By: The Register-Guard
Copyright ©2002 The Register-Guard

Quarterback

STATUS - Jason Fife's spring game made it clear he's No. 1, with Kellen Clemens second.

SPRING HAPPENING - Fife was definitely better at the end. The setback was No. 3 Scott Vossmeyer missing a week with a sore shoulder.

IN THE FALL - Recruit Andy Collins arrives, but that's to duel a walk-on or two for the job of running the scout team.

Running back

STATUS - Onterrio Smith starts at tailback, backed up by Allan Amundson and Ryan Shaw, who are both in better stead than when spring began. Similarly, the Ducks should be able to rest easier about the play of their fullback with Matt Floberg's performance.

SPRING HAPPENING - Stay at fullback: While Floberg is set, is former linebacker Ryan Loftin ready to be No. 2? That's very possible with Paul McCrary out next season with a torn knee ligament.

IN THE FALL - The most important addition will be the return of sophomore tailback Kenny Washington, held out of contact this spring as he completes recovery from the broken ankle suffered last August. There is also a fullback on the way in Matt Toeaina, but is a freshman who played in Samoa likely to be ready for Oregon's offense?

Tight end

STATUS - George Wrighster is an all-league candidate and a candidate to be in the backfield as the H-back. Behind him are junior Josh Rogers, sophomore Willie Walden and redshirt freshman Tim Day, though that may not be the order of play for the opener.

SPRING HAPPENING - Coach Mike Bellotti couldn't say enough good things one day about the blocking of Rogers and Day "at the point of attack." Odd, but there's never been much said about Walden's blocking, and he's the biggest of these guys, listed at 293 pounds on the spring roster.

IN THE FALL - The battle for No. 2 should be intense, and who knows if athletic recruit Darius Sanders might enter the fray.

Wide receiver

STATUS - Samie Parker starred in the spring game and will make it a tough call on who starts when Keenan Howry and Jason Willis are full-go.

SPRING HAPPENING - Minus those two seniors, it meant more action for sophomore Keith Allen and redshirt freshman Demetrius Williams, and on many other teams they might be bidding for starting spots. Lost to academics for most of April was Mike Willis, another freshman speedster.

IN THE FALL - JC transfer Kellen Taylor could add depth, or could be redshirted if all seems well with the first five.

Offensive line

STATUS - The spring game starters, from left tackle to right tackle, were Nick Steitz, Corey Chambers, Dan Weaver, Joey Forster and Mike Delagrange. That's three returning starters on the inside and two sophomores on the outside.

SPRING HAPPENING - Because Adam Snyder missed the last two weeks with a knee injury, his left tackle spot was shared by Steitz, who had been ticketed for guard, and Chambers, who can play anywhere but center. Steitz and Chambers will be the movable players, with Snyder likely to reclaim his spot.

IN THE FALL - Every couple of years, the Ducks play a true freshman on the offensive line. Could that be 340-pound Albert Toeaina this season?

By: The Register-Guard
Copyright ©2002 The Register-Guard

Defensive line

STATUS - Seth McEwen is too solid not to remain a starter no matter who arrives in the fall, and fellow senior Darrell Wright had the best spring of any of the linemen at the other end. They're backed by two seniors. On the inside, Igor Olshansky and Robby Valenzuela continue to improve, and Kai Smalley is this year's walk-on making a bid for playing time at tackle.

SPRING HAPPENING - Kevin Mack suffered the most serious injury of the month, a torn knee ligament that will cost him next season. But that's at end, Oregon's deepest position with newcomers Devan Long and Roderkus Wright behind those four seniors.

IN THE FALL - Two massive tackles were signed, Haloti Ngata and Junior Siavii, along with end/tackle Chris Solomona. Could the Ducks be so deep that they have the luxury of redshirting Solomona?

Linebackers

STATUS - Returning on the inside are Kevin Mitchell, held out of contact in the spring, and David Moretti, tried at the outside spot as well. That leaves the outside spot to senior Garret Graham, if he moves from being Moretti's backup, or junior David Martin, finally healthy and looking to be the athlete the Ducks expected when he arrived a year ago.

SPRING HAPPENING - The Ducks got transfer Tate Pittman indoctrinated to the system, and sophomores Jerry Matson and Ramone Reed took advantage of Mitchell's reduced role for some valuable repetitions with the No. 1 defense. Losing freshman Cory Larsen for the last week to a shoulder injury was the notable setback.

IN THE FALL - The main item will be settling on a starting outside linebacker.

Secondary

STATUS - The two safeties are still set in Keith Lewis and Rasuli Webster, and sophomore backups Stephen Clayton and Marley Tucker were solid and sometimes spectacular in the spring. One cornerback is set in Steven Moore, but freshman Justin Phinisee will have to be more consistent to hold the other spot.

SPRING HAPPENING - Moore was the man from the start. Phinisee is raw, but remember, he was a quarterback in high school, not a cornerback.

IN THE FALL - JC transfer David Dixon is being counted on as the option if Phinisee isn't ready for the opener.