Preseason Camp Preview: Receivers and Tight Ends
By Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
Assessing where things stand for the Oregon football team entering the start of preseason camp Aug. 10.
WIDE RECEIVER/TIGHT END
Who’s back: Like the running back spot, Oregon's receiving corps features talented headliners, backups who easily could be starters, and also intriguing newcomers champing at the bit to crack the rotation. Two years removed from rushing for over 1,000 yards, Byron Marshall enters his senior season on the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's best receiver. He cracked the 1,000-yard mark to lead UO receivers last season, making a position switch in the absence of Bralon Addison, who is back healthy entering this fall. Also back is big junior Dwayne Stanford, an underrated target and physical blocker. The Ducks have two more experienced vets capable of starting in Devon Allen and Darren Carrington, though they're questions marks at the moment due to injury and possible suspension, respectively.
At tight end, Pharaoh Brown also remains a major question mark as the season dawns, following the serious leg injury he suffered at Utah last season. Following the injury, Evan Baylis stepped up with 14 catches for 133 yards and a touchdown over the final five games of the year. Both he and Johnny Mundt worked to find the mix of both blocking and receiving that Brown brings at his best. At both tight end and receiver, there are also a bunch of hard-working practice players who will make the occasional cameo in games, including Zac Schuller, Chris Tewhill, Jeff Bieber, Casey Eugenio, Chayce Maday, Koa Ka'ai, Jake McCreath and Taylor Stinson. Their contributions Monday through Friday pay big dividends come Saturday.
Who’s new: Coming off his redshirt season, Jalen Brown brings arguably the most dependable hands on the roster into 2015. He was among the most consistent guys at the position in the spring, getting ample time with the first-string. Following in his footsteps was early enrollee Alex Ofodile, who spent spring beginning the adjustment to college. He was joined over the summer by dynamic classmates Kirk Merritt and Malik Lovette, just two more electric, versatile weapons for a UO offense packed with them.
ESPN’s take: Great shape: “Based on the Ducks' returning perimeter talent, the man who wins their quarterback job may be thrust into a "just don't screw it up" situation.”
ROB’S TAKE
Projected depth chart
WR: Dwayne Stanford, Jr.; Jalen Brown, RFr.; Alex Ofodile, Fr.; Chris Tewhill, Jr.; Chayce Maday, RFr.
WR: Byron Marshall, Sr.; Devon Allen, So.; Kirk Merritt, Fr.; Zac Schuller, Sr.; Casey Eugenio, RFr.
WR: Bralon Addison, RJr.; Darren Carrington, So.; Malik Lovette, Fr.; Jeff Bieber, RFr.
TE: Evan Baylis, Jr.; Johnny Mundt, Jr.; Pharaoh Brown, Sr.; Koa Ka'ai, Sr.; Jacob Breeland, Fr.; Jake McCreath, Jr.; Taylor Stinson, RFr.
What to Watch: Take out the second-string in the projection above, and you'd still have an outstanding group of proven veterans backed up by talented newcomers. And frankly, that's a good thing, given the uncertain status of both Allen and Carrington early in the season. But whenever they become available, this becomes a phenomenally deep group. There's speed to stretch the field in Marshall and Allen; there's big, sure-handed bodies in Stanford, Carrington, Brown and Ofodile; and there are get-'em-the-ball-and-get-out-of-the-way gamebreakers in Addison, Merritt and Lovette. As the ESPN capsule linked above notes, there shouldn't be big pressure on the new quarterback to tuck balls into tight spaces, needing to be perfect on every throw. This receiving corps has enough talent to provide some margin for error.
