It’s been anything but a quiet offseason for the Oregon football team. But with spring practices starting today, the hope around the team things will begin to get back to being
about football.
Of course, the biggest stories since the team flew back from Pasadena, Calif., and the Rose Bowl have been quarterback Jeremiah Masoli’s suspension for the entire 2010 season, and running back LaMichael James’ suspension for the opening game against New Mexico. Masoli was suspended for his part in stealing from the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity back in January, while James’ sanction comes from pleading guilty to a physical
harassment charge against his girlfriend.
The two stars’ troubles headlined myriad transgressions that have detracted from Oregon’s 2009 success. Linebacker Kiko Alonso was suspended for the entire 2010 season for a DUII citation; three players were kicked off the team, and kicker Rob Beard was suspended for the opener because of his involvement in a fight, which left him hospitalized.
“I am extremely disappointed anytime any of our players fall short of our expectations that have been clearly outlined for them in advance on numerous occasions, and this is especially true regarding their roles within the community,” head coach Chip Kelly said in a press release on March 12. “Their accountability for their actions is paramount and any tainting of the reputation of the University of Oregon and this football program will not be tolerated.”
But Kelly and the team can rest on the fact the news will surely turn back to football with the first spring practice starting at 8:45 a.m. There are a lot of questions the second-year head coach will need to answer concerning his roster. Masoli’s absence from the starting quarterback position will be a huge gap to fill. The junior was a second-team All-Pacific-10 Conference selection, second on the team in rushing, and accounted for 28 touchdowns.
Needless to say, the competition between senior Nate Costa and sophomore Darron Thomas will be fierce. Costa brings the experience of being with the program since 2006, while Thomas brings the legs and potential. Thomas actually has more touchdowns to his credit than Costa because of his fourth quarter, three-touchdown performance against the Boise State Broncos in 2008.
However, the position that used to be a strength for the Ducks has now turned into a question mark for a team that lost just three starters from last year’s squad to graduation. Oregon was the early favorite after the bowl season ended to repeat as conference champions, but without an experienced quarterback, the playing field has been leveled a bit.
There are still a lot of positives on the team, outside of the legal troubles and quarterback situation. The entire starting offensive line is back, and the running back position is full of considerable depth. James will miss the opening game after being the Pac-10 Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2009, but sophomore Kenjon Barner returns, and Oregon added top-five recruit Lache Seastrunk. It’s actually an embarrassment of riches if one takes some time to look. Barner’s performance in the Rose Bowl shows that he is capable of being a dynamic play maker, and a worthy counterpart to James.
Another positive for Oregon is the arrival of seven new players on campus. Junior college transfers Ryan Clayton, Isaac Remington and Brandon Williams have all been enrolled in classes since the beginning of winter term. Also making an appearance on campus this spring are high school players Dior Mathis, Terrance Mitchell and James Scales. They all graduated early from high school to get a jump start on their training. The final addition is Portland State transfer Steve Adams, who has four years of eligibility left.
As for the format of the spring practices, it’s a fairly simple one. The team is allowed 15 workouts from now until early May. This first week there will be sessions from 8:45 to 10:55 a.m Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, followed by three weeks of Monday, Wednesday, Friday practices. Mixed in will be a couple of scrimmages, followed by the Spring Game at Autzen Stadium on May 1.
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