RF365 exclusive: Man-to-man coverage with Oregon’s Steve Greatwood

By Marc Hudgens  |   Sunday, August 03, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

Oregon Ducks
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RealFootball365 would like to thank Oregon offensive line coach and assistant head coach Steve Greatwood for taking time with us and discussing his thoughts on this year’s offensive line and his expectations for 2008 in this exclusive interview.

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Q: Entering fall drills on Monday, what expectations or goals do you have for the offensive line, especially now that Dennis Dixon and Jonathan Stewart are gone? Are there any areas of improvement that need attention?

GREATWOOD: I think there are several areas we need to focus on. To answer the first part of the question, the expectations that I have for my group specifically, one is to assume leadership of the offense. What I mean by that is by example. I never tell a guy or force a guy to be a vocal leader, but I do tell them the tone for everything we do need to be by their work ethic, their pride and their work performance, and I expect that to continue. So, that’s my No. 1 expectation. I expect us to be a physical football team up front, and to be able to run the ball versus anything that the defense throws at them. So I think they’ve risen to that challenge the last couple of years, and I don’t see any reason why they won’t embrace that again this year, although every year is different.

Then, two, to get back to the areas of improvement, I think we still need to strive to just be overall more consistent in our play, footwork and fundamentals, I don’t think I’ll ever be satisfied as a coach with that end of it. Recognition of defensive schemes, how people are trying to defend us and attack us -- I think we can always do a better job of that so that we’re making the right decisions up front. And then just continue to become a more physical, and hopefully more dominating, group out there. That’s what I want out of those five guys I coach.


Q: Center Max Unger is on three award preseason watch lists (Lombardi, Outland, Rimington) and tackle Fenuki Tupou is on the Outland. Needless to say, this is quite a bit of star power. How does this year’s line compare to others you’ve led in the past?

GREATWOOD: I think it’s flattering that those two guys are getting the recognition that they’re getting, although they are probably the most humble kids you’d ever meet. I know in Max Unger’s case, I don’t think he would even know what he’s been recognized for because he doesn’t read any of that stuff, and he just sort of a throwback kind of player. He’s the kind of kid that was an all-conference performer for us as a left tackle, and we made a move for him to go into center this past season, and it worked out well. He’s the kind of kid who will play anywhere for us. If we had a couple of injuries or something, and he had to go play another position, he’d do so in a heartbeat. So, that’s the kind of kid he is. Fenuki Tupou has really blossomed. He was a junior college kid that redshirted his first year; he just wasn’t quite ready for the speed of everything, so it was a good move to redshirt him. He’s really started to come into his own and I expect him to continue to blossom.

Those two guys are good players, but I also got Mark Lewis at right guard -- [he] was a very solid football player for us -- and some young kids I’m really excited about. Jordan Holmes, C.E. Kaiser, I got Bo Thran -- who will hopefully come off his injury from last season. So, I got some good young kids, too, as well as a mix of older seniors that have been in the program for a long time and played a lot of good football. Like Jake Hucko, Jon Teague, Jeff Kendall -- some of those kids that have been around for a long time, so I feel really good about what my depth is right now.


Q: All of this season’s linemen are seniors. Looking ahead to 2009, you will have a fresh bunch. Can you give us some specific examples of things you’re doing to prepare for that season?

GREATWOOD: I lose five scholarship seniors plus Jon Teague, who’s played as much as any of those other kids but has been a walk-on for us. So, six really good football players, but again, I think I have a core group of young guys. The biggest issue for me looking to 2009 is just depth and how quickly I’m going to have to bring along some young kids and develop them and whether I need to go the junior college route or whatever. I’m still kind of deciding in that regard. But I think I have a real good nucleus of guys to choose from, and we are just got to continue to add to the depth of that because we are going to be losing quite a few kids. But as I said before, I’ve got my sophomore class I feel really good about, the three kids in Holmes, Kaiser and Thran ... I think they’re all quality players. Don’t be surprised if one or two or -- maybe even all three of them -- break into the starting lineup before the season is over. The seniors are all listed right now as starters going into camp, and they will be, but they will be pushed every practice by these young kids. And then I’ve got this redshirt freshman class of Darrion Weems, Charlie Carmichael and Carson York. So I like where those kids are too; they've just gotta continue to develop. Long list of kids to choose from in 2009.


