Oregon Looks To Make A Splash In The NFL

Finally it is here, well almost. Football season is back and America’s pastime can take a back seat to America’s sport. And while the state of Oregon will be focused mainly on the Ducks and Beavers, there may be even more reasons for at least Duck fans to keep an eye on the NFL other than just the Seahawks 173 miles to the North.

Up until this year, current Ducks in the NFL have represented Oregon well, but not great. Nothing against Max Unger, who is the one the top centers in the league, Jairus Byrd, Patrick Chung or LeGarrette Blount, this year however, there is even more of a chance for Oregon to stand out in the NFL.

Chip Kelly would be the obvious candidate to lead the charge for this leap in notoriety, but he also has a wing man that can help lead the charge.

First though, imagine you are a GM for a NFL team and say you have a mid-third or fourth round pick coming up and there are two players you are looking at, a senior running back and a junior wide receiver (both are explosive types of players that you need).

The WR is 5-11 and 190 lbs, runs a 4.41 40, a 38” vertical, 4.2 shuttle time and had 16 reps on the bench press. The RB is 5-09 and 190lbs, runs a 4.35 40, a 35.5” vertical, 4.14 shuttle time and had 20 reps on the bench press. Overall it would appear that you have a 1A versus 1B situation, until you look at each player’s previous year’s stats. 

Ninety-four rushing yards, 55 receiving yards and a single touchdown scored on a return and only 5 total TD’s scored in his career for the WR; his RB counterpart rushed for 1,767 yards and racked up 256 receiving yards along with a total of 23 TD’s in his final year of college play. Let those numbers sink in and based on their athleticism and numbers, who looks like the more proven and promising prospect?

The WR, which I would hope you would pass on, is Chicago Bears star Devin Hester. Not an Adrian Peterson or Peyton Manning, but someone who has proved time and time again to be a solid role player who has altered game plans.

The RB is Carolina Panthers rookie Kenjon Barner. And no, I am not ignorant, I know that Barner is on a team that already has DeAngelo Williams and fellow Duck Jonathan Stewart, who is currently on the physically unable to perform list by the way; the Panthers have a combined 15-33 record the past three years. Now you also might be saying that Barner was in a particular system in college … I understand it all.

This does not detract from the fact that Barner will be around similar players. He has a fellow RB in Williams that is also lightning quick, a very athletic QB in Cam Newton, and a very reliable WR in Steve Smith. As far as the system goes, more and more offenses in the NFL are speeding up their tempo and adding players that have speed that can come out of the backfield or line up in the slot and help with wildcat or read option plays. Basically, the only team better suited for Barner to have gone would have been well, the Eagles.

Oh Philadelphia, those three straight trips to the NFC championship game and lack of a Super Bowl win after two appearances still sting a little? Admit it, you might actually miss Donavan McNabb and Andy Reid … .well until now. With Michael Vick potentially being the starter and Chip Kelly at the helm, this team has the potential to do what it was meant to when it assembled just a few years ago: open up the scoring floodgates and hopefully a championship.

As sad as it might sound, an 8-8 season would be considered a success for this year compared to the meager 4-12 season last year. Don’t fret though Philly fans, Kelly is looking to make a bigger splash then an “okay” first year. While some might say his offense is too gimmicky for the pros, they are dead wrong. The last few years, wildcats, read options and pistol formations have been sprouting up across the NFL. Why? Because it worked on the COLLEGE level first. The personnel the Eagles have could not fit better for Kelly’s style of up tempo, no huddle offense and they will provide backing to the saying that “speed kills” this coming season.

Mainly this year, Oregon will stand out in the NFL because of Chip Kelly. I’m betting that eventually, he will succeed (it may not a year or two), but do not count Barner out either.

The Panthers have only improved the past three seasons and Cam Newton, who only had slightly worse numbers his second year, will be a much improved player this coming year. Last year alone, he count down from 17 to 12 interceptions, that is more important to me then a drop in completion percentage of only 2.3% or 200 less passing yards his second year. Might take a year or two to get going for Barner but he will find his place and role and when he does, you’ll know immediately. And as far as Chip Kelly goes, as long as the rest of his offensive weapons stay healthy, the Eagles will have an offense that at the very least will cause many headaches, frustration and late nights for defensive coordinators.