Former Duck and Tennessee Titan Linebacker Peter Sirmon has told Ducks Sports News that he has officially accepted the position of Linebackers Coach at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington.

Sirmon, 31, is a native of Walla Walla, Washington. At Walla Walla High School, Sirmon was named Washington Defensive Player of the Year by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer after leading his team to the State AAA Championship game. After a four-year letterman linebacker career at the University of Oregon, Sirmon was drafted in the fourth round by the Tennessee Titans. In 2007, Sirmon retired after playing seven years in the NFL.

On the chance to return to his home State, Sirmon said, “I’m very excited about returning to the Northwest and getting an opportunity to pursue something that I love, which is being around and coaching football.”

As a side note, Duck Sports News would like to congratulate Peter on tackling this new challenge. We would also like to thank him for contributing to Duck Sports News from the very beginning.

Peter, thank you and good luck.

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Jay, here.

With the NFL Scouting Combines starting today, I had some questions for former Tennessee Titan Linebacker Peter Sirmon regarding the experience. Sounds like a whole lotta of fun in Indianapolis.

4|4 with Peter Sirmon: Combines Are A Meat Market

By Peter Sirmon
DSN Contributor

Every year around this time we start talking about the Combine. Who has hurt their stock or who has come out of nowhere to be this years Combine All-Star? The Combine first began as a cost effective and time efficient way to get all the players the teams wanted to visit with in one place over several days. The NFL scouting departments will submit names of players that they want to see and if enough teams want to see a player then they are issued a formal invitation to attend the Combine. I believe there are roughly 300 players invited annually. The most important purpose of the Combine is for the teams to administer the physicals.

The NFL is not a very trusting group of men. So, each and every team does there own physicals because there is no consensus on how to evaluate old or current injuries the player might have. Each player will receive a grade determined by the doctor’s examinations. That health grade will stick with them during the entire draft process. Also, if a team wants to order any x-rays, MRI’s, C-T scans, or any other diagnostic tests the player is sent to the hospital and the appropriate tests are done. Can you say a waiting line from hell???

1. What should players expect to find at the NFL Scouting Combines?

The NFL combine is the ultimate meat market. I imagine it is hard for women to parade around the swimming pool in their bikinis, just because there isn’t much cloth to work with. This is the man’s bikini time. You are issued combine clothing with your position in capitalized letters and a number. The weigh-in is the most disturbing event of the week. Every player is in tight grey shorts, nothing more. You file through the cattle line and when you get to the front they measure your height, weight, arm span, and hand size. They then yell out all the numbers to a crowd of several hundred. At this point you might as well not even have a head because no one is looking any higher than the shoulders. The line will take at least 30 minutes to get through. Believe me when I say that is a long time to suck your gut in and look as buff as possible. Then you are asked to pose for the video camera, where they ask you to look straight ahead then do a side and back view. Eventually they will edit the videos with your measurements and produce a video of you, so when they talk about you at team headquarters they have a visual to help them know whom they are talking about.

2. Is there anything surprising about the Combines?

The most surprising moments at the combine is to witness some of the athletic freaks that are out there in the world. The position groups are broken down into sub groups of 10-12 to make the drills go faster. Brian Urlacher worked out in my group and I would have paid just to watch him work out. He was an NFL 6’4”, not your high school basketball program 6”4”. While he was doing the long and short shuttle (agility tests) he kept ripping up the RCA Dome turf. He was to big and fast for the turf to stay sewn together. At that moment I was wondering what I was getting myself into. You have to see some of these men in the flesh or at field level to truly understand how incredible they are physically.

3. What determines a player’s success at the Combines?

Preparation is the most vital component to success at the Combine. Working out with a coach who has been through it is very important. The combine doesn’t go at a fast pace. As an athlete you want to warm up and get testing. It could take up to three hours to go through the different test and drills they administer. Mentally you need to understand that going in and not freak out when the 40-yard dash is the last thing you do and you warmed up over two hours ago.

