5 Questions For Oregon Football During 2015 Spring Practice

By Alex Drude

5 Questions For Oregon Football During 2015 Spring Practice

Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) walks off the field after losing to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2015 CFP National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium. — It’s a new era for Oregon football. Without Marcus Mariota and plenty of offensive and defensive stalwarts who made the CFB Playoff run possible, Oregon is in a state of flux. It seems like the machine will keep on pretty well no matter what happens, but another run to the Final Four will depend on answering these five questions sooner rather than later.

5. How Do You Get Rid of the Post-Mariota Blues?

Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) reacts during a press conference after losing to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2015 CFP National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium.

5. How Do You Get Rid of the Post-Mariota Blues?

Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) reacts during a press conference after losing to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2015 CFP National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium. — There will be some sort of Marcus Mariota hangover. He no doubt is still attached to many of his former teammates and coaches and will be in constant contact with them. Maybe he’ll even attend some practices, but that’s still wildly different from being in the middle of the drills. Who takes the leadership role? Who becomes the quiet inspiration?

4. What’s the First Step In Retooling the Defense?

Ohio State Buckeyes running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) runs for a touchdown against Oregon Ducks defensive back Tyree Robinson (2) and defensive back Chris Seisay (12) during the third quarter in the 2015 CFP National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium.

4. What’s the First Step In Retooling the Defense?

Ohio State Buckeyes running back Ezekiel Elliott (15) runs for a touchdown against Oregon Ducks defensive back Tyree Robinson (2) and defensive back Chris Seisay (12) during the third quarter in the 2015 CFP National Championship Game at AT&T Stadium. — Ohio State made the Oregon defense look silly. It doesn’t need to get completely changed, but it needs a retooling. Current coordinator Don Pellum needs to come out of Nick Aliotti’s shadow and put his own stamp on the defense. Aliotti’s defense was famous for not caring about how many yards they gave up as long as they stopped the other team from scoring. In a spread-offense world, that doesn’t work so well.

3. Who's the Next Hroniss Grasu?

Oregon Ducks offensive lineman Hroniss Grasu (55) against the Florida State Seminoles in the 2015 Rose Bowl college football game at Rose Bowl.

3. Who's the Next Hroniss Grasu?

Oregon Ducks offensive lineman Hroniss Grasu (55) against the Florida State Seminoles in the 2015 Rose Bowl college football game at Rose Bowl. — Hroniss Grasu was the center for all but a few games of his Oregon career. The first game he missed was the bizarre upset loss to Arizona at home on Thursday night last season. Obviously he wasn’t the only reason the Ducks lost, but it was a factor. For Oregon’s next QB to succeed, he needs a top O-line and especially a consistent center. Grasu was the undervalued key to much of Mariota’s success.

2. What’s the Future of Darren Carrington?

Oregon Ducks wide receiver Darren Carrington (87) scores a touchdown during the second half of the 2015 Rose Bowl college football game against the Florida State Seminoles at Rose Bowl.

2. What’s the Future of Darren Carrington?

Oregon Ducks wide receiver Darren Carrington (87) scores a touchdown during the second half of the 2015 Rose Bowl college football game against the Florida State Seminoles at Rose Bowl. — The big target for Mariota in the Rose Bowl against Florida State, Darren Carrington was suspended for failing a marijuana drug test, and did not make the trip to Texas for the CFB title game. His father says Carrington didn’t smoke, but was in a room where others were and therefore inhaled the smoke that way, which sounds very Bill Clinton-esque. The suspension could impact his eligibility next season and his participation in spring practice.

1. Who’s the QB?

Oregon Ducks quarterback Morgan Mahalak (16) throws the ball before the game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Autzen Stadium.

1. Who’s the QB?

Oregon Ducks quarterback Morgan Mahalak (16) throws the ball before the game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Autzen Stadium. — Five quarterbacks will be on the roster in the fall, but spring practice will include just four, as Eastern Washington transfer Vernon Adams has yet to graduate. This will give guys like Jeff Lockie, Mariota’s backup for two years, as well as the promising Morgan Mahalak (shown) a chance to shine. With Adams unavailable, the QB question will likely not get answered, but only more interesting.

Alex Drude is a Pac-12 writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Alex_Drude. “Like” him on Facebook and add him to your network on Google+.

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