Football Practice Report: Aug. 20

Photo by: Rob Moseley/GoDucks.com

08/20/19 | Football, @GoDucksMoseley

After two days off, Oregon returned to the practice field and began the process of shifting its focus to the season opener.

By: Rob Moseley

Venue: Outdoor practice fields
Format: Full pads

The Ducks aren't completely pointing toward next week's season-opening game just yet, but they're also no longer purely in preseason camp mode.

The UO football team returned to the practice field Tuesday, following two days off in the wake of Saturday's scrimmage. For the first time this month, scout-team players were designated, and they donned dark blue jerseys for periods in which they ran Auburn plays for the sake of the travel squad.

"What we did was 50 percent on some opponent prep, and then 50 percent just to get with our tempo," safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator Keith Heyward said. "Just trying to get guys' eyes right, and starting to key in on a few things that some of our opponents do."

In the wake of the scrimmage Saturday, Heyward said he wants to see the defense start faster going forward. The No. 1 offense scored on its first possession of the scrimmage, capped by a 59-yard touchdown reception by Ryan Bay, and the No. 2 defense scored on it second possession.

The looming opener against Auburn in Texas means depth charts and rotations need to be finalized in the coming days. For Heyward, that means settling the battle for the starting boundary safety spot, between Nick Pickett and Brady Breeze, as well as the backup to field safety Jevon Holland, either Steve Stephens or Kahlef Hailassie.

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The battle for reps between Breeze and Pickett may have been the best of this preseason camp.

"There's still a really good position battle right there," Heyward said. "Going into the game right now, both of those guys are going a great job and I anticipate both of them playing significantly for us."

Practice highlights: Presumably to Heyward's chagrin, Justin Herbert and the No. 1 offense started fast in the first 11-on-11 period, with Herbert zipping three straight completions to three difference receivers. … Tyler Shough opened his series in the drill with a completion to Bryan Addison, before the defense began to lock it down. … Shough had a nice series in an 11-on-11 passing drill, recognizing a blitz the unload the ball quickly before taking a sack, checking through his progressions to complete a pass on the next play and completing the series with a really nice touch pass to Spencer Webb.

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Other observations: Phil Knight attended practice and addressed the team afterward. … Among the true freshman on the travel squad rather than with the scout team were Sean Dollars, Cale Millen, Josh Delgado, Mykael Wright, DJ James, Jamal Hill, Ge'mon Eaford, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Mase Funa and Keyon Ware-Hudson. … With Mycah Pittman and JR Waters both sidelined several weeks by injuries, the Ducks welcomed running back KJ Maduike and receiver Vincenzo Logan to the preseason camp roster, which has a cap of 105 players. … After a couple days in which they were perfect last week, all three placekickers struggled to put the ball through the uprights during a field-goal kicking drill.

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