Football Practice Report: Aug. 9

The Oregon Ducks take part in day six of fall camp in Eugene, Oregon on August 9, 2018 (Eric Evans Photography)

Photo by: @EricEvansPhoto

08/09/18 | Football, @GoDucksMoseley

There's a heated battle at tight end so far in this preseason camp, which can only benefit the players involved and the Oregon offense as a whole in 2018.

By: Rob Moseley

Venue: Outdoor practice fields
Format: Full pads

Jacob Breeland led the Oregon football team with five touchdown receptions in 2017, and with his 17.8 yards per reception. The junior is on the preseason watch list for the John Mackey Award, given to the nation's top tight end. And for parts of the first week of this preseason camp, he was with the second-team offense.

Part of that owed to a back injury Breeland suffered while lifting weights, which gave him a late start to offseason strength and conditioning. Part of that owed to the emergence of sophomore Cam McCormick, who appears to have turned a corner in his development. All of that makes for heated competition this month of practice, which can only benefit the Ducks in 2018.

"We're all trying to get that starting spot," Breeland said Thursday, when the Ducks returned to action following a day off, and which he spent largely back with the No. 1 offense. "We're all pushing each other, beating each other up. But at the end of the day we're all in meetings together, all rooting for each other."

Breeland was an honorable mention all-Pac-12 pick as a sophomore in 2017, when he benefitted from obvious chemistry with quarterback Justin Herbert. This summer, it was McCormick's turn to deepen his connection with the quarterback — and not just on the football field.

McCormick and Herbert both went to Uganda as part of the UO student-athlete delegation that participated in the athletic department's annual Courts for Kids project.

"When you're in a different country like that, no phones or anything, you had to really trust each other and get to know each other," McCormick said. "It was great to get a stronger connection and bond with him."

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McCormick, a native of Bend, appeared in all 13 games as a redshirt freshman last fall, starting twice. He caught his first career TD pass in the Ducks' October upset of Utah, but also contended with some drops. This preseason he's carry himself with renewed confidence.

"He's been really impressive," Breeland said. "We've been working out together, pushing each other, and he came out for fall camp and has been doing really well."

The tight end group was enhanced this offseason by mammoth graduate transfer Kano Dillon, whose participation has been limited at times the first week of camp, and true freshman Spencer Webb, who is battling to make the adjustment from high school to college. Junior Ryan Bay and converted defensive end Hunter Kampmoyer provide two bruising options at the line of scrimmage, and Matt Mariota is versatile enough to have played some slot receiver in this camp, Breeland said.

With all that depth, competition abounds at tight end for Oregon, including for that starting spot. But coaches have insisted the "organizational chart" for these practices is very fluid, and players are taking the same approach.

"I don't think you can get too caught up," McCormick said. "It's still fall camp; we've got a long way to go. Just go out and compete, bust your butt, and it'll work itself out."

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Other highlights: Practice again began with an Oklahoma drill. In a true battle of heavyweights, Jordon Scott was able to shove aside Dallas Warmack and get to the ballcarrier. Kampmoyer and Chris Randazzo both got good push in their reps, while freshman cornerback Kahlef Hailassie drove his blocker straight backwards at the snap. As was the case Tuesday, Cyrus Habibi-Likio proved very tough to tackle in a couple instances when defenders beat a blocker and then had to contend with the big running back. … Scott was dominant throughout the day, putting a first-string offensive lineman on his back in the 7-on-7 run-game drill, and later swallowing up Tony Brooks-James at the line in 11-on-11. …

Hailassie and McKinley both had nice pass breakups during 1-on-1 pass drills, which were held down near the goal line. Later in 11-on-11, Hailassie dropped his shoulder and brought down Habibi-Likio at the end of a run, and he intercepted a Braxton Burmeister pass in 7-on-7. The true freshman corner, a late addition to the 2018 recruiting class, is looking like a real diamond in the rough. … Deommodore Lenoir fought for position against Johnny Johnson III in that 1-on-1 period but dropped a potential interception thrown by Justin Herbert. Jevon Holland nearly came up with an interception later in the day, on a tipped ball in 11-on-11, but he couldn't quite get to the ball before it hit the turf, despite a diving effort. …

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Brenden Schooler had a sweet fingertips catch in the end zone during 1-on-1 drills; the drops that plagued the receivers Tuesday didn't carry over into Thursday. … Tyler Shough found Isaah Crocker matched up with a safety and hit him for a long gain in the first 11-on-11 period of the day. Later on, Shough hit Webb with a touch pass over the top of the defense, and Webb turned it into a TD reception of about 60 yards. … Burmeister found Taj Griffin up the sideline in coverage against Adrian Jackson and the running back caught a pass with his fingertips before racing to the end zone. Jackson shrugged it off and stopped Habibi-Likio on the next rep; the freshman linebacker has an uncanny nose for the ball in the run game.

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Other observations: Around a half-dozen scouts from NFL teams watched practice Thursday. … Sophomore safety Billy Gibson, who was a late arrival to camp, went through another practice in shells, and so should be able to don full pads the next time the Ducks do so. … During special teams work, the punters attempted rugby style kicks. Freshman Tom Snee, a native of Australia, looked very comfortable doing so. "He has an incredible ability to do a lot of different things," special teams coordinator Bobby Williams said after practice. … Penei Sewell continues to play primarily right tackle in team drills, but he got some work at left tackle during pass-rush drills Thursday.

Post-practice interviews:

Special teams coordinator Bobby Williams

Junior center Jake Hanson

Up next: Practice continues Friday morning, and then into the weekend with a practice Saturday afternoon to which season-ticket holders received invitations.