Football Practice Report: Aug. 24

Venue: Outdoor practice fields
Format: Full pads

Oregon's roster lists no safeties and no cornerbacks. Everyone who is in the mix to play in the secondary is listed simply as a defensive back.

It's not that UO coaches are being coy. It's that they expect everyone on the back end of the defense to be able to play all over the secondary.

"Coach Lanning is big on cross-training guys, getting guys to play multiple positions" UO cornerbacks coach Demetrice Martin said. "We're going to continue that trend with all of the guys – working them at different spots, whether it be Star, safety, boundary, post safety in the middle of the field, or at corner."

Just as offensive linemen can be moved around to get the best five on the field, versatility in the back end can create opportunities for worthy candidates in the secondary.

Demetrice Martin Practice

Jamal Hill and Bennett Williams, for example, each has excelled over the past two years at the nickel position, known in this UO defense as the "star." If both prove worthy of playing time, versatility will be essential.

Or take Trikweze Bridges, an accomplished high school safety who has played corner with the Ducks. Bridges said Wednesday most of his attention is focused on preparing to play this season at corner – most of his attention, but not all of it.

"I want to play different positions, and I want to be able to help the team out in many ways," Bridges said. "Corner, safety, nickel – quarterback if I have to. It doesn't matter."

Even cornerback Christian Gonzalez, an honorable mention all-conference player a year ago, is cross-trained at different positions, including the Star, Martin said.

To be a defensive back at Oregon, it's an expectation.

"Most of those guys can all do it," Martin said. "We recruit guys to be defensive backs, not just necessarily a corner, or a safety or a Star. All those guys have the qualities to be able to do that."

Phil Knight Practice

Notable: Nike co-founder Phil Knight attended practice and addressed the team afterward. … Former Nike creative director Todd Van Horne also was in attendance. Van Horne helped design a new look for the interior of the Moshofsky Center that fans can see when the Ducks host their first home game, Sept. 10 against Eastern Washington. … Wednesday's practice included some instances of crowd noise piped over the PA, to prepare the Ducks for operating in full stadiums.

Quotable:

Special teams coordinator Joe Lorig
On the competition for key roles on special teams this preseason
"We've got a really healthy competition at kickoff and at field goal. I wanted to bring in some guys that could compete and play at this level, and there's a couple other guys here that have some experience. Definitely has pushed them, for sure."

Marko Vidackovic Practice

Redshirt freshman linebacker Justin Flowe
On being able to participate in camp after rehabbing from injury
"It feels so good to be back with my team and to be practicing every day. To be able to bring my energy and help my team get better every day. And it helps me get better, because I get to be around my guys."

Post-practice interviews:

Cornerbacks coach Demetrice Martin