Dave Iuli Talks Oregon's New-Look Offensive Line in Spring Practice
Oregon’s offensive line lost four of its five starters from a season ago, but redshirt junior Dave Iuli returns with some valuable experience. He projects to play a big role in A’lique Terry‘s rotation in the trenches and spoke with reporters in Eugene following Oregon’s second scrimmage of spring practice on Saturday.
Below are some of his top quotes.
On offensive line competition, camaraderie
Iuli: “All the new guys that came in, I feel like (Alex) Harkey, Isaiah (World), Emman (Emmanuel Pregnon) they came in with intent on their shoulders, with confidence. I’d say the new guys that just came in they’re great guys. They bring the energy. And not only that ever since they’ve been here we’ve been leading them on with us.”
On getting snaps at center
Iuli: “During the spring I did a lot of snapping so far. I feel like snapping is a lot of pressure just because at center you should know where all your points are and where everybody should be going to. But I feel like that even helps me more as a player to grow. Just because if I’m playing guard next to Poncho or somebody, he doesn’t even have to tell me the call we should already know by the way we communicate. Playing center does feel a little bit weird, but it’s also comfortable for me because I don’t know, just having the cadence on your side and knowing when you snap it and you are control of the ball, I feel like that gives you an advantage to get off the ball before anybody else.”
On what he learned from spending time with former NFL offensive lineman Taylor Lewan while he was in Eugene
Iuli: “Man that dude had energy bro. I’m not gonna lie. He was a great guy. Having him here was such a great experience just because having all the young guys and the tackles and the new guys come here as well as see an NFL pro like that come back. Literally take his time out of his day to come work with us. Even in the weight room when he was with us, bro that was such a blessing. The energy was through the roof with him. Not only that he came in ready to work. He came in like he was a player already.”
On personal goals, his focus in spring
Iuli: “My focus has been—the head man wants me to lose a lot of weight. So I gotta drop some weight and I know that’s something I really need to focus on this year. Talking about everything else about the physicality point and everything like that I feel like those will come naturally for me. I just feel like right now I really need to lock in this playbook and focus on my weight. ‘Cause I feel like if I don’t get the weight right, I’m not gonna move a lot of people and I for sure won’t be moving myself.”
On facing young defensive linemen
Iuli: “It’s been a great opportunity just cause our d-line depth, we have some young guys, but they’re all coming. Like Matthew (Johnson). Matt has come in, he’s been workin’ man. He’s gotten a little bit bigger you can see it on him. Going against a lot of the young D-linemen guys, I have helped them improve a lot. Because after practice I’ll go up to them, tell ’em hey this will help you better. Every practice we’re gonna go against each other and yeah young guys versus older guys sometimes we might beat on the young guys, but the most important part is you gotta make sure that they’re improving. As long as they’re improving and we’re pulling them along, that’s all that matters to us.”
