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  6. article_body => "<p>EUGENE - When Oregon announced that Jim Leavitt would be the new defensive coordinator last December, the first thought that ran through Justin Hollins' mind was, \"what type of defense does Leavitt&nbsp;run?\"<\/p>\n<p>When Hollins&nbsp;discovered&nbsp;that Leavitt's scheme of choice is the 3-4 , the next thought that went through the redshirt&nbsp;junior's head was, \"what position will I play?\"<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was praying that they would move me (to outside linebacker),\" said Hollins, who played defensive end in Oregon's 4-3 defense&nbsp;in 2016.&nbsp;\"I can\u2019t do that defensive end thing, in the 3-4 especially.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Leavitt eased those concerns with a single phone call.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI got that call and he said I would be playing outside linebacker and I was real thankful,\u201d Hollins said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>To put it mildly, Hollins didn't much appreciate his lot in life on the Ducks in 2016. No player on Oregon's team, and maybe in the Pac-12, played more out of position than Hollins, a 6-5, 238-pound athletic marvel who fits the mold of former Oregon standout hybrid 3-4 linebackers\/ends Dion Jordon and Christian French.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Hollins was recruited in 2014 to fit that mold. But when Oregon moved to the 4-3 defense in 2016, Hollins found himself at defensive end. He held his own with 51 tackles (27 solo) and&nbsp;finished second on the team with 9 1\/2 tackles for loss and had three sacks. But he certainly ran into trouble when&nbsp;battling&nbsp;290-plus pound offensive linemen.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was hard,\u201d Hollins said bluntly. \u201cIt was hard being a little undersized. But I got after it and did what I had to do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Playing defensive end in the 3-4, built for 280-plus pound defensive linemen, would have been even more difficult for Hollins.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\"I can't do that,\" he said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>He won't have to. Instead, Hollins will be turned loose on the outside where his athletic ability should make him a devestating pass rusher&nbsp;as well as strong in pass coverage.<\/p>\n<p>\"He's looking good,\" UO coach Willie Taggart said. \"He's a playmaker. We've got to know where he's at at all times. I've been really impressed with him.\"<\/p>\n<p>Oregon's defense ranked 11th in the Pac-12 in rushing defense (246.5 yards per game)&nbsp;last year because the front seven offered little resistance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Even though Hollins, slowed by injury during spring drills,&nbsp;will move to outside linebacker, he still must improve against the run. Outside linebackers coach Raymond Woodie&nbsp;said the last thing he wants to do is allow a linebacker with pass rushing skills to ignore developing the&nbsp;skills needed to play well&nbsp;against the run.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Woodie, who said Hollins is contending for a starting spot on a fluid depth chart, must play the run first to avoid getting out of position and allowing free running lanes.<\/p>\n<p>\"We're teaching him to play the run because we know he has some pass rushing ability,\" Woodie said. \"If he gets that down, he's going to be a force.\"<\/p>\n<p>Whether it's filling against the run, setting the edge, pass rushing or dropping into coverage, Hollins is simply happy to be playin the position he was meant to play.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m very excited about that,\" Hollins said. \"I finally get to cut loose a little bit. Have fun with it again.\"<\/p>\n"
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Oregon Ducks

Oregon Ducks

EUGENE - When Oregon announced that Jim Leavitt would be the new defensive coordinator last December, the first thought that ran through Justin Hollins' mind was, "what type of defense does Leavitt run?"

When Hollins discovered that Leavitt's scheme of choice is the 3-4 , the next thought that went through the redshirt junior's head was, "what position will I play?"

“I was praying that they would move me (to outside linebacker)," said Hollins, who played defensive end in Oregon's 4-3 defense in 2016. "I can’t do that defensive end thing, in the 3-4 especially.”

Leavitt eased those concerns with a single phone call.

“I got that call and he said I would be playing outside linebacker and I was real thankful,” Hollins said. 

To put it mildly, Hollins didn't much appreciate his lot in life on the Ducks in 2016. No player on Oregon's team, and maybe in the Pac-12, played more out of position than Hollins, a 6-5, 238-pound athletic marvel who fits the mold of former Oregon standout hybrid 3-4 linebackers/ends Dion Jordon and Christian French. 

Hollins was recruited in 2014 to fit that mold. But when Oregon moved to the 4-3 defense in 2016, Hollins found himself at defensive end. He held his own with 51 tackles (27 solo) and finished second on the team with 9 1/2 tackles for loss and had three sacks. But he certainly ran into trouble when battling 290-plus pound offensive linemen. 

“It was hard,” Hollins said bluntly. “It was hard being a little undersized. But I got after it and did what I had to do.”

 

Playing defensive end in the 3-4, built for 280-plus pound defensive linemen, would have been even more difficult for Hollins. 

"I can't do that," he said. 

He won't have to. Instead, Hollins will be turned loose on the outside where his athletic ability should make him a devestating pass rusher as well as strong in pass coverage.

"He's looking good," UO coach Willie Taggart said. "He's a playmaker. We've got to know where he's at at all times. I've been really impressed with him."

Oregon's defense ranked 11th in the Pac-12 in rushing defense (246.5 yards per game) last year because the front seven offered little resistance. 

Even though Hollins, slowed by injury during spring drills, will move to outside linebacker, he still must improve against the run. Outside linebackers coach Raymond Woodie said the last thing he wants to do is allow a linebacker with pass rushing skills to ignore developing the skills needed to play well against the run. 

Woodie, who said Hollins is contending for a starting spot on a fluid depth chart, must play the run first to avoid getting out of position and allowing free running lanes.

"We're teaching him to play the run because we know he has some pass rushing ability," Woodie said. "If he gets that down, he's going to be a force."

Whether it's filling against the run, setting the edge, pass rushing or dropping into coverage, Hollins is simply happy to be playin the position he was meant to play. 

“I’m very excited about that," Hollins said. "I finally get to cut loose a little bit. Have fun with it again."