2006 Oregon Ducks Football Preview: Stewart, Johnson Set to Run Wild on The Competition

Andiel Brown and Chris Vincent should also see reps during the 2006 season.

Photo: goducks.com

EUGENE - Jonathan Stewart saw the most action of any of the returning backs last season. Stewart amassed 188 rushing years and six touchdowns on 53 carries during 2005.

Fellow sophomore Jeremiah Johnson should also help carry the load at running back during the 2006 season. The Los Angeles, Calif. native showed promise last season by averaging 6.1 yards-per-carry on 24 attempts.

“We will be faster as a team but we still have to prove we can perform,” Bellotti said.

“At tailback we feel like Jonathan Stewart and Jeremiah Johnson are ready to take over for Terrence (Whitehead)."

Offensive Efficiency

There is no doubt that Oregon’s revamped offense from last year proved to be a resounding success.

The spread option offense resulted in the Ducks posting their second-best scoring average in school history (34.5 avg.), trailing only their 39.4-point average from 1998.

Last year’s total offense average of 438.8 yards per game has been bettered only by the 482.9-yard average from ‘98 as well as 449.0 yards per game during Mike Bellotti’s second year as Oregon’s head coach in 1996.

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