Just when you thought you could catch your breath, back comes football.
The year of the Duck continued Tuesday when the Oregon football team began the first of 15 practices this month, which will be capped off with the annual intrasquad Spring Game on April 27 at PGE Park in Portland.
After leading the Ducks to their most successful season in program history in 2001 — an 11-1 record and a No. 2 season-ending ranking — Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti must now find a replacement for NFL-bound quarterback Joey Harrington, who led the team to 27 wins in the last three seasons.
“That will be everyone’s focus,” Bellotti said of replacing Harrington. “We need to not just find out who No. 1, is but who No. 2 and No. 3 are, because there will be an open competition.”
Junior Jason Fife, Harrington’s backup last season, is Oregon’s only returning quarterback with playing experience, as he took snaps in three games over the last two seasons. The 6-foot-4, 216-pound Fife will battle redshirt sophomore Scott Vossmeyer and redshirt freshman Kellen Clemens for the top quarterback spot.
“Certainly if we started today, Jason Fife would be the guy,” Bellotti said. “But he’ll be challenged. I think Scott Vossmeyer is better, and Kellen Clemens has some things going for him that I think is going to make it a very interesting challenge.”
Junior running back Onterrio Smith and senior wideout Keenan Howry will be the Ducks’ top returning offensive threats. Splitting time with Maurice Morris, Smith rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season. Howry, a third team All-American punt returner, is on pace to become Oregon’s all-time leading receiver.
“Probably if you looked at pound-for-pound who’s the best performer on the football field, it would be hard to find a better player than Keenan Howry,” Bellotti said. “In my mind, he’s the consummate performer because he gets everything out of his size, his speed and ability.”
Defensively, the Ducks return seven starters and an experienced defensive line from last year’s Pacific-10 Conference champion team. The major void will be to fill the cornerback positions left by departed seniors Rashad Bauman and Steve Smith.
“With the exception of Stevie (Steven) Moore, our corner position is very raw,” Bellotti said. “I think we have talent there, but it is inexperienced talent. There are a lot of prospects, but we’ve got to find the proven players.”