4. What’s the #1 thing the NFL scouts are looking for in Indianapolis?

An area that is overlooked by the public is that these teams want to see how a player handles himself during this stressful time. Does he get uptight, moody, or even quit? This could be your only interaction with the teams that will ultimately employ you. Speaking confidently, showing up to your interviews on time, and giving intelligent answers are a few sure ways to make a good impression of your future bosses.

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If you had to use one word to characterize the 2007 College Football season, you might have a couple of good options along the lines of “insane”, “unpredictable”, and “crazy”.

What if you had two words?

Without a doubt, the catch-phrase of 2007 was “spread offense”. Oregon. West Virginia. Kansas. Dixon. White. Tebow.

Duck Sports News talked to former Duck and Tennessee Titan Peter Sirmon about the spread offense for a version of “The 4|4 with Peter Sirmon”. What we wanted to know was what he thought about the impact of the spread offense on the current state of college football, what it means for the future of the NFL, and its affect on the Ducks.

DSN: How will the spread offense in college football affect offensive talent in the NFL?

Peter: With the developing trend of spread offenses in college, I think it will begin to send a better overall athlete to the NFL at the QB position. I don’t believe the NFL will change what they want to see in a QB. Mobility, durability, passing strength, leadership, and decision making will always be what QB’s are graded on, no matter what offense they run in college. The spread will be huge in the overall development of all skill positions feeding into the NFL. Receiver will become more adept at route running and reading defenses, running backs will become more prolific pass catchers, and tight ends will be more productive when they break out of their traditional roles. The NFL will love a more polished skill player coming into the league.

DSN: What’s the future of the pure pocket passer in college football? Will he be able to make it to the NFL?

Peter: The future is very cloudy for the average pure pocket passer in college. There will always be a premium for a guy that is like, Drew Bledsoe, Carson Palmer, or Payton Manning. It will be the marginal pocket passers that will be eliminated. Every coach is looking for a player that can run and throw. If you can’t run very well then you had better be an exceptional passer. Ultimately the role of a QB is to deliver the ball to the players around him. If a QB cannot throw effectively then in essence it will be nine versus eleven with the advantage to the defense. So, for as exciting a running QB can be sometimes, he will ALWAYS have to throw the football effectively for a team to consistently win. Also, another consideration is if you start a trend of recruiting better runners than passers at the QB position then can you recruit receivers? Without receivers then you go to running the wishbone.

DSN: How will Oregon adopting the spread offense affect its offensive NFL prospects?

Peter: With Oregon running the spread offense it will help attract the most dynamic offenses players in the country. Top shelf high school players want to play in a wide-open style of offense. They want the ball often and in open space so they can use their athleticism. You don’t ever hear of a recruit wanting to go to a school that runs a boring smash mouth style of offense. Most offenses want the smash mouth attitude without actually having to do it. Playing in “space” is a big catch phrase that you will hear leading up to the draft. Scouts say a player can or cannot play in “space.” When they say you cannot play in “space,” then it’s time to look for another line of work. “Space” simply means being able to make plays against speed. A linebacker that can’t play in “space” is said to be more of a run stuffer and a liability against the pass. Many players initially come in playing offense or defense and eventually change for any number of reasons: size, ability, or if they have an opportunity to get on the field sooner if they change sides of the ball. As long as Oregon recruits the players that can play against speed and develop their size and strength once they get to school, then the spread offense will do nothing but help the program continue to be one of the best in the country.

DSN: Is the spread offense a fad or a trend?

Peter: I see the spread offense as a trend of offenses continually trying to get more productivity out of the most important player on your football team, the QB. Playing defense in the NFL is easier schematically because you don’t have to account for the QB running on every play. Playing against a QB that can both run and throw is a nightmare for defensive coaches. The possibilities are endless with how they can attack. Give the defenses time and they will become better at slowing down the spread attack. There has yet to be an offense that remains as prolific in its infancy as it does in adulthood. The more defensive players and coaches play against it the better they will become at stopping it. Once you put something on tape it just becomes a race to continue to evolve and improve before the other team catches up and passes you by.

