Football Practice Report: Aug. 27
08/27/17 | Football, @GoDucksMoseley
The Ducks began their game-week schedule with an hourlong practice and conditioning session Sunday, six days before facing Southern Utah on Saturday (5:15 p.m. PT, Pac-12 Network).
Venue: Outdoor practice fields
Format: Helmets and shorts
An orange sun burned through the smoky skies over Eugene as the Ducks wrapped up practice Sunday evening with a conditioning session.
"Ain't nobody gonna outlast us," defensive line coach Joe Salave'a hollered as players ran the length of one practice field and back, over and over.
Sunday practices will be the norm for Oregon in its first season under Willie Taggart, as will conditioning. The Ducks will practice the day after games, primarily reviewing breakdowns from the previous game and getting in conditioning work, as Taggart's teams have done in the past.
It's a new routine for the veteran Oregon players, but one they embraced Sunday. Midway through the conditioning session, verbose senior cornerback Arrion Springs was running up the sideline and added some play by play: "It's another 100-yard interception return for the Oregon Ducks!"
Practice Sunday lasted about an hour, beginning with some individual periods and then 7-on-7 before the mid-practice hydration break. Each of the four primary special teams units got some work in after the break, and then the two-deep did some work against scouts before conditioning drills began.
In the post-practice huddle, Taggart lauded Justin Hollins, Jimmie Swain and Jalen Jelks for pushing through the conditioning work. Ugochukwu Amadi, Johnny Johnson III, Justin Herbert, Juwaan Williams, Henry Mondeaux, A.J. Hotchkins, Mike Irwin and Fotu T. Leiato II were also regularly out front with their respective position groups during the gassers.
Other highlights: The first rep of 7-on-7 was a pass from Herbert to Johnson, who continues to get extensive work with the first offense. Two plays later, Herbert found Charles Nelson against a linebacker and took advantage of the matchup for a 35-yard touchdown pass. Then it was another completion to Johnson, who found a hole between a cornerback and a safety. … Amadi and Ty Griffin each had at least two breakups during the period. Griffin was on one receiver's hip and then hit him as the ball arrived, nearly coming up with the interception.
Other observations: Based on the rotations used Sunday, it looks like the Ducks could have something like 16 regulars on defense, due to the number of various packages being employed. … During special teams, Blake Maimone took the first punt rep, and Austin Faoliu was an upback. Charles Nelson and Tony Brooks-James were back deep for the first kickoff return, and Jaylon Redd was with the No. 1 kickoff coverage unit. … During those special teams periods, newcomer Malik Young did conditioning work on the side, to make up for his late arrival to camp. …
Two guys who have really progressed during August are Daewood Davis and George Moore. Davis arrived for the start of preseason camp with impressive speed, but his hands were inconsistent the first week. That hasn't been the case at all the last couple weeks, with Davis showing off sure hands on very acrobatic plays. And Moore's conditioning has really improved over where he was at the start of camp. Both guys put in work, and it shows.
A new era of Oregon Football begins September 2 when your Ducks take on Southern Utah. Let's sell out Coach Taggart's first game in Autzen Stadium. Tickets start at $36. Do Something. BUY TICKETS NOW.
