Football Practice Report: April 3

Venue: Moshofsky Center
Format: Shells

Not quite a month shy of kicking off 2018 spring football practices, the Ducks returned to the field Tuesday following spring break, and got back to square one – with a few twists.

Oregon held five practices in March under new head coach Mario Cristobal, and installed "maybe 80 percent of what we do" in those sessions, he said Tuesday. Prior to spring break, Cristobal said the install process would begin anew as of Tuesday, but he clarified that it won't be entirely the same.

"Now we go back to the philosophy of practice No. 1 and reinstall everything, with a couple of wrinkles," Cristobal said. "Now you start adding the 'eye wash' to the offense, to the defense – the disguises, the motions, the shifts. So that guys not only digest it a second time, but also present how each and every part of our game and scheme evolves."

One player in particular Tuesday could benefit from the restart of the installation process, that being receiver Jalen Hall. The freshman from Los Angeles enrolled at the university for the start of spring term Monday, and underwent a crash course with new position coach Michael Johnson before his first collegiate practice Tuesday.

"We went over about four installations yesterday; that's about 120 plays," Johnson said. "… We're just going to throw him in there and try to get his feet wet. But he's eager to be here, happy to be here, excited for a fresh start."

After losing the likes of Dwayne Stanford, Jalen Brown and Alex Ofodile in recent years, the Ducks will benefit from getting another big body at receiver. Hall is listed at 6-foot-4 and 195 pounds, but he's not just a big frame – in a 1-on-1 period Tuesday, he showed off his shakes at the line to beat press coverage, then used that big body to shield off the cornerback and haul in a short pass.

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With his mind racing on his first day as a college football player, Hall didn't have too many instances of really cutting loose and showing off the athleticism that made him a highly coveted recruited. But he took a full slate of reps over the course of practice, and hauled in a touchdown pass from Braxton Burmeister on a fade route in 7-on-7.

"To get a kid here in the spring, just to learn the offense, gives you an advantage going into fall camp," Johnson said. "That's what we want to do: make sure we get him comfortable by the end of spring, make sure we get him in shape, and keep him healthy."

Hall adds to a group of potential breakout talents at receiver that includes two second-year guys who jumped out during the first five spring practices in March, sophomore Johnny Johnson III and redshirt freshman Daewood Davis. The aerial acrobatics of Johnson and the more reliable hands Davis is showing off to complement his elite speed are welcome skills at a position that includes returning starters Dillon Mitchell and Brenden Schooler.

And of course, that group benefits from playing with junior quarterback Justin Herbert, who has looked every bit the part of a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate in the six spring practice held through Tuesday.

"Our quarterback is pretty special," Johnson said. "He's a guy that has a tremendous skill set. He's a good person, a good leader. Guys like being around him. He can get you the ball. All you've got to do is run and get open, and he'll find you. So it's a great opportunity for a young wide receiver."

Other highlights: Sophomore tight end Cam McCormick showed off a stiff-arm a couple times Tuesday worthy of former UO running back and stiff-arm aficionado Jeremiah Johnson. McCormick used a double move to shake a safety in 1-on-1s, then held the defender at bay while running after the catch. In 7-on-7, McCormick stiff-armed a cornerback on another big gain. Moments later, the big tight end hauled in a touchdown pass from Herbert. … In 1-on-1s, Herbert hit Jaylon Redd for a long touchdown against a safety, and Travis Dye caught a pass despite being tied up off the line by the defender, his brother Troy Dye. …

Ugochukwu Amadi slapped away a pass intended for a tight end early in that drill, and later knocked away a deeper ball that Herbert underthrew just a bit. … Brady Breeze padded what has to be his team-leading interception total off Herbert in practices the last couple years, leaping to win a ball against tight end Hunter Kampmoyer. … In an 11-on-11 run-game drill, Deommodore Lenoir and Isaac Slade-Matautia swarmed Tony Brooks-James on the first rep. Lenoir continues to impress with his physicality at the corner position. Later in the drill, CJ Verdell broke loose into the second level despite losing a cleat. … In 7-on-7, Tyler Shough threw one of the best balls of the day, dropping a pass just over a defender and right into the arms of Davis. Later, in 11-on-11, Redd caught a short pass and cut across the field to elude several defenders, firing up the offensive sideline.

Other observations: There was some movement in the two-deep over the first five practices in March, but it looked Tuesday like the staff hit reset, back to the organizational chart released at the start of the spring. … Tuesday morning was clear and cool in Eugene, prompting Cristobal to move practice inside the Moshofsky Center in search of more heat and humidity. … Along with Hall, the Ducks added to the roster four walk-on players Tuesday, defensive back Jordan Adeyemi-John, running back Noah Dahl, linebacker Nate Heaukulani and linebacker Matthew Christman.

Pre-practice interviews:

Head coach Mario Cristobal