DSN did ask Peter if he had any comments on UCLA hiring Rick Neuheisel. Peter thought that Josh Wilcox did a pretty good job of covering that topic.

- JJ

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Welcome to “The 4|4 with Peter Sirmon”, the Civil War Edition. Each week visitors to DuckSportsNews.com ask Peter four questions and he answers them. If you would like to ask Peter a question for for the Bowl Game edition, leave it in the comment section or send Peter an email.

Here’s the by-week edition of “The 4|4 with Peter Sirmon”.

Peter, any great Civil War memories? – Bob, Redmond

Peter: My best Civil War memory was walking off the field my senior year after we beat the Beavers and thinking that I could always be proud of the fact that my senior class went out with a win against them. During that week of preparation Coach Bellotti brought in past players to speak to the team after practices and I remember one player had lost to OSU his senior year and he and his recruiting class never forgave themselves. My class wanted to leave a legacy. To leave a legacy you cannot lose to the Beavers on your final home game ever.

What was it like being on the sidelines for the ‘98 Civil War game? – Jack, Portland

Peter: What I most remember about that game is the way the OSU students started running on the field before the game was even over. If my memory serves me correctly I remember it being a miserable game, cold and rainy. That was a long year for me because I was injured, there were several games that year that I felt I could have helped the team win.

How does it feel to be voted on to OregonLive.com’s Ultimate Ducks Civil War Team? – Holly, Medford

Peter: Being voted to the Ultimate Ducks Civil War Team is really cool. It fills me with great pride that people still remember me and the way I represented the university. The team is full of great players and to be included among them is a real honor. I could not be happier with the decision I made when I was 17 years old to go to the University of Oregon. The school gave me so much. Someday soon I would like to be part of the football program again.

If one of your kids wanted to go to Oregon State, would you let them? – Kevin, Corvallis

Peter: No comment.

Again, thanks for the great questions. And check back at DSN before the bowl game for the final 4|4 of the year.

- Peter Sirmon, No. 44

[JJ: Be sure to check out Peter on the cover of the Civil War program.]

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Over the course of the season, The Oregonian conducted a poll to determine “The Ultimate Civil War Team”.  The results are interesting.  Ducks Sports News was 1 for 2 in our predictions.  But it’s not the results we had a problem with, it was more of the process.  However, Duck Sports News contributor was selected as a Linebacker.  So, we can’t complain too much.

What do you think about the results?  Anyone missing?

JJ

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Welcome to “The 4|4 with Peter Sirmon”, the UCLA Edition. Each week visitors to DuckSportsNews.com ask Peter four questions and he answers them. If you would like to ask Peter a question for next week’s CIVIL WAR edition, leave it in the comment section or send Peter an email.

Here’s the by-week edition of “The 4|4 with Peter Sirmon”.

Is this 2007 Ducks team the best football squad in Oregon history? – Jason, Chicago

Peter: I think there have been four teams in the last thirteen years that would argue that. The 1994 Rose Bowl team, 1998 Aloha Bowl Team(you might not agree with this one), 2001 Fiesta Bowl Team, and 2007 yet to be determined bowl game. The 1994 Rose Bowl team really played well together. Danny O’Neil, Josh Wilcox, Jeremy Asher, Rich Ruhl, Chad Cota, Alex Molden, and Kenny Wheaton were all excellent college players. The 1998 team could have really done something if not for injuries. I have never seen a quarterback play as well as Akili Smith did that year. He was simply amazing. Reuben Droughns broke his ankle playing UCLA. Several other players were also lost to injury that year. But, it would be tough not to put the Fiesta Bowl team as Oregon’s best ever. You judge the teams based on results and they only had one loss that year. The most interesting thing about these teams is that senior quarterbacks led them all.

Is Dennis Dixon more Vince Young or Antwaan Randle El? – Brian, Vancouver, B.C.

