Dante Moore evaluates spring game performance

Oregon wrapped up it’s annual Spring Game yesterday and there were a lot of good things to takeaway from the game. On top of that, the game got closer in the 4th quarter and the two sides were put in real game scenarios. Ducks fans also got to see Dante Moore as Oregon’s QB1 for the first time, and following the game, his first “post-game” media availability as the potential starter.

On his performance and if he met personal expectations

“I feel like overall today was good, just to have fun, if there was negative or positive plays out there. Being out there in the environment with the fans, that was the biggest takeaway. Fans always show out, we’ve got the best fans in the world. Overall there were a lot of drives where it was going, and then was stopped. That’s just how football works sometimes, but I was glad to be out there with my brothers. It was just a great, sunny day in Eugene, so I can’t complain.”

On his chemistry with the receivers

“I feel like Coach Lanning does a really great job for how we do spring. He doesn’t really have you be with one group the whole spring, I feel like every week we train with different receivers, O-Line, different center, just to get different feels for everybody. We have playmakers everywhere, and I know we have a lot of talent, I’m blessed to have that, especially as a QB, I get to give everyone an opportunity to make a play with the ball in their hands. The chemistry is going to keep growing, and growing, it’s just the first phase of the season. Of course there’s going to be a lot of mistakes, but that’s good. I’m glad to see mistakes because you get to learn from it, build from it, especially the young guys. The chemistry is going to get there for sure.”

On the rest of the QB room

“The QB room did a great job today, protecting the ball, making plays, making smart decisions overall. From the oldest to the young quarterback, we made plays out there, this whole spring we’ve done a great job. We did a great job today, protected the ball, and moved the ball down the field.”

On the deep passes to Jurrion and Sadiq

“When we have the wideouts that we have, of course I want to take shots. Taking shots to those guys is the best, that’s what they’re known for, getting the ball (when it’s) in the air. I know with Jurrion, the corner (blitzed), so the safety took him 1-on-1, just giving him a chance, he was the same class as me, we have a really strong connection. Just getting the ball in his hands, and letting him be a ballplayer, then he did a good job of catching it and keeping himself in bounds.”

On the newcomers, on both sides of the ball

“With the newcomers, I feel like this generation is different, with how the talent is. Overall for the young guys, it’s the way they come in running really fast, having the mindset of running good concepts in high school so they have an idea of how we run concepts here. The newcomers came in and balled out, Coach Lanning kept saying they did a really good job coming in and being quiet, letting the work talk. On offense and defense we’ve got some “hell-of-a-player(s)”, a lot of great freshmen, and I know a lot of them are going to play for sure.”

On where he and the team improved this spring

“I’d say this is the best spring I’ve had, my third one, and it’s crazy to say that. Overall, it’s understanding that I have some goals I need to meet, and one of them was being a great leader. I do that by the way I move on the field, but also being vocal. I feel like that’s something I had to step up and do, and I feel like I did a really great job with that, talking to the O-Line, running the huddle, etc. I’ve done a really good job of speeding myself up through reads, finding the open players, and protecting the ball. Overall, I feel like I’ve had a great spring and I’m blessed to have great coaches to help me get better every day.”

On he and Kenyon’s strong connection

Moore (immediately smiling), “Just give 18 the ball, he’s going to make a play. That’s what I tell Coach Mehringer every day when I see him, everybody knows the famous clip he had against Penn State, he caught the ball from Dillon, shoutout Dillon on getting drafted, I was really excited about that. Kenyon just makes plays, every opportunity as a(n) offense you have to find the best players, of course you have multiple of them. Glad to have him (Kenyon) on my team during the spring, we have a really good connection, he used to live by me, me and him are pretty close about that. Blessed to have him, he’s a freak, with him running 23mph, it’s insane.”

On his connection with Dillon Gabriel and seeing him get drafted

“I was on the way to Dakorien’s house, and right as I walked in, Ryder (Hayes) texted the groupchat saying he got drafted. When I saw it, I was damn excited. The adversity he’s played through going to three different schools, people talking about his height, telling him he’s not a good player. If you look at the stats, it talks for itself, he’s a winner, he’s a great competitor, he pushed me a lot and I pushed him. I was born in East Cleveland, and him being in Cleveland now, I feel like it’s a good spot for him to be at to learn. He’s a baller, he always says ballers ball, so go be a baller. I know he’s going to do his thing, keep his head down.”

On Dillon Gresham’s development

“He’s super, super quick, he’s a great player with the ball in his hands, he did have a great sideline catch (today). He was a baller, opening kick return (he) almost took it to the house. Him doing his thing, keeping his head down, just working. There’s a lot of receivers in our receiver room, but I feel like him, he’s just growing great (quickly), growing with the playbook, the way he is on the field, the way he just balls, he’s doing his thing and I’m thankful to have him as a receiver.”