Joel Klatt Podcast: "This Team Is Damn Good"

This week Fox color analyst Joel Klatt released his Top 25 on his eponymous podcast, "The Joel Klatt Show." He picks the Oregon Ducks number four and said, "I think Dan Lanning will win a National Championship at Oregon. I don't know if it's going to be this year, but I'll tell you what- this team is damn good."

Klatt observes, "Of all the teams going into the Big Ten, Oregon is going to be the one all the Big Ten teams are actually surprised with their physical nature."

The physical nature starts in the trenches, and the Ducks can line up with anyone in 2024.

A quick look at the Oregon two-deep bears that out. Yesterday this Athlon column talked about how senior defensive end Jordan Burch, 6-5, 295 squats 685 pounds while improving his vertical leap to 35 inches. He's joined on the defensive line this year by two mammoth defensive tackles in Jamaree Caldwell and Derrick Harmon, each 6-5, 320. Matayo Uiagalelei is strong, quick and athletic at the other edge rushing spot, 6-5, 270. Uiagalelei was a Top 20 recruit in 2023, flashing tremendous potential last year in part-time duty.

On offense, the Oregon o-line has been a Joe Moore Award finalist in each of the last two years. A'lique Terry's group is anchored by a pair of All-American candidates at tackle, Ajani Cornelius, 6-5, 310 and Josh Conerly, 6-4, 304.

Cornelius started in all 14 games for That Team Out West last season. He didn't allow a sack all year while earning a 73.1 run blocking grade from Pro Football Focus. Left tackle Conerly matched him, 14 starts, 1 sack allowed in 511 passing snaps, just 17 total pressures.

Behind these two, the Oregon running game racked up 2,583 yards last season. Their per-carry average of 5.91 stood third in the nation and resulted in 33 rushing touchdowns.

That's winning in the trenches. It's a staple of the Big Ten, but old news to the Ducks.