If one look was enough to make judgement on the quarterback race Oregon junior quarterback Jeff Lockie looks like the clear leader to replace 2014 Heisman winner and now Tennessee Titan Marcus Mariota.

Lockie was sharp throughout Oregon's spring game and led his team to five scoring drives and a spring game victory. He had command of the offense and looked like a completely different player at times.

Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich quickly pointed out Lockie's play on Saturday was good, but to not take one practice as the deciding factor.

"I think the spring game is always way overblown in terms of its value or the intimidate impression," Helfrich commented afterwards. "I thought Jeff did a great job today."

Lockie isn't new to big spring games. After a redshirt season in 2013 Lockie threw for 217 yards and two touchdowns on 22-of-28 throwing, and then last season going into his sophomore year Lockie went 7-of-12 for 121 yards and another touchdown. Saturday was different though. Lockie moved through his progressions at a good clip and was quick to pull the trigger on an open target. Both items were areas he has struggled at times the last two seasons.

He ended the spring never throwing an incomplete pass and finishing 9-for-9 for 223 yards and three touchdowns.

"We didn't get a chance to stretch the field as much as I wanted, but that's I guess what happens when you throw it five yards and a guy like Charles Nelson and see him take it for 50," said Lockie.

This was the only chance for media and fans to get an inside look at Lockie, and it's tough to not make a snapped judgement from this one showing. Talking with players and coaches this spring the common theme has been an improved Jeff Lockie on the field and also off it. He's growing into a better leader and doing what's been asked of him this off season.

"As far as what he needs to do and what he needs to quote do to be the guy, he had a very good spring," Helfrich said.

Lockie's performance was head and shoulders better than any other quarterback playing for Oregon Saturday, and while some might argue it was guys like Charles Nelson making plays and not Lockie, it was clear Lockie had his fingerprints all over the game.

This year's team won't need a quarterback like Mariota to ease in a new receiver core and and a freshman running back. The Oregon offense will show flashes of what it was like last season, but it will also adapt to who's now going to be under center.

"Every year the Oregon offense will change a little bit with the people that we have," Lockie said. "We are going to change and adapt, we have a lot of really good young skill guys that can do special things with the ball in their hands."

So while Lockie couldn't show off his down field throwing and stretch the defense like he'd hoped, he was understanding of how well the offense was clicking.

"I can't complain and we were getting into the end zone, so I was happy with that," he said.

Lockie heads into the summer off-season workouts as our clear leader for the starting gig. We won't know how well Vernon Adams will transition into the quarterback battle, but until August it is Lockie's job.

Just don't tell him that.

"I don't know if I would look at it that way," he said. "We still have a bunch of guys here that can play and we are adding one more in the fall. I am just going to go out there to compete and do the best job I can."