Peter: Dennis Dixon is more Vince Young. Antwaan Randle El was a gimmick in college. He was a good player, but never a true quarterback. He has had a nice pro career playing receiver and returning kicks. If he had gone to one of the elite colleges there is a good chance that he never would have even played quarterback. The problem that I think Dennis Dixon is going to run into is the fact he only produced big numbers for one year. I really like him as a player, but scouts do a great job in tearing players down and finding negatives in their careers. That is what he will have to overcome. When teams make first round selections they need to see a productive career, not just one season.

If you were Dennis Dixon’s teammate, would you have wanted to know about his injury before the Arizona game? – Steve, Seattle

Peter: I personally would have wanted to know. I respect the fact that he wanted to play and go as long as his body could hold up, but the psyche of a team can be very fragile. When he went down you could see the concern on the faces of all his teammates. Had they known in advance they would have been prepared for him coming out of the game and it wouldn’t have shocked them. It might have even inspired them to go out and play for him because it meant so much to him that he was willing to go out with no ACL. I admire him for even trying. When I tore my ACL in 2004 there was no way I could have tried to play.

Are you actively involved with some parts of the Ducks recruiting? If so, what do the coaches ask of you? – Jonathan, Beaverton

Peter: I am not involved in Oregon recruiting at all. I have mentioned Oregon to some high school players that are being recruited around the Nashville area. I talk to them as a proud alumni, nothing more. Oregon is starting to gain national prominence. When kids in Tennessee start taking notice to Oregon, you know goods things are happening. The success of the team is first and foremost, but the facilities and the uniforms are what grab the attention of these young men. When we see the articles and see some of the price tags that go with these upgrades it makes you gasp. But, never forget that recruiting 17-18 year olds is more of a mystery than a science. What the young men see is an innovative and cutting edge program that is dedicated to doing whatever is possible to give the athletes the best chance of winning every game. Without strong recruiting the program has little chance of success.

Again, thanks for the great questions. Keep them coming and join me next week in preparation for the CIVIL WAR.

- Peter Sirmon, No. 44

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Welcome to “The 4|4 with Peter Sirmon”, the Bye-Week Edition. Every week throughout the remainder of the college football season, visitors to DuckSportsNews.com ask Peter four questions and he answers them.

If you would like to ask Peter a question for next week’s edition (only three more regular season games remain), leave it in the comment section or send Peter an email. Questions sent within the last twenty-four hours will be answered in next week’s edition.

Here’s the by-week edition of “The 4|4 with Peter Sirmon”.

Do you miss Walla Walla? – Doug, Eugene

Peter: I haven’t had many opportunities to spend time in Walla Walla.  My parents are still there as well as one of my brothers.  I have a lot of great memories of growing up there and it will always be a special place for me.  I still keep in contact with some friends and coaches from the high school.

Did you join the NFLPA? – Steve, Portland

Peter: I believe the NFLPA is vital to forwarding the issues facing current players. Currently over 99% of players pay into the union.  I served as a NFLPA player representative for three years and learned so much about what the NFLPA is trying to accomplish.  Dealing with issues such as: injuries, working conditions, workout schedules, salaries, injury grievances, and benefits are just a few things the NFLPA assists players in understanding.

Peter, with Jon Bacon going down for the year, it looks like Casey Matthews stepped in nicely at the end of the game. I think he has great potential for the Ducks.  What’s your assessment of Matthews? – Tyson, Corvallis

Peter: If Casey is cut from the same cloth as his dad and uncle then he should be just fine.  I had the privilege of playing with his uncle Bruce Matthews when we were both with the Titans.  Sons of ex-players have a unique background of being around the game growing up and understanding and emulating how their fathers handled themselves while they were playing.  It is very similar to being a coach’s son.  When you are around the game as a boy you get a chance to absorb a lot of the nuances that other kids don’t get to. That understanding and background will give Casey a great foundation to build upon.

