Through two scrimmages and two full weeks of practice, one of head football coach Mike Bellotti’s missions – limiting turnovers – nears completion. After Saturday’s second scrimmage of the fall camp, held in Beaverton at the Nike campus, the Ducks have not committed any turnovers – which is good news for Bellotti, after the Ducks lost 14 fumbles, Dennis Dixon threw 14 interceptions, and Brady Leaf threw four more last season.
“This is our second major scrimmage with no turnovers,” Bellotti said in a press release after the scrimmage. “That’s great for the offense and not as good for the defense. We talk about wanting takeaways but our problem last year were the turnovers on offense and at this point, we seem to be addressing that, which is really a positive.”
Oregon’s offense racked up 226 yards of total offense in 89 plays during Saturday’s scrimmage, with Dixon completing six of 10 passes for 59 yards along with 15 rushing yards. Wide receivers Cameron Colvin and Jaison Williams each caught touchdowns – Colvin from Dixon, Williams from Leaf, who completed four passes including the 30-yard touchdown to the junior wideout.
“I thought our quarterbacks made great decisions in terms of who to throw to, when to get rid of the ball and when to tuck it and run,” Bellotti said. “We also moved the pocket well which also presented problems for our defense.
“Our veteran receivers did a good job and they caught a couple of touchdown passes by getting some mismatches on some freshman defensive backs.”
Bellotti also felt the defense stopped the run better, limiting big plays during the scrimmage. Though the running backs collected 145 yards on 41 carries, Jonathan Stewart was not one of those backs. Oregon’s junior star did not play in the scrimmage, and his backfield partner-in-crime, Jeremiah Johnson, played in only one series. Both Stewart and Johnson have been rotating in and out of practices during the last week – Stewart not in pads on Thursday, Johnson roaming the sidelines Friday afternoon as Stewart saw limited action – but neither has been listed as injured by the team.
Kicking woes continue
Special teams remains a big concern for the Ducks. A question mark all through spring practices, there still is no designated starter at either the punting or kicking positions, though punter Josh Syria is pulling away at the starting punter position. Syria has consistently boomed punts during practice, including during special teams drills Friday afternoon. Sophomore transfer Tim Taylor and redshirt freshman quarterback Justin Roper were also sending kicks out during coverage practice.
The larger worry is place kicking, which was emphasized by the poor stat line for the kickers Saturday: three for 10. Between the three kickers who played Saturday – junior Matt Evensen, sophomore Morgan Flint, and freshman Daniel Padilla – only Flint was successful in the four attempts during the scrimmage, and the crew went two for six during a pre-scrimmage special teams session. After the Ducks’ kickers combined went 16 for 25 last year – and 15 of those successful attempts belonged to the now-graduated Paul Martinez – it was always going to be an ordeal to replace that production.
“Special teams requires a lot of work,” Bellotti said. “We’re not where we want to be. Part of it is the new system that we’re putting in in some areas, part of it is just that we have to play better and perform better. Our kickers, punters, snappers, holders — everyone involved — all need to be on their ‘A’ game.”
Due to NCAA rules, the scrimmage – held at the Nike campus in Beaverton – could not be open to the public or press. This is not the first time a college sports team has practiced at Nike – according to the Oregonian. Oregon State and Nevada held a men’s basketball scrimmage this past spring, but it is rare to hold a football scrimmage at the facility.
Filipe decides to leave Ducks
Senior defensive end Victor Filipe has decided to leave the Ducks for personal reasons, Bellotti announced Friday before practice. The 6-foot-3-inch, 290-pound lineman from Salt Lake City sat out last season with a medical redshirt after an elbow injury in fall camp ruled him out for the year.
“Victor Filipe asked for a release so that he could pursue other opportunities,” Bellotti said. “At this part he wants to get to a place where he can play every down. I hope that things work out for him.”
Bellotti did not know where Filipe will transfer to.
As for the defensive line depth chart, Bellotti said that redshirt freshman Brandon Bair and freshman Kenny Rowe would gain more playing time, though he added that it shortens up the team’s planned “three, four, even five man rotation at both the tackle position and the defensive end position.”
With Filipe’s release from the team, sophomore transfer Will Tukuafu will be the likely starter opposite junior Nick Reed on the end position. Bellotti also said that when senior defensive lineman Jeremy Gibbs returns from injury, he will likely first see time at the end position before transitioning into the middle line positions.