LaMichael James and Defense Look Ready in Oregon Sping Game

For Oregon football fans, fall cannot come fast enough. 

Over 43,000 were in attendance Saturday to see their Oregon Ducks play in an intra-squad spring scrimmage, smashing last year’s record of approximately 25,000.  The Ducks are hoping to continue their momentum from last season where they made it to the National Championship Game for the first time in school history.

Last year it was Oregon’s offense that got all of the attention but Saturday it was the defense that was on display.  The Green squad beat the White team 16-0 in what was a pretty sloppy game on both sides.  Neither side had very many sustained drives but there were players that showed some flashes of things to come.

Last year’s Heisman Trophy runner-up LaMichael James showed us all why he came so close to winning football’s biggest award last season.  The redshirt junior had an impressive 62 yard touchdown run which definitely got the fans excited.  James owes a big thanks to receiver Lavasier Tuinei who provided a key downfield block on the long run.

His quarterback Darron Thomas looked pretty sharp this afternoon, completing a majority of his passes on short routes.  An encouraging sign for Duck fans was the emergence of five star athlete Colt Lyerla who looked right at home in Oregon’s offense.

On the defensive side of the ball, Dion Jordan looked like a beast rushing off the edge coming up with a pair of sacks.  Terrance Mitchell helped his chances of being named the starting corner opposite Cliff Harris with an interception off Bryan Bennett.

This game definitely lacked the fire power that fans were hoping for, but it was likely due to the fact that the starting offensive line was split between the two sides.  Chip Kelly will no doubt have plenty to teach after the scrimmage, which is a good thing. 

Spring football is all about learning and getting better.  There Ducks were not firing on all cylinders, but players and fans alike know that it doesn’t matter what happens in a scrimmage. What matters is what happens when the Ducks open the season against LSU on September 3 in Cowboy’s Stadium.