What we Learned From Oregon's Spring Game
We got our first look at the 2023 Oregon Ducks this weekend at the spring game.
There was a lot we could take away from Saturday's action and today I'm sharing my top takeaways.
1. Dillingham may be gone, but the explosive offense isn't
On the first play from scrimmage Bo Nix uncorked a ball downfield for Troy Franklin. The pass sailed, but still sent the message that the offense is still looking for big plays, something that went away during the Cristobal era and was welcomed back with the start of the Dan Lanning era.
Last year many of Oregon’s deep shots were generated off of play action. Based on the spring game in which both Nix and Ty Thompson took shots downfield, expect the Ducks to throw over the top any time they have a receiver in single coverage, especially if that receiver is wearing No. 11.
2. Defense is as physical as advertised
A week ago Lanning warned the media that “You’re going to see a really physical team.” With hard-hitting Noah Sewell, lockdown Christian Gonzalez, and emotional leader Bennett Williams departing, it seemed like typical positive rhetoric. That was until Saturday when we got our first glimpse of Lanning’s second wave of talent.
Transfer newcomers Tysheem Johnson, Jestin Jacobs, Evan Williams, and Khyree Jackson all made big impacts in their first spring as Ducks. Johnson blew up Noah Whittington on a screen pass on the green team’s second drive of the game. Williams stood Bucky Irving up on his first run of the game, and Jackson kept Franklin relatively quiet when he was assigned to guard Nix’s favorite target.
Other defensive standouts were Jamal Hill who's now wearing number 9 and has moved down from the secondary to inside linebacker, a similar move to how Jeffrey Bassa in 2021. Hill saved a touchdown before the half, wrapping up Irving in the open field after he caught a screen pass. Hill led the Green team in total tackles with four. Bassa led all players with five tackles while donning his new number 2.
3. The game might be finally slowing down for Ty Thompson
After a nightmare start that saw his first eight passes fall incomplete, Thompson fell into something of a rhythm in the late second and early third quarters. His first pass of the day was a screen which he nonchalantly telegraphed to Bucky Irving and would’ve undoubtedly gone for six if Mase Funa was able to hold on to the interception.
After completing four passes on his final drive of the first half Thompson connected with speedster Tez Johnson underneath, who bounced outside for a 63-yard touchdown.
On their next drive Thompson dropped back and found Kris Hutson for 70 yards. The play came with no play action and Hutson was not unguarded, rather the talented arm of Thompson that fans have waited so long to see led him into space, where he made the grab. Thompson finished 16-34 for 274 yards and two touchdowns.
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