Photo by: Rob Moseley/GoDucks.com
Football Practice Report: April 27
04/27/23 | Football, @GoDucksMoseley
The Ducks had one final practice Thursday before taking the field in Autzen Stadium for the Spring Game on Saturday (1 p.m., Pac-12 Network).
Venue: Outdoor practice fields
Format: Shells
Oregon fans are eagerly anticipating Saturday's Spring Game in Autzen Stadium (1 p.m., Pac-12 Network), and UO players got a preview Thursday.
The Ducks have spent most of spring split into Green and Yellow teams for practices. That was the case again Thursday, the last practice prior to the Spring Game. But this time the Ducks had their green and yellow game helmets on, and instead of the offense and defense being on opposite sidelines for 11-on-11 periods, the Green unit was on one sideline and the Yellow was on the other.
Lines have been drawn, and sides taken.
"You would think that, on the last day of spring, guys are beat up and sore," senior defensive lineman Casey Rogers said. "But that definitely was not the case today. It was really fun to get out there. We were talking smack to each other, having fun with each other.
"Coach Lanning says all the time, competition is what drives success. To be able to have a friendly competition out there and get after it, we were saying all day, this is the start to Saturday."
Officially, spring practice ends Monday, with a post-Spring Game session to clean up any issues that arise Saturday. In some ways, the Spring Game is just practice No. 14 of the spring – another chance to get better, and make an impression on coaches.
"They know every rep they take, every time they line up, they're on film, it's an opportunity for them to compete," defensive line coach Tony Tuioti said. "Because at the end of the day there's only so many reps to go around. So this Saturday is no different. The only difference now is, there's people in the stands.
"Whether there's one (person) in there or whether it's 50,000 people, our mindset is, we're going as hard as we can. We're not gonna change our approach. We're gonna go out there and try to win every rep we can."
Rogers said players have embraced that mentality.
"We've been working really hard this whole spring; there's been no days off, to say the least," he said. "Guys have been grinding day in, day out. It's been really exciting to see our team grow this spring."
On Saturday, Oregon fans will get a chance to see the growth that's taken place. Yes, in a way it's just practice No. 14 out of 15 this spring. But it's also much more than that.
"Spring games are always a fun way to end your spring camp," Rogers said. "And especially in a stadium like Autzen. … The crowd's in for a show. It's going to be really fun."
Notable: Among the competition periods Thursday was a series of 2-point conversion plays, Green vs. Yellow and then vice versa. Both defensive units earned a win for their teams. … Practice ended about an hour earlier than usual, so that head coach Dan Lanning and cornerbacks coach Demetrice Martin could board a private jet to Kansas City, where Christian Gonzalez is a projected top pick in tonight's NFL Draft. … Among the guests for practice Thursday was Ty DePaoli, a former all-state kicker from Marist High in Eugene who has been battling cancer the last three years.
Quotable:
Junior defensive back Tysheem Johnson on joining the Ducks as a transfer
"Oregon's been my dream school since I was a little kid. When I hit the transfer portal and they reached out to me, it was like a dream come true. It made sense, a good fit. I'm playing the same position I was at my other school. So it made the most sense for me."
Defensive line coach Tony Tuioti on his son, freshman OLB Teitum Tuioti
"He's been with me for a long time, so there's nothing that he does that surprises me. I'm just glad that he's able to come and help our team out, and he's willing to do anything and everything he can to help our team out and win. So, just glad with the progress that he's making. He's humble, he's gonna work hard and he's gonna bring his best to the table every day."
Post-practice interviews:
Defensive line coach Tony Tuioti
Senior defensive lineman Casey Rogers
Junior defensive back Tysheem Johnson
Format: Shells
Oregon fans are eagerly anticipating Saturday's Spring Game in Autzen Stadium (1 p.m., Pac-12 Network), and UO players got a preview Thursday.
The Ducks have spent most of spring split into Green and Yellow teams for practices. That was the case again Thursday, the last practice prior to the Spring Game. But this time the Ducks had their green and yellow game helmets on, and instead of the offense and defense being on opposite sidelines for 11-on-11 periods, the Green unit was on one sideline and the Yellow was on the other.
Lines have been drawn, and sides taken.
"You would think that, on the last day of spring, guys are beat up and sore," senior defensive lineman Casey Rogers said. "But that definitely was not the case today. It was really fun to get out there. We were talking smack to each other, having fun with each other.
"Coach Lanning says all the time, competition is what drives success. To be able to have a friendly competition out there and get after it, we were saying all day, this is the start to Saturday."
Officially, spring practice ends Monday, with a post-Spring Game session to clean up any issues that arise Saturday. In some ways, the Spring Game is just practice No. 14 of the spring – another chance to get better, and make an impression on coaches.
"They know every rep they take, every time they line up, they're on film, it's an opportunity for them to compete," defensive line coach Tony Tuioti said. "Because at the end of the day there's only so many reps to go around. So this Saturday is no different. The only difference now is, there's people in the stands.
"Whether there's one (person) in there or whether it's 50,000 people, our mindset is, we're going as hard as we can. We're not gonna change our approach. We're gonna go out there and try to win every rep we can."
Rogers said players have embraced that mentality.
"We've been working really hard this whole spring; there's been no days off, to say the least," he said. "Guys have been grinding day in, day out. It's been really exciting to see our team grow this spring."
On Saturday, Oregon fans will get a chance to see the growth that's taken place. Yes, in a way it's just practice No. 14 out of 15 this spring. But it's also much more than that.
"Spring games are always a fun way to end your spring camp," Rogers said. "And especially in a stadium like Autzen. … The crowd's in for a show. It's going to be really fun."
Notable: Among the competition periods Thursday was a series of 2-point conversion plays, Green vs. Yellow and then vice versa. Both defensive units earned a win for their teams. … Practice ended about an hour earlier than usual, so that head coach Dan Lanning and cornerbacks coach Demetrice Martin could board a private jet to Kansas City, where Christian Gonzalez is a projected top pick in tonight's NFL Draft. … Among the guests for practice Thursday was Ty DePaoli, a former all-state kicker from Marist High in Eugene who has been battling cancer the last three years.
Quotable:
Junior defensive back Tysheem Johnson on joining the Ducks as a transfer
"Oregon's been my dream school since I was a little kid. When I hit the transfer portal and they reached out to me, it was like a dream come true. It made sense, a good fit. I'm playing the same position I was at my other school. So it made the most sense for me."
Defensive line coach Tony Tuioti on his son, freshman OLB Teitum Tuioti
"He's been with me for a long time, so there's nothing that he does that surprises me. I'm just glad that he's able to come and help our team out, and he's willing to do anything and everything he can to help our team out and win. So, just glad with the progress that he's making. He's humble, he's gonna work hard and he's gonna bring his best to the table every day."
Post-practice interviews:
Defensive line coach Tony Tuioti
Senior defensive lineman Casey Rogers
Junior defensive back Tysheem Johnson
Players Mentioned
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