Photo by: Rob Moseley/GoDucks.com
Football Practice Report: March 5
03/05/20 | Football, @GoDucksMoseley
The Oregon football team opened spring practice Thursday, looking to raise the bar even higher after winning a Pac-12 championship and the Rose Bowl last season.
Venue: Moshofsky Center
Format: Helmets and shorts
It's not unusual for the defense to be a step ahead when camp opens, be it in spring or fall.
Especially this spring, which began for the Oregon football team Thursday, the installation of a new offense under new coordinator Joe Moorhead figured to allow for the defense to have an early edge. Convention dictated as much.
But the way Mario Cristobal talked up his defense Thursday went well beyond convention.
A year ago, the UO defense was learning a new system under coordinator Andy Avalos. The resulting improvements helped the Ducks skyrocket from No. 42 nationally in yards allowed per play in 2018, at 5.25, to No. 11 in 2019, at 4.73.
And to hear Cristobal tell it Thursday, another jump forward could be in store in 2020.
"We looked like a veteran defense, in the way we run it, the way we get our communication established and whatnot," Cristobal said late Thursday morning, following Oregon's first of 14 spring practice leading up to the Spring Game on April 18.
"… It was impressive to watch. I feel good talking about them that way, because I think they can handle it. I think you're gonna be real pleased when you come out and watch these guys play."
Cristobal's early kudos for the defense were notable in particular because of some other comments he made Thursday morning. The Ducks are on guard to fight off potential complacency, in light of the Pac-12 championship season and Rose Bowl victory to cap last fall.
But Cristobal trusted his veteran defense enough to offer them praise after the first spring practice. Even though the battle against complacency will remain ongoing.
"It's been a little while since a Rose Bowl, and all of a sudden you get it," the UO coach said. "And all you hear and all you see are T-shirts and hats and some great highlights. Staying hungry and humble and driven, and making sure technique and fundamentals, relentless effort, execution, are at the forefront everything we do.
"We're all about Oregon right now, not any opponent, but understanding everything we do now will have a direct reflection on how we show up against North Dakota State on the opening day, and the rest of the season."
Cristobal said priorities this spring will involve the coverage units on special teams, on efficiency in the passing game offensively — particularly on third down — and on protection up front, in the wake of four starters lost on the offensive line. And for the defense, the goal is "chasing a new standard," after the marked improvements last season.
Thursday was only the first day of spring. But for at least one day, Cristobal liked the work he saw toward those goals.
"The physicality of our football team, which is always going to be a point of emphasis, showed," Cristobal said. "Their conditioning showed up. We looked faster. …
"Football, you have seasons within seasons, and you can't skip any of them. The winter conditioning, we got out of it exactly what we wanted to get out of it. And it showed up today."
Practice highlights: Mykael Wright got some reps at corner with the No. 1 defense and really took advantage. He had two highlight-reel pass breakups in the first 11-on-11 period of practice, a "good on good" situation. … Wright's hot start made it stand out even more when Bryan Addison won a physical battle for position against Wright to haul in a pass from Tyler Shough in a later 11-on-11 period. … Jevon Holland is back fielding punts after handling that job last season, and he had a couple big returns that left coverage guys grabbing for air as he scooted out of reach.
Other observations: To help get Wright reps with the No. 1 defense, senior Thomas Graham Jr. took some reps inside at safety. … The Ducks had a handful of players miss practice due to illness. Among them was Ryan Walk, who will be in the mix to take reps at center with the No. 1 offense this spring. With Walk absent, Alex Forsyth handled snaps to Shough, flanked by guards Sam Poutasi and Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu and bookended by tackles Penei Sewell and Steven Jones. … Cristobal held practice inside the Moshofsky Center, though it was a pleasant day in Eugene. The lack of cloud cover had temperatures pretty cool first-thing in the morning, and Cristobal wanted to test the Ducks' conditioning by practicing inside the warmer climate of "the Mo."
Post-practice interview:
Head coach Mario Cristobal
Format: Helmets and shorts
It's not unusual for the defense to be a step ahead when camp opens, be it in spring or fall.
Especially this spring, which began for the Oregon football team Thursday, the installation of a new offense under new coordinator Joe Moorhead figured to allow for the defense to have an early edge. Convention dictated as much.
But the way Mario Cristobal talked up his defense Thursday went well beyond convention.
A year ago, the UO defense was learning a new system under coordinator Andy Avalos. The resulting improvements helped the Ducks skyrocket from No. 42 nationally in yards allowed per play in 2018, at 5.25, to No. 11 in 2019, at 4.73.
And to hear Cristobal tell it Thursday, another jump forward could be in store in 2020.
"We looked like a veteran defense, in the way we run it, the way we get our communication established and whatnot," Cristobal said late Thursday morning, following Oregon's first of 14 spring practice leading up to the Spring Game on April 18.
"… It was impressive to watch. I feel good talking about them that way, because I think they can handle it. I think you're gonna be real pleased when you come out and watch these guys play."
Cristobal's early kudos for the defense were notable in particular because of some other comments he made Thursday morning. The Ducks are on guard to fight off potential complacency, in light of the Pac-12 championship season and Rose Bowl victory to cap last fall.
But Cristobal trusted his veteran defense enough to offer them praise after the first spring practice. Even though the battle against complacency will remain ongoing.
"It's been a little while since a Rose Bowl, and all of a sudden you get it," the UO coach said. "And all you hear and all you see are T-shirts and hats and some great highlights. Staying hungry and humble and driven, and making sure technique and fundamentals, relentless effort, execution, are at the forefront everything we do.
"We're all about Oregon right now, not any opponent, but understanding everything we do now will have a direct reflection on how we show up against North Dakota State on the opening day, and the rest of the season."
Cristobal said priorities this spring will involve the coverage units on special teams, on efficiency in the passing game offensively — particularly on third down — and on protection up front, in the wake of four starters lost on the offensive line. And for the defense, the goal is "chasing a new standard," after the marked improvements last season.
Thursday was only the first day of spring. But for at least one day, Cristobal liked the work he saw toward those goals.
"The physicality of our football team, which is always going to be a point of emphasis, showed," Cristobal said. "Their conditioning showed up. We looked faster. …
"Football, you have seasons within seasons, and you can't skip any of them. The winter conditioning, we got out of it exactly what we wanted to get out of it. And it showed up today."
Practice highlights: Mykael Wright got some reps at corner with the No. 1 defense and really took advantage. He had two highlight-reel pass breakups in the first 11-on-11 period of practice, a "good on good" situation. … Wright's hot start made it stand out even more when Bryan Addison won a physical battle for position against Wright to haul in a pass from Tyler Shough in a later 11-on-11 period. … Jevon Holland is back fielding punts after handling that job last season, and he had a couple big returns that left coverage guys grabbing for air as he scooted out of reach.
Other observations: To help get Wright reps with the No. 1 defense, senior Thomas Graham Jr. took some reps inside at safety. … The Ducks had a handful of players miss practice due to illness. Among them was Ryan Walk, who will be in the mix to take reps at center with the No. 1 offense this spring. With Walk absent, Alex Forsyth handled snaps to Shough, flanked by guards Sam Poutasi and Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu and bookended by tackles Penei Sewell and Steven Jones. … Cristobal held practice inside the Moshofsky Center, though it was a pleasant day in Eugene. The lack of cloud cover had temperatures pretty cool first-thing in the morning, and Cristobal wanted to test the Ducks' conditioning by practicing inside the warmer climate of "the Mo."
Post-practice interview:
Head coach Mario Cristobal
Players Mentioned
CB/WR
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
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OL
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QB
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CB
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