EUGENE -- If Oregon can stay healthy for three more practices, its annual spring game on May 3 will live up to its name.

The format of the Ducks' spring football finale inside Autzen Stadium will be as close to a full game as possible, with normal scoring, should the depth chart remain mostly intact in the coming days, coach Mark Helfrich said Wednesday. Oregon is 11 practices into its 15-practice spring schedule.

"We're going to see if we can do it after this week, ideally we'd play a game," Helfrich said. "As much of a football game as possible, with a couple modifications. I think that's what the fans want, that's what the players want.

"Hopefully, knock on wood, we can play a game."

Staging a normal game might sound unremarkable yet many programs around the nation hold glorified practices due to injuries or coaching preference. Washington's "spring game" on April 19 was more of a practice mixed in with segments of true scrimmages.

Oregon State's "spring football showcase" -- also held May 3 -- is expected to be similar to Washington's spring finale.

Even last season's UO spring game featured an offense vs. defense format with a weighted scoring system that led to a 65-10 "win" by the offense.

Those formats left something to be desired for Helfrich this time around, apparently. While they might reduce the chance of injury, they can't provide the without-a-net scenario Oregon's coaches -- and its players and fans -- want to see their team react to.

"The big thing we want to see in the spring game is obviously who can handle the defense. … who’s gonna make plays?" defensive coordinator Don Pellum said. "Now the lights are on, it’s your stage, the spring game. Who’s going out there to do their responsibility but also make plays? We’ll be looking at some production in that format."

Oregon's spring game begins at 11 a.m. and will be televised by Pac-12 Networks.

-- Andrew Greif |