Oregon Begins Spring Football Workouts Tuesday

Dennis Dixon will begin the spring atop the team’s chart at quarterback.

Head coach Mike Bellotti kicks off its 13th year of spring drills on Tuesday. Photo: goducks.com

EUGENE - Oregon kicks off its 13th spring under the direction of head coach Mike Bellotti when it holds its first of 15 spring practices Tuesday.

Fifty-one returning lettermen and 14 starters will be among more than 90 players expected to be on hand as the Ducks look to improve on last year’s 7-6 record that ended with losses in their last four games.

Spring workouts are scheduled for every Monday (with the exception of April 2nd), Tuesday and Thursday throughout April, as well as alternating Fridays and Saturdays to end each of the four weeks of workouts.

The final Spring Game will take place Saturday, April 28th, in Autzen Stadium, with a tentative start time of 2:00 PM.

Follow spring practice with GoDucks.com's "Spring Football Central."

Points of Emphasis

There is little doubt that Oregon was not happy with a 2006 season that ended with a 38-8 Las Vegas Bowl loss to BYU after starting the year with four straight wins.

“I thought we lost our edge, and that edge can be a combination of confidence and mental toughness,” Bellotti said. “We need to develop greater mental toughness. We need to create that through grueling, competitive events. We’re going to change up some of the things we do in practice. There will be an emphasis on competing and creating more competitive situations.”

Areas of Interest

Head coach Mike Bellotti has tabbed his team’s linebacker corps as well as the lack of depth at tight end as the areas of greatest concern heading into spring camp.

In addition, the defensive line is expected to be short staffed in the spring with as many as two veteran interior stalwarts to miss the majority of workouts while rehabing from injuries.

The Oregon offense also must become acquainted with new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Chip Kelly, although they should benefit from a second year of the spread offense under their belts.

Coach Bellotti also has labeled finding a replacement for departed first-team all-conference center Enoka Lucas as a majority priority.

Leading the Way

Oregon returns the bulk of its skilled position players on offense that contributed to it leading the league (14th nationally) in rushing offense (181.9 avg.) for the first time since 1955, as well as ranking first in the Pac-10 (9th nationally) in total offense (422.9 avg.).

In addition, the Ducks return three of four starters in the secondary that paced the conference (20th in the country) in pass defense and finished second in pass efficiency defense.

Honors Candidates

Running back Jonathan Stewart and offensive tackle Max Unger loom as Oregon’s highest decorated returnees as the pair garnered second-team Pac-10 all-conference accolades last season.

The Ducks also will benefit from the return of a trio of honorable mention all-league standouts in in the defensive secondary in rover Patrick Chung, and sophomore cornerbacks Jairus Byrd and Walter Thurmond.

Byrd also was tabbed the Pac-10’s co-freshman of the year.

In addition, wide receiver Jaison Williams was an honorable mention all-league pick.

What's News

The Ducks will indoctrinate one new coach this spring and reintroduce another to the coaching staff.

Chip Kelly assumes the role as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from the departed Gary Crowton after spending the last eight seasons in the same position at the University of New Hampshire.

In addition, Tom Osborne returns to the Oregon staff as special teams coordinator and tight ends coach following six years in the same role at Arizona State.

Osborne previously served as the Ducks’ special teams coordinator/tight ends coach from 1995-2000.

Completing the major staff renovations is offensive line coach Steve Greatwood’s elevation to associate head coach.

National Leaders

Junior running back Jonathan Stewart returns after ranking sixth in the country (1st in the Pac-10) in kickoff returns (28.1 avg.), 17th nationally (2nd Pac-10) in all-purpose yards (136.2 avg.) and 46th in rushing (75.5 avg.).

Stewart led the nation in kickoff returns (33.7 avg.) in 2005. In addition, junior wide receiver Jaison Williams finished 19th nationally (2nd Pac-10) in receptions per game (5.67 avg.) and receiving yards (82.0 avg.).

Sophomore cornerback Jairus Byrd tied for 33rd in the country (3rd Pac-10) in interceptions (.38 avg.), while senior quarterback Dennis Dixon finished 37th nationally (4th Pac-10) in total offense (215.4 avg.) after ranking as high as a tie for seventh in the country in total offense (290.8 avg.) and 11th in passing after five games.

Spring Additions

Oregon is anticipating the addition of three scholarship newcomers to the roster in time for next week’s start of spring practice.

Junior college transfer Will Tukuafu (defensive end) arrived in time for the start of classes in January.

He is will be joined by offensive lineman Mark Asper, who has completed a two-year Morman mission, and freshman wide receiver Drew Davis, who graduated from Denver’s Montbello High School in December.

Tukuafu will have three years of eligility remaining while both Asper and Davis will have five years to complete four seasons of eligility.

Welcomed Returnees

Two veteran lettermen the Ducks are expected to have back following extensive absences last year are cornerback Jackie Bates and defensive lineman Victor Filipe.

Bates was lost for the season in the Fresno State game with a ankle injury after starting the first games of the year. He began last year possessing seven career starts.

Filipe missed all of last season after earning five opening assignments in 2005 with a left elbow injury suffered during fall camp.

Under Center

While a lot of attention naturally focuses on the quarterback position, head coach Mike Bellotti stated that the “practice order” for the start of spring drills at all positions would be based on last season, and then would likely shift daily.

Although senior Brady Leaf opened the 2006 finale vs. BYU, Bellotti stated that senior Dennis Dixon would begin the spring atop the team’s chart at quarterback, followed by Leaf and sophomore Nathan Costa.

Following the first two or three practices, the remaining reps at all positions would have to be earned.

The Ducks also return two redshirt freshmen at quarterback in Cody Kempt and Justin Roper.

Road to Recovery

A minimum of seven Oregon players will be limited in their participation of spring drills while a few of them may have no activity at all this spring.

They include defensive tackle Jeremy Gibbs, wide receiver Derrick Jones, defensive tackle Cole Linehan, offensive tackle Geoff Schwartz, defensive tackle Simi Toeaina, linebacker/fullback Jason Turner, and offensive lineman Max Unger.

Hahahahaha!!! Belloti is such a waste of skin! BYU 38, Oregon 8,and you better pray you do better in the pac ten this year, you might end up playing the cougars again in the Las Vegas. That wouldn't be pretty.

Adding comments to these stories has been disabled. View the current sports stories Salem-News Sports