Document text
Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend September 1, 2005 Oregon�s David Faaeteete, shown biding his time on the sidelines during last year�s game against Washington State, has high hopes of being one of the Ducks� top defensive linemen in his sophomore campaign. Best is yet to come for Faaeteete By KRIS HENRY Mail Tribune Like any blue chip recruit, David Faaeteete had hoped to dominate from the moment he first lined up at defensive tackle for the University of Oregon’s football team. It didn’t quite work that way for the former North Medford High standout, so now he’s on to plan No. 2. "I’m ready to do whatever it takes," Faaeteete says of playing a more prominent role his sophomore season with the Ducks. "I know what I’ve got to do now and I’ve just got to go out and do it." His first chance at making a solid second impression comes today when Oregon plays at Houston. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m. PDT and will be televised on ESPN2. Last year as a freshman, Faaeteete played sparingly in eight of the Ducks’ 11 games. He made four solo tackles and assisted on three others, with one sack and 3½ tackles for a loss. Advertisement Those numbers are a far cry from what was expected from someone who was a SuperPrep All-American and Oregon’s Class 4A defensive player of the year in his senior campaign for the Black Tornado. "At times I played all right and at other times I didn’t play too well," Faaeteete says of the 2004 season. "I guess for a freshman I did all right, but I wanted to do better and play more." Last summer, it didn’t take the 6-foot-2, 296-pounder long to realize how much different football is at the next level. "After the first couple weeks of practice I knew that I couldn’t do what I did in high school," recalls Faaeteete. "I knew I had to change my game and use different methods." "In high school I used to double gap it or sometimes triple gap it just because I could," he explains. "Here you can’t do that, unless you’re Haloti (Ngata). You’ve just got to trust your team. It’s different. Here you’ve got to beat everybody with technique and finesse. Sometimes power’s good, but I’ll take technique over power any day." It’s developing that technique that has been the biggest stumbling block for Faaeteete. "He’s short but he plays high," critiques Ngata, Oregon’s All-American defensive tackle and potential first-round selection in next year’s NFL draft if all goes as planned. "He needs to learn how to stay low because that gets him in trouble a lot." Most notably with his coaches, who are waiting for Faaeteete to be the breakout performer they recruited. "He has to be a better technician and get off blocks," Oregon defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti says in assessing Faaeteete. "He’s a great effort guy and a great kid, but he has to do a better job of finishing plays." In recognition of that, Faaeteete has paid close attention to the likes of Ngata, senior Devan Long and junior Matt Toeaina to pick up the tricks of the trade. He’s learned to utilize his hands more and make better adjustments to his attack while in the heat of battle. More than anything, however, Faaeteete says he feels more comfortable in Aliotti’s system these days and is looking forward to just getting back to playing football and not second-guessing every move. "I know the defense, how it works and what the scheme is," he says. "Now it’s just time to focus on technique and getting myself better. Once you know something, you’re not thinking constantly out there. You know what you’re supposed to do and when you’re supposed to do it and you can just react out there." Faaeteete currently finds himself behind Toeaina on the depth chart at right guard, but is expected to see quite a bit more time than he saw last year and welcomes that opportunity. "Nothing’s set in stone," he says of the rotation. "It all depends on how everyone plays. That’s what it comes down to. The coaches just said if you don’t start, it’s your fault. It’s all up to you." Listening to his peers, it may not be long before Faaeteete is making the impact he would like at Oregon. "He’s playing well," says Ngata. "All he has to do is work on his technique. Other than that, he’s going to be a player." It’s an opinion Aliotti carries as well. "I think David Faaeteete is a strong-willed individual who wants to be good so anything is possible," the coach says. "There’s a will and an intestinal fortitude about the kid where he wants to get it done. He’s a class kid that wants to do whatever you tell him so he’ll get better." Maybe sooner than later. "Every year is a year to take a big step," says Faaeteete. "I kinda look at this as my first year because I played some but not a lot last year. I’m looking at this being a big year for me." Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail Best is yet to come for Faaeteete ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker dvd-r Distance Education Computer Security Ztech Media Hosting Sports Equipment Online Casino Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation Online Pharmacy Online Casino Reviews Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Rogue Valley Travel Discount Hotel Reservations Southern Oregon Loans Online Casino News Casino Gambling Sites Budget Website Templates Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Advertisement s