With four redshirt freshmen starting, Oregon’s offensive line last year was inexperienced to say the least.
The unit took its knocks, allowing 24 sacks in conference play alone, and things only got worse after a season-ending injury to then-junior Tyrell Crosby. Oregon’s youthful offensive line was forced to step up on its own.
Oregon Ducks offensive linemen Tyrell Crosby (73) reacts to the fake touchdown return by assistant head coach and defensive line coach Joe Salave’a. The Oregon Ducks hold practice during their spring season at the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex practice fields in Eugene, Ore. on Friday April 21, 2017. (Aaron Nelson/Emerald)
“It sucked having to watch it all,” Crosby said. “But even though I was on the sideline, I was trying to give my help as much as I can to all the young guys.”
New head coach Willie Taggart added co-offensive coordinator Mario Cristobal, who is a specialist with the offensive line, to fix the problem.
“They understand that if we are going to be successful, it’s going to have to start in the trenches and it’s got to finish in the trenches,” Cristobal said. “Overall, we’re progressing, but we still have miles to go. But we will get there.”
Crosby is back practicing with the offensive line in the spring and said he wants to become more of a vocal leader on the field. He turned down an opportunity to declare for the NFL Draft, deciding instead to return to Eugene and play for Taggart’s team.
“There were a lot of factors that played into it,” Crosby said. “He let me make that decision on my own and then after I told him, he was just excited.”
Now that the offensive line has some experience playing together and an experienced coach in Cristobal, Oregon’s offensive line is coming together under the former Alabama assistant coach. He says he’s been impressed by every lineman he’s worked with so far.
“Now, who is going to be the first five? We’ll figure that out day-by-day,” he said.
Players had to adjust to a moving depth chart — meaning it’s constantly in flux — and said they had to prove themselves every practice. Players say the increased competitiveness in practice has positive effects on the team and that they are taking to the new coach.
“He’s really fiery. He’ll make me motivated to make a sandwich,” redshirt sophomore Shane Lemieux said. “He’ll text me just random stuff like, ‘We’ve got to be the toughest unit in college football.’”
Last season’s struggles are not forgotten. The 4-8 record was deemed a failure, and that sits in the minds of the players, especially for the offensive line, which took much of the blame.
“I think we’ve come in every single day with a chip on our shoulder, knowing that we have the toughest guys on the team and we can show it on the field,” Lemieux said.
Follow Shawn Medow on Twitter @ShawnMedow