Q: With three returning starters this year -- again, two of whom are on award watch lists -- will this help mask uncertainty in the backfield and at quarterback?

GREATWOOD: I don’t think we’re that far off at those positions. We’ll have Jeremiah Johnson back, who was really a starter-caliber player. He and Jonathan (Stewart) were, in my opinion, equally productive in what they did. They were different styles of backs but equally productive. Andre Crenshaw is back. The one kid that has to get up to speed is LeGarrette Blount, the junior college running back, and he’s a big powerful kid and I’m excited to see him go. But I think we actually will have quite a bit of maturity back there in the backfield. I’m really not too worried about that. I see my group as hopefully being a real stabilizing influence just because of the experience we have. That will help the young quarterbacks with what they need in being able to make some decisions or take some decision-making off the young quarterbacks initially until they can catch up with the learning curve. [When it comes to] offensive football [nowadays], you have to be balanced in everything you do. I could have the most unbelievable group, but if our passing game is ineffective and the defenses are able to stack seven or eight guys in there, it’s going to make it tougher on our running game (and vice versa). If we can’t run the ball and have to be able to throw it all the time, the defense is going to cover, so we've gotta be able to operate all phases of our offense like we did; and our philosophy is to spread the field and utilize everybody that’s eligible to carry or catch a football to do so on the offense and not let the defense hone in on any one facet of our offense. I think we can do that, and we've gotta have some big-play people emerge for us over the course the season. I think our receiver corps has to continue; we got depleted pretty well there too, and they have to come on. But I like where we’re at with some young talent, and every year it’s a work in progress and that’s what makes college football so much fun.


Q: The average weight for the starting linemen appears to be 308 pounds, and when you take the backups into account it drops to 305, which is lower than those at most other schools. Can you tell us your secret for keeping them ''lean and mean," so to speak?

GREATWOOD: I don’t know if it’s a secret; it’s basically if you can’t move, you’re not going to play for us. In all honesty you’ve gotta be able to move, and I think our kids have really bought into that. We have a fantastic young man here by the name of James Harris, our nutritionist that just does a great job. He gets the kids to buy into treating their bodies right, to eating the right way. Weights haven’t gone down as much as body fat ratios and things like that. So, the kids are really leaned up and carrying much better weight now than they have. It’s just kind of a group mentality. It hasn’t been anything that I have forced upon them, other than if you can’t move and can’t do what I’m asking you to do, then I’m going to find somebody else that will. I’ve been fortunate that I’ve had enough competition to be able to drive that point home. But we’re not overly big. I’m not the kind of guy that always believes bigger is better and whatnot, and you don’t have to be 300 pounds-plus for me to recruit you coming out of high school or junior college.


Q: You’ve signed two highly rated linemen for the ’08 class in four-star tackle Nick Cody and four-star center Hamani Stevens. Will they redshirt this year or get playing time? Also, do you plan to change their positions or leave them be?

GREATWOOD: There’s never any decision made on redshirting, or not until we get close to that first game and sometimes even after that. There could be an injury, knock on wood, or something like that. I never want to have a kid feeling like he’s going to [redshirt]. I tell every kid coming in here, ‘Hey, I want you to prepare like you’re the starter and let’s see what happens.' It would be a luxury for me to redshirt both of those kids. And there’s a third kid, too, [in] Carson York, who we actually grayshirted; we signed [him] the year before, but [he] had a shoulder operation and he’s going to be counted in this year’s freshman class. So, that’s going to be a strong class. All three of those have a great deal of ability, so I’m just excited to get out there and start working with them and see what they can do. But as far as me saying right now [that] they’re definitely going to redshirt or [that they aren't], I want to see them push for playing time. That’s what it’s all about. And let’s figure out how much playing time they’re going to have and what’s the best route for them after we cross that bridge.


