The Oregon football team will take the field this morning without the entire starting defensive line from last season’s BCS National Championship Game participant team.
Senior defensive end Terrell Turner, the only returning starter on the defensive line, was ruled out of spring practice this week with an ankle injury.
Nevertheless, what the Ducks have lost will weigh more heavily on the minds of fans than who the Ducks have returning this spring. Amid that distracting force, a lot of work must be done.
“I see a unit that works hard, that’s got a lot to learn,” defensive line coach Jerry Azzinaro said. “It’s a work in progress.”
As Turner (33 tackles, 2.5 sacks last season in 13 games) rehabs his ankle injury, junior Dion Jordan has stepped in with the No. 1 defense in his place. Opposite him is senior Brandon Hanna, occupying the “drop end” position vacated by Kenny Rowe’s graduation.
A three-man contingent at defensive tackle — sophomores Taylor Hart, Wade Keliikipi and Ricky Heimuli — has taken turns filling the spots occupied by Brandon Bair and Zac Clark last season.
Hanna, Rowe’s substitute at drop end last season, is undersized for a traditional defensive end role (6-foot-2, 240 pounds) and largely forgotten among Oregon fans. The Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, native converted from linebacker last spring and had 18 tackles and two sacks after making seven tackles in his first two seasons.
“He played between 20 and 30 snaps every single game,” Azzinaro said. “What he’s trying to do now is see if he can up that effort, where he’s playing between 40 and 60 snaps. That’s a big transition, and he’s doing a good job of it.”
Head coach Chip Kelly, defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti and the staff continue to expand the “drop end” concept — outside linebackers Josh Kaddu and Boseko Lokombo have been considered for the position — but Hanna has turned coaches’ and teammates’ eyes toward him with his work ethic.
“He’s a hard worker,” Heimuli said. “He’ll do whatever he can for us. He’s always pushing us to be better.”
Jordan (6-foot-7, 230 pounds) is one of Oregon’s tallest players, and most tantalizing. Also in his second year after converting from wide receiver and tight end, Jordan has enough speed to bother offensive linemen and a large wingspan that obstructs throwing lanes.
“I’m just trying to learn everything, trying to soak up everything to be ready for (fall),” Jordan said. “I’m trying to put it all together so that when the time comes for the first game, I’ll be ready.”
Heimuli, a native of Glendale, Utah, was a high-profile recruit in the 2010 class and an improving player so highly thought of that Aliotti has invoked the name of former Ducks and current Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata in interviews.
“I got more of the concept down of the defense. Some of the defenses, I wasn’t really sure what to do,” Heimuli said. “Now, during the offseason, I learned what to do more and what plays (to run) and where to be.”
Defensive ends Tony Washington and Anthony Anderson have been working with the second string after Turner’s injury, along with defensive tackles Isaac Remington and Jared Ebert. Oregon used a five-man defensive tackle rotation last season and has continued that practice in the spring.
The redshirt freshman Washington (6-foot-3, 255 pounds) has been a player to watch this spring; the Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., native turned heads during his redshirt year with solid play on the scout team.
“Real quiet kid, but he works,” Jordan said. “He’s not really vocal, but you can tell that he’s just trying to be a leader by his actions. He’s just trying to put everything together.”
Remington (Phoenix College) and Ebert (Iowa Western Community College) are both junior college transfers with junior eligibility; Remington redshirted last season and Ebert still holds a redshirt year. Both are still finding their way with the Oregon defense.
“Isaac has paid his price. He paid his dues with the scout team last year,” Azzinaro said. “Jared, this is all new to him. He’s in a real learning mode right now.”
Much to learn, in a handful of remaining practices this spring.
“Still some stuff to clean up,” Heimuli said. “But we’re doing it.”
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