Football Practice Report: April 1
By Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
Venue: Moshofsky Center
Format: Helmets only
The Ducks held their second spring practice of the year this morning, the only instance on the schedule when the team will go on back-to-back days this month.
Spring quarter at the university began Monday, and in order not to overlap with that, the start of practice was pushed back to Tuesday. The team was back on the practice field again today but now has a day off before returning Friday. The schedule the next three weeks is Monday-Wednesday-Friday, and the Ducks will conclude with practices Monday and Wednesday prior to the spring game on Saturday, May 2.
Mark Helfrich told the Ducks on Tuesday they started spring with a better foundation than ever, and he reinforced that this morning. “We already have more in now than we’ll ever run in a game,” Helfrich told the Ducks after practice.
The challenge is for players not to suffer “paralysis by analysis,” and still cut it loose while processing a bunch of information. That will grow easier as the month progresses, but for now the team has to keep pressing forward regardless.
Helfrich is constantly preaching an attack mentality, in everything the Ducks do. “How do we communicate?” he asked rhetorically. “Aggressively.”
A bunch of guys are doing that already. Besides the most experienced vets, today a couple guys who seemed to be particularly emphasizing communication were tight end Evan Baylis and linebacker Jimmie Swain. Some of the younger guys are learning as they go, getting up to speed with every rep and every day.
Highlights: It’s tempting to focus on new guys this time of year, but you can’t take for granted the amazing talent returning at the offensive skill positions. Royce Freeman looks a step quicker this year, even less hesitant than last season and perhaps even more agile moving through traffic. … Darren Carrington did a great job hauling down a jump ball between two defenders. … Ty Griffin threw perhaps the best ball I’ve ever seen from him, a long touch pass down the sideline to Byron Marshall. The next play, he tucked the ball away, split the safeties and was gone. His physical gifts are undeniable. …
Thomas Tyner showed great concentration hauling in a pass along the sideline after juggling it momentarily. Not only did he secure the ball, he made sure to chop his steps and get his feet down in-bounds. Amazing hand-eye coordination. Well, hand-feet-eye coordination, really. … Arrion Springs was determined to force a turnover mid-practice. After Carrington made a catch, Springs swooped in and ripped the ball out, but it fell back into Carrington’s arms as the receiver fell to the turf. On the next play, a short pass over the middle was tipped, and Springs was there for the interception. …
The first field-goal drills of the spring were held, and Aidan Schneider ended the period with a make from 47 yards out. … In an early 3-on-2 drill, Alex Ofodile hauled in a deep ball, making a play he couldn’t quite finish a couple times Tuesday. … Ugo Amadi had another interception, again picking on his fellow freshman Travis Jonsen.
Other observations: The Ducks held a walk-on tryout Monday that yielded three players who joined practice today. The new trio includes linebacker De’Quan McDowell of Marshalltown, Iowa, and defensive backs Jake Ryan and Tyler Reid. Ryan was born in Medford and attended high school in Tennessee, while Reid is from Churchill High in Eugene. … A couple of early periods were devoted to blocking and tackling technique. The position groups rotated among stations manned by positions coaches, who seemed to each be focusing on a different, finer point of the respective techniques. …
The guy who to my eye changed his body the most since last fall is running back Kani Benoit. He looks noticeably trimmer, and he had a couple of long runs today on which he seemed a step quicker, too. … Along with his more traditional highlights, Griffin had an Odell Beckham style one-handed catch early in practice. He has really big hands, and apparently can do that sort of thing with relative ease.
