Oregon’s receiving corps has been in flux throughout the past several games as injuries, inconsistencies and a suspension have left coaches grasping to find personnel to throw the ball to.
Already, freshmen Aaron Pflugrad, Drew Davis and junior transfer Terence Scott have lifted their redshirts to help offset the tribulations the rest of the receivers have gone through.
Now the Ducks are converting defensive backs to receiver as well.
Freshman safety Jeffrey Maehl, who fills in during multiple defensive-back formations, will play both ways against Arizona this week, Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said.
“He may play a greater role on defense than he normally does, but he will also play some offense,” he said.
It won’t be too big of an adjustment for Maehl. At Paradise High School in California, he scored touchdowns as a rusher, receiver, kickoff returner, punt returner and a defensive back. It’s not like it’s a stretch for him to take a few snaps at the position.
“Before I even came up here, they mentioned playing offense to me,” Maehl said. “Then I came here and learned the defense.”
The technical aspects of the receiver spot, however, is an adjustment he has to make.
“I’m still trying to get used to the whole receiver thing – the footwork and stuff is a lot different,” Maehl said. “I’m just trying to get my legs underneath me.”
The Ducks’ depth at receiver will also be bolstered this week by the return of sophomore wide receiver Derrick Jones, whose suspension for a violation of team rules was officially lifted Wednesday. Jones has 11 catches for 140 yards and two touchdowns in six games this season.
Bye week helps Williams
After struggling with catching the ball the past couple of games, wide receiver Jaison Williams used the bye week to relearn some aspects about the position. There was plenty of advice given as well.
“I actually think he’s doing really well,” Bellotti said. “A week off has helped – just some introspections, some talks about playing the position and what it does, a lot of advice from a lot of people that he probably ignored most of. In general, he’s caught the ball very well this week.”
None of advice given was new to Williams’ ears, however.
“Just some of the cliché things they always tell receivers: Keep your eye on the ball, keep focus, bring it in to your body and to don’t turn up field before you’ve got the ball in your hands, stuff like that,” Williams said.
“It used to go in one ear and out the other because they tell me that all the time but when you actually think about it – you know, they’re right. So I try to heed what they’re saying.”
Still, all the advice, criticisms and finger pointing from fans is starting to grow on Williams.
“That’s just everyone trying to help. You can’t see it as people trying to be the antagonist because they’re all trying to help you,” he said. “I take it all in stride and whatever I deem fit then I use it. If not, then like I said, in one ear and out the other.”
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