Football Practice Report: April 6
By Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
Venue: Outdoor practice fields
Format: Full pads
During a 7-on-7 drill late in Monday’s practice, freshman receiver Alex Ofodile drifted down the left sideline, blanketed by Mattrell McGraw. Maintaining his concentration, Ofodile hauled in a deep touch pass from Ty Griffin. The sideline was a factor when Ofodile made the play, but whether or not he was in fact in bounds, it was a great catch given such tight coverage.
Then again, there was no doubting Ofodile’s ball skills when he got to Oregon. Having made the jump from high school to college this quarter, Ofodile is working to get other elements of his game up to speed as he kicked off the second week of spring with the rest of the team Monday.
“It’s definitely a little more comfortable for me,” Ofodile said. “I’m still trying to pick up things, but I’ve just got to keep working hard at it.”
On Monday, Ofodile demonstrated his willingness to work on improving his all-around game at a couple different points over the course of practice.
Early in the day, the Ducks did their special teams “tube drill,” with a potential tackler running up the field in a tight “tube” of around five yards, a blocker setting up to meet him and a ballcarrier looking to set up the block and avoid being tackled. On a couple different instances as the coverage player, Ofodile was able to work himself past the blocker, but not in time to break down and make a tackle.
After that practice period, veteran Austin Daich pulled Ofodile aside one-on-one to give him some pointers on attacking the block in order to defeat it more quickly and provide time to make the tackle.
“It’s something I would have wanted when I was freshman, someone to clearly point it out to me,” Daich said. “He just doesn’t know, so I was just trying to tell him, this is what I’m seeing, and this is what’s going to make you better.”
Later in the day during 11-on -11, Ofodile got off the line during a run play and set a nice block on Arrion Springs, but Springs kept working and got off the block to make the tackle. After practice, Ofodile got some blocking tips from graduate assistant Nate Costa, who works with the receivers.
“That’s been great, having everybody older help me out,” Ofodile said. “That’s stuff that’s new, so I’ve just got to get used to it. It’s a process.”
Highlights: In order to jumpstart the week, UO coach Mark Helfrich opened practice with an 11-on-11 period of primarily running plays. Tony Brooks-James did a nice job of working his way to the perimeter for a long “touchdown” run, and a few minutes later Rodney Hardrick and Joe Walker converged in the backfield for a tackle for loss. Henry Mondeaux had run stops on consecutive plays later in the period. That said, Helfrich said after practice he thought the day started “sluggish” but got better. …
During the tube drill, Mondeaux set a bunch of nice blocks. Tyson Coleman, Tyree Robinson, Chris Seisay and also Ty Griffin stood out as tacklers in the drill. … The Ducks also did their three-level Oklahoma drill in the middle of practice. Austin Maloata really stood out for his ability to hold the line and then break free for tackles. Charles Nelson had the loudest hit of the drill, bringing down a running back. Travis Jonsen and Casey Eugenio each had spectacular runs navigating through the chaos of the six players engaged between them and the “end zone.” … Time to hit the Jugs gun: Khalil Oliver and Jimmie Swain both broke on balls during 3-on-2 and broke up passes, but probably should have come up with interceptions, as well.
Other observations: It was a who’s who on the sideline today. Potential quarterback transfer Vernon Adams was on hand, as were Marcus Mariota and Hroniss Grasu. Former UO offensive linemen Jordan Holmes and Ramsen Golpashin were in attendance and reunited with former O line GA Eddy Morrissey. De'Anthony Thomas was on hand early in practice, and former receiver Elvis Akpla watched as well. … Helfrich said the Ducks will be installing schemes through about the first 10 practices of the spring. … The Ducks did their blocking and tackling circuit period again, with groups of players rotating to different stations manned by the assistant coaches.
