Season In Review: Offensive Line

Reviewing Oregon's 2018 season and looking ahead to spring drills.

DEPTH CHART
LT: Penei Sewell, Fr.; George Moore, Jr.; Chris Randazzo, Fr.
LG: Shane Lemieux, Jr.; Sam Poutasi, So.; Justin Johnson, Fr.; Devin Lewis, Fr.
C: Jake Hanson, Jr.; Ryan Walk, RFr.; Dawson Jaramillo, Fr.
RG: Dallas Warmack, Jr.; Jacob Capra, So.; Alex Forsyth, RFr.; Charlie Landgraf, Jr.
RT: Calvin Throckmorton, Jr.; Brady Aiello, Jr.; Steven Jones, Fr.; Cody Shear, RFr.

Starters: The Ducks mixed something old and something new on the offensive line in 2018, relying on seasoned third-year starters and two newcomers in an offense that transitioned to a physical, between-the-tackles running style. Shane Lemieux and Calvin Throckmorton started every game for the third straight season, and they take starting streaks of 38 games into their senior season later this year. Throckmorton started games at both tackles, center and right guard, every offensive line position but Lemieux's left guard spot over the last three years. Center Jake Hanson would have an equally long starts streak, but he received a targeting penalty this season and had to sit out the first half of Oregon's loss at Utah. All three have the chance to end their careers with 50 or more career starts, a remarkable display of durability.

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Penei Sewell started the first half of the season at left tackle, becoming the first true freshman to start on Oregon's offensive line since Lee Gundy in 1997. A lower leg injury sidelined Sewell for the second half of the regular season — the Ducks went 1-3 in the first four games he missed — but Sewell was able to return for the Redbox Bowl. Graduate transfer Dallas Warmack was the primary right guard, but shoulder problems dogged him as the season wore on. With Throckmorton in Sewell's spot at left tackle after the latter's injury against UW, Brady Aiello entered at right tackle and played there the rest of the season. Aiello retained his starting spot for the bowl game despite Sewell's return, with Warmack coming off the bench and Throckmorton starting at right guard.

Reserves: Warmack also was hurt against UW, and replaced by Jacob Capra; the game-winning touchdown was scored in overtime by CJ Verdell on a run behind Capra and Aiello. A second true freshman, Steven Jones, made one start at right tackle, at Utah as the Ducks reshuffled in the absence of Hanson for the first half. George Moore, Ryan Walk, Sam Poutasi and Alex Forsyth each made several appearances, primarily late in UO victories, getting their first significant taste of collegiate action. They and the rest of the No. 2 offensive line played an unheralded role in practices, too, getting their normal reps with the travel squad offense but also running over to get reps against the No. 1 defense as scout-team players as well.

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Developmental Squad: The scout-team offensive line also featured a mix of veterans and newcomers. Charlie Landgraf was the grizzled veteran, setting the tone for the younger guys. Redshirt freshman Cody Shear was hampered by a shoulder issue but battled through it to make sure the scout team had adequate numbers. Three true freshmen, scholarship players Chris Randazzo and Dawson Jaramillo plus walk-on Devin Lewis, spent the year developing on the scout team as well. Randazzo is a massive tackle but also a twitchy athlete with a high ceiling. Jaramillo showed impressive versatility, working at tackle, guard and center over the course of the season, earning himself a spot on the travel squad for one road trip. Their classmate Justin Johnson spent most of the year sidelined by a shoulder injury.

ROB'S TAKE

SPRING PROJECTION
LT: Penei Sewell, So.; George Moore, Sr.; Chris Randazzo, RFr.
LG: Shane Lemieux, Sr.; Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, Jr.; Sam Poutasi, Jr.; Justin Johnson, RFr.; Devin Lewis, RFr.
C: Jake Hanson, Sr.; Ryan Walk, So.; Dawson Jaramillo, RFr.
RG: Calvin Throckmorton, Sr.; Dallas Warmack, Sr.; Alex Forsyth, So.; Charlie Landgraf, Sr.
RT: Brady Aiello, Sr.; Steven Jones, So.; Cody Shear, So.

What to Watch: The Ducks will boast 153 career starts on the offensive line entering 2019; the most in the country entering 2017 was 125 by San Jose State, and entering 2018 was 150 by Wisconsin, according to Phil Steele. Throckmorton's status will be watched throughout the offseason, after he suffered a lower leg injury in the Redbox Bowl. His starting position to open 2019 could depend on whether Warmack or Aiello looks like the best option to be a member of the starting five. In any other offseason, guys like Jones, Moore and winter quarter enrollee Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu could look like strong candidates to push for starting jobs. They still might do so, of course, but that will be a tough challenge given the wealth of experience Oregon now boasts up front.