Football Practice Report: Nov. 24
By Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
Venue: Moshofsky Center
Format: Full pads
It will be 8-3 Oregon against 2-9 Oregon State on Friday in Autzen Stadium (1 p.m., FS1), and the Ducks know they’ll need to be on alert.
“It’s their bowl, and we know that,” UO coach Mark Helfrich said Tuesday, following the Ducks’ final padded practice of the regular season. “Our guys, if they use any of that stuff, to put in that kiln to stoke it, to fire their preparation, great.”
But, Helfrich said, “We want to play great on Friday because we want to play great.”
The Beavers are looking to end a seven-game Civil War losing streak, in their first season under new coach Gary Andersen. The two teams seem headed in opposite directions; Oregon has won five straight, and leads the nation for the month of November with 68 plays of 10 yards or longer. Oregon State has lost eight straight, and is last in the nation for the month of November with 68 plays allowed of 10 yards or longer.
Oregon State began the season with freshman Seth Collins at quarterback, and of late has been starting another freshman, Nick Mitchell. This week, Collins reportedly returned from an injury and practiced at receiver. But Helfrich said the Ducks’ focus will remain primarily on what takes place in and around the Mo Center.
“We’re so concerned about everything going on around here, and trying to improve and get ready for finals and manage everything around this week,” Helfrich said. “Between game prep, we’re leading up to dead week and finals, we’ve got our banquet (Saturday morning), all the potential distractions. We’re trying to keep everybody focused, and the last thing on my mind is anybody else’s perceived issues.”
That said, Helfrich has experienced struggles at earlier stops in his coaching career, and said he can relate to the situation Oregon State is enduring, and how much a Civil War win might mean.
“It’s a different kind of fun, a different kind of process,” Helfrich said. “I’ve been there, I’ve been in that situation. You know what you’re doing is right. You know it’s going to pay off. It’s long-term, and it’s hard to convince the various constituencies around it that it’s going the right way. But that is kind of fun.”
Highlights: This was a rare day in which Vernon Adams Jr. didn’t start particularly sharp. In clutch, with the offense needing to drive to a field goal, he was intercepted in the end zone by Arrion Springs. … The mid-practice 7-on-7 period also wasn’t his most efficient. But Adams finished on a high note in the final team period, kicking it off with a long touchdown to Bralon Addison and spreading it around to Evan Baylis, Darren Carrington and Taj Griffin. …
The defensive red-zone period had a similar feel. The scout team ran for a couple of short touchdowns, but Morgan Mahalak had TD passes to Jhet Janis and Taylor Stinson. But the defense hunkered down as the period progressed. Danny Mattingly, Jalen Jelks and Austin Maloata stopped run plays near the line of scrimmage. And on a pass play, with Stinson running pretty much the same route as his earlier touchdown, Eddie Heard stayed with him step for step and broke up the play.
Other observations: Unlike Monday, the Ducks remained in pads for the entirety of today’s practice. Now they’ll have two days of non-contact work to recover before the Civil War. … A seasonlong tradition continued today: During the last special teams period each Wednesday (which today was on the practice calendar), Adams and undergraduate assistant Matt McFadden – who took a medical retirement this year – play catch. If ever coaches need somebody to run an out route and keep their toes in at the sideline before catching the ball and falling out of bounds, Adams and McFadden will have ample preparation. … A number of players’ parents attended practice, including those of seniors DeForest Buckner and Joe Walker.
