If you’re still interested in Oregon football despite the disappointing season and debacle in the Las Vegas Bowl, this Saturday will be the best chance to see what this team is capable of before the first game on September 1. The players are a year older, wiser and hopefully more mature (though we’ll see what happens if the losses start to pile up). But most of them developed a new attitude and sense of urgency thanks to coach Mike Bellotti and played aggressively all spring. Here’s a few things to look for during the Spring Game to see why I’m optimistic about the Ducks’ chances to improve on their 7-6 record.
– Dennis Dixon’s decision making. When Oregon was 4-0, much of the success was related to Dixon’s playmaking. The same can be said for most the losses when it seemed every other possession resulted in an interception. But Dixon hasn’t exhibited those interception tendencies this spring and has made, for the most part, sound decisions with the football. He’s also begun to use his athleticism to buy more time for receivers to get open rather than try to run past defenders for a couple of yards.
– Jonathan Stewart’s new moves. There’s no denying that Stewart is a terrific running back, but his inability to stay healthy can be attributed to his tendency to run into defenders at full speed. Like Dixon, Stewart developed his game a bit more this spring and rather than try to run through everybody, he’s shown he can juke, jive and spin like his counterpart Jeremiah Johnson. Hopefully Stewart’s ability to make guys miss will keep him in games longer and in better shape throughout the season.
– The real Cameron Colvin finally emerges. The senior wide receiver came to Oregon with a lot of hype as a five-star recruit out of prep football factory De La Salle but hasn’t lived up to it as a Duck. Although Colvin has shown us flashes of brilliance, it’s never translated to him being a consistent target. He’s still taking the majority of snaps with the second-team, but he’s been one of most consistent receivers this spring and will make tough catches in traffic.
– The revamping of the special teams. On the day he was announced as an administrator in the Athletic Department, Neal Zoumboukos lamented how much he hated coaching special teams. He was a former line coach and couldn’t stand dealing with a kickers. That same day, Tom Osborne was reintroduced to Oregon fans to replace Zoumboukos and stated how the specials teams are his passion. The change of the coaching attitude toward the special teams alone should mean an improvement but the addition of punter Josh Syria should help as well. Rumor has it that the hang-time on Syria’s punts rival the slowest offensive lineman’s 40-yard dash.
– Improved usage of the option. While the option certainly worked well at times last season (mostly with the wide receivers) the quarterbacks have come to the conclusion that the offense might actually gain more yards if they decide to pitch the ball to one of the running backs rather than hold on to it. While you can’t blame Dixon if he sees a crease and decides to run, Brady Leaf said he felt more comfortable running the play this spring and looks like he’s figured out that Johnson has a better chance to evade tacklers.
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Just a few more reasons to be glad spring is here
Daily Emerald
April 25, 2007
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