“Leadership is a matter of having people look at you and gain confidence, seeing how you react. If you’re in control, they’re in control.”
— Tom Landry
Landry, the former head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, uttered that line. At first inspection, it seems to have more to do with Oregon quarterback Kellen Clemens.
After all, the Burns native is the leader of the Duck offense. He needs to be in control when Oregon faces off against Indiana to start off next season.
That’s well and good and more than obvious. It does speak to the state of the Ducks, especially the offense.
But in taking a closer look, getting a chance to notice the intricacies of the line, then stepping back, another facet of Oregon’s team comes into the clear. In that second, it has nothing to do with Clemens or the offense.
Try middle linebacker. Try senior Jerry Matson, one of just four returning starters to Oregon’s defense.
He is it. He is the leader head coach Mike Bellotti and defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti sorely need.
Matson will bear the brunt of the leadership role because of who the Ducks lost, not necessarily because of his outgoing nature. But that nevertheless is a reason and one that needs to develop over the next four months for the Ducks to get out on the right foot.
And with Oklahoma already looming on the schedule as the second game of the season, connecting early is a must.
Matson should be taking over the leadership role from Kevin Mitchell, who proved unequivocally that the defense was his group last season. Mitchell was a different breed; he sported tattoos but spoke eloquently. Had he not been a football player, it would be easy to characterize Mitchell as a philosopher.
Matson tends to be a polar opposite. He speaks much faster and is even quicker with a comment.
He is everything a reporter wants in an athlete. He may talk too fast for our pens at times, but more often than not, I’m coming straight to him any time I want an honest answer.
Matson was unafraid to speak about Ramone Reed earlier in the spring, giving honest answers about the linebacker who dealt with the death of his mother more than six months ago.
Matson is not worried when discussing the team’s defense. He speaks highly of others on the team, mainly the younger plays. If that doesn’t give them some sense of confidence, then nothing will.
He is brash. He needs to be. In turn, brashness leads to confidence.
That’s the basis of any leader, whether it’s communicated quietly or with abandon.
For example:
“Ramone Reed has been sitting behind Kevin Mitchell for years,”
Matson said after the spring game Saturday. “You think he hasn’t learned something? He’s impressing me everyday with how much he leads people and how well he’s playing. A lot of guys that are second and third string, they know more than a lot of young guys when I was a freshman.”
The best leaders put the focus on others. Matson did with Reed on Saturday. He’s done it before with Anthony Trucks, A.J. Tuitele and others. Only when he is specifically asked about himself would Matson delve deep into what he can do for the team.
It’s not as though many need to question that. For leaders to be effective, they must show an ability to play decently on the field. Words need to be backed up.
Matson’s play last season answered that. It will be important for him to have another season similar to 2003.
His opportunities will be there.
It is not the intention with this collection of words to lump Matson in with Joey Harrington or Mitchell. No, Matson has a ways to go and would have to do much more to become as God-like as Harrington in this town.
But as much as the Ducks needed Harrington in 2001 and Mitchell last season, next year’s collection of players will need Matson more.
They should be young and talented.
Matson’s opportunity is there.