Spring Storylines to Watch

After taking over the Oregon football program between the end of the 2017 regular season and the Ducks' bowl game, new UO head coach Mario Cristobal has spent the winter establishing a new foundation for the program as the 2018 season approaches.

Cristobal hired a young, energetic staff of assistants, and signed a top-20 recruiting class. He tasked new strength coach Aaron Feld with setting a higher standard in the weight room. And Cristobal instituted the "Fourth Quarter" conditioning program for the Ducks, popularized by Alabama but which goes back decades at various programs around the country.

On Wednesday, the Ducks take the next step in the Cristobal era, as they kick off spring practices, which will include a workout April 7 at Franklin High School in Portland. Cristobal met with media Tuesday to discuss the start of spring drills, and several storylines to watch emerged.

1. Getting an early start

In recent years past, practice began shortly after the start of the university's spring term. This year, the Ducks will practice Wednesday, Friday and Saturday of this week, twice more next week, then pause for both finals and spring break before holding the final 10 practices of spring in April.

Cristobal said the early start allowed for a seamless transition from offseason weight-lifting, to the "Fourth Quarter" conditioning program, to spring practice. "They were ready to reap the rewards and the benefits of having worked this hard," he said. "They're champing at the bit."

Schematically, the staff plans for "some tweaks" on both sides of the ball, Cristobal said. But with no major changes, the new stuff can be installed during the first five practices, allowing players to further digest them with film study over the two-week break, before returning to practice in April. And if there's an injury in the spring, the earlier finish – the spring game is scheduled for April 21 – allows for a little longer recovery time prior to preseason training camp.

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Also, the spring evaluation period in recruiting, during which assistants can make high school visits, begins on April 16. Given the earlier conclusion to spring practice, Oregon's staff can better take advantage of that period.

2. Discipline and fundamentals

Cristobal said the 14 practices prior to the spring game will be heavy on individual periods and position drills, so coaches can address fundamentals with players.

A major priority will be cleaning up technique to avoid a repeat of 2017, when Oregon was the most penalized team in the nation. "That's on us," Cristobal said of the coaching staff. "We've got to do a better job emphasizing things, and creating scenarios that allow guys to practice that."

The first period of practice will address turnovers – ball security on offense, and stripping the ball on defense. Cristobal said that format change is modeled after the New England Patriots, "a good team to mimic, right?" he said. "I think they do a pretty good job."

The staff teaching those fundamentals mixes invaluable returning assistants, notably defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt, with some new faces respected for both recruiting and player development. Among the newcomers is Bobby Williams, whose sole focus will be special teams. "We expect that to pay major dividends," Cristobal said.

3. Development never stops

Cristobal said the "Fourth Quarter" winter program "has had a significant impact on the way our guys are developing." Now the work continues on the practice field with the start of spring practice.

The Ducks return their offensive MVP, quarterback Justin Herbert, and their two-time defensive MVP, Troy Dye. As leaders they'll be expect to set the tone in terms of improvements this spring.

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"This is a development game," Cristobal said. "Football always will be about development. Both guys are really good football players … but they're just scratching the surface, in our opinion. Both these guys have their best days ahead of them."

Cristobal said pass-rushers Jalen Jelks and Justin Hollins also have provided leadership this offseason. Receiver Dillon Mitchell and cornerback Deommodore Lenoir have been among the other players making the most of the strength-and-conditioning program.

"We have to develop an intolerance for anything or anyone that does not uphold the standards of our culture," Cristobal said. "It's important for our guys to make being a Duck a very important, very difficult club to be a part of."

4. New faces and new positions

After the graduation of starting defensive backs Arrion Springs and Tyree Robinson, depth in the secondary is one of Oregon's biggest question marks coming out of 2017. That made the arrival of three 2018 recruits who enrolled in January most welcome.

All three are listed on the Ducks' pre-spring organizational depth chart, with freshman Verone McKinley III and junior college transfer Haki Woods as the backups at corner, and Steve Stephens in the two-deep at safety. "There's a lot of opportunity back there," Cristobal said. "They've done a really good job in the offseason."

Also newly enrolled as of January are running backs Jamal Elliott and Travis Dye, quarterback Tyler Shough and outside linebacker D.J. Johnson. Shough enters a competition for reps behind Herbert that still includes converted receiver Demetri Burch, along with Braxton Burmeister.

Burmeister took some lumps after being pressed into duty as a true freshman in 2017 but has been praised repeatedly by Cristobal for his developmental this offseason, both on letter-of-intent signing day in February and again Tuesday. "He's a competitor," Cristobal said. "He's looking forward to coming out and attacking that."

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As usual, the staff shuffled some players to new positions over the winter. Notably, senior Taj Griffin is back with the running back group, after spending 2017 as a slot receiver. Speaking of the slot position, Mitchell will start the spring in that spot, as the Ducks look to replace Charles Nelson. And sophomore Hunter Kampmoyer moved from defensive end across the line, to provide depth at tight end.

5. The waiting is the hardest part

Another position change on the pre-spring organizational chart is reflected on the offensive line, where Calvin Throckmorton is the first-string center. Throckmorton started at both right tackle and right guard as a sophomore in 2017, but will handle snaps to open spring drills while two-year starter Jake Hanson continues rehabbing an injury.

Hanson has a chance to be back in action prior the end of spring practice, Cristobal said. The same goes for sophomore safety Nick Pickett, whose spring debut also will be delayed initially. One player the Ducks figure to be without all spring is linebacker Sampson Niu, who is recovering from the injury that knocked him out of the Las Vegas Bowl.

On the subject of delayed arrivals, the new outside linebacker Johnson will join the Ducks for practice this spring, but is still waiting to hear whether he'll have to sit out the 2018 season as a transfer, or will be granted immediate eligibility. Defensive lineman Malik Young also will practice this spring with his status for the fall uncertain; he joined the Ducks as a senior transfer in 2017, but has petitioned for another season of eligibility.