Football Practice Report: April 8
By Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
Venue: Outdoor practice fields
Format: Full pads
About five more months will pass before the 2015 UO football team finds itself in a game trying to protect a late lead, or come from behind. Oregon held its fifth spring practice this morning, with 21 more Saturdays to go until the first game of the fall, yet the Ducks already are drilling late-game scenarios, including overtime.
This morning, the No. 1 offense turned it over on downs trying to protect a late lead, but was able to take a knee and “win” after the twos were stymied. In overtime, Jeff Lockie, moving to his left, threw back over the middle to Byron Marshall in the end zone to win that scenario as well.
Afterward, Lockie addressed the value of practicing such situations so early in the year. “It’s just something to draw upon,” he said. “If we come back to that situation in the middle of fall camp, everyone can say, ‘Hey, I remember doing this a little bit in the spring, I remember what coach Helf was saying,’ so just replicate that.”
Looking to kill the clock late in regulation, the offense leaned on Royce Freeman. He earned a first down with a nice scamper into the secondary, but Reggie Daniels wrapped him up on the next two plays. Then, Charles Nelson blew up a screen pass by knocking a blocking wideout back into the receiver.
The No. 2 offense got a nice catch from Alex Ofodile, but an impressive blitz pickup by Tony Brooks-James went for naught when the ensuing pass was dropped. That drive ended when Justin Hollins and Henry Mondeaux converged on Taylor Alie, who threw a pass that ended up in the hands of Ugo Amadi. Lockie then took a knee to “win” the scenario.
Overtime began with Ty Griffin evading a linebacker in the backfield and running for a long touchdown. Freeman then carried the load for his group, eventually scoring on his fourth touch of the possession to force a second overtime. “Hey, you might want to figure it out to stop 21, OK,” came a shout from the defensive sideline.
The second OT began with Eddie Heard sniffing out a short pass, then Rodney Hardrick and Tyson Coleman pressuring Lockie into an incompletion. But the quarterback rebounded by rolling out and hitting Marshall for a TD. The other offensive group couldn’t answer, and nearly saw its possession end prematurely on a Jimmie Swain interception, though the play was blown dead before the pass got out.
Like Lockie, Coleman said scrimmaging such situations now can set the stage for preseason camp in August. “You can be aware situationally of what’s going on,” Coleman said. “When you’re in that type of situation, down-and-distance becomes that much more important, so you have to really emphasize that. If we can get that done in spring, I think it will be easy carryover to fall.”
Highlights: Swain was all over the place today. Early on, he beat the speedy Brooks-James to the edge by taking a great angle, forcing Brooks-James back inside where another defender wrapped him up. … Arrion Springs had an impressive interception, running with Brooks-James and reaching up to make a one-handed pick. It was a nice recovery after Marshall got behind Springs for a catch earlier in the one-on-one drill. … Lockie was perfect during an early 7-on-7 period, getting the ball out quick and throwing precise passes. The coverage unit rallied in the next 7-on-7 period, making Lockie hold onto it longer and work through his progressions.
Other Observations: Haniteli Lousi got some work with the first-string offensive line, at both guard and tackle. … An early period was spent on field-goal kicking. Speaking of preparing for game scenarios early in the year, Matt Lubick took a group of skill players to the other field to practice fielding onside kicks. … It was cool to see visiting QB Vernon Adams on the sideline, watching plays signaled in and mouthing along playcalls he’s clearly working to memorize in advance of his anticipated arrival prior to next season.
