Tony D Has the Early Line on the Lines, and other links that pack a punch

Never miss a tweet from Tony DiFrancisco.  While so many in the twitterverse are fluff of the "ooo, I like cheese" variety, Tony D can pack a Micky Ward right hand into 145 characters.  Here are two recent kones of Duckism to meditate on, followed by some practice video:

I keep seeing Oregon has 3 holes to fill on the OL when it's actually 2. Weems, Asper, and York are returning starters.

The expected starting DT duo of Wade Keliikipi and Ricky Heimuli weighs 68 pounds more than last year's starting duo of Clark and Bair.

Elsewhere, Adam Jude reports strength and conditioning coach Jim Radcliffe rated this winter's improvements in strength and speed as "one of the best best winters we've had in a long time."  Jude quotes offensive linemen Nick Cody:

“Everybody’s focus was right,” junior offensive lineman Nick Cody said after Oregon’s first spring practice Tuesday. “You come back from a game like that and you’ve got three weeks (less) for your winter conditioning, and you’ve got to step it up with the time you do have. I can speak for the offensive line when I say that we really worked our butts off. We did a lot of extra work we normally don’t do in the offseason.”



In particular, Cody said the linemen worked more on strengthening their core muscles in hopes to complementing the built-up strength in their arms and legs.


“I think you’re going to see that transition on the field, in terms of stability and not being pushed around,” said Cody, who’s competing to fill one of three vacancies on the line. “Guys can have strong legs and strong arms, but it doesn’t mean anything if your core can’t hold it together. And I think on top of that, we got quicker, we got stronger — everything you’d want in an offseason.”

Dion Jordan echoed Cody's comments, indicating that the setback in the national championship game has just motivated this team to get back to work.

KVAL of Eugene has practice video.  Watch newcomer Colt Lyerla, wearing number 32, haul in a long one from Darron Thomas in a passing drill.  32 is a old fullback number, the clearest indication yet that Chip Kelly might have the versatile and talented Lyerla earmarked for one of the new H-Back positions that Fish Duck has been writing so eloquently about.  I still hope they have Thomas throw him a few fades--6-5 with a 42-inch vertical--even Kash himself would have trouble locking that down.