Oregon Football 2015: Winners and Losers from Ducks' Spring Practices, Game

Oregon is known for its high-flying offense that frequently puts up 50-plus points against the opposition.  So what happens when the Ducks take on the Ducks?  This will be the only time in 2015 where Oregon football fans don't care about the score.  The spring's practices culminated in the Oregon spring game, and with all of the hoopla in the rearview mirror, it's time to take stock of the Ducks and see who's up and who's down.

We know most of the starters for the Ducks in 2015, but quarterback isn't one of them.  What have we learned so far about who will be taking the snaps for Oregon this fall?  Were there any other surprises along the way?

Let's go through all of the good—and bad—about the 2015 spring practices for the Ducks by naming some winners and losers.

Winner: Charles Nelson

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Charles Nelson was absolutely everywhere in Oregon's spring game.

He was catching passes, throwing passes, hauling in touchdowns, swatting passes down on defense and even snagging an interception.

Is there anything this guy can't do?

Any coach in the nation would love to have a guy like Nelson on his roster, and Nelson could emerge as the nation's preeminent two-way player in 2015.

There isn't a Ducks fan out there who shouldn't be excited about Nelson's potential impact this fall.

Loser: Defensive Line

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

Injuries are a part of football, but when you have a guy like DeForest Buckner miss an entire spring practice schedule after having his injured knee scoped earlier in the year, it can really impact a team's preparation for the coming fall.

The good news is that Buckner appears to be on track for a strong return this fall.  In the meantime, however, we couldn't help but notice the absence of Buckner on the defensive line this spring.

While he certainly hasn't underperformed or done anything negative worthy of being added to our list as one of the Ducks' spring "losers," we can't help but wonder about the chemistry the senior might miss by losing a month of extra practice with his younger squadmates.  That puts the defensive line on the losing side of things—at least where this spring is concerned.

Will Buckner's raw talent be able to make up for lost time?  Ask us again in about four months.

Winner: Henry Mondeaux

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If there's one thing that can get a newcomer noticed by the coaches, it's consistency.  Henry Mondeaux has been just that this spring, even earning unprompted praise from defensive coordinator Don Pellum.

That might be enough to earn Mondeaux a spot on the game-day roster.  But wait—there's more.  Mondeaux has also been noticed for his versatility, spending time all over the defensive front seven so far this spring.

Depending on matchups from week to week, Mondeaux could see time on the defensive line or at linebacker, and that gives a defensive unit some much-needed adaptability—something Oregon has been missing.

Winner: Vernon Adams

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Vernon Adams Jr. has managed to emerge as the front-runner to replace Heisman-winning Marcus Mariota as the starting quarterback.  That alone would be enough to name this guy a "winner" this spring in Eugene.  But Adams has managed to become the front-runner without having (officially) set foot on campus yet.  That's pretty impressive.

Adams, a transfer from FCS school Eastern Washington, isn't without competition, however.  Longtime Mariota backup Jeff Lockie is still the coaches' choice. (We'll get to Lockie in a minute.)

Oregon fans are clearly looking for Mariota 2.0 next season, and they're liable to be in for a bit of a letdown regardless of which quarterback eventually earns the starting spot.  Mariota is one of those kind of athletes most programs snag once in a generation.

Adams led the FCS in passing yards per game (348.3) and offensive yards per game (376.8) in 2014 through six games before suffering a broken foot on October 4.  Those impressive stats have some Ducks fans drooling, even given the big jump in competition Adams is about to face.

Still, the fact that he's firmly in the running for the starting gig before he even becomes an official member of the team makes Adams a clear winner this spring.

Loser: Jeff Lockie

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There's no question that Jeff Lockie has been solid as a backup over the past several seasons.  Last season, Lockie completed 75 percent of his 28 passes for 207 yards.  These are not lofty numbers by any stretch but certainly worthy of consideration heading into 2015.

What's more, Lockie seems to have the confidence of the coaching staff.  Head coach Mark Helfrich said during a Pac-12 teleconference this week (h/t Tyson Alger of The Oregonian), "Jeff (Lockie) has had the upper hand [in the QB competition] as the guy that is the most experienced of the bunch and he's done a good job stepping up and injecting himself as a leader."  Helfrich also said that Lockie is "very confident about how he goes about his business. ... I think the guys around him on offense and defense believe in him."

That's high praise from an offensive guru like Helfrich.

Lockie also performed well in the spring game, which was full of trick plays.  He received a nice ovation from the 35,000-plus Ducks fans in attendance when his name was announced and connected on passes of 50 and 52 yards in the first quarter.  He finished the bulk of his work in that first quarter, going six-of-six passing with two touchdowns.

So why do we have Lockie on the losing side of things this spring?  Simple: The aforementioned Vernon Adams Jr. is gobbling up the lion's—or duck's—share of the attention this spring without even participating in spring practices.

Lockie still has the opportunity to prove he's the guy, but you have to imagine the pressure he's feeling competing against the hype of a player who is yet to arrive.