Oregon Football Practice Report: Oct. 13
By Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
Venue: Outdoor practice fields
Format: Helmets only
For an Oregon defense looking to shore up a few gaps Saturday at UCLA, Joe Walker’s performance was a welcome sight. Inserted as the starting WILL linebacker for the second time this season, Walker provided stout run defense while playing in rotation with Derrick Malone Jr., who would replace Walker in nickel situations.
Walker finished with six tackles against the Bruins, five unassisted. On those five plays, the Bruins gained a total of eight yards – six coming on one gain. Walker provided three tackles for no gain or lost yardage, including one on third-and-two from the UO 22-yard line that preceded a missed field goal for UCLA in the second quarter.
Monday after practice, though, it was the plays Walker didn’t make that stood out in his mind. “I’ve got to work on my tackling a little bit,” Walker said. “I missed quite a few tackles last game, so I’ve got to work on that.”
That attitude is a good one, but Walker could have taken the chance to toot his horn just a little bit. He and Malone have developed into a nice tandem at the WILL spot over the last few weeks, with Walker in the base defense to defend the run, and Malone -- who played safety in high school -- coming on in passing situations. “Derrick has great coverage skills, so coaches utilize those,” Walker said.
On Monday, Walker had a couple tackles for loss during the first 11-on-11 situation in practice. Perhaps more encouraging, several periods later he dropped into coverage and broke up a pass. If Walker can shore up his skills against the pass, he has the potential to be a major impact player over the rest of this season and next.
Extremely reticent in interviews, Walker didn’t offer much analysis of his own play against the Bruins, other than to say he needed to cut down on those missed tackles. But based on Saturday, he’s feeling more comfortable in the UO defense now in his second season out of junior college. “I feel like I’m playing a little faster than I was,” he acknowledged. “I think it’s just coming out here and practicing good every week.”
Highlights: Practice wrapped up with the twos on offense and defense going head-to-head in a clutch scenario, with the offense down two in the final minute. Tui Talia was the star of the drill, breaking up a pass at the line and sacking Jeff Lockie in the next play. Chris Seisay also had a pass breakup, on the final snap. … Danny Mattingly intercepted a pass in team drills that had been deflected by Dior Mathis. … DeForest Buckner had a tackle for loss and then batted down a ball at the line just a few reps later in 11-on-11.
Other observations: Tony Washington had at least three tackles for loss in an 11-on-11 period featuring predominantly run plays, while on the other field Thomas Tyner was running with a purpose for the second week in a row. Game performances feed off practice performances, and then vice versa, and what you have with those guys and several others is the case of a really positive loop right now. … Overall the travel squad guys really were in command against the scout teams, and while that sounds like a “duh” observation, if the scouts ever have a chance to make some plays, it’s Monday when they’re running schemes the travel squad hasn’t seen yet. Usually the travel squad gets a handle on things and really dominates Tuesday and Wednesday, but they got off to an early start this week. …
Mark Helfrich has a background in offense, but he bounces around all over practice, and was a prominent voice along with special teams coordinator Tom Osborne during a kickoff drill today. Helfrich exhorted a coverage guy to maintain top speed while running down to make a tackle. “You don’t have to slow down to see something,” Helfrich said. “Trust it.” … The Ducks were in helmets only to kick off the practice week as the season’s midway point passes, saving some wear and tear on their bodies before going into full pads the next two days.
