Football Practice Report: Nov. 7

Venue: Moshofsky Center
Format: Shells

For the Oregon defense, priorities during the current bye week are similar to those stated by offensive players and staff Monday, which is say, resting their bodies and brushing up on fundamental techniques and concepts.

But the Ducks aren't going to ignore the obvious inevitability – their next game looms in 11 days, when Arizona visits Autzen Stadium on Nov. 18. The Wildcats feature quarterback Khalil Tate, a dual-threat sensation who already has Oregon's attention, if only partially.

"We want to make sure we get back to basics, because we don't want to play sloppy, and we can really use this week to tighten up fundamentals," senior defensive end Henry Mondeaux said prior to Tuesday's practice. "And we can also use it to get ahead, off the practice field, with film, because there's a lot more time."

Inside the Moshofsky Center, much of the practice time this week is focused on position drills. But on Tuesday, for the second day in a row, an extended session of 11-on-11 featured redshirting freshman Demetri Burch at quarterback, presumably to give the UO defense a preview of the sort of athleticism Tate will present next week.

Burch had a least one long run during a 15-minute block of 11-on-11. But the UO defense also did a consistent job of hemming him in when he looked to run. And the discipline was especially evident when the offense ran a reverse, on which outside linebacker Fotu T. Leiato II stuck to his responsibility and was there to meet the ballcarrier on the edge.

"It's gonna take every practice we can get to try and manage that guy," head coach Willie Taggart said of Tate. "I wish we had two bye weeks; he's a pretty good player, and we're going to need that time to prepare for him."

As usual, Tuesday's practice was generally conducted at "thud" tempo, for the sake of a team that can't afford any more injuries. But the defense worked on tackling during position drills, diving and wrapping up padded dummies.

"It doesn't matter what scheme you run," defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt said. "Unless you're a really good tackling team, you're not gonna be a good defense."

The UO defense has been far from perfect in 2017, but it has made significant improvement over last season. Even in the 38-3 loss to Washington last week, there were bright spots; the Ducks gave up 70 to the Huskies in 2016, but not counting a punt return in last week's loss, surrendered 31 this year.

The Huskies tried to tack on another touchdown with the game decided, but Jimmie Swain made a tackle short of the goal line on fourth down late in the fourth quarter. Swain was the only senior on the field at that point, Leavitt noted Tuesday, and was joined by two juniors, a sophomore, one redshirt freshman and six true freshmen.

"I was proud of that, because the way it was going, we could easily have just quit, and given up," Leavitt said. "And that says a lot to me, it just does. You look for positive things, and that was encouraging to me."

Other highlights: The biggest collision of the day was between two guys wearing the same jersey, the No. 25 of both running back CJ Verdell and safety Brady Breeze. They're both very physical players, and the pads popped when Breeze came up to meet Verdell just past the line on a run play. … Justin Herbert continues to get work in team drills as he shakes off the rust from his layoff due to a fractured collar bone. He looked a little rustier Tuesday than he did Monday, but finished the day well with a long touchdown pass to Taj Griffin in the final period of practice. … During drills for the punt return team, Bryson Young drove a protection player backward so powerfully the punt hit the blocker in the back.

Other observations: Taggart said Herbert's original time frame to return was 6-to-8 weeks, and that he's right within that window this week and next. So while the Ducks are hopeful Herbert can return soon, they're also preparing both Herbert and Braxton Burmeister to start against the Wildcats. … A 1-on-1 special teams drill involving kick coverage and blocking kicked off practice both Monday and Tuesday. The Ducks gave up a punt return touchdown in their loss to Washington last week. … Given depth issues at offensive line as the season has progressed, defensive end Hunter Kampmoyer has filled in with the scout-team O line at times in recent weeks, and today he was joined by tight end Taylor Stinson, who took some reps at tackle.

Pre-practice interviews:

Head coach Willie Taggart