Does attention focused on one player affect an entire locker room? – Ted, Ashland

Peter: I think the wrong kind of attention can be very distracting in the locker room. By the time these players get to college they understand that certain positions receive most of the notoriety.  I have been on several teams that I was excited and happy that certain players were receiving national attention.  When hard working, deserving players receive positive attention I think most guys are happy and proud of them.

Again, thanks for the great questions. Keep them coming and join me next week for the Arizona edition.

- Peter Sirmon

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Welcome to “The 4|4 with Peter Sirmon”, the ASU Edition. Every week throughout the remainder of the college football season, visitors to DuckSportsNews.com ask Peter four questions and he answers them.

If you would like to ask Peter a question for next week’s edition, leave it in the comment section or send Peter an email. Questions sent within the last twenty-four hours will be answered in next weeks edition.

Here’s this week’s “The 4|4 with Peter Sirmon”.

What do folks say about Oregon back in Tennessee? What is the general “knowledge” and feeling about them back there? – Jake, Eugene

Peter: The Oregon Ducks come up several times every day back here in Tennessee. You would be surprised how many people have taken notice. The Michigan game went a long ways towards putting Oregon up there with other national powers. Also, the USC game was another big step. Both of those games were televised nationally, which is the only way teams on the west coast get the accolades they deserve.

Hey Peter! Big fan of yours! Hey I was wondering what you thought of LB Jon Bacon? As far as play on the field? – Tyson, Corvallis

Peter: Jon Bacon was all over the place versus USC. I was very impressed with the way he played. It says a great deal about a LB when he is involved on several of the biggest plays of the game. Some players just have a knack for being around the ball and making big plays, he seems to have both of those qualities, which by the way can not be coached or taught.

Does a light class load provide football players any kind of advantage? – Nate, Bend

Peter: I attended summer school every year I was at the U of O in anticipation of taking a lighter load during the fall quarter. I did it that way so I could devote as much time as necessary to football during the season. During my sophomore season it started to become apparent that there was a chance that I would have the opportunity to play in the NFL and decided that I needed to really focus on football during the season. I guess that thinking paid off.

What, if any, qualities does Dennis Dixon share with the Titans’ Vince Young? – Aaron, Portland

Peter: Dennis Dixon shares a lot of the same qualities of Vince Young. There is nothing more frightening than facing a dual threat at the quarterback position. A lot of defenses try to employ a “spy” on the QB throughout the game as part of their strategy. Time and time again though Dennis Dixon and Vince Young prove to difficult for that one player.

When a QB possesses that kind of speed and arm strength as Dennis Dixon does it really becomes the game plan to just try to contain him and limit the amount of big plays that he makes. A QB that makes plays through the air and on the ground proves to be infectious to the entire team. Giving everyone, offense and defense a tremendous amount of confidence that no matter what happens that they have a player that can change the game.

Thanks for the questions. We’ll see you next week for a bye week edition. – Peter

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Welcome to “The 4|4 with Peter Sirmon”, the USC Edition. Every week throughout the remainder of the college football season, visitors to DuckSportsNews.com ask Peter four questions and he answers them.

If you would like to ask Peter a question for next week’s edition, leave it in the comment section or send Peter an email. Questions sent within the last twenty-four hours will be answered in next weeks edition.

Here’s this week’s “The 4|4 with Peter Sirmon”.

1. Peter, you’ve played for two pretty good coaches in Oregon’s Mike Bellotti and the Titans’ Jeff Fischer. And Oregon is going up against USC this week, coach by a former NFL coach. What’s the difference between a good college coach and a good NFL coach?
- Bruce, Eugene

Peter: I think there are far more similarities than differences in good coaches. One of the biggest requirements is that college coaches must portray that the “game” is still a game. At the pro level all the players realize that it is a business and that is the way decisions are made. Also, I don’t think some of the college coaches have the same mentality as the pro coaches. I really feel that the good college coaches make the players feel like they are appreciated, respected, and truly cared for. A good NFL coach doesn’t always have to employ those same mental games. NFL coaches are dealing with older and more mature men who don’t need to be built up as often or as much.

