Oregon offensive lineman Iapani Laloulu won't remind anyone of NFL legend and Hall of Famer Jerry Rice in either size or abilities on the field. But according to Oregon Duck offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer, they both possess one important trait that all players should have: You're never too old, experienced, or talented to learn new tricks."I don't think you could ever really put a value on having a great player with a ton of experience who's also a phenomenal leader. Those people are invaluable," Mehringer said. "I'm super thankful that Poncho (Laloulu) is here. Poncho is the rock, the apex in there. He's not only great for the offensive line unit, but he's great for the offense and the team as a whole."That's the reason Mehringer was invoking the NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver when discussing his center. Not for the on-field skill set, but for the dedication to the little things and setting an example for others. "I listened to a story about Jerry Rice in his 19th year in the NFL in the same offense. They're putting in drag and slant-arrow, and he's writing it down like he's never run that play before," Mehringer said. "He's run that play 10,000 times, right? But the point is that he's not 'too big-time' to take notes and learn something new that day. I feel that way about Poncho, and it leaves no excuse for anybody else in the program."Laloulu seems to be a coach's dream. He listens, takes notes, and ultimately learns from his mistakes in order to get better."If Poncho gets coached on anything, he isn't the fourth-year starter who's like, 'Coach, I'm good.' He's like, 'Got it, Coach. Yep, I'm going to get that fixed.'"In an offense that is full of both veteran players and young guys who are looking for reps, that's invaluable. On the Oregon offensive line, where as many as three starters are being replaced, having someone like Laloulu showing what it means to be diligent and take the little things to heart is key. It's no surprise that Poncho is once again thought of as the biggest leader on the team."He's vocal. He's tough. He's physical. He's everything you want that kid to be," Mehringer said. "The value of him? I don't know that you could place a value on that. That's extremely hard to find."The Oregon offensive line won't have a set five guys that will be on the field for the majority of the game, as depth is a strength for this unit in 2026. But Laloulu at center will be a constant, however, and he's only getting better as time goes on.Contact/Follow@Ducks_Wireon X (formerly Twitter) and like our page onFacebookto follow ongoing coverage of OregonDucksnews, notes, and opinions.This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Why Oregon OC invoked Jerry Rice when discussing Iapani Laloulu