Questions, oh so many questions for Mike Bellotti. Maybe it’s a good thing the Oregon football coach has more than three months to find some answers.
Spring drills came to an end Saturday at the Spring Game with several key positions still uncertain for the fall, when the team can again reunite on Aug. 10.
All in all, though, this spring was not much different than previous years. Ultimately, time will be the best means of measuring how good this team will be.
“I think we have the makings of a pretty good football team,” Bellotti said after the Spring Game. “Certainly there’s a lot of work to be done in a lot of places. I told our kids that what happens now, from this point on, is the most important thing. They know what they need to work on. A lot of it falls on them now.”

Fife makes his move
On April 1, the big question on offense was whether junior Jason Fife was good enough to replace Joey Harrington at quarterback. By April 20, all eyes fell on redshirt freshman Kellen Clemens, an athletic and slippery quarterback who made some spectacular plays in the spring’s first scrimmages.
But after an impressive performance Saturday in the Spring Game, Fife is clearly the front-runner heading into the fall.
“Fife was very, very good,” Clemens said after this counterpart’s four-touchdown performance Saturday. “Man. Phew.”
At running back, Onterrio Smith is the man. To stop Oregon, teams will have to stop Smith. Allan Amundson and Ryan Shaw will battle for the No. 2 spot in the fall.
Oregon’s wide receivers are deep — and good. Even with last year’s starting wideouts Keenan Howry and Jason Willis nursing injuries this spring, the Oregon receivers made names for themselves. Junior speedster Samie Parker had two touchdown catches Saturday and will undoubtedly contend for a starting job come August.
George Wrighster is the easy choice to replace Justin Peelle at tight end. But this spring Wrighster experimented at fullback — or H-back — a spot that Matt Floberg may claim in the fall. If Wrighster does move to the backfield, watch out for redshirt freshman Tim Day at tight end.
Want a quick explanation for Oregon’s 2001 success? The offensive line, which allowed just 11 sacks last year — best in the Pacific-10 Conference. Good news for the decision-makers: Three starters from that unit return — Dan Weaver, Corey Chambers and Joey Forster.

Ducks want Moore

in secondary
Defensive back Steven Moore may have been the biggest surprise of
the spring.
“Stevie Moore has exceeded my expectations,” Bellotti said.
With Moore penciled in as one of the replacements for NFL draftees Rashad Bauman and Steve Smith, the Ducks will begin fall camp searching for the other. In battling sophomore Charles Favroth, redshirt freshman Justin Phinisee showed the most promise this spring, but will be challenged in the fall by junior college transfer David Dixon.
“Replacing Rashad and Steve is definitely not going to be easy, but I have confidence in the guys we have now,” safety Keith Lewis said. “Stevie Moore is doing a great job. He’s a little guy, very aggressive, and he’s showing how physical he can be for his little frame.”
“Charles Favroth and Justin Phinisee have a little growing up to do, but their athleticism is going to keep them in the game.
Staying in secondary, Rasuli Webster and Lewis return as
the starters.
Two linebackers, Kevin Mitchell and David Moretti, return, with a host of others battling for the outside spot. Senior Garret Graham started the Spring Game but will have strong competition in the fall.
Oregon’s defensive line may be its biggest strength next year. In addition to returning starters Seth McEwen and Quinn Dorsey, the Ducks will likely promote Igor Olshansky and Robby Valenzuela, but have a handful of contenders, including senior Darrell Wright.
And that’s not even mentioning those who will show up in the fall. Haloti Ngata, one of the top
recruits in the country, will join the team in the fall as a true freshman, along with junior college transfer Junior Siavii and freshman Chris Solomona.