The speed that Oregon has practiced at during its four weeks of spring practices has been almost as fast as its new head coach’s mouth, wit and obsessive attention to detail. All are impressive. Each ensures everyone is paying attention.
Not afraid to yell and direct traffic at his practices, Kelly will often ride a quarterback for bad form, a wide receiver for a missed route, or praise a player for the smallest correction. He even gave a quick lesson to reporters on how the sun’s angle during the spring isn’t conducive to holding practice on the grass, unlike in the fall.
While he adjusts to his new job, along with two other assistants, Kelly no doubt likes to keep it interesting.
At the end of Wednesday’s practice, a high-intensity one despite players going sans pads and only in shorts, jerseys and helmets, Kelly lined up the team into groups of 10 along the sideline. Then he unveiled the drill: Players ran to the first hash line, took a ball from a coach and, while keeping their eyes on the ball, spun around 10 times. Then they dropped the ball to the ground and soccer-dribbled it back to their waiting teammates.
Officially, safety T.J. Ward’s team won, but the missed kick by a dizzy Simi Toeaina (Weight: 318 pounds) and the resulting crash to the ground was the highlight.
“One of the great things about coach is we get out here and get our work done, and the practice tempo is the hardest I’ve ever seen, but he’s not one of those coaches who’ll make it miserable,” said Scott Frost, rookie wide receivers coach. We’ll do it in a way that makes it fun and enjoyable.”
Asked later about whether sophomore Kenjon Barner would play offense and defense in tomorrow’s Spring Game, Kelly didn’t disappoint.
“At the same time?” he said, a joking grin on his face. “That would be awesome.”
Scott Frost
If you like to play pick-up basketball at the Student Recreation Center, there’s a chance you may have played against one of the youngest assistants on the Oregon coaching staff, who also, by the way, happens to be the guy who quarterbacked Nebraska to the 1997 national championship.
A bum left ankle will keep Frost, 34, out of action for a while if his limp around practice Wednesday was any indication, an injury he does not want his wide receivers to get.
“Do what I say, not what I do,” Frost said.
In his football career, his versatility was his best asset. After playing safety in the NFL for six seasons, Frost jumped into coaching. He spent last season coaching defense at Northern Iowa, and his work on both sides gives him a confidence about his coaching.
“It’s a new position but our guys have made progress,” said Frost, who spent time learning under Tampa Bay Buccaneers receivers coach Richard Mann in the offseason. “I’ve been comfortable since the first day of practice. You’re surprised how much you already know having played quarterback and defensive back.”
Jerry Azzinaro
Defensive line coach Jerry Azzinaro, who doesn’t like to talk about himself, has been seen as out of breath after practices as some of his defensive linemen, after two hours of yelling, running and otherwise being in their faces. Kelly recruited Azzinaro away from Marshall, where he spent one season. He is best known for coaching Dwight Freeney at Syracuse, who has turned into an All-Pro defensive end for the Indianapolis Colts. Now he has a group of players who aren’t highly rated, who he hopes to turn into last year’s unit, which ranked as one of the best run-stopping lines in the Pacific-10 Conference.
“He knows almost everything already,” defensive lineman Blake Ferras said. “Using our hands a lot, getting to the ball.”
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