Football Practice Report: April 14

Venue: Moshofsky Center
Format: Shells

The 2022 season will be a new era for Oregon's offense at the skill positions, and some young Ducks are ready to show they're up to the task.

Gone from the 2021 team are the starting quarterback, the two running backs who combined to start every game and a quartet of receivers who combined for 358 career receptions. At the tight end position, Cam McCormick is rehabbing an injury this spring and DJ Johnson is playing defense.

Stepping into those large shoes are a bunch of eager young Ducks, ready to build on what they learned as freshmen a year ago.

"You gotta come every day ready to work," second-year tight end Terrance Ferguson said. "You've gotta come in each week with the mentality of getting better in practice."

Head coach Dan Lanning and his staff have bolstered Oregon's depth with some transfers at the skill positions, including quarterback Bo Nix, running back Noah Whittington and receiver Chase Cota. But this spring has also been a showcase for younger players at those spots, such as quarterbacks Jay Butterfield and Ty Thompson, running backs Byron Cardwell and Sean Dollars, and receivers Dont'e Thornton, Troy Franklin, Kris Hutson, Seven McGee, Isaah Crocker, Josh Delgado and Isaiah Brevard.

Seven McGee Practice Mo

For the receiver group, their audition for larger roles began late last season, due to some injuries and opt-outs. In the Alamo Bowl, Franklin, Huston and Thornton all caught touchdown passes.

"We really had to step up," Thornton said. "Our older guys were down; now the coaches have to depend on us. It's time for us to step up. We had to mature faster than the average freshmen, but that's what we needed to do."

That late-season success helped assure a player like Thornton that he could contribute at this level. Armed with that confidence, he set out to become a more vocal teammate this offseason.

"With all the older guys in the room gone, somebody has to step up," Thornton said. "I've been trying my best to help everybody else out. Even though I'm not the oldest one in the room, we need somebody to take that step up."

Like Ferguson, Thornton said he's taking a more diligent approach to daily improvement. Ferguson said regular time in the training room is helping him keep his body fresh this spring. Thornton, meanwhile, said he's been more dedicated to studying his playbook.

"I'm putting more effort into off-the-field stuff," Thornton said, "that's going to help me on the field."

Isaiah Brevard Practice Mo

Notable: The Ducks did another brief "competition period" of 1-on-1 reps between various position groups Thursday. T.J. Bass and Marcus Harper II won reps at the line of scrimmage, Bryan Addison broke up a pass in the end zone and Thornton hauled in a touchdown. … In another competition period later in the day, offensive and defensive group faced off in third-and-long situations. Whittington, Dollars, Delgado and Spencer Webb hauled in passes to move the chains on offense, while Bradyn Swinson had a sack and Adrian Jackson teamed up with Brandon Buckner for another sack. Jackson also tackled a runner short of the line to gain, as he continues to acclimate to a new position at inside linebacker. …

Lanning was really engaged with players during a 7-on-7 period conducted in the red zone, emphasizing pre-snap communication on both sides of the ball. For the offense, he wanted to see identification of defensive personnel, and for the defense, he was harping on getting aligned correctly. … Former head coach Rich Brooks attended practice and met afterward with Lanning. Brooks watched practice with former UO defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti, who was on hand with a crew from the Pac-12 Network.

Nick Aliotti Rich Brooks Practice Mo

Quotable:

Assistant coach Matt Powledge, on the foundation of his relationship with Dan Lanning
"We both were assistant coaches back in 2014 at Sam Houston State University; Coach Lanning was coaching the corners, and I was the special teams coordinator at the time and coaching on the offensive side of the ball. We were very close back then, actually lived on the same street – right across from each other. I was actually from Huntsville, Texas, where Sam Houston State is, so my sister actually babysat the (Lanning) boys a few times, when him and Sauphia (had) a dinner date, things like that. So we've been close, stayed in touch over the years."

Assistant coach Matt Powledge, on replacing the playmaking ability of Verone McKinley III
"I think Verone had the success he did because he studied the game, took major ownership as 'The General' on the back end, and at the same time, he had that skill set. For us, we're developing that skill set right now. We're developing those guys off the field, being that student of the game. And then on the field, really focused on being communicators, being 'Generals' to be in the right spot and do those things."

Post-practice interviews:

Co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Matt Powledge