By Rob Moseley

Editor, GoDucks.com

Venue: Moshofsky Center

Format: Full pads

Among the biggest question marks about the 2015 Oregon football team, as it moved on without NFL draft picks Marcus Mariota, Ifo Ekpre-Olomu and Hroniss Grasu, plus other respected veterans like Keanon Lowe and Tony Washington, was the issue of leadership. With those trusted voices gone, how would the Ducks react when they faced adversity?

Saturday's loss to Michigan State stung, but it also helped answer that question. The Ducks' 7-0 lead lasted all of 1 minute, 8 seconds, and they ended up playing from behind for 38:45 of game clock. But despite trailing by double digits a couple of times in the second half, Oregon kept battling and had a chance to win in the closing moments of the eventual 31-28 defeat.

“The whole sideline's mentality was really good,” senior left tackle Tyler Johnstone said. “Everybody kept really calm. No one was attacking each other, which is something that often happens with lesser teams. That was encouraging to see. The demeanor of everyone was really positive. We never really thought we were out of it.”

There were certainly times when the Ducks might have felt their confidence sag. Coming off a mixed performance against Eastern Washington to open the season, the UO defense gave up a 62-yard run on the first play by the Spartans, who erased that 7-0 Oregon lead two plays later.

But the likes of defensive end DeForest Buckner and linebacker Joe Walker kept the defense engaged on the sideline, players and staff said. Walker's message: Don't dwell on the last play, focus on the next.

“I think that's really important,” Walker said. “If someone runs down the field and scores a touchdown, you've just got to move on. You can't take that back. They had a couple big plays, and we just had to move on from those.”

The Ducks did so successfully, forcing a couple of late three-and-outs that gave the offense a chance to complete a comeback. That effort fell short, but just barely – the offense put 14 points on the board in the fourth quarter, after scoring just seven points through the first three periods.

Credit the leaders on that side of the ball for Oregon's fortitude, which wasn't a given in the early part of this season based on all the important leaders who graduated from the 2014 team.

“You always have questions (in that circumstance), but this team, it's a team of competitors and fighters,” Johnstone said. “When it comes down to it, we're a tight-knit bunch of dudes. We've been through a lot together. So it would take a lot for people to jump on each other, start throwing blame around. Instead, we flush things and move on.”

Highlights: Arrion Springs was a consistent standout Wednesday, breaking up a pass in the end zone in a 1-on-1 period held in the red zone, then breaking up two more in a span of three reps during 7-on-7. … Jeff Lockie had another really nice day throwing the ball, connecting deep with Byron Marshall and Dwayne Stanford in 7-on-7, and for two touchdowns with Bralon Addison during a red zone period. Lockie also ran for a couple scores in the red zone. … When the offense and defense went head to head, Jimmie Swain and Reggie Daniels teamed up for a tackle for loss on the first rep. …

Danny Mattingly and Christian French had tackles for loss during work by the defense at the goal line. Glen Ihenacho brought a couple ballcarriers down on plays to the outside. … Ihenacho also forced a fumble in 7-on-7. ... In the clutch period to end the day, the offense drove the field thanks to a couple receptions by Johnny Mundt, but Ugo Amadi broke up a fourth-down pass at the goal line to end the scenario. The defense also won when the twos were on the field, when Kaulana Apelu forced a fumble that Mattingly jumped on.

Other obervations: With rain in the area over the previous 24 hours, but a better forecast for Saturday, the Ducks moved indoors for the first time this season. … Scout-team tight ends Jacob Breeland and Taylor Stinson are both wearing the No. 8 jersey of Georgia State's Joel Ruiz this week, and I have a hard time telling them apart from the sideline. So let's just go with “Breeson” … or maybe “Stinland”? Regardless, the two combined for a few highlights today, teaming with scout QB Morgan Mahalak to test the travel squad's secondary. … Speaking of scouts, I'm reasonably sure the travel squad on defense will be quite happy to see Darren Carrington back with the regular offense in the next few weeks. Mahalak hooked up with him twice for touchdowns in the red zone.