In recent years there’s been a stigma attached to Oregon’s linebacker unit. They’re questioned constantly before each season. There are complaints that they’re too small, they’re not fast enough, and that they don’t have the experience. How are they going to replace the guys that started before them?
“It has been a question year-in and year-out and we use it as motivation,” senior linebacker A.J. Tuitele said. “This is my fifth year and every season coming in, the biggest question is: ‘How are the ‘backers going to do?’ ‘Are the ‘backers going to hold on?’ And every year we prove them wrong. It’s nothing new to us.”
But why, even after proving people wrong, are the linebackers a question mark?
“A lot of it has to do with us being undersized. Every year a senior or two leaves and they want to know if the next dude can step up,” Tuitele said.
While size and speed may or may not be factors for which they need to compensate, depending on the linebacker in question, the limited experience factor is by design. In order to play linebacker for the Ducks, a player needs to immerse himself with the defensive terminology that goes with the position. And that could take some time, which is why people don’t typically see many underclassmen starters in the linebacker core.
“Rarely does a freshman ever come in on our defense and start,” junior linebacker John Bacon said. “That’s not because we don’t have great talent but our defense is one that you have to be really understanding of. Our linebackers have to be smart, and so it takes kids a while to get going.”
This year, Tuitele will be the only returner with significant playing time while the others will be asked to help replace Blair Phillips and Brent Haberly. Phillips was named the Ducks’ most outstanding player last year and Haberly is a former walk-on who was voted the most inspirational player last season.
“I don’t think you can replace a Blair Phillips or a Brent Haberly,” Tuitele said. “The next guy behind them has to make a name for himself.”
Right now, the player making his name known is Bacon, who has taken over Phillips’ role of middle linebacker during spring practice. Bacon, though, is still adjusting to the role of practicing with the first team while also trying to adjust to the cranked-up intensity of practice this spring.
“(The coaches) are really testing our limits mentally and physically,” Bacon said. “Getting conditioned is my biggest thing right now. Once I get in better condition, I think I’ll be able to keep my feet moving faster throughout the practice.”
Last spring, Bacon used Phillips as a mentor while practicing under him, which has helped Bacon adjust to his role as a team leader.
“It’s a lot more responsibility. Being linebacker, all three of us have to be leaders. We have to know everything that’s going on,” Bacon said. “I’ve always felt like I had a good understanding of the defense but now it’s put to the test.”
Even with the added responsibility, Bacon said he hasn’t had a better time playing football.
“The biggest difference is that I’m having so much more fun,” Bacon said. “It’s a blast. I’m not nervous. I don’t have the jitters. I’m just having a great time.”
Part of the reason is because, along with Phillips’ passing of his knowledge of the game to Bacon, Tuitele helped Bacon and the other linebackers with the mental aspects of the position. Tuitele began the 2005 season as a starter before a knee injury derailed his season in the fourth game against Stanford. Tuitele regained his status as a starter last season after Haberly was injured during the Oklahoma game.
“People forget, but A.J.’s been a starter for three years now,” Bacon said. “He’s a bona-fide starter and an incredible instinctual linebacker.
“Guys like A.J. Tuitele really helped me out in the offseason with my mental game – staying focused, how to stay confident in certain situations. That’s my biggest thing; my confidence level is 10 times higher than it was last year.”
That newfound confidence has translated to the practice field as Oregon coach Mike Bellotti has taken notice of Bacon and junior strong safety/linebacker Jerome Boyd.
“John Bacon and Jerome Boyd have brought great energy to the linebacker core,” Bellotti said. “A.J. is doing all the right things. It’s just he hasn’t made a lot of plays because the ball hasn’t come to him in those situations.
“I’m pleased right now with what they’ve been doing. They’re an aggressive group, and they’re energetic, and they’re taking on leadership roles.”
Other linebackers who may see significant playing time in the fall are redshirt freshman Spencer Paysinger, junior Erik Elshire, junior Jason Turner and senior Josh Thomas-Dotson.
For their sake, hopefully the linebackers put on a performance this spring to silence those who doubt the position.
Still, they realize there’s a few things to iron out during the rest of spring drills.
“We’ve been getting better everyday,” Tuitele said. “I know there’s stuff to improve on but that comes with practice.”
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