Okay, yeah, the spread-option is a brilliant invention, blah blah, but you don’t run for *465 yards* unless you have a damn good offensive line. The Ducks blew the Huskies off the ball last October, and I’ll prove it to you: The Huskies’ three leading tacklers that day were defensive backs. That’s practically unheard of–especially so when an opponent runs the ball 62 times.

What’s even more terrifying is that the defensive line totaled only 16 tackles in that rush-heavy game–and that includes assisted tackles, so you’re probably counting a couple of plays twice. Even so, the most generous analysis is that, on 44 of 62 rushes, the four defensive linemen weren’t involved in the play at all. That’s not trickery, that’s physical abuse bordering on assault.

If Oregon and Washington both had the same O- and D-Lines this year, I’d probably just skip the game and practice my trick pool shots.

But there have been a few changes that ought to give Husky fans hope, and Duck fans pause. Not just in personnel, but also in coaching and in how the game will be officiated.

The Ducks return three starters to an O-line that Bellotti said was the best in school history: C Max Unger (at left, 6-5, 300; All Pac-10 LY), LT Fenuki Tupou (6-6, 330; 2nd TM All Pac-10 LY), and RG Mark Lewis (6-4, 308). The losses are fairly major ones: LG Josh Tshirgi, a three-year starter, and RT Geoff Schwartz, who was a 7th rd. pick by the Panthers.

Tshirgi’s replacement is Jordan Holmes (6-4, 295), a sophomore who’s never started a game. If there’s a weak link in the line, it’s Holmes, because Schwartz’ replacement Jacob Hucko is a 6-7, 317-pounder who was rated in the top-40 nationally coming out of high school.

The Huskies d-line is almost all new–which, considering how badly the old line got manhandled, probably isn’t a bad thing.
Daniel Te’o-Nesheim (6-4, 263), the Huskies’ top tackler among D-linemen in last October’s horror show, returns at defensive end.

The other three starters are new: DE Darrion Jones (6-2, 245), DT Cameron Elisara (6-3, 289), and the potential difference-maker, top recruit Senio Kelemete (at left). The 6-4 Kelemete, who’s listed at 260, but is rumored to be closer to 280, was ranked among the top 50 linemen in the nation last year as a high-school senior. He doesn’t have experience, but he does have tremendous speed for a man his size (5.1 40 according to Rivals). The Dawgs didn’t have anyone like that last year.

Under new DC Ed Donatell, the Huskies will use a bigger rotation of D-linemen, hopefully keeping their legs fresh–which they’ll need to be to chase Oregon’s backs around. And he’ll likely employ more complicated rushing schemes, hopefully enticing the Ducks’ few inexperienced linemen to miss a block or two.

Finally, the rules. The NCAA simplified the chop-blocking rule in the offseason, making it easier for officials to call so they can better protect players. The do-they/don’t-they argument about who chop-blocks is a minefield of subjectivity that I’d rather avoid. But refs will be looking for it, especially in the first game of the season, and Oregon’s reputation isn’t going to help them. A couple of 15 yard penalties, or hesitation by Oregon linemen unsure of how the new rule will be interpreted, could give the Huskies an advantage.