The Oregon Ducks will have a much different look to them this season. Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon is ready to prove he's worthy of running the Ducks attack behind an offensive line that returns completely intact. The powerful and talented running back Jonathan Stewart will now be Oregon's #1 offensive threat since the wide receiver corps loses its top two pass catchers from last season. Overall, the Ducks still field a potent group but it will need to adjust to life without a couple studs early on. The defense loses a number of impact players from last season. The line backer corps is the most talented of the group, and the secondary boasts a pair of heavy hitters in free safety JD Nelson and Rover Patrick Chung.
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Still, the losses up front will make their jobs that much harder and a decline in their defensive stats is expected. The Ducks look solid with their specialty unit as kicker Paul Martinez returns as does punter Matt Dragich, but the magic occurred in the kick return game where Jonathan Stewart simply led the country averaging almost 34 yards a return. He also took two back to the house. A second tiered bowl game looks to be in the cards for head coach Bellotti and his squad, but brighter things are just around the corner for Oregon's program with this being such a young squad.