2. #44, what should fans look for on the field Saturday as USC tries to stop Oregon’s spread offense?
- Matt, Bend

Peter: What I am going to be looking for is how the Trojans are going to attack Oregon’s offense. Will they choose the aggressive or passive approach? I would bet that that USC chooses the aggressive approach and comes after Oregon early and often. Few teams have the speed and size that USC possesses. USC will match up well in all the separate one on one match ups that a spread offense presents. The best way to stop an offense is to nullify the QB. So look for the USC coaches to send a lot of players at Dennis Dixon early in the game to rattle him and try to persuade him from holding on to the football.

3. Are there any stadiums in the NFL that can match Autzen’s noise level?
- McKenzie, Santa Monica, CA

Peter: I have never played in a stadium that was as loud as Autzen. The pro stadiums aren’t built to be intimidating or loud. The loudest stadium in the NFL right now is the Indianapolis Colts. It’s one of the few last dome stadiums and just like the old King Dome it keeps all the sound in.

4. Are you back in Walla Walla?
- Tom, Portland

Peter: My family and I have decided to stay in Nashville. Since retiring from the Titans I have started a career in Real Estate and also stay busy doing pre-game and post game analysis for Titans Radio. The last thing I do on Sundays is a TV show where I serve in the role as an analyst, breaking down the most recent game and doing a spot called “Peter’s Chalk Talk.”

Thanks for the questions. We’ll see you next week for the ASU edition.

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At Oregon, he was 44 on the field.

After a seven-year career in the NFL with the Tennesse Titans, it’s now The 4|4 with Peter Sirmon.

This week, OneClickSportsNews is proud is introduce a new weekly feature and contributor to DuckSportsNews, The 4|4 with Peter Sirmon. Every week throughout the second half of the football season, Peter will answer four questions asked by visitors to DuckSportsNews.com.

The Walla Walla, Washington native was a four-year letterman with the Ducks from 1996-1999. He was named first-team All Pac-10 as a Senior and a Sophomore. Peter closed out his career with 16 tackles and a school-record seven tackles for a loss in the 1999 Sun Bowl victory over Minnesota. In the 2000 NFL Draft, he was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the fourth round. After playing seven years in the NFL with the Titans, Peter is now retired from football and pursuing a career in real estate in Nashville. He and his wife, Lindsay, live in the Nashville area with their four children.

Now it’s time to kickoff…

1. What does the Oregon-Washington rivalry mean to the players?

While I was at Oregon the biggest game every year for me was the Washington game. The energy in the stadiums was always different for me when we played the Huskies. When I was a senior in high school I attended the Oregon-Washington game that made Kenny Wheaton a household name in the state and eventually catapulted them into the Rose Bowl in 1994. The obvious proximity plays a part and the schools go after a lot of the same recruits.

2. What kind of leadership qualities is Coach Bellotti looking for on the field?

Coach Bellotti and really all coaches are looking for players of high character to build a program around. Players with real character never quit, or give in when the games turn against you or even when some of their fellow players start to criticize. They become the glue of all great teams. It’s just so easy to be a front runner and be enthusiastic and positive when you are winning every game. When you come across tough times in a season is when the true leaders show up and refuse to allow the other players to quit working and preparing. Some of the most respected players are the guys that are not necessarily the stars of the team. Eric Winn (FB 1993-1997)was a great example of that, always working and preparing. He became a player that people really looked up to and followed.

3. How does the defense react after the offense suffers multiple injuries?

The best advice that I could give a defense is that “nothing else matters.” You can’t control the offense so don’t even worry about how they are playing. One thing about Oregon is that they always seem to be able to replace skill position players. Focus on what you can control and basically that is all you can do.

4. Are coaches more effective with or without mustaches?

I’m pretty impartial to facial hair when it comes to coaches. Just as long as they knew my name and my position I felt lucky!

Do you have a question for Peter? If so, go to OneClickSportsNews.com and send Peter your question.

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