NFL Oregon Football

Oregon, Cal, Mississippi, and Fresno State. Maybe he will go to play for Ed Orgeron in the South. But I doubt it. Maybe he really does want to play for 'The Hammer' in Fresno who plays so angry his team does too and plays it's way out of a chance to win from time to time. Personally, I think Kenny Rowe's choice has to come down to Oregon and Cal.

Rowe is Rivals.com's 7th rated defensive end nationally, and their 16th rated player overall from California.

He's visited all four of those school, plus Arizona and so far, he's eliminated the Cats. Rowe says Oregon's the only school talking to him about playing either defensive end or linebacker. The Ducks have big needs at both spots and after his performance at the recent All-Star game showed he's capable of playing either spot.

Rowe is 6' 2", 210lbs. and from the football factory of Long Beach Poly in Long Beach, CA. He's a four-star rated defensive lineman but at just a ways over 200lbs. he'll have to add some weight to deal with the run at the defensive line spot in the Pac 10. At linebacker, he's probably only about 15lbs. away from having a chance to be a devastating linebacker with all the weight he needs. Should be an interesting chance for him if he picks Oregon.

Right now he says he's going to go home an go through all of his options and he hopes to have a solid decision made by the first of the month.

As usual, injuries play a big role in how these games go late in the year. But it looks like BYU's secondary's all going to be standing on the sidelines on December 21st and you know Gary Crowton's already noticed. A separated shoulder, ligament damage to a toe to one guy, and a broken leg to another last Saturday, and just like that, Oregon's got Jaison Williams matched up with BYU's fourth best cornerback. It means Jordan Kent at 6' 5" gets whoever else they decide to put out there as meat. And it means when they go to the third and fourth receivers, Colvin, Strong, Finley and Paysinger will have mismatches as well.

Of course, knowing Oregon's play-calling in the last month, I'm sure they'll try mostly double, triple, reverse, pitch, option screen plays to 'fool' the BYU defense. Fearing their talent just can't match up with players a half foot shorter and slower. 'Let's trick'em. Let's out-scheme'em. Let's use tomfoolery.' here's an idea for the Duck coaches, throw the stinkin' ball to the guys who can make plays and let'em make plays. Hand...yes....hand the stinkin' ball to Stewart and Johnson, and...let'em make plays. Enough with the razzle dazzle shamazzle. Let guys make plays. Especially if the D is all banged up for BYU.

Please don't remind me again how another Oregon team in their last NCAA tourney appearance (also against a Mountain West School, Utah) got the other team's center fouled out, and proceeded to shoot 3's until they were finished in the tournament because they were to ignorant to throw the ball inside.

If BYU's corners are as inexperienced as it appears. Attack them early, often, all day, and until you get on the bus to go back to the hotel.

Of course, it's not like the Ducks are coming in totally healthy either. They may not have their best defender, linebacker Blair Phillips and that'd be absolutely huge in allowing them to play straight up against the run and get pressure on John Beck. Fortunately for Oregon, the Ducks have had so many injured on defense they've played the second stringers for most the year. The good news there is, those guys have all seen a ton of action. Thurmond, Byrd, Ageyman, Dickson, etc.

Oregon's got a lot of issues to deal with in preparing for BYU's team. Fortunately, BYU's got this to deal with on the other side. Can they find some guys to match up with Oregon's receivers? I don't know.

Last week it was Mark Asper, in previous weeks it's been Charlie Carmichael, Edward Pleasant and Anthony Gildon. All Duck verbal commits who picked a Wednesday to make the announcement this year. Today, it was a huge tight end with enormous upside who his coach describes as just a great person. Savai'i Eselu who committed to the Ducks.

He announced it by posting it on Scout.com's sister company myspace.com. Eselu is 6' 4", 245lbs. and an absolutely terrific athlete. Here's the announcement on the myspace.com site. He's being recruited as a tight end but has the athleticism to play early on special teams or to even play defensive end if that's where he ultimately fits in. But for now, he's a tight end or in Oregon's offense, an H-Back. He's gotta be happy with the way Oregon's using Dante Rosario a lot more this year and how much more diverse the offense seems to be in terms of getting the ball to players at that spot. With Rosario leaving after this year and Dan Kause only one year away from graduation, Oregon's got a big need at that spot this year.

Savai'i Eselu is the 37th ranked tight end nationally by Scout.com and also had offers from Arizona, San Diego State, Colorado, BYU and Utah. Rivals.com ranked him as the 23rd best tight end and the 4th best player in the state of Hawaii this year.

Over the past few years the Redskins have been known to send out draft picks like thank you cards. Before the season got underway Mr. Snyder and co. had already parted with a first day selection for the services of a highly talented third-stringer. Normally I wouldn't mind sacrificing the future for the benefit of depth (it's not as if the draft has been kind), but now things are different. I'm urging the Redskins front office to become more prudent with their picks, otherwise we may not get to see Dexter Manley don the Burgundy and Gold.

As you probably garnered Dexter is the son of the former Redskins pro bowler/drug addict. Despite his father's storied past, young Dexter has risen like a Phoenix out of the ashes. Thanks to a rash of injuries the Oregon Ducks turned to the JC transfer to play defensive end against Arizona State. Three sacks later and the name Dexter Manley is on the lips football fans all over the country. At 6'2 266 pounds the former basketball standout has flourished as a pass rusher in his young career. He came to Oregon only after an extensive recruiting battle. Now it may be time for the NFL to start sending scouts in his direction.

I don't want Dexter to become a Redskin because I think he'll be just like his father, actually it's quite the opposite. Having been forced to understand drug abuse at a young age Dexter knew to stay off that course. From everything I've read and heard he 's both humble and driven to succeed, plus he doesn't go to Oklahoma State ... so at the very least he's literate.

I would love nothing more than to see Manley II on the back of a Redskins jersey two years from now. Remember Mr. Snyder and Mr. Cerrato, save a draft pick for Dexter Manley, he can't be worse than Andre Carter.