The Oregon defense capped an overall impressive spring season with a strong showing by both units during Saturday afternoon’s Spring Game held in front of a Pacific-10 Conference spring record crowd of 43,468 at Autzen Stadium.
While the Ducks have hung their hats on high-octane offense over the past few seasons, key losses on the offensive line and wide receiving corps left something to be desired from that side of the ball on Saturday.
With three carries for 78 yards and one touchdown, 2010 Doak Walker Award winner LaMichael James dazzled spectators in his brief playing time, though neither offense looked particularly potent at any point, and much of that credit goes to the work of defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti this spring.
“In one way, shape or form we played defense all game,” Aliotti said.
With the loss of Brandon Bair, Zac Clark and Kenny Rowe along the defensive front, the Ducks have almost an entirely new group holding down what has become a consistent eight-man rotation in recent years. Sophomore defensive tackle Wade Keliikipi paced the green team with six total tackles (two for a loss), one sack, and one pass breakup. @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=204773885@@ @@http://www.goducks.com/downloads2/415575.htm?ATCLID=205145311&SPSID=3377&SPID=233&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=500@@
Junior college transfer Isaac Remington also tallied a pair of tackles for loss for the Green, while sophomore Ricky Heimuli recorded three tackles during his limited playing time. @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=204866191@@ @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=204971242@@
On the White squad, safety Brian Jackson posted a game-high 10 stops in the losing effort. Junior defensive end Dion Jordan, who stepped into the No. 1 spot when Terrell Turner went down with an injury that ended his spring season, recorded six tackles and two sacks.
“I feel like this group keeps getting closer and closer together the more that we are together,” junior linebacker Michael Clay said. “And (Saturday) was a perfect example of that.”
Clay, who has been competing alongside fellow junior Kiko Alonso to fill both middle linebacker positions vacated by Casey Matthews and Spencer Paysinger, made several strong plays on Saturday, and at this point all signs point to Clay and Alonso starting against LSU in the season opener. Derrick Malone, a redshirt freshman who moved to the inside linebacker slot this spring, may also add nice depth to that unit after he recorded five tackles (1.5 for loss) and forced the game’s only fumble.
Alonso, a 6-foot-4, 237-pound product from Los Gatos, Calif., seems to have plenty of physical talent — that much was clear when he tossed senior tight end David Paulson over his shoulder with ease — and appears eager to make up for lost time suffered with a torn anterior cruciate ligament last season.
“He’s a guy who has shown improvement,” Oregon head coach Chip Kelly said. “He made some plays (Saturday). It’s a process, but I’m confident in him.”
Alonso anchored a Green Team that allowed just 63 yards rushing and another 101 through the air, and also had three takeaways to the White Team’s one. The junior-to-be said staying on top of everything mentally would make the difference heading into summer camp.
“We have to come back and fill in the seniors’ spots and learn how they controlled the defense,” Alonso said. “I need to step up and help control the defense and make plays.”
Elsewhere on the defense, redshirt freshman Terrance Mitchell and Eric Dargan each snagged interceptions for their respective teams to go along with five tackles each. And on a special teams note, Hillsboro native Colt Lyerla made three tackles during special teams segments, and could provide added depth to the coverage teams in the fall.
Troy Hill, a redshirt defensive back out of Ventura, Calif., also showed some special teams promise, returning two kicks for 34 yards, including a shifty 20-yard return that proved to be one of the highlights of an otherwise lackluster scrimmage. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound Hill also had four tackles for the White Team, to go along with one tackle for loss and two pass breakups.
Oregon will return to practice when summer camp begins on August 8 in preparation for its first season in the Pacific-12 Conference. Until then, it’s up to the veterans to keep the learning process rolling.
“As the coaches go off for recruiting in May it is important for the unit leaders to take charge,” Aliotti said. “And make sure that the rest of the unit is doing all they can to be the best unit on our squad.”