On Saturday, the Ducks will honor the armed forces while dividing their own troops into two distinct squads. Here’s a quick breakdown of what you can expect from each side.
Green team offense vs. White team defense
On offense, the Green team appears to be in line for a big day, with offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich at the helm and a pair of elusive speedsters (Bryan Bennett and Kenjon Barner) in the backfield. That being said, we all know defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti — the commander of the White team — has consistently put together a group of underrated performers.
With both Bennett and Barner in line for a significant amount of carries, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Green team rack up a big day on the ground. However, the White squad boasts several proven, sound tacklers (Michael Clay, Boseko Lokombo, Terrance Mitchell) that should limit big-play abilities.
It will be fun to see how a crop of young defensive ends (Tony Washington, Ryan McCandless, David Kafovalu) respond against Bennett and Barner in the zone-read scheme. Expect some big runs from both Barner and Bennett, who have proven command of the intricacies of Chip Kelly’s scheme. It’s possible we’ll see the Green team run a few option plays, considering Bennett’s wheels and Barner’s ability to catch the ball in the open field.
When Bennett and Barner get a breather, junior quarterback Dustin Haines and sophomore running back Kenny Bassett will step in. Haines should drop back more than Bennett, challenging the White team secondary (Mitchell, Dior Mathis, Brian Jackson). Bassett, a pint-sized product of Beverly Hills, Calif., should provide additional speed for the Green team.
Eric Dungy, Keanon Lowe and B.J. Kelley will likely see most of the early reps at wide receiver. Word is that Dungy and Lowe have been stepping up their play during spring workouts. With Oregon looking to replace former No.1 option Lavasier Tuinei, a big day from either could have significant implications on Oregon’s depth chart.
White team offense vs. Green team defense
Duck fans will be anxious to see what highly touted redshirt freshman quarterback Marcus Mariota brings to the table. The Honolulu native has remained a relative mystery with spring practices closed and no live game action under his belt. Mariota wasn’t highly recruited coming out of high school, but the 6-foot-4 signal caller has gotten positive reviews from coaches. Despite strong play from Bennett as a backup last year, going into the offseason Kelly remained adamant the starting quarterback position remained open to competition.
Luckily for Mariota, he will have many of the team’s top weapons at his disposal. The White squad lays claim to Oregon’s top two returning receivers (De’Anthony Thomas and Josh Huff) as well as Devon Blackmon, a hyped recruit from Fontana, Calif., who redshirted last season. Blackmon, rated as the No. 23 player in the ESPN 150 @@http://espn.go.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/player/_/id/101235/devon-blackmon@@ coming out of high school, is facing relatively tall expectations in his first year as a collegian. The quarterback-receiver tandem of Mariota and Blackmon has a distinct appeal and could be a preview of things in the long-term future to for a program loaded with offensive talent.
With LaMichael James gone and Barner on the opposing sideline, look for De’Anthony Thomas to get increased reps in the backfield. Seeing how Thomas fares as an every-down back is another potential storyline that should have Oregon fans drooling. Additional carries will go to sophomore running back Ayele Forde, who was a pleasant surprise in limited action last season (36 carries for 179 yards, 4.9 yards per carry).
Colt Lyerla, a physically impressive sophomore who performed well in a reserve role for Oregon last season, will be another point of interest for the White team offense. Lyerla was primarily a redzone target last year but will likely enjoy an expanded role with David Paulson gone.
Junior defensive tackle Taylor Hart, who emerged as a difference-maker after cracking the starting lineup last season, should cause plenty of havoc for Mariota, Thomas & Co. The same can be said for defensive end Dion Jordan, who tortured a multitude of Pac-12 quarterbacks in 2011 with a devastating combination of size (6-foot-7) and athleticism (33.5-inch vertical leap) on his way to All-Pac-12 first team honors @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=1550429@@.
But the lightning rod of the Green squad’s defensive line will be true freshman Arik Armstead, one of the most celebrated recruits in Oregon history. It will be interesting to see if he can get to Mariota against a patched offensive line that will likely lack rhythm.
The rest of the defense is a mixed bag. The Green team defense boasts 2012 Rose Bowl Defensive MVP Kiko Alonso @@http://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/index.ssf/2012/01/kiko_alonso_comes_from_dark_mo.html@@, but the rest of the linebackers (Carlyle Garrick, Jennings Stewart, Rahim Cassell, Rodney Hardrick) are short on experience.  The Green team secondary is also young, though the guidance of John Boyett should alleviate some of those concerns. Avery Patterson, who had a nice freshman campaign in 2011, is the No. 1 option at cornerback.
Prediction
Though the Green team offense will be centered on a strong running game, its experience and talent on defense are the factors that will push them to victory. Mariotta and Thomas have serious potential but no proven chemistry. On the other hand, Bennett and Barner possess complimentary skills sets that should dizzy the White team defense all afternoon.
Individually, Dungy and Blackmon will both impress with big efforts in the receiving game. Armstead won’t disappoint, with several key plays on defense. Jordan will also have a big game, while Barner will bust at least a couple long runs. De’Anthony Thomas should make a big play on special teams.
Score: Green team 35, White team 21