Alamo Bowl: Ducks vs. Longhorns

Oregon inside linebacker Joe Walker sacks Texas quarterback Case McCoy in the Valero Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas.

(Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian)

EUGENE -- If there was one unit built to absorb Oregon's latest rash of transfers, linebacker was one of the sturdiest exiting spring practices. It remains so, too, even after Tyrell Robinson's transfer last week, thanks to improvements this spring by Joe Walker in particular.

We touched on the state of the Oregon linebackers on May 16, but after Robinson's exit here's a revision of who stands to benefit the most.

Robinson appeared in nine games as a true freshman in 2013 and was a backup primarily to inside linebacker starter Derrick Malone. Robinson's impact was felt most when a knee injury to Malone in late November revealed how much of a natural the 6-foot-4 Robinson -- a former basketball star out of San Diego along with his twin, UO safety Tyree -- was at covering skill-position players in the open field.

As a young player with obvious physical gifts, Robinson's speed and leaping ability are obvious holes Oregon must address in later years.

But entering this fall in UO's 3-4 scheme, Robinson would have played behind returning starters Malone and Rodney Hardrick with no guarantee of increased reps because of spring practice improvements by Rahim Cassell and Walker, either. Walker made strides with his one-on-one coverage and was poised to possibly take some of Robinson's reps in the nickel packages where Oregon prizes linebackers with range who can shadow running backs and inside receivers. That's a crucial improvement from the fall, when Walker often had trouble wrapping up ball carriers in the open field (though missed tackles were a larger unit-wide issue, too).

Who else could benefit most by Robinson's move? Redshirt freshman Danny Mattingly and incoming freshman Jimmie Swain could be the biggest beneficiaries, though they will have just as difficult a task carving out playing time this fall as Robinson would have because of the linebacker depth.

Mattingly was described last August as "the complete package" by defensive coordinator Don Pellum, an uber-physical, downhill-running linebacker whose 6-5 frame belies his speed running to the ball. When camp opens in August he'll have been in Oregon's system for a full year, though whether that pays dividends amid such a deep unit remains to be seen.

At the outside 'backer spots, the leaders to start remain Tony Washington (a returning starter who led UO with tackles for loss in 2013) and Tyson Coleman, who is seeking to succeed Boseko Lokombo while recovering from an leg injury that held him out of the Alamo Bowl. Christian French and Torrodney Prevot would follow Washington and Coleman, respectively, in the two-deep in that case, with Oshay Dunmore playing the role of Robinson, if you will, as a young and speedy 'backer most comfortable defending in space.

OK, here are today's links:

The Oregon track team delivered when it mattered most.

Oregon QB Marcus Mariota will walk in graduation today at Oregon.

Oregon football teammates of Devon Allen sure were fired up by his NCAA hurdle title.

-- Andrew Greif | @andrewgreif