Today marks the halfway point of spring drills for the Oregon football team with the annual spring football game just around the corner.
So, what’s the prognosis on the first two weeks of practice?
“Defense is ahead, even ahead of where I would have anticipated. I’m pleased with that,” Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said. “As a result, I’m not as happy about the offense.”
The defense dominated a controlled 55-play, 50-minute scrimmage Friday, allowing only one touchdown – a four-yard catch and run by running back Andiel Brown – and two field goals by Matt Evensen.
Sophomore defensive end Nick Reed finished with five tackles, 2.5 sacks and one of Oregon’s two safeties in the game.
Junior transfer Jameel Dowling recorded the other safety and junior-to-be strong safety Kwame Agyeman recorded the only interception when he stepped in front of Dennis Dixon’s pass. The defense managed a total of three sacks and a forced fumble as well as a goal-line stand, which forced Evensen’s 24-yard field goal.
“They are playing this spring like they’ve got something to prove – like they were the number one defense in the conference, and they want to be again,” Bellotti said.
With the line of scrimmage ranging from the offense’s 25 to the defense’s five-yard line, the first, second and third string offensive units failed to muster significant drives all afternoon.
Dixon led a promising opening drive on the first series by completing a shovel pass to backup running back Jeremiah Johnson for 17 yards, and then connecting with Johnson again on a swing pass for eight yards.
But after finding wideout Cameron Colvin for 11 yards and a first down, the defense managed a sack and forced two incompletions to halt the drive.
Dixon completed 5 of 10 passes for 47 yards and the one interception for the day. Brady Leaf was 5 of 8 for 41 yards and the lone touchdown to Brown.
“Hands down, I give the defense credit,” Dixon said.
“Before, we gave them a little bad mouthing, and we’re paying for it.”
Terrell Jackson paced the ground game with 25 yards on eight carries, while Jaison Williams led the air attack with two catches for 26 yards. Johnson hauled in two catches for 25 yards.
“I thought our offense was poor,” Bellotti said. “I thought our offensive line was poor, and I don’t think our quarterbacks overcame anything. We need those guys to make those types of plays … We are a veteran offensive group. We didn’t play like that today.”
Part of the offense’s struggles occurred because of constant shifting of players along the offensive line, most notably at the center position where the search is on to find a suitable backup for starter Enoka Lucas, Bellotti said.
Friday, multiple center-to-quarterback exchange fumbles halted drives.
The offense also struggled without the services of starters James Finley (arm bruise) and Jonathan Stewart (turf toe).
“I kind of expected it,” Dixon said of the scrimmage. “Things didn’t go our way at times. I’d say for the most part, turnovers are key, and we had a lot of turnovers today. But, we’ll bounce back.”
Friday’s scrimmage was another opportunity for Oregon’s six newcomers, though wideout Derrick Jones was forced out of competition with an injury.
“All of the incoming people have the potential to help us,” Bellotti said. “But none of them are there yet.”
Bellotti said the majority of the newcomers are “bogged down in the verbiage” of the plays.
Free safety Matthew Harper certainly echoed that statement.
“We usually get new plays every day,” Harper said, noting that learning them is the biggest task of the spring.
Other newcomers include Pat So’oalo and Fenuki Tupou along the offensive line, Brandon Bair at tight end and Dowling in the secondary.
“I’m really pleased with every one of them,” Bellotti said of the newcomers. “Nobody right now is at the top of the depth chart or even close. Certainly getting a lot of this type of experience done in spring is going to make them that much better in the fall.”
He said he does not predict any of the newcomers starting in the fall.
The Ducks end spring drills April 29 with the spring game at Autzen Stadium.

[email protected]