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DUCK NOTES Oregon coaches, players ready to 'split up and play' Comment By Steve Mims Eugene Register-Guard MailTribune.com By Steve Mims Eugene Register-Guard Posted Apr. 28, 2015 at 7:24 PM By Steve Mims Eugene Register-Guard Posted Apr. 28, 2015 at 7:24 PM » Social News EUGENE — There will be a football game at Autzen Stadium on Saturday. Unlike some schools that use their spring game as an open practice, Oregon coach Mark Helfrich said fans will be able to see the Ducks play against each other at 11 a.m. on Saturday. “We’re going to try to play a game,” Helfrich said Monday. “We’ll have the quote unquote draft. We have a lot of guys limited, so it will not be a full-length game by any stretch, there will be some modifications. But it will be recognized American football.” Oregon’s injury list includes center Doug Brenner and wide receiver Devon Allen, who are recovering from ankle and knee injuries, respectively, suffered last season. Reserve defensive back Austin Daich was injured this month and starting linebacker Tyson Coleman is wearing a walking boot on his left leg. “The coaches are going to figure out the teams and we will split up and play,” quarterback Jeff Lockie said. “I think we should be pretty good for numbers and health on Saturday.” Offensive coordinator Scott Frost and defensive backs coach John Neal will coach one team with defensive coordinator Don Pellum and offensive line coach Steve Greatwood on the other side. “It is more of divvying up equal halves of each unit and then flipping a coin,” Helfrich said. “That’s why it’s not going to be a very exciting draft.” Lockie has high hopes for the offensive unit. “We want to score every time we have the ball,” he said. “We want to take care of the ball No. 1 and score touchdowns.” Helfrich said it will be good to see his team play a game in front of fans. “Get all the coaches out of their ear and compete,” he said. “At this period, guys start to think too much. They are thinking about 79 things that might happen instead of the one thing that is happening. Just go out and play.” Switching sides Helfrich said any decisions about moving players to a different position will take place in the weeks following the spring game. That includes the final call on Charles Nelson, who moved from receiver to cornerback this spring. Nelson had 23 catches for 327 yards and five touchdowns last year and rushed 11 times for 101 yards. “He’s been really good and he’s still working into the nuances of that position as well with all the coverages and things that entails,” Helfrich said. “He’s had a great spring.” Last week, Pellum said “I would love to keep Charles” and Helfrich joked the debate between offensive and defensive coaches over Nelson “will be a wrestling match.” Oregon currently has five quarterbacks with Vernon Adams set to join the team in June after graduating from Eastern Washington. Helfrich said a QB could change positions as the Ducks have done in the past with former players like Daryle Hawkins. “That’s something we will revisit,” Helfrich said. “We will have those discussions with everybody just as we will with a tight end that might move here or an outside linebacker that might move there. All those things will happen two weeks after spring.” Veteran linebackers Oregon will be able to put its experience at linebacker up against any team in the country next season. The Ducks will have three returning starters and could start four seniors at that position. Inside linebackers Rodney Hardrick and Joe Walker have started 28 and 10 games, respectively, while Coleman has started 18 games at outside linebacker. Senior Christian French is a top contender to replace Tony Washington at the other outside spot. “That’s a big deal,” Helfrich said. “Rodney has had a great spring. He battled a bunch of stuff last year and has done a great job as a leader on defense. I think we are developing some depth on the defensive line which in turn helps those guys to be able to run maybe a little bit more freely.” UO also returns experienced backups including juniors Johnny Ragin III and Torrodney Prevot and sophomores Danny Mattingly, Justin Hollins and Jimmie Swain. “It is really fun right now with that group,” Pellum said. “The difference between last year and this year is that we are really experienced with all those seniors and guys who have played. We have been able to advance the defense because of the knowledge and understanding and maturity of that linebacker group.” By Steve Mims Eugene Register-Guard MailTribune.com By Steve Mims Eugene Register-Guard Posted Apr. 28, 2015 at 7:24 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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