After being one of the most dominant offensive linemen in recent college football history, all-world talent Penei Sewell was drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft last night.
The offensive-line-needy Detroit Lions used their seventh pick on the 2019 unanimous All-American and Outland Award winner. Though he only played two seasons thanks to COVID-19, Sewell’s dominating play from the time he suited up as a true freshman in 2018 most likely places him as the best offensive lineman in Oregon history. Ahead of such Duck legends as Gary Zimmerman, Adam Snyder, and Tyrell Crosby, just to name a few.
In Detroit, Sewell will be tasked with protecting the backside of newly acquired Jared Goff, as the Lions look to start over with Goff under center. The selection of Sewell should help the quarterback sleep a little better at night.
Ironically, Sewell will be teammates with the man he replaced at left tackle at Oregon, the aforementioned Crosby.
Penei Sewell in mid-domination.
Conference Commissioner Search: When Weird Is Bad
Us folks out west like to be a little different. You could say that being unique is in the water on the Left Coast. Most of us are familiar with the phrase, “Keep Portland Weird.” Now, given the Pac-12 CEO Group’s latest idea about hiring a commissioner, one might say, “Keep the Pac-12 Weird.”
The Pac-12 prides itself on putting a higher emphasis on education and being more culturally progressive than its Power-5 peers. But, when it comes to selecting a conference commissioner, couldn’t the Pac-12 just follow a proven model that works for the other conferences and not try to recreate the wheel?
The San Jose Mercury’s Jon Wilner of the Pac-12 Hotline has reported that the Conference’s university presidents are considering a move in which the commissioner role would be split into two parts. One would be in charge of business operations, while the other would be a liaison with athletic departments. Other conferences, such as the cash-rich SEC, have a sole leader and outsource many aspects of the job, such as negotiating television contracts, to specialized outside companies. And it works.
Having two commissioners means the Pac-12 would conceivably be paying twice as much in salary at the position. This would fly in the face of cost savings, which is something that the Pac-12 must do after lame-duck commissioner Larry Scott’s lavish spending. A two-commissioner model is bad thinking, a bad look, and a superbly bad idea. But of course, as long as the conference is unique, right?
Wrong.
Starting quarterback Anthony Brown.
Duck Quarterbacks
13 months after transferring to Eugene, Anthony Brown appears to be the solid No. 1 starter for the Ducks in what will be his final year of eligibility. Brown has taken all of the first-team reps during spring practices and will do so once again come this Saturday in the spring game. As of right now, he seems the clear-cut favorite to be the Oregon starting quarterback come September 4th.
Behind Brown, there is a trio of talented youngsters in Jay Butterfield, Ty Thompson, and Robby Ashford.
How will the quarterback situation play out? Barring injury, will Brown start the whole season? Or is Brown just the safe placeholder until the likes of the uber-talented Ty Thompson wows us in just a few snaps and takes over? Who will be the backup? Who will be completely left out? Who might transfer after this season? Who might be the sleeper pick to start?
So many quarterbacks, so many questions.
Darren Perkins
Spokane, Washington
Top photo credit: Kevin Cline
Andrew Mueller, the FishDuck.com Volunteer Editor for this article, works in higher education in Chicago, Illinois.
Darren Perkins is a sales professional and 1997 Oregon graduate. After finishing school, he escaped the rain and moved to sunny Southern California where he studied screenwriting for two years at UCLA. Darren grew up in Eugene and in 1980, at the tender age of five, he attended his first Oregon football game. His lasting memory from that experience was an enthusiastic Don Essig announcing to the crowd: “Reggie Ogburn, completes a pass to… Reggie Ogburn.” Captivated by such a thrilling play, Darren’s been hooked on Oregon football ever since. Currently living in Spokane, Darren enjoys flaunting his yellow and green superiority complex over friends and family in Cougar country.