Football Practice Report: Aug. 11

Venue: Outdoor practice fields
Format: Full pads

Following the first day off of this preseason, the Oregon football team returned to practice Thursday afternoon, and did so wearing full pads for the first time in August.

Defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi said earlier in camp that the true test for the Ducks wouldn't be how physical they were once pads went on, but how physical they could be in a week or two, when the initial excitement is no longer a factor. That test awaits the Ducks later this month, but Thursday brought a different tone as players wore shoulder pads and padded pants for the first time.

For some position groups, Thursday didn't feel much different than previous days of camp.

"Offensive line, even when we don't have pads on guys are throwing hands and all that," UO associate head coach Adrian Klemm said of his unit. "… There's no need to go out there today and get them all riled up or anything like that. They're ready to go and thump a little bit, but they've been doing that anyway. The guys have been working really hard."

Dan Lanning Practice

At running back, meanwhile, position coach Carlos Locklyn is looking for even more as camp progresses.

"It's never going to sound like I want to hear," Locklyn said. "I'm old school. … So I want it to be even a little more physical. My boys, they're going to always say the word 'physicality.' They know I lean on that. We can get better; I'm always going to tell them we can get better."

If the challenge for Oregon's players will be to sustain or even improve on their level of physicality from Thursday, coaches will be in their ears, encouraging them on.

"It's the same standard every day," Locklyn said. "They take the field and they work hard because they hear my voice from the beginning of practice until the end. They don't have a choice, because I'm not going to let up. I'm not going to cheat my kids in that room."

So the Ducks will continue building, as the regular season approaches.

"It's one thing to memorize everything and know what you're supposed to do, but just to apply it and put everything together, it's a work in progress," Klemm said. "Even at the end of the season, I'm not going to be satisfied with it. You want to master your craft, so we're just going to keep on working on it every single day."

Byron Cardwell Practice

Notable: The 2-minute drill that takes place near the end of most practices continues to go back and forth between the two sides of the ball. After the offense scored a couple of touchdowns in that drill Tuesday, the defense kept them off the scoreboard twice Thursday. … The Ducks are scheduled to dial it back Friday with a practice in helmets and spider pads before taking the field for the first scrimmage of preseason camp Saturday afternoon.

Quotable:

Receiver Isaah Crocker
On honoring the memory of his fellow Sacramento native Spencer Webb
"For me, it's really hard. I just gotta keep going. It's sad that it happened, and we're really just dedicating this whole entire season to him. It really took a toll on everybody. We're really looking to get that fire going and honor him this entire season."

Jay Butterfield Practice

Placekicker Camden Lewis
On the emphasis placed on special teams by the new coaching staff
"Coach Lorig knows what he's doing. We're working every phase. We're getting it in. Every bit of practice, we'll have it integrated in some way."

Post-practice interviews:

Offensive line coach Adrian Klemm