Jeffrey Bassa on Oregon Spring Game: 'It was an amazing experience with a whole new team'
Oregon’s defense has reloaded this offseason after losing a handful of key contributors at all three levels. Dan Lanning and Marshall Malchow have brought in some elite talent from the high school and transfer portal rankings to take the Ducks to the next level.
Veteran Oregon linebacker Jeffrey Bassa recorded two tackles on Saturday and met with reporters following the spring game to give his key takeaways about what he saw from the defense.
Below are some of his key quotes as well as full video from his media availability.
On what it was like to be back at Autzen, the crowd:
“It was great. It was an amazing experience with a whole new team. I think it was great to see just the stands filled again. I’m blessed to be in this position and it was great.”
On anyone that caught his eye during the game:
“Dakoda Fields, Aaron Flowers and some of the young guys up front like Tionne (Gray). I think those guys have been working all spring and it was exciting to see that show up in the game.”
On how in-helmet communication went for the defense:
“It went pretty good. Went pretty swell. That’s something that we try to create in practice with the crowd noise and stuff like that, so no problems. We’re still signaling a little bit but it went swell.”
On where the Oregon defense got better over the last month:
“Really I would say attacking the ball. That’s been a huge emphasis. Getting batted balls, I think the D-line’s been doing a great job of batting balls, getting their hands up, going from speed to power. Also ball excellence. I know Tosh talks about that all the time. Whether that’s punching the ball out, that’s something that we’re trying to enforce more this year is getting those fumbles. I think we did a good job attacking the ball through the air, Dakoda getting that pick.”
On if he feels like this is a better Oregon team given all they had to replace:
“100 percent. I think we have the right guys here that are molded from some of the guys that were here last year on the team. They’re bringing some of that same experience from those winning two teams that we had these previous two years that we’ve been under Coach Lanning. I think Coach Lanning and all the guys bringing in the right people that want to win and the guys that have the right mindset and that want to work.”
On Jay Harris, his physicality, when he saw that he could play:
“I think the first day that I seen him when we were in pads. Obviously with him being a running back and me being a linebacker we’re crossing over a lot. That’s something that Jay brings every day. I think that with him and his talent level is gonna take him—the sky is the limit for him.”
