the start of camp. Primary reserves Tonio Celotto and Simi Toeaina are relatively inexperienced.

“Am I confident?” UO defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti said. “I’m not confident for the fact that we’re green there. But I’m confident that they care enough, and that I have good enough teachers that we’ll get it taught.” They’ve got less than four weeks to solidify things in the middle of the defense. “I think we’re going to prove some people wrong this year,” Linehan said. “I guess we’ll wait until the 30th to find out.”

Copyright © 2008 — The Register-Guard, Eugene, Oregon, USA

[Full Cougar]

Ya he is a tough guy I suppose.