Post Spring Game Thoughts: New Coach, Same Team

Oregon Ducks WR Josh Huff heads to the tunnel before the Spring game

 

Spring football at Oregon has become a big deal over the last few years due to the program's continued success.

Like with other major programs across the nation, the demand for football here is high.  

Fans craving for a taste of Duck football, since they last saw them cruising to a 35-17 Fiesta bowl victory over Kansas State back in January, were treated to a show.

A lot has happened to the program since January.  Namely, the departure of former head coach Chip Kelly, and the replacement of him by Mark Helfrich.  

And of course as seniors move on, new faces emerge.  

Anxious to see how the Ducks would look under Mark Helfrich, and some of the new talent on offense, 37,000 filled Autzen Stadium last Saturday to get the answers they were looking for.

What they saw was an offensive out pour to the tune of 800 yards and a 65-10 win.  

Marcus Mariota looked to be in usual form, going 13-15 for 169 yards and two touchdown passes.  His backups also performed very well.  Jake Rodrigues was 13-19 with 165 yards and two touchdown passes, and Jeff Lockie was 22-28 for 217 yards and two touchdown passes.

Other new faces stepping up were RB Byron Marshall, who's trying to replace Kenjon Barner.  Marshall carried the ball 6 times for 60 yards and had a touchdown.

Oregon receiver Bralon Addison (#11 in white) catches a pass

Also, Bralon Addison (another one of those weapons on offense that nobody has really heard about yet) had 8 receptions for 136 yards and a touchdown.
   

I know it was just the spring game, and the offense was playing against a beat up defense, but the fact of the matter remains...this is the same Oregon team, going at the same speed, and they're just as loaded as ever.

Which is good news if you're a Duck fan, bad news for the rest of the conference.      

What The Possibility of Sanctions Really Means For Oregon

We already knew that Oregon was probably gonna get slapped on the wrist for their connection with Willie Lyles, a Texas-based talent scout.  

On Monday, KATU in Portland, reported that Oregon and the NCAA determined that the Ducks probably committed major violations.

And already I see people overreacting and fearing the worst.  It's really not so bad for Oregon, and Ted Miller lays out why in Bad news, good news for Oregon.

 

Oregon Football: Spring links

One of the more intriguing teams to follow heading into next season will be the Oregon Ducks.  They are loaded to make another run at a national championship, but how will they handle the transition from Chip Kelly to Mark Helfrich?

The quest for another national championship starts NOW, not in the summer.  

Here's what they're saying so far:

• Oregon is re-loading for next year reports fishduck
• Ducks picking up where they left off, writes Aaron Fentress of the Oregonian 
• Dr. Saturday examines why the Ducks are one of the most interesting teams to watch heading into spring football
• Marcus Mariota needs to become more of a leader writes Rant Sports