Oregon QB Dennis Dixon went down with a non-contact aggravation of an earlier knee injury midway through the first quarter, and the Ducks were in the game at the time. After that, his backup, Brady Leaf, was unable to run the Ducks offense with any sustained efficiency, and Arizona CB Antoine Cason had a huge game, including 2 TDs--one on an interception return, and the other on a 56-yard punt return--to set the stage for the upset.

SCOUTING SUMMARY:

College: Arizona Conference: Pacific 10 Columnist: Sam Maxwell

Game Notes

Antoine Cason 5 5' 11.5" 182 4.59 CB 2008: You know the old saying about big players making big plays in big games, and that DEFINED Cason in this one. He had a huge game in all phases on senior night in Tempe, and solidified his status as one of the top 3-4 CBs in the draft. He is a very good punt returner, and a very solid tackler for his size. If the guy were an inch taller and 10 pounds heavier, he might be a top 15 pick. As it is, there are no weaknesses in his game except for a lack of elite makeup speed. Still, he gets by on guile, smarts and technique in pass defense, and will be a fine nickel for a strong team next year, or a starter for a weak team that plays a lot of bump & run with their corners. GRADE: Very positive

Louis Holmes 1 6' 6.0" 265 4.65 DE 2008: A world of talent, but still very raw. Takes himself out of plays. Goes wide way too much, and needs to develop believable counter moves. Gets his hands up and disrupts the QBs vision. Nice intensity for spurts, but needs to be more consistent. Needs to get stronger so that he can not so easily be ridden away from the play. This is the kind of guy who I just get the feeling will be a better pro than college player. Needs to get with a very good line coach, and you could have something special with a tad of patience. GRADE: Neutral

Wilrey Fontenot III 3 5' 9.0" 174 4.39 CB 2008: Not tested that much, but was up to the challenge whenever he was. Two PDs. Small but very quick. Shows great footwork. Can be deaked. GRADE: Neutral

Chris Jennings 0' 0.0" 0 0.00 HB 2008: Barely played, as he is backing up true freshman RB Nicholas Grigsby. GRADE: Inc.



College: Oregon Conference: Pacific 10 Columnist: Sam Maxwell

Game Notes

Dennis Dixon 10 6' 4.0" 196 0.00 QB 2008: The guy is so spindly-legged that he will always be an injury-plagued guy at the next level. Looks like a point guard. I don't care if he does win the Heisman, I wouldn't draft this guy before the 6th round. Great talent, yes, but what good is it to have all that talent sitting on the bench? He is almost on a par with vince Young as a runner, but has a long way to go as a passer. Is making better decisions now, and appears to have matured quite a bit during the season. Far better college than NFL player in my estimation. GRADE: Inc. due to early injury

Jonathan Stewart 28 5' 10.5" 235 4.51 HB 2009: The second best back to McFadden in this draft class if he declares. He is powerful, shifty, and fights for extra yardage. With Dixon out, he was even more of a marked man, and still did well. Runs with authority both in and out. Shows OK hands. You gotta love his size and toughness. GRADE: Positive

Cameron Colvin 0' 0.0" 0 0.00 WR 2008: DNP

Max Unger 0' 0.0" 0 0.00 OT 2009: Light on his feet. Good shotgun snapper as a center tonight...Seals well. Doesn't clock people the way I'd like to see on running plays. More of a pusher than a finisher. GRADE: Neutral

Other notes:

Oregon: WR Jayson Williams definitely needs to be in the database. Inconsistent hands, yes, but he has all the tools, and could be a total stud at the next level if he gets 500 reps with the jugs every day for a year.

Arizona: Senior LB Spencer Larson is leading the PAC 10 in tackles and also is a must add. He had a huge game in this one, and was the DPOTG in my book. I had him for 15 tackles, a FF and 3 TFLs. Senior DT Lionel Dotson also looked pretty, as did senior DE Jason Parker. Dotson had another sack to drive his total to 6.5, and a PBU and was invloved in at least 5 tackles from his NT slot. DE Jason Parker is more NFL-ready than Holmes, without the upside. He was in on 7 tackles and was very active. LOT Peter Granielo is a solid camp body.

Larsen's a legit prospect- I love how he actually takes on blocks and doesn't look to constantly slip like many other LB.

Steve, is Holmes fluid enough to by a 3-4 OLB? The best 40 I have heard on him is about 4.74 on a fast surface and hand timed at a JUCO combine, when he was less than his current 270, can he drop into coverage? Is Tuitama the best Polynesian QB prospect since 'The Throwin' Somoan" Jack Thompson? Larson won't make it oout of the 5th round he'd thrive in the right system, think Ben Taylor from VPI, runs in the 4.78-4.84 range but has great reading/reaction skills. Cason is like a more polished but less quick Andre Woolfolk but if well coached and if not asked to run step for step with blazers on an island I don't see why he can't be a ver good CB until he losses a step and he could move inside to FS since at the last pro day he was reportedly 6'0.2" 190 he has the size and is a solid hitter. Just how good could Fontenot be, he's not as tough as Wingfield, but perhaps better than Von Hutchins?
Could Dotson put on 25 or so lbs without losing quickness? Dominic Patrick is going to the Hula Bowl, can he still make an NFL roster? Nate Ness has impressed the coaches but at 208 with sub 4.6 speed he looked good prior to his knee injury. I guess the Chris Jennings era is over at TB? Could Peter Graniello be better suited to RT? Did Dane Krogstad make any plays? Could Parker at 6'2.7" and around 260 put in 20-30 pounds and become a 1 gap DT?

Oregon-Though the hand timed 4.38s on Stewart are likely apocryphal, I promise he's sub 4.5, probably 4.44 to 4.49, if he comes out who do think he fits best? Jaison Williams, can he be a faster Wilford or should he move to TE? He's strong enough in spring testing he set position records in the Power clean 341 [tied for tops with Unger] and squat at 455, [only 40 lbs less than Unger]but his electronically timed 40 was just 4.68.
What position will Unger play at the next level, OT/OG/C? Can Geoff Schwartz play guard in the NFL?
Patrick Chung-AKA the 'Poor Man's Polamalu' what did you think of him, I think he has a chance to be the #1 at worst #4 SS in draft next year's Draft with Ellison, Hamlin and Greene am I nuts?

It's really sad for Dixon, that interview as the Arizona student section took the field really was something. Oregon can still make the Rose Bowl with a little help and finish off a wonderful season for them, but winning the Civil War won't be easy.

I'm glad we agree on Holmes and Cason. Cason is the best corner in the country imo. Holmes I wouldn't touch until the 4th or 5th round, just too much I don't like about him. I always see him just standing around after the play is over. But like you said, with a good line coach, he might be something in the NFL.

Larsen and Williams are now both PP's.