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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Ducking this one

Helfrich won’t talk about Adams’ status with Oregon

Quarterback Vernon Adams has taken up residence in Eugene but still isn’t done academically at EWU. (Tyler Tjomsland)

LOS ANGELES – For all the effort Oregon coach Mark Helfrich must be going through to get Vernon Adams on his roster next season, he sure doesn’t want to acknowledge his next potential starter at quarterback.

“I know everybody will want to ask about the quarterback position,” Helfrich said before any reporter asked about it. “And the only thing we’re going to be talking about are the people that are here and involved in the program.

Adams is living in Eugene with star Ducks receiver Bralon Addison. But he has not completely wrapped up his obligations at Eastern Washington and so cannot become officially a part of the UO program.

Until he does, the Ducks seem reluctant to act like he will be a part of next year’s team.

“It’s better to have more,” said star running back Royce Freeman. “We’re glad we have people wanting to come in,” Freeman said. “But we’re not going to focus on people who aren’t here.”

For now, the Ducks are treating Jeff Lockie like the presumptive starter. Helfrich praised Lockie for staying in Eugene and playing behind Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota rather than transfer to another school to play more.

Lockie made a strong statement in UO’s spring game that he deserves to start outright, completing all nine of his passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns in front of 35,808 fans.

But with the talented Adams still likely to suit up for the Ducks this season, Helfrich allowed that he could employ a two-quarterback system.

Trojans coach OK with target on back

USC coach Steve Sarkisian is embracing the heightened expectations that come with his team’s selection as the conference favorite in the Pac-12’s preseason media poll.

“We all came to USC to win,” Sarkisian said. “We didn’t come here to be mediocre, we didn’t come here be OK. We came here to win championships. … If the expectations were going to be too big, this wasn’t the place for you.”

The Trojans return one of the country’s best quarterbacks from last season in Cody Kessler, as well as dynamic playmakers like linebacker Su’a Cravens, receiver Juju Smith and all-purpose athlete Adoree Jackson.

Goff biggest reason for Cal’s success

Jared Goff’s growth in his sophomore season is the most obvious reason the Golden Bears won five games last season after winning just a single game when the local boy was a precocious freshman-starter.

After throwing 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions as a first-year player, Goff tossed 35 touchdowns and threw just seven picks as a sophomore.

But coach Sonny Dykes says his biggest improvement came after the season was over and Goff agreed.

“This past spring is when I really felt (the game) slow down and gained confidence,” Goff said.

Specifically, Goff said he’s much more comfortable changing plays prior to the snap.

The Golden Bears only may have one more chance to make a bowl game with Goff behind the center, however.

ESPN’s NFL draft analyst, Mel Kiper, projects Goff to be the first quarterback taken if he enters the NFL draft next spring and on Friday the junior sure didn’t sound like someone who is thinking about his senior year.

“I want to leave a legacy of winning at Cal,” said Goff. Then he added, “We have to win. I have to win and this is the year to do it.”

He said an improved defense is the biggest reason he thinks the Golden Bears are ready to win now.

Hourlong versions of all games to be on TV

Pac-12 Networks president Lydia Murphy-Stephans said on Friday that the Pac-12 Networks will broadcast its popular hour-long “Football in 60” replays of every game involving member schools this season, even the ones that originally air on other networks.

For the broadcasts, the network condenses entire games into 60-minute programs, typically showing multiple games back-to-back.