Season In Review: Offensive Line

Reviewing Oregon's 2019 season and looking ahead to spring drills.

DEPTH CHART
LT: Penei Sewell, So.; George Moore, Sr.; Jonah Tauanu'u. Fr.
LG: Shane Lemieux, Sr.; Alex Forsyth, So.; Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, Jr; Justin Johnson, RFr.
C: Jake Hanson, Sr.; Ryan Walk, So.; Dawson Jaramillo, RFr. ; Sam Poutasi, Jr.
RG: Dallas Warmack, Sr.; Brady Aiello, Sr.; Devin Lewis, RFr.; Charlie Landgraf, Sr.
RT: Calvin Throckmorton, Sr.; Steven Jones, So. ; Chris Randazzo, RFr.; Cole Young, Fr.

Starters: The Ducks entered the 2019 season with the most returning experience in the country along the offensive line, and reaped the benefits all season long. Oregon rushed for more than 200 yards in five different games, including a season-high 306 against Washington State and 239 in the Pac-12 Championship game against Utah. Auburn's elite defensive front was a stiff challenge to open the season, and Wisconsin mostly bottled up the UO run game in the Rose Bowl. But the Ducks were able to leave Pasadena with a win, capping a marvelous five-year run in the program for offensive linemen Brady Aiello, Jake Hanson, Shane Lemieux and Calvin Throckmorton.

Despite all that experience, the star up front was sophomore left tackle Penei Sewell. A year after his freshman season was abbreviated due to injury, Sewell returned with a vengeance in 2019. The freakishly athletic tackle won the Outland Trophy as the nation's top interior lineman, and was the top-graded offensive lineman in the country according to scouts at the analytics web site Pro Football Focus. Sewell was the only blocker in the country with grades above 90 against both the run and the pass — he allowed only seven QB pressures all season — and he was the top-graded run blocker in the FBS at 95.3.

The Oregon Ducks take on the Wisconsin Badgers in the 106th annual Rose Bowl Game at Rose Stadium in Pasadena, California on January 1, 2020 (Eric Evans Photography)

The Oregon Ducks take on the Wisconsin Badgers in the 106th annual Rose Bowl Game at Rose Stadium in Pasadena, California on January 1, 2020 (Eric Evans Photography)

Sewell's fellow full-time starters were Hanson at center, Lemieux at left guard, Dallas Warmack at right guard and Throckmorton at right tackle. Throckmorton was the fourth-rated offensive lineman in the Pac-12 according to Pro Football Focus, and Lemieux, Warmack and Hanson all were top-five at their position. Throckmorton continued to be Oregon's Swiss Army Knife, moving around the lineup based on need, and Aiello was the de facto sixth starter, making five starts and playing as part of the regular rotation all year. Aiello was exclusively a tackle previously but moved inside to guard as a senior and formed a nice tandem with Warmack.

Reserves: The Ducks leaned heavily on their top six, and a generally healthy season for that group made that luxury possible. Alex Forsyth played in five games as a backup and like Throckmorton could capably play at any of the five positions along the line. Steven Jones probably could have contributed more, but after playing five games as a true freshman in 2018, he was limited to four appearances as a sophomore in 2019 in order to preserve a redshirt. He'll thus enter the 2020 season still having three years left to play for the Ducks. Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu made two appearances as he made the jump from junior college to the FBS. Injuries were a factor lower on the depth chart. Charlie Landgraf, a respected program guy, didn't get to suit up as a senior due to a knee injury, and Justin Johnson took a medical retirement. Chris Randazzo and Dawson Jaramillo were sidelined with long-term injuries but both were able to transition back into workouts with the team by the postseason.

Developmental squad: Those injuries meant that some veterans who might not have had to otherwise ended up contributing significantly on the scout-team offense in 2019. Under different circumstances, George Moore and Ryan Walk in particular might have spent the year as backups on the travel squad in practice, but they were pressed into consistent duty against the defense as scout-team members. There they played alongside true freshman Jonah Tauanu'u, a prospect with sky-high potential and an exuberant personality on the sidelines. Sam Poutasi was another Throckmorton/Forsyth type; as injuries mounted, Poutasi played all over the line, and even was willing to work on snaps in order to play center if and when it was needed. Devin Lewis was another guy who primarily played guard but was pressed into duty at center sometimes, while Cole Young joined the program and provided depth at the tackle spots. Also worth mention here is Miguel Nevarez, who began the year as a defensive lineman but moved to offense at midseason to full the void created by the injuries to Randazzo and Jaramillo.

The Oregon Ducks take on the Wisconsin Badgers in the 106th annual Rose Bowl Game at Rose Stadium in Pasadena, California on January 1, 2020 (Eric Evans Photography)

ROB'S TAKE

SPRING PROJECTION
LT: Penei Sewell, Jr.; Jonah Tauanu'u. RFr.
LG: Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, RJr; Sam Poutasi, Sr.
C: Alex Forsyth, Jr.; Ryan Walk, Jr.; Dawson Jaramillo, So.
RG: T.J. Bass, Jr.; Jonathan Denis, Fr.; Devin Lewis, So.
RT: Steven Jones, RSo. ; Chris Randazzo, So.; Cole Young, RFr.

What to Watch: It's a new era on the offensive line at Oregon. Lemieux, Hanson and Throckmorton were full-time starters throughout the last four years, and Aiello started games in all four years as well. Their absence plus that of Warmack, a full-time contributor the last two years after transferring in, will be felt. If you're going to rebuild, at least it's nice to have a returning Outland Trophy winner as the foundation. Sewell is now the leader of this group, and he's perfectly suited for that role given the passion and intensity he brings to the practice field every day. Jones is more than ready to take over another starting spot, and the prediction here is that Forsyth slides into the starting five as well, at one of the three interior spots. Where Forsyth plays exactly could depend on who else looks ready to step in. Jaramillo once was looking like the heir apparent at center, and he'll look to regain that trajectory after being sidelined by injury. Aumavae-Laulu is a massive prospect who spent 2019 learning the tricks of the trade under the tutelage of Mario Cristobal, Alex Mirabal and A'lique Terry. This winter JC transfer T.J. Bass and freshman Jonathan Denis enrolled, so they'll be in the mix as well. As a JC guy, Bass could have the potential to contend for a spot right away, while Denis will begin his developmental path at guard and also possibly center.