Photo by: Rob Moseley/GoDucks.com
Football Practice Report: April 7
04/07/22 | Football, @GoDucksMoseley
Oregon approached the halfway point of spring drills after holding practice No. 7 on Thursday.
Venue: Outdoor practice fields
Format: Full pads
Alex Forsyth knows the frustration of missing game action in the middle of a season. He doesn't want to endure that fate again.
So while Forsyth has been eager to cut it loose with the Ducks in practices this spring, he is taking a methodical approach as he recovers from a 2021 season in which back problems caused him to miss four games.
"I took it easy the first few practices, and then this past week I've kind of been rotating in, getting my reps," Forsyth said Thursday, Oregon's seventh spring practice of the year. "Just being cautious with everything, but trying to get back to full health and full speed. Just trying to enter next season fully healthy, ready to rock and roll."
Forsyth was a second-team all-conference selection in 2021, despite those four missed games. He's back for this fall with fellow veterans Ryan Walk, Steven Jones, T.J. Bass, Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu and Dawson Jaramillo, and some hard-charging younger faces.
At one point this offseason Aumavae-Laulu was headed for the NFL draft, and Bass was considering doing the same. Ultimately, though, everyone who could return to Oregon chose to do so. Disruptions due to injuries and the pandemic have played havoc with the past two seasons, but the offensive line is looking forward to some stability in 2022.
"We haven't gotten a full season all together healthy," Forsyth said. "Next year is going to be our year."
This spring is a mix of the familiar and the unfamiliar on the offensive line. On one hand, the returning linemen have played countless reps together, in games and practices. On the other hand, they're learning new concepts under position coach Adrian Klemm. Forsyth said easing into contact drills this spring for the sake of his back has allowed him to digest the new system from the sideline.
"It's been good, reading the scripts and being able to see what the other guys are doing, and make the calls," he said. "Especially with a new defense, too — it's one thing to learn a new offense, but it's another thing to learn a new offense and go against a new defense that, you have no idea what they're going to run. So getting a feel for that, what they've been running, that's been good for us."
Notable: Oregon's practice script included several different 11-on-11 situations Thursday — but head coach Dan Lanning didn't always stick to the script. During a period of second- and third-down plays, Lanning a couple of times called for an unscheduled fourth-down play, keeping players and playcallers alike on their toes. ... The Ducks drilled a couple of end-of-game scenarios and got heady play from a couple of safeties. Bryan Addison knocked down a potential Hail Mary, and Trikweze Bridges tackled a ballcarrier just short of the goal line. …
It hasn't been unusual in years past to see players all form a circle at midfield to watch a couple teammates face off in a one-on-one blocking-and-tackling drill during spring camp. The Ducks did that a couple times Thursday, but instead of offense vs. defense situations, it was for special teams work. One drill was a kick-coverage version of capture the flag, with two players racing down the field neck-and-neck, one looking to snatch a flag that was laying on the ground and the other looking to beat him to the spot and set a block as if on a kick or punt return.
Quotable:
Offensive line coach Adrian Klemm, on returning to a college program after three years with the Steelers
"I used to be in a spread offense throughout my time in the college ranks, and then going to the NFL we ran more pro-style type deals. Coming back, those are things that integrate with what (offensive coordinator) Kenny Dillingham does. Finding ways to integrate those things so we can have success and throw defenses off, it's been a pretty smooth transition."
Senior offensive lineman Ryan Walk, on how many positions linemen are learning
"Coach Klemm has different techniques and fundamentals that he's preaching to us right now. We're trying to get that down at one position before we start trying to figure out other spots. Right now we're all trying to focus on one spot, get the techniques and fundamentals down that are necessary to compete in this system. … Once that happens, we can start working on some versatility."
Post-practice interviews:
Offensive line coach Adrian Klemm
Senior offensive lineman Alex Forsyth
Senior offensive lineman Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu
Senior offensive lineman Ryan Walk
Format: Full pads
Alex Forsyth knows the frustration of missing game action in the middle of a season. He doesn't want to endure that fate again.
So while Forsyth has been eager to cut it loose with the Ducks in practices this spring, he is taking a methodical approach as he recovers from a 2021 season in which back problems caused him to miss four games.
"I took it easy the first few practices, and then this past week I've kind of been rotating in, getting my reps," Forsyth said Thursday, Oregon's seventh spring practice of the year. "Just being cautious with everything, but trying to get back to full health and full speed. Just trying to enter next season fully healthy, ready to rock and roll."
Forsyth was a second-team all-conference selection in 2021, despite those four missed games. He's back for this fall with fellow veterans Ryan Walk, Steven Jones, T.J. Bass, Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu and Dawson Jaramillo, and some hard-charging younger faces.
At one point this offseason Aumavae-Laulu was headed for the NFL draft, and Bass was considering doing the same. Ultimately, though, everyone who could return to Oregon chose to do so. Disruptions due to injuries and the pandemic have played havoc with the past two seasons, but the offensive line is looking forward to some stability in 2022.
"We haven't gotten a full season all together healthy," Forsyth said. "Next year is going to be our year."
This spring is a mix of the familiar and the unfamiliar on the offensive line. On one hand, the returning linemen have played countless reps together, in games and practices. On the other hand, they're learning new concepts under position coach Adrian Klemm. Forsyth said easing into contact drills this spring for the sake of his back has allowed him to digest the new system from the sideline.
"It's been good, reading the scripts and being able to see what the other guys are doing, and make the calls," he said. "Especially with a new defense, too — it's one thing to learn a new offense, but it's another thing to learn a new offense and go against a new defense that, you have no idea what they're going to run. So getting a feel for that, what they've been running, that's been good for us."
Notable: Oregon's practice script included several different 11-on-11 situations Thursday — but head coach Dan Lanning didn't always stick to the script. During a period of second- and third-down plays, Lanning a couple of times called for an unscheduled fourth-down play, keeping players and playcallers alike on their toes. ... The Ducks drilled a couple of end-of-game scenarios and got heady play from a couple of safeties. Bryan Addison knocked down a potential Hail Mary, and Trikweze Bridges tackled a ballcarrier just short of the goal line. …
It hasn't been unusual in years past to see players all form a circle at midfield to watch a couple teammates face off in a one-on-one blocking-and-tackling drill during spring camp. The Ducks did that a couple times Thursday, but instead of offense vs. defense situations, it was for special teams work. One drill was a kick-coverage version of capture the flag, with two players racing down the field neck-and-neck, one looking to snatch a flag that was laying on the ground and the other looking to beat him to the spot and set a block as if on a kick or punt return.
Quotable:
Offensive line coach Adrian Klemm, on returning to a college program after three years with the Steelers
"I used to be in a spread offense throughout my time in the college ranks, and then going to the NFL we ran more pro-style type deals. Coming back, those are things that integrate with what (offensive coordinator) Kenny Dillingham does. Finding ways to integrate those things so we can have success and throw defenses off, it's been a pretty smooth transition."
Senior offensive lineman Ryan Walk, on how many positions linemen are learning
"Coach Klemm has different techniques and fundamentals that he's preaching to us right now. We're trying to get that down at one position before we start trying to figure out other spots. Right now we're all trying to focus on one spot, get the techniques and fundamentals down that are necessary to compete in this system. … Once that happens, we can start working on some versatility."
Post-practice interviews:
Offensive line coach Adrian Klemm
Senior offensive lineman Alex Forsyth
Senior offensive lineman Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu
Senior offensive lineman Ryan Walk
Players Mentioned
CB/WR
/ Football
OL
/ Football
CB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
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