Trikweze Bridges, Dontae Manning still battling for Oregon's starting cornerback spot
With Oregon’s season-opener just a few days away, the competition between Trikweze Bridges and Dontae Manning for the starting boundary cornerback spot is still too close to call.
As it turns out, that may actually be a positive sign for the Ducks.
The pair of freshman cornerbacks have been neck-and-neck for the past couple of weeks, and Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal said Wednesday the battle is still ongoing.
“The corner spot, I’m just really pleased with the way those guys are coming around,” Cristobal said Wednesday. “They’re just doing a really good job. I’m glad they’re making it difficult, because that means that they’re competing well.
“We have confidence in those guys to do a good job.”
In a perfect world, the Ducks would probably have sorted out which player is going to get the majority of the snaps opposite of Mykael Wright on Saturday.
But the fact of the matter is, both Bridges and Manning are going to play. A lot.
There’s still no word on when Jamal Hill and DJ James will be cleared to play for the Ducks. Until that happens, Oregon will be reliant on a group of inexperienced — albeit, very talented — cornerbacks.
The fact that Bridges and Manning are both playing well enough to keep themselves in contention for the starting job is a welcomed development. It’s possible that early in the season, they form a platoon of sorts and rotate situationally.
“It’s been fun and it’s been very competitive,” Bridges said. “But the thing is, me and him, we stay on each other and push each other to do the right things.”
What’s left to decide?
While a number of factors will likely go into the decision of who ultimately wins the starting job, it sounds as though Oregon’s coaching staff is looking for both players to be aggressive.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a specific thing — just who is flying to the ball,” Manning said Wednesday when asked what the coaching staff is looking for out of each player. “Who knows their assignments. Who’s not messing up, that kind of thing.”
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Manning was complimentary of Bridges’ ball skills Wednesday and said he is really good at finding the ball and using his hands.
When Bridges emerged as a breakout player during fall camp, one of the more interesting facets of his game was his length. Bridges stands 6-4, but has a wingspan that stretches 7-2.
However, Manning said Wednesday that even though he isn’t as tall Bridges, his wingspan is still right around 7-foot.
“Normally in press coverage short-arm defensive backs have to let them close space a lot of the time,” Manning said after stretching out his arms to put his wingspan on display. “But with us, we’ve got long leverage, so we can just shoot our hands and be independent. It’s a blessing.”
There is plenty of pride on the line; both players want to win the starting job, of course. But they also have a close bond that has only grown stronger during camp.
Both players know that for the Ducks to succeed this season, they both have to play well.
“Honestly to me, it doesn’t matter,” Manning said. “Because I know we’re both going to contribute to this team. We’ve got bigger things; we want to win the natty.
“Who starts the first game is not something I’m trying to talk about.”
