No Rose Bowl victory hangover was evident as the Oregon Ducks held their first spring football practice of the 2012-13 season Tuesday morning. In fact, it was business as usual for head coach Chip Kelly and some of the team’s veterans. And although only a few of the incoming freshmen were in attendance, the rookies impressed — even with a “deep” learning curve.@@Feel free to change that to “steep learning curve” if you think the pun is weak, Kenny or Patrick. I might @@
“Jump in the deep end and start swimming, son,” Kelly said. “We teach to the fastest learner, and for the younger guys, it’s their responsibility to catch up. If they make mistakes, they make mistakes and we coach them off the film.
“Same thing we want out of our quarterback position and the same things we want out of Arik (Armstead)@@http://rivals.yahoo.com/usc/football/recruiting/player-Arik-Armstead-99535@@ and Evan (Baylis)@@http://rivals.yahoo.com/highschool/football/recruiting/player-Evan-Baylis-108928@@: Do they make improvements from day one to day two to day three? If we try to slow things down for those two guys because they just got here, we’re going to really stump the rest of our guys. They’ll figure it out.”
Armstead, the headliner of a recruiting class rated No. 16 in the nation by Rivals.com,@@checked@@ promises to bring even more speed to a defense that specializes in getting to the ballcarrier in a hurry. Junior linebacker Boseko Lokombo@@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3378&SPID=233&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=204773876&Q_SEASON=2012@@ expressed his excitement at getting to work with the new freshmen, stressing his growing leadership role.
“I want to keep improving. I want to help the younger guys with the defense,” he said. “I’m a little older now, so I feel like I can finally help the younger guys in teaching and show them exactly how we operate. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone progress.”
It’s that sort of veteran leadership that will ensure a smooth assimilation into the Oregon system for the rookies as they begin the complex task of transitioning to Division I football. With only four starters graduating, the defense promises to be a strength once again for the Ducks this season — even as the offense undergoes something of a transformation.
“We’re pretty happy with what we’ve got,” Lokombo said. “A lot of the younger guys are going to have to step up, but it’s good to have one of our main leaders, Michael Clay.@@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3378&SPID=233&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=204773762&Q_SEASON=2012@@ We have a solid first group, and now we’re just looking to bring the (younger) guys up.”
Some of the primary questions going into spring camp revolved around new openings in the offense’s starting lineup after the departure of Darron Thomas and LaMichael James @@who has, in actual fact, been to a Duck football game before@@to the NFL Draft. Couple that with the transfer of Tra Carson@@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205237442@@ and De’Anthony Thomas’@@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3378&SPID=233&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205238473&Q_SEASON=2012@@ increased snaps at slot receiver, and Oregon looks set to begin the new season with a dramatically different running back corps. But for fourth-year player Kenjon Barner@@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3378&SPID=233&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1550399&Q_SEASON=2012@@ — next season’s projected starting running back — depth isn’t an issue.
“We’re trying to build that unity, build togetherness, build leadership on this team,” Barner said. “Get our line together, get our running backs, just bring everyone together, so when it comes time for fall camp, we’re not missing a beat.”
Kelly echoed that sentiment, explaining that while spring camp is competitive as players fight for tentative starting spots, it’s also an opportunity to learn and grow as individuals and as a unit.
“If you come out of the spring and someone says, ‘Hey, I’m No. 1,’ that’s great,” he said. “(But) you may get beaten over the summer because someone else works harder than you.
“Everyone got a ton of reps in, and now we’ll go in and watch tape and get a chance to coach them off the first day of film and see if there’s an improvement from day one to day two, and that’s what we’re really looking for.”
Despite the roster turnover from last season’s squad, the mood among the players was overwhelming positive. As spring practices continue and the freshmen become acclimated to the Oregon system, Barner believes that this new-look Oregon team isn’t so different from last year’s.
“You got to come out, and you got to work; Coach Kelly is going to push you to your limits,” Barner said. “You have the same mindset; the approach might be slightly different — but it’s the same thing.”
First Oregon spring football business as usual for veteran players, learning process for early-enrollee freshmen
Thomas Kyle-Milward
April 2, 2012
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