Football Practice Report: Nov. 13

Venue: Moshofsky Center
Format: Full pads

When the Oregon football team hosts Arizona State on Saturday, the Ducks are going to run the ball, and they're going to run between the tackles, and they're going to keep doing so over the course of the game.

How effective the Ducks are able to do so will have a big impact on the outcome Saturday night (7:30 p.m., Pac-12 Network). But whether they'll do so isn't a question.

"Establishing the run, philosophically, is something we believe we need to do," UO offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo said Tuesday, after the first of two practices for the Ducks this week in full pads. "We've shown that over the course of games this season."

When the Ducks have run the ball well, they've won. In six victories this fall, Oregon's offense has averaged 213.17 rushing yards per game.

And when the Ducks have struggled to run well, they've suffered for it. In four losses this fall, Oregon's offense has averaged 109.25 rushing yards per game.

When the run game struggles, Oregon's offense can feel conservative and predictable — or at least, that's the perception of some fans. But the UO coaching staff is determined to stick by the commitment to physicality made under new coach Mario Cristobal, which paid such dividends over the first half of the season, culminating in the overtime win over Washington.

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There have been times, at Washington State and Arizona in particular, when an early deficit has spurred more reliance on the passing game. But coaches would prefer to allow Oregon's rushing offense to wear down an opponent, as it did in the win over UCLA, when the Ducks' yards per carry increased in each successive quarter.

"You've gotta work through it," Arroyo said. "You can't just put something out to bay and say you're done with it. You've got to lean on it and continue to do it."

In practice Tuesday, the Ducks worked on their run game without leading rusher CJ Verdell, who suffered a neck injury at Utah. Senior Tony Brooks-James and freshman Travis Dye carried the load, and will do so if necessary against Arizona State.

"They did a nice job today rotating around," Arroyo said. "We have to operate and those guys have to prepare to do their job."

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As has been the case all season, UO coaches are working to spur a faster start by the offense Saturday. At Utah, a dropped pass by Brooks-James on the opening play set the tone for a first quarter that featured just four yards by the Ducks.

The only thing that can be done in the wake of such a play is use it as a teaching point, Arroyo said, about the focus necessary to start fast. That will be an imperative against the Sun Devils, who remain in the hunt to win the Pac-12 South and play for the conference title.

"They're doing a really nice job," Arroyo said. "They're one of the hottest teams in our conference right now. They've got good energy, good juice."

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Practice highlights: When the Ducks went "good on good" for the first time Tuesday, it was the No. 2 offense facing the No. 1 defense. Braxton Burmeister split the safeties with a pass down the middle to Justin Collins, although had it been a full contact situation, Jevon Holland probably could have broken up the play with a big hit. … On the next play, safeties Holland and Ugochukwu Amadi were able to make a hit, and came up to converge on running back Demarques Singleton. …

With the No. 1 offense on the field against the No. 2 defense, Brooks-James kicked off the series with a run that penetrated the secondary. … The starting offense kept it rolling with a pass from Justin Herbert to Jaylon Redd, another long run by Dye, and a completion from Herbert to Dillon Mitchell.

Other observations: Offensive lineman Steven Jones and linebacker Sampson Niu are in concussion protocol in the wake of the Utah game. … Troy Dye was a limited participant in the periods open to media. Keith Simms and La'Mar Winston Jr. took reps with the first-team defense at inside linebacker. Their backups were walk-on guys Nate Heaukulani and Nick Wiebe. …

Although Jones was out, the return to full participation by Jake Hanson after he served his targeting suspension last week meant the offensive line was in good shape. Calvin Throckmorton, Shane Lemieux, Hanson, Dallas Warmack and Brady Aiello were the No. 1 group, as they have been since Penei Sewell's injury. … Tackle George Moore and guard Jacob Capra did rotate in with the No. 1 offensive line regularly, to be ready in case of more injuries. …

Cristobal announced after practice that receiver Tabari Hines will sit out the rest of this season and transfer. Hines joined the Ducks as a graduate transfer this offseason, but a fall injury and the emergence of Redd limited his impact. … Bryan Addison, who sat out a few weeks due to a suspension, has resumed practicing with the Ducks over the past week.

Post-practice interview:

Offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo