John Hunt Blog on opening practice-Includes video interview
Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 11:24 pm
http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindducksb ... regon.html
So far so good.
The first day of practice saw a few eye-opening runs from running back LaMichael James, some obvious and welcome receiving skills from freshman Diante Jackson and an encouraging effort from the defense.
"I liked how they came in ... overall, I was pleased," said Kelly, who didn't single out anybody but did say Jackson "flashed."
"I'll see the tape," he said. "Nobody that you were like, 'Wow, who's that?' I thought our defensive guys flew around. They were doing a nice job of running to the football. I was impressed with the whole consistency of the team pursuit of the ball."
Receiver Jamere Holland had a strong practice, looking to build on his improvement this spring and shoring up a position that had been a worry for the Ducks a few months ago. Eager to join the mix is Tyrece Gaines, who spent a good deal of the summer working with and learning from quarterback Jeremiah Masoli.
"I've been waiting for this opportunity for so long now, and it's finally here," said Gaines, a transfer from Butler (Kan.) CC, who isn't quite done waiting, his knee iced after offseason arthroscopic knee surgery.
But James was the star of the day, showing breakaway speed after missing all spring with a shoulder injury.
"He ripped our defense all last fall," said Kelly, who was asked to compare James' talents with those of Jeremiah Johnson, the Ducks' since-departed rushing leader of 2008. "He's a lot faster than Jeremiah ever dreamed of being."
"I'm not making a bold prediction, but we believe we can win every football game," Kelly said. "There's 119 teams in (the Football Bowl Subdivision) right now that in the course of the next couple of days are getting together for their first team meeting. And I can guarantee you there's not one head coach out of those 119 teams that says, 'We're going to be a really average football team this year.''
So far so good.
The first day of practice saw a few eye-opening runs from running back LaMichael James, some obvious and welcome receiving skills from freshman Diante Jackson and an encouraging effort from the defense.
"I liked how they came in ... overall, I was pleased," said Kelly, who didn't single out anybody but did say Jackson "flashed."
"I'll see the tape," he said. "Nobody that you were like, 'Wow, who's that?' I thought our defensive guys flew around. They were doing a nice job of running to the football. I was impressed with the whole consistency of the team pursuit of the ball."
Receiver Jamere Holland had a strong practice, looking to build on his improvement this spring and shoring up a position that had been a worry for the Ducks a few months ago. Eager to join the mix is Tyrece Gaines, who spent a good deal of the summer working with and learning from quarterback Jeremiah Masoli.
"I've been waiting for this opportunity for so long now, and it's finally here," said Gaines, a transfer from Butler (Kan.) CC, who isn't quite done waiting, his knee iced after offseason arthroscopic knee surgery.
But James was the star of the day, showing breakaway speed after missing all spring with a shoulder injury.
"He ripped our defense all last fall," said Kelly, who was asked to compare James' talents with those of Jeremiah Johnson, the Ducks' since-departed rushing leader of 2008. "He's a lot faster than Jeremiah ever dreamed of being."
"I'm not making a bold prediction, but we believe we can win every football game," Kelly said. "There's 119 teams in (the Football Bowl Subdivision) right now that in the course of the next couple of days are getting together for their first team meeting. And I can guarantee you there's not one head coach out of those 119 teams that says, 'We're going to be a really average football team this year.''
