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77 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, September 16, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 19, 2004 Confident Clemens takes charge of Ducks By DON HUNT Mail Tribune EUGENE — Kellen Clemens took the podium in front of a couple dozen reporters at the University of Oregon football media day Wednesday and looked as comfortable as a ranch hand in a hayfield. Clemens, who grew up on a ranch in Burns and returns to the tiny Eastern Oregon town when time permits, is a small-town kid in a big-time football environment. The step from a Class 3A high school to Division I college football was as steep as a fall off a horse, but adjusting to a university that numbers more than 19,000 students and a town that counts more than 100,000 residents was no less daunting. But three years into his stay in Eugene, the 6-foot-2, 215-pound redshirt junior is at ease with his surroundings, his status as Oregon’s starting quarterback and the celebrity standing that goes with it. Once he took over the signal-calling duties full-time last season after sharing them with Jason Fife for the first eight games, Clemens resembled a broncobuster version of Joey Harrington. He completed 64.6 percent of his passes for 788 yards and nine touchdowns in the Ducks’ last four games, three of them wins. And that doesn’t count the game before that stretch, a 21-17 comeback victory over California in which Clemens tossed a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns that earned him extra playing time. Advertisement "I’m happy with where my confidence level is right now," said Clemens, whose 18 touchdown passes last season broke Dan Fouts’ sophomore team record. "It’s a different situation this year. Last year I was able to lean on Jason (Fife) when things went bad, but now I’m the veteran that the younger guys look up to. "And I’ve tried to assert myself more." If Clemens can cultivate the late-season accomplishments of 2003 into greater productivity, the Ducks, who officially opened practice on Wednesday, could be among the better Division I teams in the country. Heading into their Sept. 11 opener against Indiana, they’re ranked 18th in Sports Illustrated, 23rd in The Associated Press and 25th in the ESPN/USA Today poll. Along with Clemens, seven other starters return on offense, including emerging stars Demetrius Williams at wide receiver and Tim Day at tight end. Williams, a 6-2, 190-pound junior, had 51 catches and averaged 18.3 yards per reception last season while playing in the shadow of the graduated Samie Parker. Junior Terrence Whitehead returns at tailback after rushing for 737 yards last season, but he’ll be pushed for playing time by senior Kenny Washington, sophomore Chris Vincent and senior Ryan Shaw. The Oregon coaches are also high on incoming freshman Terrell Jackson, a 5-9, 188-pound speedster who averaged 205 yards per game and scored 40 touchdowns for Centennial High in Moreno Valley, Calif., last fall. Up front, the Ducks expect to have one of their top units in school history. Guard Nick Steitz and tackles Adam Snyder, Robin Knebel and Mike DeLaGrange have 73 career starts between them. Snyder, a senior, returns as a first-team, All-Pac-10 performer. Sophomore Enoka Lucas is expected to take over at center for the graduated Dan Weaver. "It’s exciting to be a part of this offense because I know we’re going to put up a lot of points," Clemens said. "We’ve got a lot of weapons at the skill positions and a phenomenal offensive line." The Ducks are less proven on defense, where only five starters return. But if they can shore up a linebacking corps that lost Kevin Mitchell, the most prolific tackler in school history, they could emerge as one of the better defensive units in the Pac-10. The defensive line, which generated little pressure on opposing quarterbacks last season, could be more athletic despite the departures of Igor Olshansky and Junior Siavii to the NFL. Haloti Ngata, a 6-5, 345-pound tower of strength who missed all but the first quarter of the first game last season with a torn ACL, steps in to fill Olshansky’s spot while Devan Long returns at the other tackle and Robby Valenzuela at end. Chris Solomona, who is projected to start at the end opposite Valenzuela, and tackle Matt Toeaina logged ample playing time last season. "I’m ready to put on the pads and hit somebody — I’m ready to take over," said Ngata, who is projected as one of the top defensive tackles in the country. "As a group, we know we’ve got to put more pressure on the quarterback and take some heat off our DBs." The Oregon defensive backs have been maligned in recent years. The Ducks ranked 105th (out of 117 Division I schools) in pass defense last season, but should be much improved now that cornerbacks Justin Phinisee, Rodney Woods and Ryan Gilliam have a year or two under their belts. The newcomer is sophomore J.D. Nelson, who takes over at free safety for Keith Lewis. Nelson is the son of former Stanford standout running back Darrin Nelson. The Ducks’ greatest concern defensively is at linebacker, where Jerry Matson looms as the lone returning starter. Senior Ramone Reed, who played well in the spring, and junior Anthony Trucks are expected to fill the voids created by Mitchell and David Martin. Matson, for one, isn’t too worried. "People say we’re going to be shaky (at linebacker) but Trucks is an athletic player who reminds me of (ex-Duck) Wesley Mallard, except he (Trucks) is bigger," Matson said. "And Reed has paid his dues. He’s been working hard and studying his position." If the Ducks find themselves in close games, they’ll look to senior place-kicker Jared Siegel to squeeze out wins. Siegel is just eight points shy of becoming the school’s all-time leading scorer. Oregon’s toughest challenge will come Sept. 18 when it travels to Norman, Okla., to face the Sooners, ranked No. 2 (behind USC) in all the major preseason polls. By and large, however, the Ducks have a favorable schedule. Six of their 11 games are at Autzen Stadium, including dates with Arizona State, Washington and UCLA, and they don’t have USC on the docket this season. With Clemens now at ease in his home away from home, and in his role as the team leader, the Ducks could be headed for a memorable season. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities