Camp Report
Rick Morgan

 

"A 1-2-2 trap" was the play of the day for Chip Kelly after entertaining Miami Heat head coach Eric Spoelstra at Wednesday's day three of fall camp. "We're going to implement it on third down passing situations on defense."

 

Spoelstra's local roots (Jesuit High School, University of Portland) put the Ducks and Kelly on his radar and the Heat head coach spent the day visiting with Kelly and observing Wednesday's practice on the field.

 

"He got to the championship game, we got to the championship game," said Kelly. "I don't think either of us liked the results."

 

Still in helmets and shorts - no pads until Saturday - Spoelstra watched as the Ducks ripped through a two and a half hour cardio drill - going through the playbook at a clip of three or four snaps a minute on a comfortable 82 degree early August afternoon.

 

Offensive line coach Steve Greatwood appeared to have the worst day, losing his hat in a point of emphasis over a missed blocking assignment during a series of 11-on-11 drills.

 

WR receiver Josh Huff looks to be poised for a special season, a deep threat a bit different than Oregon has employed in the past . seemingly as fast as Sammie Parker and with the vise-grip hands of Demetrius Williams. In package that's compact and strong. If he learned anything of running routes from Jeff Maehl, Huff is going to turn DB's inside out.

 

For that to happen, Greatwood's offensive line must give QB Darron Thomas time for the route to develop, a luxury was able to enjoy in Wednesday's no-contact drills.

 

Thomas' accuracy was impressive, his summer work paying dividends. Throughout the day, Thomas consistently hit his receivers in stride on the deep routes, drilled the ball into the middle, and gave his running backs room to turn up field on the swing routes.

 

Asked what has been Thomas' most notable improvement thus far, offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich quickly offered "He's doing a really good job of lining those guys up ... just his overall kind of management, making it his team."

 

Single sessions are set for Thursday and Friday afternoon and the players can look forward to the first of six two-a-days on Saturday. Fall camp runs through August 25, then the task turns to game week preparations in advance of the September 3^rd opener against LSU in Dallas, Tex.

Ducks Tabbed For First
Pac-12 Crown
Don Smalley

 

The Oregon Ducks were slected by the media to not only win their division, but to win the first ever Pac-12 Conference Game. The picks were announced today in Los Angeles at the Pac-12 Media Day.

 

Stanford was selected as runner-up in the North Division, followed by Washington, Oregon State, Cal and Washington State.

 

USC was picked to win the South Division, but as the Trojans are currently ineligible to compete in the title game due to NCAA sanctions, Arizona State would play Oregon if the media has it right.

 

The Sun Devils were followed by conference newcomer Utah with Arizona, UCLA and Colorado in the remaining spots.

 

For the first time since the NCAA began looking into the Will Lyles situation at Oregon, coach Chip Kelly spoke on the matter publicly. But as expected, he didn't comment on the investigation concerning the use of Lyles' recruiting services.

 

"Obviously, I know the one question everybody is waiting to have answered. We sent out a release earlier," Kelly said. "We have great respect for the NCAA in terms of their review and examination of our use of recruiting services and we've cooperated fully with them and will continue to cooperate with them."

 

Kelly went on to field questions that were on-the-field football questions and he seemed eager to talk about the issues that concern the Ducks on the field, starting with question marks on the offensive and defensive lines.

 

"We lost (some) great players. Bo Thran our center, Jordan Holmes, who had a tremendous amount to do with what our whole scheme is up front in terms of making calls and understanding where we are.

 

(But) ". Mark Asper's coming back. Carson York's coming back. Darrion Weems is coming back, and those are guys that have had some starts for us in our program. Mark started 10 or 12 games in his career. He's going to be the leader. It's like anything. It's going to take some time to gel. We're confident in the group that we have. I like their athleticism, I like their toughness. I like their mindset. It's just the one thing you can't manufacture is experience,"

 

Oregon finds itself exactly where it was at two years ago with an inexperienced offensive line and a big-time game to open up the season. Last time it was against Boise St. On Sept. 3 it will be LSU.

 

But the assembled were more interested in the off-season issues than with Oregon's so-called question marks with the depth chart, repeatedly trying to get Kelly, and even David Paulson, to comment on the ongoing investigation.

 

One had to feel a bit sorry for the guy who Kelly called, "everything you would want as an Oregon football player."

