Last week, as senior center Jordan Holmes tells it, “it just clicked.”
The Oregon offensive line had been struggling throughout the spring to keep defensive linemen and blitzing back-seven players at bay. With all five starters returning, many of whom — such as Carson York and C.E. Kaiser — have been unable to participate fully because of injuries, the level of play early on was disconcerting.
“The defense is doing some good things, (and) we’ve got to give them credit,” offensive line coach Steve Greatwood said, “but the biggest goal this spring is to try to continue our knowledge base, get better at our technique and just become a more dominant group.”
Though the line will be jumbled up between the Green and White teams at Saturday’s spring football game, the Ducks have found their rhythm. Defensive players are on notice.
“As a unit we’ve started off slow. That’s how we always are, we always start off slow,” said Holmes, a 13-game starter last year at center. “At the Wednesday scrimmage, we had a really good showing. We’re communicating well and getting the job done.”
That is all the more relieving, considering the revolving door of players at the tackle and
guard positions.
“Most of these guys have played enough football here we should be able to plug them in anywhere,” Greatwood said.
Beyond the versatility of the offensive line, Oregon has an excellent anchor in Holmes, who inherited his job after Max Unger graduated. Holmes became one of the more consistent performers for the Ducks last season. A Pacific-10 Conference All-Academic selection last season, the senior from Yuba City, Calif. was even named offensive player of the week by the Ducks coaching staff after a victory against Arizona State.
“His leadership’s great,” Greatwood said. “He does a good job there.”
Holmes has had an up-and-down spring, with the low point coming in the Ducks’ first spring scrimmage. A snap to quarterback Nate Costa in the red zone sailed over Costa’s head for a loss of around 20 yards. But for that one noticeable mishap, Holmes has quietly worked hard on the weaker aspects of his game.
“I’ve got to be more consistent with my snaps,” he said. “I’d like to lower my pad level. I’ve got to keep my feet moving. Little things.
Behind Holmes is fellow senior — and roommate — Max Forer, a walk-on from Santa  Monica, Calif.
Forer was an offensive tackle and tight end for his high school, the Santa Monica Vikings, before receiving an invitation to walk on from defensive backs coach John Neal. As soon as he set foot on campus, Forer was instructed to work on his snaps.
“They looked at my tape and said, ‘You have a good pad level and a low center of gravity. It’s probably the best spot for you,’” Forer said. “For the first two years, I had troubles.”
As Oregon transitioned from a pro-style offense to a spread offense, Forer had to learn the art of shotgun snapping on the fly.
“It’s different,” he said. “In shotgun, you have to snap perfectly to the quarterback, five yards away. I changed my form multiple times until I found something comfortable.
“Everyone has their own ways. I just try to keep my hand low and level. I can’t snap fully as I run, so it has to be a quick snap, then step. If you step, then snap, the ball’s going to fly out.”
Between practices, Forer consults with Holmes and fellow roommate Costa on his technique and fundamentals.
“Guys that do well do a lot of repetitions,” Forer said. “That’s the key.”
After making three appearances in the previous two years, Forer saw action in four games in 2009, including a brief appearance in the Rose Bowl.
“Works his ass off,” Holmes said about his roommate. “Great person, good football player.”
Holmes, Forer and Costa, along with offensive lineman Bo Thran, always participate in group activities off the field. Take last weekend’s NFL draft: The foursome watched from their apartment, with a television and four computers set up to monitor and discuss the action, girlfriends out of the picture.
“We were just hanging out,” Forer said. “We grunted at each other a couple of times. It’s a nice chemistry. We’re a very tight-knit group.”
Some things just click.
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