Football Practice Report: Aug. 29
08/29/18 | Football, @GoDucksMoseley
The Ducks conducted their last full-pads practice Wednesday before kicking off the 2018 season on Saturday against Bowling Green (5 p.m., Pac-12 Network).
Venue: Outdoor practice fields
Format: Full pads
Over the course of preseason camp earlier this month, the Oregon coaching staff sprinkled in occasional practice periods focusing on a specific 2018 opponent. For the most part though, the Ducks were running their own offense against their own defense, and seeing where the cards fell.
This week it's been a different story: Scout-team players have been designated, and the Ducks largely are practicing against the schemes they expect to see Saturday night in the season opener against Bowling Green (5 p.m., Pac-12 Network). A few times throughout practices Tuesday and Wednesday, however, the travel squad reunited on the same field, to tee off on each other again for a few reps.
"It's kind of like, 'Hey, how's it going, man? It's been a while …" UO head coach Mario Cristobal said.
Iron sharpens iron, as they say, and the Ducks are embracing that philosophy as they enter their first full season under Cristobal. Both 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 periods begin against scouts and end with the two-deep going head-to-head, and on Wednesday the Ducks also conducted a "good-on-good" two-minute drill scenario.
"It's good to have Jake Hanson and Jordon (Scott) get after it," Cristobal said. "It's good to have Jalen Jelks and Justin Hollins go against Calvin Throckmorton, and test themselves on a daily basis. Even if it's just for 10, 12 plays, it's really good for us."
On Wednesday, it was particularly good for the offense. The two-minute drill required the offense to drive past midfield to a "game-winning" field goal, and both the ones and twos succeeded. Justin Herbert connected on a 26-yard gain to Jacob Breeland that put the No. 1 offense into position for a 38-yard field goal that was good, and the No. 2 offense also converted, moving the ball in two big chunks: a 26-yard pass play from Braxton Burmeister to Tabari Hines, and a 15-yard run by Travis Dye.
Oregon's practice has long featured such situational work between the starters. But the inclusion of more "good on good" reps in each 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 period is a new twist under Cristobal.
"It's a little bit different than we did last year, but it's important for our guys to work speed on speed, our best players versus our best players, every day," Cristobal said. "They've embraced it. It's a different kind of practice for them, but it's one that, when you leave here on Wednesday, you should hopefully be fully confident that, come Saturday, you're as prepared as you possibly can be for the game."
Other highlights: Probably the highlight of practice was watching Herbert in 7-on-7 against scouts in the red zone. He zipped TD passes to Johnny Johnson III, Dillon Mitchell, Jaylon Redd and Bryan Addison in quick succession, left the field for the twos to get some reps, then returned for three more TD passes to Mitchell, Johnson and Redd. … Also during that period, Tyler Shough dropped a deep ball into the arms of Brenden Schooler, and zipped a line drive to Hines. On the defensive field, Jevon Holland snared an interception, and Isaah Crocker nearly high-pointed a deep ball but had Thomas Graham Jr. poke it out before he came down. …
In the first "good-on-good" team period, CJ Verdell gashed the defense for a 10-yard gain, and Herbert moved the chains with a pass to Redd. Isaac Slade-Matautia evened the scales for the defense, driving the center backwards after the snap to blow up a run play. … In reps against scouts, Deommodore Lenoir broke up a pass in the end zone, and Verone McKinley III had an interception in the red zone. … Spencer Webb had another highlight for the scouts, winning a 50-50 ball at the goal line against the starting secondary. "Get big," someone shouted from the sideline while the ball was in the air, and Webb did just that to win the rep.
Other observations: Maybe this is just a perception thing because the opener is looming and that's exciting, but everything seems a little sharper this week. Tony Brooks-James seems a step quicker, Addison looks bigger and more consistent, and Austin Faoliu is playing with incredible ferocity – you can literally hear him roaring and growling as a rep is being played out and he's doing battle at the line. It's fun to watch – and to hear, in Faoliu's case. … Mitchell practiced in a red non-contact jersey after being dinged Tuesday, but Cristobal said that he's expected to be full-go for Saturday's game. …
The depth chart uncertainties reflected upon its release Monday continue to linger in some cases. On the offensive line, for instance, George Moore got some work with the first team Wednesday, along with the other two regular tackles the last couple weeks, Penei Sewell and Calvin Throckmorton. "Throughout the entire time we always make our players aware of, look, this is where you're at, this is what you have to do to change that, or this is what you have to do to maintain that," Cristobal said. "So there's always clarity in our communication, so that regardless of whether there's agreement or disagreement, there's respect. And that's all you can ask for."
Post-practice interviews:
Head coach Mario Cristobal
Junior quarterback Justin Herbert
