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Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Since We Asked Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Readers Choice 2006 Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Our Valley Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend August 8, 2006 Jonathan Stewart, shown here scoring a touchdown against Oregon State last fall, expects big things from the Ducks. (Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli) Optimism high at Oregon By KRIS HENRY Mail Tribune EUGENE — The look on Jonathan Stewart's face said it all as Oregon opened its fall football camp on Monday. Despite microphones and tape recorders circling him on all sides, the sophomore tailback couldn't contain his glee when discussing the prospects of what he and others hope will be a breakthrough season for the Ducks. "I'm just excited and ready to get it rolling again," the 19-year-old said with a broad smile and wide-eyed optimism. "It's going to be an interesting year a fun year." Returning your entire offensive line and finding your name atop the depth chart at tailback is sure to raise anyone's hopes, but Stewart insisted there was more to his excitement than potential personal glory. "We've been working our butts off this summer in the heat and in the rain," Stewart said of offseason workouts that featured what he said was 85 to 90 percent of the Ducks. "We're ready for great things to happen." Advertisement That sentiment was echoed throughout Monday's activities, further lending credence to the 20th-ranked Ducks being tabbed to finish third in the Pac-10 Conference despite the loss of leaders like quarterback Kellen Clemens, tailback Terrence Whitehead and defensive lineman Haloti Ngata. "This is a big year for us coming off a 10-2 season," said former North Medford High standout David Faaeteete, who is set to help fill the void Ngata left at defensive tackle. "We've still got things to prove to the NCAA and to the Pac-10, so everybody's got to step it up and go from there." Oregon returns seven starters on the offensive side of the ball and six on defense, along with placekicker Paul Martinez and punter Matt Dragich. And to hear standout linebacker Brent Haberly tell it, it's not like Duck fans won't be familiar with the players filling those vacated spots in the starting lineup. "It's not like we've got a new face that's just gonna hop in with a new number that nobody's seen before," said Haberly. "The guys who are going to step in are guys that have been on the travel squad, been to this camp a few times. They're really veterans in our book, they just haven't had the reps. They've had game experience, it's just the guy who was playing next to Haloti or in the dime or nickel package." While the offensive side appears more set with its returning linemen and receivers James Finley and Cameron Colvin back in the fold, the "newcomers" at quarterback and tailback expect to receive the most attention as part of Oregon's spread attack. Stewart tops that list after joining Oregon last year as one of the nation's top recruits. In spite of his ballyhooed arrival, the Lacey, Wash., standout saw limited time in the backfield behind Whitehead and made more of an impact as a kick returner. His 33.7-yard average per return led the nation, with two of his nine touchdowns coming via special teams. While he'll still see action on kickoffs, Stewart stands to improve heavily on last year's totals of 53 carries and 188 yards rushing. "I'm way more comfortable than last year," said the 5-foot-11, 234-pounder. "Last year was my first time ever running shotgun or anything like that. It was a totally different offense than where I came from. I really didn't know what I was doing last year." To remedy that problem for his sophomore campaign, Stewart remained in Eugene in the offseason and thrived under a workout regimen put forth by strength and conditioning coach Jim Radcliffe. He gained six pounds of muscle and worked diligently to improve his flexibility and agility. He clocked in at 4.34 seconds in the 40-yard dash for a mark that ranks fourth all-time among running backs at Oregon, while also posting a position-best bench press of 410 pounds and power clean lift of 385 pounds. His 38.5-inch vertical leap ranks second all-time behind only Latin Berry's 40.5-inch leap in 1988. "Staying here over the summer was huge," said Stewart. "I'm in much better condition than I was last year." As will be the running game, which struggled to find a rhythm as Oregon adjusted to a new system put in place by first-year offensive coordinator Gary Crowton. "Last year the passing game worked enough to get us to 10-2, so that's what we relied on," said Stewart. "This year we've had more time to tweak a couple things and make the running game a little better." And while Stewart carries the most national attention, he's quick to point out that fellow sophomore Jeremiah Johnson will have a huge impact on the running game as well. "Don't count Jeremiah out," he warned. "He's got the same expectations as me, so it's going to be a good year for us running the ball." The difference between the two is that Stewart provides more of a power-running presence, while Johnson is a shifty runner at 5-9 and 213 pounds. Both will look to complement a passing game that stands to be in good hands with Dennis Dixon and Brady Leaf. Dixon started four games last season after Clemens suffered a season-ending injury and enters fall camp as the No. 1 guy, according to head coach Mike Bellotti. The junior combined to complete 43 of 65 passes for 540 yards and five touchdowns with one interception as a regular-season starter. He also rushed for 72 of his 138 yards during that same span as Clemens' replacement. Leaf is hot on Dixon's heels, however, after showing considerable poise in Bellotti's quarterback rotation over the final half of the season. Leaf completed 26 of 41 passes for 246 yards and two TDs in his final three regular-season appearances, then was 14-for-24 for 136 yards and one TD before an interception halted a last-minute drive in a 17-14 loss to Oklahoma in the Holiday Bowl. The Duck offense also returns tight end Dante Rosario and a bevy of receivers that includes three-sport standout Jordan Kent, and a defense led by linebackers Haberly and Blair Phillips, free safety J.D. Nelson, rover Patrick Chung and defensive ends Matt Toeaina and Darius Sanders. "We'll know a lot about this football team after three weeks," Bellotti said of a schedule that features a Sept. 2 home opener against Stanford, an ensuing road trip to Fresno State and a Sept. 16 home tilt against Oklahoma. Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. 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