Linebackers pass on the knowledge.

Byline: Bob Clark The Register-Guard

Oregon's No. 1 defensive unit trotted off the practice field, replaced in the scrimmage situation by the next unit. Momentarily resting on one knee, starting middle linebacker Brent Haberly continued working.

Here's what to watch for, he suggested to reserve Blair Phillips. Here's what the signals going in from the coaches mean for the defense. This is what the middle linebacker should be looking for at the snap.

Then came a question from Phillips. And the answer from Haberly.

`That's what the older guys did for us when we were younger,' said Haberly, a junior from Cottage Grove. `It's kind of the food chain. The older guys did it for us, so it's our obligation and it makes us better as a whole if we can coach up the younger guys.'

Though not himself a letterman, Haberly passes for the veteran at middle linebacker. Even if his limited time on the field was primarily with special teams last season, this is his fourth fall with the Ducks.

The other candidates to play middle linebacker this season are two junior college transfers, Phillips and Jason Turner, and redshirt freshman John Bacon. Chris Mulvanny, another JC transfer who had also been with the `Mike' linebackers, is now working primarily at the other inside linebacker position, the `Will' in the UO terminology.

No matter the total number of candidates, the cumulative experience level remains nil. There better be some teaching going on, even beyond what the coaches are offering.

And much as it is at other positions, it's the apparent starter Haberly tutoring the players who follow him on the depth chart.

`Our kids have done a pretty good job with that and I'm pleased,' UO coach Mike Bellotti said. `We talked about that, that to be a good team you've got to have that ... you've got to compete but you have to cooperate, too.'

Haberly said it's not as one-sided as it might appear. He gains himself from talking to his less-experienced backups.

`It can freshen you up,' Haberly said. `Stuff you wouldn't think about, that they're doing wrong, you think, `next time I go out maybe I should pay attention to that, too.' '

There are youthful mistakes being made.

Bacon has only a year behind him in the Oregon system, and as a redshirt last fall spent most of his time mimicking opponents on the scout team. Though Turner was around for the spring, a hamstring injury severely limited his participation in drills.

Then there's Phillips, who only recently joined the Ducks and still hasn't been cleared for full contact workouts. He underwent arthroscopic knee surgery earlier in the summer for a torn meniscus, which meant limited work until Monday. Ready to put the knee surgery behind him, he then strained an abdominal muscle.

`We think he's a pretty good player and he's a good physical athlete,' Bellotti said of the 6-foot-2, 245-pound Phillips. `We hope he competes for the (starting) job, but up to this point it's just conjecture.'

If the Ducks seem frustrated by the delay in fully evaluating Phillips - the season opener, after all, is only two weeks away - then consider how Phillips feels.

`Playing ball is what you want to do, and standing on the sideline not being out there is horrible,' the Alexandria, La., native said. `You can be in a classroom and say, `OK, I got it' but once you get into action, you have to get the (practice) reps to really say you have the system down.'

But so far about all he's been able to do is make the most of time on the sideline, quizzing Haberly and learning by watching what others do on the field.

The cynic would wonder what Haberly's doing by offering all this help to his competition. Whether Haberly ends up being elevated to scholarship status could depend on his place on the depth chart. Doesn't he recognize he could be helping replace himself?

`You could look at it that way, but if I take care of my business, I don't have to worry about anybody taking my job,' Haberly said. `If I go out on the field and make plays, there's nothing else I can do.

`I have to help the young guys. If I didn't do it that way and was hard-headed about it, I wouldn't be a good leader and you don't want that. You want to bring the young guys up.'

CAPTION(S):

Brent Haberly and this is light text and this is more light text Kevin Clark / The Register-Guard Kevin Clark / The Register-Guard Brent Haberly is teaching his younger colleagues at middle linebacker during camp. C o l l e g e f o o t b a l l Kevin Clark / The Register-Guard Blair Phillips, who recently started drills after having knee surgery during the off-season, may see time at linebacker.