Football Practice Report: Aug. 14

Photo by: GoDucks.com

08/14/18 | Football, @GoDucksMoseley

In the wake of Sunday's scrimmage and a day off Monday, Oregon coaches began shuffling the practice order Tuesday, and a special guest dropped by to watch practice and address the team.

By: Rob Moseley

Venue: Outdoor practice fields
Format: Shells

With a full scrimmage from Sunday on film, and a day off from practice Monday to review it, there was some shuffling of the practice order when the Oregon football team returned to action Tuesday.

Most notably, newcomers Dallas Warmack and Penei Sewell were on the right side of the offensive line with the first unit, and Calvin Throckmorton played left tackle. They were joined by juniors Shane Lemieux and Jake Hanson for the first several reps with the No. 1 offense on Tuesday.

But there were more changes to come as Tuesday's practice wore on. And there's ample time for even more tinkering as this preseason camp progresses, UO coach Mario Cristobal said.

"Cranking up the heat on the offensive line, that's all it is," he said after practice. "And that's the way it should be."

Behind that first five, the second unit from left to right featured George Moore, Alex Forsyth, Ryan Walk, Jacob Capra and Brady Aiello. But when the Ducks took the field to start the second 11-on-11 period of the day, the first group featured Sewell at left tackle, Throckmorton at center, plus Capra and Aiello on the right side. And later still, the No. 1 offense featured Moore, Lemieux, Hanson, Throckmorton and Sewell across the line.

"We want to see what the best combination is," Cristobal said. "We still have several days to experiment with that. And it gives those guys an opportunity — (which) you have to. You have to find out who can do it. And if they're not quite there, you have to find a way — how are you going to develop them — so they have a role on this football team."

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A year ago, Cristobal was the offensive line coach and leaned heavily on his starting five of Tyrell Crosby, Lemieux, Hanson, Throckmorton and Aiello or Jake Pisarcik. That reliance on the starting five was at the direction of the head coach, he said.

This year, with Cristobal himself as head coach and Alex Mirabal coaching the linemen, the Ducks intend to rely more on their reserves, with a regular rotation featuring eight to 10 players.

"The good thing is, we've got plenty of guys that can step into that job," quarterback Justin Herbert said. "They've done such a great job, and I've got as much confidence in the 10th guy as the first guy."

Come Wednesday, the offensive line will be in the spotlight again. Cristobal said the practice schedule will include goal-line and other short-yardage situation.

"We're always going to ask for more," the UO coach said. "Without question."

Other highlights: One of the first 11-on-11 periods was conducted in the red zone, and the No. 1 offense shined. On the second play, Johnny Johnson III turned back to haul in a pass from Herbert, twisted back around and fell across the goal line for a touchdown. The ball popped loose, but one of the officials on hand ruled it a touchdown. Three plays later, Herbert hit Tony Brooks-James with a screen pass and the running back found the end zone. …

With the twos on the field, Braxton Burmeister hit Brenden Schooler with a beautiful ball over the top for a touchdown, though Jevon Holland and Brady Breeze made stops for the defense in the run game. … Charles Sudduth didn't let a height disadvantage with Bryan Addison keep him from breaking up a jump ball in the end zone with the threes. The offense rebounded on the next play, though, with Tyler Shough and Matt Mariota connecting for a TD pass, just as they did in Sunday's scrimmage. …

The defense rallied back in a clutch scenario to close practice, with the offense needing to drive the field for a go-ahead field goal. The No. 1 offense opened by going four-and-out, the key play coming from Deommodore Lenoir in pass defense against Johnson on third down. … The No. 2 defense also forced a four-and-out, with Breeze pressuring Burmeister into an incompletion on fourth down. …

The No. 1 offense got another chance, and Herbert connected with Dillon Mitchell on a desperation fourth-down heave of 48 yards to get the ball into the red zone. Brooks-James ran twice to help run out the clock, but the potential "game-winning" field goal was blocked by Bryson Young. … Then the No. 2 offense got another chance, and on the first play Haki Woods Jr. hauled in an interception. He smartly went down to the turf rather than risk turning it back over by returning the pick. …

In highlights from earlier drills, Brooks-James had a leaping, one-handed grab at the sideline. … A mid-practice team period focused on second and third downs, and Herbert consistently moved the chains, with completions to Mitchell, Johnson and Jaylon Redd. Burmeister connected with JJ Tucker to convert on third down. With the threes, Kahlef Hailassie broke up a pass on third down from Shough.

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Other observations: Nike co-founder Phil Knight attended practice and addressed the team afterward. He ribbed Cristobal about scheduling last week's practice at Nike's headquarters in Beaverton on a day Knight couldn't attend, and told players of his passion for the university. "I'm not just from Oregon," Knight told the team. "Oregon is who I am." … Receiver Tabari Hines continues to progress toward full participation as he rehabs a knee injury. Hines joined individual drills last week, and did some work in teams and special teams periods Tuesday. … Scouts from the Houston Texans, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers attended the practice.

Post-practice interviews:

Head coach Mario Cristobal

Junior quarterback Justin Herbert

Up Next: The Ducks practice again Wednesday, and Cristobal said they'll drill goal-line and other short-yardage scenarios.