There’s no Joey Harrington. That much is clear.
Everything else, well — check back in the fall.
After a school-record 11 wins, a Fiesta Bowl victory and a season-ending No. 2 ranking, Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti is now charged with finding the one guy to replace the irreplaceable.
The biggest question that looms like a rain cloud over Oregon’s spring drills: Who will replace Harrington
at quarterback?
The decision, so far, is not readily available. Jason Fife, the backup this past year who completed six of nine passes for 71 yards, has not stood out this spring like many thought — or hoped — he would.
Kellen Clemens, a redshirt freshman, has already jumped a spot in the depth chart to No. 2. Is more movement to come?
Scott Vossmeyer, the third-string last year, sprained his left (non-throwing) shoulder during a scrimmage Saturday. He will likely miss the rest of spring drills.
“It’s a two-man rotation now,” said Andy Ludwig, Oregon’s offensive coordinator and quarterback coach. “Voss is probably done for the rest of the spring. His reps were valuable to him and the team. (His injury) is unfortunate, but that just gives Kellen and Jason the opportunity for more reps, and they need to make the most of those reps.”
The Ducks’ only other quarterback option is essentially not an option. Walk-on Matt Kennedy joined the team during the first week of the spring and may get “a couple” of plays in the team’s second scrimmage Friday, Ludwig said.
Considering, though, the offense’s performance at the first scrimmage of the spring Saturday, Kennedy might be worth a look. After the defensively-dominated scrimmage — in which the Oregon offense scored just one touchdown by a walk-on running back — Bellotti said the team is not where it needs to be at this point.
The burden, it seems, then falls heavily on the right shoulders of Fife and Clemens.
Fife, a junior to be, is the only quarterback on the roster with game experience, however limited it may be. He has 11 attempts in four career appearances.
“I’ve never thought of myself as the old guy,” Fife said. “I’m just trying to focus on myself. I can’t worry about anyone else.”
At 6-foot-4, 216 pounds, Fife is the prototypical quarterback, and Bellotti has praised him for his ability to run the offense as designed.

“I think Fife is a good quarterback, and I really think he gave Harrington a run for his money last year,” Oregon junior safety Keith Lewis said. “The thing is, Fife’s not going to be a Heisman candidate. Harrington’s a good kid, a good quarterback, but Fife gave him a run for his money last year.”
Clemens, a redshirt freshman, is a sharp contrast to Fife. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Burns native is noted for his quick feet and ability to elude defenders on the run. But his experience and knowledge of the offense are concerns.
“Kellen Clemens does a lot of things very exciting, but he also makes some mistakes which could be exciting the other way,” Bellotti said. “He will compete for the starting job. He’s best when things break down, but we needs to get better at the normal execution of the offense.”
Clemens said he is just trying to adapt to his new role.
“Obviously I don’t have a lot of experience — I was on the scout team last year — so my expectations of myself at this point are just to compete and do whatever I can to help the team,” he said. “I obviously want playing time any way I can get it, but I’m not stressing anything right now.
“If I can help this team as a starter, great. If not, I’ll just try to help by pushing Fife.”
The two signal callers will have a chance at redemption at Friday’s scrimmage and will ultimately try to prove themselves at the annual Spring Game at PGE Park in Portland on April 27.
“Both of them are getting better every day,” Ludwig said. “I’m pleased with their work ethic.
“But they got to get better.”