Standout EDGE Matayo Uiagelelei has been at Oregon long enough to see this team transform. Dan Lanning has really put his stamp on this team and its current assembly. The Ducks get to finally take the field Saturday and it’s a chance for the team to hit someone other than their own teammates. That excites […]
Standout EDGE Matayo Uiagelelei has been at Oregon long enough to see this team transform. Dan Lanning has really put his stamp on this team and its current assembly.
The Ducks get to finally take the field Saturday and it’s a chance for the team to hit someone other than their own teammates. That excites players like Uiagelelei and others.
Here is what he had to say Wednesday ahead of Saturday’s season opener.
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On Justin Lamson:
“I mean, definitely got speed, he can run. That’s kind of the main thing we’ve been focusing on. Yeah, he’s fast.”
On this year’s defense:
“Yeah, I think just kind of around the whole team, but on the defense, just the competition. Like, you know, each day, each week, it’s a battle who’s going to be out there. So I know that’s going to translate to the field in a good way, but that’s probably what I’m most excited about.”
On Stopping MSU’s Run Game:
“Yeah, sure, it’s a great opportunity. It’s definitely one of our focuses this year, you know, stopping the run and just improving on that. And, you know, it’s a great opportunity as well.”
On Dan Lanning’s Growth:
“Yeah. I mean, the main principles and the core values of what he believes in is it’s been the same, I think, because it works. But obviously, like one of the core values is to have a growth mindset. So, you know, tweaking this, tweaking that, you know, it’s just the little things that make a big difference that I’ve seen them, you know, change and grow. And just the whole coaching staff and all the players.”
On Defense’s Identity:
“Yeah, shoot. I think we’re going to be physical out there. I think we’re going to take the ball away a lot. There’s definitely some ball hawks in our back end and up front, some big dudes who can play around and get the rest of the pass here.”
On Hitting Another Team:
“No, it’s definitely exciting, and it’s hard to wait when you’ve just been going against kind of same guys every day at practice. So even though we playing another team, we like to say we’re still playing ourselves, still focus on what we do right and what we do wrong and try and fix that, but definitely it’s exciting to play another team.”
On Improved Talent Since Arriving at Oregon:
“Sure. I mean, even my first year, like, there’s definitely talent on the team.
But I think it’s, like, kind of just the culture we built. Like, what do we do with the talent, you know? But at the same time, you know, we definitely brought in some crazy talent. Just to see it build like year by year is definitely cool. And to be a part of it is definitely cool.”
On Personal Growth:
“I mean, after last season, kind of just looking at the film and, you know, self-diagnosing, like, what I could have gone better at. For me, definitely, like, I think in a run game, just be more physical, and then the main thing is just, like, I need more effort clips. I need more just a, like like more relentless mentality. Now that’s definitely been one of my main focuses just throughout this whole off season and leading in the season, just be more relentless, run into the, like no matter where the ball at, run into the ball and everything like that.”
On Isaiah World:
“Well, I mean, first he he’s big, got the size. He’s not sloppy, but I think he probably has like one of the best change of direction and just feet. I mean, I think I’ve seen and he definitely his personality is definitely like out there. He’s definitely wild. And some of that, you know, it comes on the field. And sometimes you don’t really know what you’re going to expect from him. And I think that’s another part of his game. That’s that’s definitely, you know, going to carry over.”
Category: General Sports
