Football Practice Report: Nov. 6

Venue: Moshofsky Center
Format: Shells

A week of boning up on schemes and techniques, freshening up their bodies and burning up the recruiting trails began Monday for the Oregon football team.

The Ducks held a rare Monday practice, after holding meetings Sunday in the wake of the loss at Washington. Mario Cristobal said the staff watched cutups of the entire 5-5 season so far, to determine their focus for bye week practices Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

"Everything is assessed and analyzed," he said. "… What are things we're good at? What are things we're close to being good at? And what are some things that we probably don't need to invest more time in? Those are the things being emphasized and focused on this week."

Cristobal's offensive line, for example, "picked three schemes in the run game, and a couple of protections" to hammer on over the three bye-week practices. Players will be off Thursday through Saturday while the coaching staff leaves town to recruit; the Ducks will then reunite for practice Sunday, kicking off their preparations for a Nov. 18 home game against Arizona.

Kickoff time and TV slots for the Pac-12 games that weekend were not set Monday; the networks executed their option to wait until six days out. So, the Ducks should know when they reunite Sunday what the kickoff time will be against the Wildcats. That's one of two home games to close out the first regular season under head coach Willie Taggart, the other being the Civil War on Nov. 25.

"We have two opportunities to finish the season out right and get a bowl berth," center Jake Hanson said. "So that's what we're focusing on right now."

Taggart said the Ducks would have preferred a bye week earlier in the season. But the break this week provides time "to regroup, reset and get rolling again" for what the coach termed a "two-game season."

"Our football team still has a lot to play for," Taggart said. "You look at the season, it's kind of like we've been through hell and back. We've dealt with smoke (from local forest fires, which disrupted practices in September), with injuries, a losing streak – and we still have an opportunity to double your win total (from 4-8 last season to, potentially, 8-5 this season).

"So we have so much to play for. If you're any kind of competitor, you'll be excited about that, and willing to work your tail off to get those things."

Practice highlights: Justin Herbert continues to look ready to hit the ground running whenever doctors determine he's cleared to take contact on the collar bone he broke. The first play of the first team period Monday featured a long deep ball that hit Dillon Mitchell in stride; the receiver made an over-the-shoulder catch and then outran a cornerback to the goal line. … In the final team period of the morning, Herbert peppered passes to Jaylon Redd and Taj Griffin. The drill was run from the 35-yard line on the offensive half of the Mo Center practice field, and several went for touchdowns against the scout team …

Taylor Alie threw a touchdown pass to Brenden Schooler to cap the drive by the No. 2 offense in the tempo drill that opens each practice. … Demetri Burch quarterbacked the No. 1 offense against the No. 1 defense for some reps midway through practice. He showed off his athleticism running the option game, but also threw a pass over the middle that Billy Gibson intercepted. … Ugochukwu Amadi punched out the ball from a returner during punt drills.

Other observations: Given the bye week, there's no urgency to rush back guys who got dinged up Saturday, so several guys sat out. Jake Pisarcik was one of the guys who left the UW game early; on Monday, the Ducks practiced primarily with Calvin Throckmorton and Brady Aiello on the right side of the line, but Jacob Capra got a few reps at right guard as well. … Jihree Stewart made a little noise a couple times. He blocked a punt during special teams drills, and later came up and helped gang-tackle CJ Verdell, who had taken an inside linebacker for a ride on the play. … A.J. Hotchkins, who hasn't played since being injured in September, announced his intention to transfer via social media afternoon.