Q: What opposing defensive front do you think will be your squad’s biggest test this season? USC is the popular choice by many, but, as a coach, what do you think?

GREATWOOD: Right off the bat, and I’m not trying to be a smart-aleck here, but Washington simply because they have a brand-new defensive coordinator (Ed Donatell). We have no film on them, no idea what he’s going to do. [We] don’t know if they’re going to be a four-down or three-down, if he’s going to blitz every down, if [they're going to] lay back. I mean, just no idea on how he’s going to play us. And we just have to be ready for everything. It’s really good that I have an experienced group, because I think they’ve at least been exposed to just about everything. We’re not going to have the practice time to go through every single scenario of every defensive philosophy that’s out there, so we’re going to have to adjust on the run. So, I’m definitely going to count on the experience of my players in that first game after we go through a series or two and kind of start to get a feel for what Washington is going to do against us, and make the adjustments we need to make. An immediate concern right now [is that] Washington is huge. After that, USC always has the great personnel and they have a great scheme down there, apply[ing] a lot of pressure. I think Arizona State is going to have a real good front again. And I tell you, the University of Arizona always plays us really tough. One thing about this conference is [that] every weekend is just a dogfight, but I’d say right off the top of my head those schools that I just mentioned are the ones I expect our biggest tests from.


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"Off The Field" with Steve Greatwood, a questionnaire concept derived from French television personality Bernard Pivot and the Proust Questionnaire.


What revs you up?

Seeing kids passionate, seeing improvement. Not just on the football field, but in every day walk of life. Whether it be my own children, the kids that I coach or anybody. I love to see someone kind of catch fire and take to something and believe in themselves. That gets me fired up. If I had some small part in helping them achieve that, then it’s even better.


What turns you off?

Finger-pointers -- people who aren’t willing to accept accountability for their actions, [saying] that it’s always somebody else’s fault. That drives me crazy.


What is the loudest stadium you've ever been in?

It’s right here in Eugene, Oregon -- Autzen Stadium. I spent two years coaching at USC and played up here as a visitor, and obviously I’ve been in this stadium when our defense is on the field, and I can’t think of any place louder. I’ve been to LSU as a player, I’ve been to Georgia, [I've] been to quite a few big ones. Ohio State, I’ve been around. But I’m telling you [that] I just don’t think you can find any place louder than right here.


What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

Some sort of physician, [being] able to help people. I’d love to be able to go overseas and try to help third-world countries and stuff like that. I think that would be really rewarding.


What profession would you not like ever to do?

I don’t know if I could ever be a car salesman, to be honest.


What is your favorite food and drink?

I tell you what, there’s not much better than a big plate of tacos and a cold beer, in my opinion.


Who is your all-time favorite coach (any sport)?

I’m not going to be dropping any names, but for coaches that influenced me ... first of all, my high school coach, Floyd Halverson (Churchill High in Eugene), taught me a ton. Rich Brooks gave me my start as a player and as a coach, and taught me a ton. So, those two guys are at the top of my list as far as just being mentors. I think you take little parts of people that influence your life. So, Rich Brooks and Floyd Halverson right now are the most influential coaches I’ve ever been around.


Who is your all-time favorite recording artist?

The Rolling Stones. I got more of their records than anybody.


What is your all-time favorite movie?

Either "Braveheart" or "Saving Private Ryan." I’ll go with "Saving Private Ryan."


What historical character do you most revere?

Abraham Lincoln.


What historical character do you most despise?

Hitler. The scope of destruction.


Where would you like to live when you retire?

I’m going to be right here in Eugene, Oregon.


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Also, RealFootball365 would like to wish Steve Greatwood, who turns 50 on Aug. 15, an early happy birthday.
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About Marc Hudgens

Marc Hudgens has been with RealFootball365 since 2007, covering college football, specifically Clemson and Oregon. He also writes for SouthernPigskin.com covering the ACC. He enjoys the acidic wit of Hunter S. Thompson, is a freelance graphic designer and has written several screenplays. He ...
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