Football Practice Report: Dec. 27
by Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
Venue: Alamo Heights High School
Format: Shells
Following practice Sunday morning, the Ducks had little else on their agenda the rest of the day other than internal team business.
That should have provided plenty of time for quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. to get acquainted with the team hotel, a process most of the Ducks went through Saturday but was put off for Adams by travel delays. Adams and offensive lineman Shane Lemieux spent Saturday night in Dallas, flew to San Antonio on Sunday and made it just in time for practice.
“We came straight here and got dressed,” Adams said following the Ducks’ first on-site practice for Saturday’s Alamo Bowl against TCU (3:45 p.m. PT, ESPN). “But it was fun. I missed my teammates and coaches. It was fun getting back out there, running around.”
This was a “Monday” on the UO practice calendar, a chance to stretch their legs after a holiday break and get reacquainted with the game plan that was installed back in Eugene. Head coach Mark Helfrich said the Ducks demonstrated “pretty good recall” over the course of the workout.
“Everybody was ready to practice, excited to see each other,” defensive back Tyree Robinson said. “The momentum was there. We’ll try to keep that going and get ready for TCU, because them guys is out there practicing as hard as us.”
Weather around San Antonio had been pleasant until a cold front moved in Saturday. The Dallas area saw tornadoes touch down, causing several deaths that put Oregon’s travel delays in perspective; “I was sorry to hear about those people,” Adams said.
Once Adams and Lemieux found out late Saturday they would be delayed overnight, Adams reached out to a former Eastern Washington teammate, Kyle Padron, who was born in San Antonio and played at SMU before transferring. Adams and Lemieux stayed the night at Padron’s, then caught a flight Sunday morning to San Antonio.
Local weather wasn’t nearly so dramatic, though blustery winds played havoc with some passes and punts Sunday, and a brief rain storm drenched one period of 7-on-7.
“This is football weather right here,” Adams said. “I love it.”
Highlights: There were a couple dropped passes and timing issues during 1-on-1 drills, the first competitive period of the day, but the 7-on-7 period that followed was much more crisp. Adams zipped completions to Darren Carrington and Royce Freeman, while Jeff Lockie delivered a nice ball to Johnny Mundt, though Lockie also was picked off by Khalil Oliver. … The scout team had some minor rust to shake off too, with a couple missed exchanges during the first team period. One, on the first 11-on-11 snap of the day, provided enough time for DeForest Buckner to swoop in and stop a play in the backfield. …
Henry Mondeaux had the rep of the day in pass-rush drills, a spin move past Evan Voeller. Tyrell Crosby locked up Tui Talia on their first rep, which came a few minutes after Crosby got about 15 yards upfield to engage a defender on a long run by Tony Brooks-James. … In the developmental squad period to close practice, Taylor Alie completed a pass behind the defense to Jarret LaCoste, who lost his footing and otherwise would have scored. Morgan Mahalak added a TD pass to J.J. Jones.
Other observations: The first three periods of individual drills were open to media, and Joe Walker was a participant. Oregon’s leading tackler, Walker missed the Civil War. … By the time practice got going, the only player still hung up by travel delays was scout-team running back Langston Stuckey, who was expected to arrive later Sunday. … Stuckey’s arrival will give the Ducks their full complement of available players for the Alamo Bowl. Defensive back Tyler Reid is not on the trip; he practiced all season but did not dress for games due to an eligibility issue. … After practice, Helfrich was looking for Pharaoh Brown to chirp at the Ohio native about the Portland Trail Blazers’ win Saturday over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