 

"It really hasn't affected us as players," the junior tight end said. We're really just focused on getting better this summer. (We're) working hard in the weight room, doing some 7 on 7, trying to come together as a team and getting ready for this upcoming season."

 

 

 

Pac-12 Media Picks:

 

North                              South

Oregon                             USC

Stanford                           Arizona St.

Washington                       Utah

Oregon St.                        Arizona

California                          UCLA

Washington St.                  Colorado

Green Wins Spring Game 16-0
Rick Morgan

 

No surprise it was the defense that set the tone from start to finish of Saturday's spring game at Autzen Stadium. Most of the spring has seen the green shirts with the upper hand and nothing changed in the spring camp finale.

 

Late in the first quarter, the LaMichael James took a Darron Thomas hand-off and bolted around the right flank for 67-yards and the game's only touchdown. Rob Beard added three field goals to give the Green a 16-0 shutout over the White.

 

Thomas connected on 15 of his 21 attempts for 129 yards, six of those completions to Lavasier Tunei for 46 yards.

 

White team quarterback Bryan Bennett was solid, going 10 for 18 and 98 yards but the Green defense was unyielding, throwing the White offense for 44 lost yards, holding them to a net of 63 in pitching the shut-out.

 

Each quarterback was intercepted once.

 

As was the case last spring, both teams were assembled via a draft of the coaching staff and the game was played to a running clock in the second half. Also as it had been a year ago, the game served to recognize the sacrifices made by those who are serving in the armed forces and their families.

 

That show of respect took on a tragic dimension earlier in the week and a grieving community was also able to present the colors to the family of slain Eugene police officer Chris Kilcullen in a halftime ceremony.

 

"We learned a very stark lesson about the ultimate sacrifice that someone made for us," said head coach Chip Kelly. "I think it is a way for us to say ?we have feelings for you and we care for you'".

 

Turning his attention to the game, Kelly said "I thought the (Green) team moved the ball really well . they didn't convert a few times. When you split your team up there is going to be some inexperience at certain places. I thought Colt (Lyerla) did a decent job catching the ball. Especially in traffic which is a big thing for a tight end. Can you control the middle of the field? Obviously we know what David Paulson can do but really what's going to happen after David Paulson is a big question for us from an experience standpoint."

 

"So overall I was pleased. The big thing was to get out of it healthy and we are relatively healthy coming out of it. We've got a lot of work before we get back here on August 8^th and that will be in the hands of our players now because today's the last official time (coaches can be present at workouts)."

 

"I think they have improved since March 29^th . That's was this whole process is all about . It's April 30^th, we still have a long ways to go. The thing I'm confident about are the kids I'm turning it over to right now. The Darron Thomases, the LaMichael James, the Kenjon Barners and the L.T. Tuineis - those leaders that have to take this program from now until we get a chance to see them again. I'm confident in those guys, we've got a lot of work ahead of us but I know those guys are willing to do the work."

 

Oregon's season opens Sept 3^rd in Arlington, Texas against Louisiana State.

Running Back Preview
Don Smalley

 

Let's just get this over with right now and say it. LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner are the best 1-2 combo in the nation.

 

The pair of juniors ran their way to the national championship game in 2010 and if the Ducks want to repeat run to the title game, James and Barner will have to have another stellar season.

 

James gets most of the carries, the yards and the touchdowns. With that, comes the accolades as he was third in the Heisman balloting behind Cam Newton and Andrew Luck.

CONTINUE

Wide Receiver Preview
Don Smalley

 

The 2011 Ducks are hoping to find a new ?mail" man, someone to look to for the big catch, a threat on every snap. Last season it was Jeff Maehl who filled that role for QB Darron Thomas, catching 77 passes for 1076 yards and 12 scores.

 

That's a LOT of production and with Maehl now off to the NFL so Thomas must find another go-to guy through the air if the Ducks are defend as conference champion and win the first ever Pac-12 championship.

 

In 2010, Thomas threw 30 touchdown passes. Half of them went to Maehl and DJ Davis - who is also in an NFL camp.

 

But Thomas has the cars in the garage, so to speak.

 

The Ferrari on this team is Josh Huff. The sophomore stepped on the scene last year and made an immediate impact at the Tazer position. Huff is lean at 5-11, 207 pounds and fast. His 83-yard touchdown run on an option run against Arizona where he just ran through and past the Wildcat defense was proof of that.