Football Practice Report: Dec. 27

Venue: City College of San Francisco
Format: Full pads

For the first time since Saturday in Eugene, and one of just two times the rest of the 2018 season, the Oregon football team practiced Thursday in full pads, continuing to build to Monday's Redbox Bowl against Michigan State (noon, FOX).

A day after traveling to the San Francisco Bay Area and holding a walk-through, the Ducks took on a full workload late Thursday morning. They did extended 11-on-11 work, including at the goal line, and full-contact pass-rush and run-defense drills for the linemen.

"It was good to get back out there in pads," junior quarterback Justin Herbert said, a day after announcing his intent to play his senior season at Oregon rather than enter the NFL draft pool. "The guys after a break looked fresh. It was good to have a couple days off."

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The break was helpful for some of the Ducks trying to work their way back from injuries. That includes senior linebacker Kaulana Apelu, who suffered a leg injury at midseason that sidelined him for several weeks. But running back Tony Brooks-James hasn't been so lucky, still feeling the effects of an injury suffered in the Civil War.

Brooks-James has yet to be able to participate in a full practice since the injury, and that remained the case Thursday.

"I don't see him playing," UO coach Mario Cristobal said Thursday. "We've tried everything to get him to that point, and right now it's safe to say he won't play."

The Ducks are also dealing with a bug that's affected some players in recent days. Offensive lineman Dallas Warmack returned to practice Thursday after missing Wednesday's walk-through. Both receiver Brenden Schooler and defensive lineman Austin Faoliu stayed back at the team hotel Thursday in order to get over symptoms they were experiencing.

Cristobal sounded optimistic Schooler would be back in action Friday. In his place, sophomore Johnny Johnson III got reps with the first-team offense Thursday.

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Two other receivers who got a little more action Thursday in Schooler's absence were redshirt freshman Daewood Davis and true freshman Bryan Addison. Having played in four games already this season, Addison would lose the ability to preserve this season as a redshirt if he plays Monday.

Cristobal said it will be a "tough call" as to whether Addison will play against the Spartans.

"He could really factor in with some of the things we're doing," Cristobal said. "But at the same time, (do you trade) an entire year for a game?"

Two other players, quarterback Braxton Burmeister and safety Billy Gibson, also have played four games this year and have redshirts available. Burmeister has told coaches he's prepared to play if needed Monday, Cristobal said last week, but Gibson will not play against Michigan State and can redshirt.

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Practice highlights: The first "good on good" team period began with the No. 2 offense facing the No. 1 defense, and Thomas Graham Jr. yet again demonstrated the elevated level of play he's flashed since late in the regular season. On consecutive reps, Graham slapped Tyler Shough passes away from receivers, first coming up from behind on a short route and then running with a wideout deep down the sideline. … The defense continued to dominate during that sequence, with D.J. Johnson making a scoop-and-score recovery of a fumble, and Justin Hollins getting to Shough for a sack. … The next time those groups faced off later in the period, though, Shough got a little revenge. He rifled a pass into the midsection of Alfonso Cobb, who made the play despite Graham's tight coverage. Shough also completed a ball to Addison, who used an explosive cut to shake loose from a defender. …

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With the No. 1 offense facing the No. 2 defense, CJ Verdell burst through the line on the first snap and lowered the boom on an unfortunate defensive back who gamely tried to make an open-field tackle. … Mitchell put a defensive back on skates after catching a pass from Herbert, who later split two defenders on a frozen rope deep down the field to Jaylon Redd. … In pass-rush drills, Alex Forsyth pancaked a veteran member of the front seven, and Charlie Landgraf got a nose tackle off balance before putting that defender on the turf as well.

Other observations: Herbert spoke with media after practice but declined to address his announcement Wednesday that he'll play his senior season with the Ducks. "I'd love to talk to you about that — after the game," he said. "For this week we're focused on Michigan State." Linebacker Troy Dye said he won't announce a decision until after Monday's game, while Jake Hanson indicated it was a no-brainer to return for his senior season. "Based on the season I had, I definitely need another year to develop," Hanson said. "And I still want to win a conference championship, and all that good stuff. Still got all those goals." …

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Friday's practice will be the last of this season for Oregon in full pads. Scott said one reason he expects Friday's practice to be even more intense is that the Ducks will gave grown accustomed to the turf on which they're practicing. Some players have commented that it feels firmer than some other surfaces. … Another factor to contend with Thursday was gusting wins, which could come into play Monday afternoon in Levi's Stadium, too. "It was something to get used to," Herbert said. "But after a couple throws we were looking pretty good." …

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The wind required an adjustment from placekicker Adam Stack too. In field-goal work to close practice, he made a short attempt, but then watched the wind push two straight kicks wide left. On his final attempt, from 42 yards out, Stack accounted for the wind, aimed a kick at the right upright and had it sail right down the middle. … Tight end Cam McCormick, who suffered a season-ending injury in Oregon's 2018 opener, was in pads Thursday, for just the second time since his injury. The first was Saturday, for the Ducks' final practice of the year in Eugene.