Oregon Ducks Center Iapani Laloulu leads the offense with impressive stats

after Oregon ducksThe first two games against Idaho and Boise State, a lot apprehension he started gushing about the state of the offensive line. The Ducks have given up seven sacks in two games after giving up just five sacks all season last year.

However, after a rotation change that began during the Oregon game and solidified after the following week’s road trip to the University of California, Oregon’s offensive line appears to have found its rhythm, and quite effectively.

One of the biggest strengths of Oregon’s changeup in the trenches is center Iapani “Poncho” Laloulu. Laloulu, a sophomore from Hawaii, was an alternate for the Rimington Trophy winner and now Las Vegas Raider Jackson Powers-Johnson. After making his first career start for the Ducks in the 2023 VRBO Fiesta Bowl against Liberty, Laloulu has a firm hold on the starting center position once occupied by junior Charlie Pickard.

Laloulu recently gained recognition as a Rimington Trophy Award watchlist candidate. According to Pro Football Focus, Laloulu has not allowed a sack in 270 pass-blocking snaps and has not allowed more than two quarterback pressures in a game so far this season and has a pass-blocking rating of 69.0. Pro Football Focus uses an algorithm to examine each athlete’s direct contribution to the game on every snap.

Laloulu’s influence can also be seen in the running game. Thanks to the offensive line’s internal shift, there’s a lot more movement in the ground game compared to the abysmal 2.9 yards per rush against Idaho earlier in the season. According to PFF, Duck running back Jordan James is second to Boise State running back and Heisman Trophy favorite Ashton Jeanty in “Run Only Grades” through week eight with a grade of 90.4 (Jeanty’s is 98.5). This not only shows James’ impressive skills, but also how much the forward line with Laloulu at the helm has improved since the start of the season.

This quarterback is also noticeable Dillon Gabriel looks more comfortable in the pocket and has seemingly more time to execute, with Laloulu leading the charge. Gabriel clearly has more time to design deep plays, something he hasn’t relied on much at the start of the season due to the interior of the pocket quickly collapsing. Against Michigan State and Ohio StateOregon’s offensive line did not allow a single sack (however, 3 sacks were allowed against Purdue).

In the eighth week Laloul he didn’t crack the rankings of the highest-rated centers of the week according to PFF’s algorithm, which he achieved in week five. In the Big Ten Conference, no center finished in the top 10 in week eight. The title of number one in the country for highest-rated center currently belongs to Jacob Gardner of the Colorado State Rams (83.9).

Looking back on the start of the season and the woes of Oregon fans with the offensive line, and even offensive line coach A’lique Terry wearing a “2.9 YPC Idaho” T-shirt to a weeklong practice at Boise State, it’s comforting to know that. that the Ducks have found their entrenchers to play “winning football.”

You can see Laloulu start for Oregon on Saturday, October 26 against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Auzen Stadium. The match starts at 12:30.