Football Practice Report: Aug. 7

Venue: Nike World Headquarters
Format: Full pads

Wrigley Field may be known as the "friendly confines," but that designation could have applied to Autzen Stadium for the Oregon football team in 2017.

In seven home games last fall, the Ducks won six times, the exception their first game following the shoulder injury to starting quarterback Justin Herbert. But it was another story outside of Eugene; identifying reasons for that was a primary goal this offseason.

"That's definitely something we're trying to figure out," Herbert said. "We were looking back at our record, and we were 1-4. And that's not acceptable."

116637

Indeed the Ducks were 1-4 on the road last fall, and that doesn't include their Las Vegas Bowl loss on a neutral field. In part to prepare his team to perform away from home, first-year UO coach Mario Cristobal on Tuesday took Oregon football practice on the road, to Ronaldo Field at Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton.

"The approach to the entire thing has to be a change a mindset," Cristobal said prior to practice Tuesday. "It's a huge focal point for today."

Cristobal noted that the Ducks practice in the morning, and so an afternoon practice Tuesday also would prepare them for the varied game times of a regular season. And Tuesday was also the first day of this preseason camp that the Ducks were in full pads.

"We have a lot of things to prove today," Cristobal said.

The biggest was getting comfortable performing well away from home. Three of the road losses in 2017 came while Herbert was hurt, but he was healthy for a September loss at Arizona State. And the UO offense struggled to get untracked against Boise State in the bowl game.

For a 2018 team with championship aspirations, that simply won't do. Something, they know, needs to change.

"It's a business mindset, a business mentality," junior linebacker La'Mar Winston Jr. said. " 'I came to execute, and that's what I'm doing to do,' from the hotel environment to the field. I'm excited to see my team grow in that area this year."

116639

Practice highlights: Practice began with an Oklahoma drill. Newcomers on the offensive line Penei Sewell, Dallas Warmack and Steven Jones all had dominant reps, while outside linebackers Keith Simms and Winston each shed a block and put the ballcarrier on his back. Cyrus Habibi-Likio trucked a defensive lineman who was shedding an offensive lineman and looking to make a tackle. … Tuesday's practice was heavy on red-zone drills, with 1-on-1, 7-on-7 and full team periods held inside the 20-yard line. In 1-on-1s, Dillon Mitchell reached to make a fingertips catch of a pass from Justin Herbert, but Deommodore Lenoir finished the play well and denied Mitchell the reception. Later in the drill, Haki Woods Jr. intercepted a pass Schooler bobbled, and the other guy who wears No. 14, Demetri Burch, hauled in a TD pass from Herbert. …

In the 7-on-7 period, Herbert had two touchdown passes to Schooler and another to Mitchell. On the latter catch, Mitchell held on and then somersaulted over a chain-link fence surrounding the field. … Herbert ran for a touchdown in the team red-zone period. … In the final team period of the day, conducted around midfield, Justin Hollins and Drayton Carlberg each had a tackle for loss, and Isaiah Pitre both had a sack and slapped down a screen pass.

Other observations: As the team was stretching to begin practice, Cristobal went over to greet the Nike employees who were in attendance to watch drills. … While there were some definite highlights, the receiver crew also dealt with some drops Tuesday. Schooler seemed particularly frustrated with himself as the day wore on. ... True freshman receiver JJ Tucker appeared to have his most consistent practice yet. …

Unless I missed it, Jevon Holland's streak of forced turnovers ended Tuesday, but Steve Stephens picked up the torch and nabbed a Braxton Burmeister pass intended for Schooler. Stephens also nearly caught but couldn't secure a ball cornerback Charles Sudduth slapped away from a receiver in 7-on-7. … Sophomore safety Billy Gibson, as a late arrival to camp due to the birth of his child, is behind the rest of the team in his build up to full contact, and so was in shells Tuesday.

Up Next: The Ducks will take their first day off of this camp Wednesday, before returning to action Thursday.