As much as things have stayed the same for the Oregon football team, just as much has changed.
Gone are the likes of Keith Lewis, Kevin Mitchell and Samie Parker, players who have become institutions in recent years. They’ve helped lead the Ducks to bowl after bowl, but now move on to become professionals.
Back are Kellen Clemens, Demetrius Williams, Devan Long and a whole core group of players who have burst onto the scene in recent seasons.
It’s this group that will get its chance to get on the gridiron as a team Saturday as Oregon opens spring practices. The group will start its first of 15 NCAA-mandated practices at 11 a.m. at the Autzen Stadium-Casanova Center complex area.
The last time the Ducks opened up spring practices, they were coming off a flat, uninspired loss to Wake Forest in the Seattle Bowl. This year, Oregon is four months removed from a one-point loss to Minnesota in the Sun Bowl.
Despite the differences in the two seasons, Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said the Ducks won’t run practices any differently. There are still holes to fill and players can get rusty after having some time off, even though most have been working out since the game against the Golden Gophers.
“I think there’s a lot of opportunity with this team,” Bellotti said. “I think there are several key positions open on offense and even more on defense. Opportunity creates excitement.”
Among those positions are linebacker and the secondary. Mitchell and David Martin will move on, leaving Jerry Matson as the only returning starter at linebacker.
Bellotti mentioned Ramone Reed, Justin Andrews and Anthony Trucks as prime candidates to fill those vacated spots, although Trucks will not participate during the spring because of shoulder surgery.
While there are spots to be filled, there are also players that saw little or no action during the 2003 season that will need to catch up. That includes Haloti Ngata, injured against Mississippi State, and wide receiver Keith Allen, who was expected to fight for a starting spot opposite Parker. Allen, however, was lost for the season in August.
“The biggest thing for all those guys is we want to get them back into game condition,” Bellotti said. “We will go one step at a time.”
Clemens returns after a super sophomore season. The Burns native led the Oregon offense with precision in the Sun Bowl, putting the exclamation point on a strong finish to the season.
Bellotti wouldn’t say there is no quarterback rotation, much like last season with Clemens and Jason Fife. After all, he expects a lot out of the soon-to-be junior.
“A quarterback has to lead by example and by their commitment to work ethic,” Bellotti said. “He also has to pull people along.”
Joining Clemens behind center will be Johnny DuRocher, who spent last season as the team’s third-string quarterback but never played, allowing Oregon to redshirt him. DuRocher has the inside track on the backup position.
However, that doesn’t take into account Dennis Dixon, one of Oregon’s top recruits prior to last season. He grayshirted the season, choosing to enroll at Oregon for winter term.
“I still have yet to see him throw a football,” Bellotti said. “I know he is an excellent athlete. He is somewhat raw.”
In addition to Trucks, wide receivers Marcus Maxwell and Kyle Weatherspoon will be held out of spring practice because of injury.
Oregon will spread its 15 practices out over a month, with the annual spring game set to be played on May 1.