Oregon's football team showcased its new roster and defensive prowess during its annual spring game at Autzen Stadium this past weekend. In a game that featured the Combat Ducks and Fighting Ducks, split and coached by notable Oregon figures including Rich Brooks and Nick Aliotti, defense was the star. The Fighting Ducks racked up seven sacks among other stats, demonstrating a robust front that could be a key advantage come fall, as reported by OregonLive. The Combat team contributed their defensive show with four sacks.
The spring game allowed fans and coaches alike to roughly gauge the effect of significant roster changes, post the departure of players to the NFL draft. Players from both squads showed they could quickly adapt to changing dynamics on the field, a necessity once the real action kicks off. KOIN provided details on how the teams were helmed by former coaches and NFL players like Christian Gonzalez and Bucky Irving in an article describing the event.
Even though defense caught most of the spotlight, the game wasn't without its faults. Special teams performance, particularly in the punting game, wasn't up to par with expectations. "We've been more consistent (in the punting game this spring); it didn't show up today," said head coach Dan Lanning, as GoDucks.com reported. The game also saw a missed field goal, though kickers managed to nail a couple of long field goals, showing some promise in that area.
