An Immodest Proposal

In today's practice report, Rob Moseley noted that depth at linebacker remains a concern for the Ducks, and it's time to consider alternatives.


The Eddie-Pleasant-to-safety experiment failed.  Pleasant is a good Duck, a hard-working player who flies around the football field, but he was woeful in coverage, despite being among the fastest and most athletic players on the defense.  He seemed to have difficulty with the coverage schemes, sucking in on play action fakes.  Two notable examples:  Coby Fleener's 36-yard touchdown in the Stanford game, and Juron Criner's 85-yard touchdown in the Arizona game.  In both highlights Pleasant is nowhere in the frame, and should have been.

Pleasant's skillset is best used as a blitzing linebacker.  He's a slasher.  Having him in the secondary is like asking a penetrating guard to spot up and shoot nothing but threes.

The Ducks are loaded in the secondary this year.  In addition to talented holdovers like Harris, Gildon. Patterson, and Grady, a host of young players are emerging:  Brian Jackson, Troy Hill, Erick Dargan, Dior Mathis,  and Terrance Mitchell are all pushing for playing time.  Hill sticks his nose in there.  Jackson showed grit as a spot player and special teams warrior last season.  They're young, but with seasoned football gym rat John Boyett next to them, the secondary will be solid.

With Pleasant closer to the line of scrimmage, his speed and agility will be better used.  Don Pellum will have a full rotation of backers and the depth to withstand an injury or a couple of nicks and dings.

Slide Pleasant up.  It's where he belongs, and it's the best way to get the 26 best players in rotation this year.

Of course, the depth at linebacker will get an additional boost this June when 6-2, 220 Anthony Wallace enrolls and joins summer workouts.  He's very likely to contribute as a true freshman, much like Michael Clay did before him.