If there is any increased excitement for the annual football spring game compared to years past, Chip Kelly isn’t feeling it.
For him and the rest of Oregon’s coaching staff, Saturday’s much-publicized scrimmage at Autzen Stadium is just another practice. A near-sellout crowd and ESPN cameras aside, nothing changes for them as they prepare to end spring practices and look forward to fall camp.
“We practice every day, so Saturday is just our fifteenth practice,” Kelly said after Monday’s practice at Autzen. “It’s not like there’s a big culmination that everything finishes on next Saturday. Because we’ve been doing situational work throughout the bulk of practice that we’ve been here.”
It is in this sense that a rare, if also innocuous, divide can be seen between Oregon coaches and players. Because for the players, even established stars like running back Kenjon Barner, this is not just an average practice.
“It’s more than a practice,” Barner said. “You get to put on the uniform, you get to go out and smash somebody. You don’t want to hurt them obviously, but you don’t get the opportunity too many times, so we’re very excited about that.”
The teams have been tentatively divided, but won’t be finalized until Wednesday, according to Kelly. Barner did confirm on Monday that he would be teaming up with quarterback Bryan Bennett, which fits with an earlier claim made by Dior Mathis that Marcus Mariota and De’Anthony Thomas would pair up on the white squad. Yet Kelly wasn’t willing to delve any further into the rosters just yet. @@https://twitter.com/#!/ODEsports/status/193796122458861568@@
“We won’t finalize anything until Wednesday, because we need to make sure we know exactly who’s going to play in the game on Saturday,” Kelly said. “So we’ll release it Wednesday after practice. We’ve got a couple tweaks depending on what goes on today, after today’s practice or Wednesday’s practice. (The teams) seem pretty even.”
Though he hesitated to provide a final grade along with his observations, Kelly has been happy with the team’s progress since spring practices began. Neither the offense nor the defense has made a mark, but that’s actually how he prefers it.
“Just been give and take all spring,” Kelly said. “Which I think, as a coach, you want. I don’t think you want one side dominating the other side, then there’ll be some concerns.
“There’s some three-and-outs sometimes and then there’s some long drives sometimes. So it’s been a give and take for most of spring.”
From defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti’s perspective, specific improvements need to come from both the linebacking and safety corps.
“I think we have to get a couple more linebackers up to speed, on the inside, and the back safety end,” Aliotti said. “Those two positions have to come up to speed.”
The spring game will provide one last opportunity for each player to make an impression before the team breaks for the summer. As for established veterans like Barner, it will be just one more chance to bask in the glow of competition in front of the Autzen faithful.
“For me, it’s just having fun,” Barner said. “It’s my last spring game, so I just wanna have fun.”