Football Practice Report: Aug. 23
08/23/17 | Football, @GoDucksMoseley
The Ducks returned to the practice field after coaches had a chance to break down film from Tuesday's scrimmage.
Venue: Outdoor practice fields
Format: Shells
The hours between Tuesday's scrimmage and Wednesday's return to the practice field for the UO football team were filled largely by Oregon's coaches with film review of the scrimmage.
Defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt seemed generally pleased, a day after his first-string guys largely shut down the Ducks' No. 2 offense. The No. 2 defense didn't fare as well against the starters on offense, but that's expected to be an elite unit; Leavitt said the competition between the ones and twos remains very close at several positions, though there's a drop-off after that.
"Like always, there's always some good things, and always things you wish you could do a little bit better," Leavitt said. "If the arrow keeps going up, we'll have a chance."
Oregon's defense had ample room to improve coming off the 2016 season, and it was nice to hear that Leavitt is indeed seeing progress. On the other hand, the UO offense was very good as usual in 2016 – if not quite elite – despite switching quarterbacks at midseason and dealing with an injury to Royce Freeman. And so it perhaps is understandable that offensive coaches expressed a different standard after Tuesday's scrimmage.
"OK; always gonna demand more," co-offensive coordinator Mario Cristobal said. "I don't think you want to come out of that last scrimmage feeling too good about yourselves. I think the ones did a decent job, controlled the line of scrimmage when they had to, did really well in pass protection. .. The twos and the threes, there's some guys that stood out, and some guys that didn't stand out – or stood out in the wrong kind of way. That's a huge focal point this week, getting those guys ready to play, because you've got to have 10 guys."
Cristobal followed up by saying he feels good about seven or eight of his linemen at this point, a week and a half out from the season opener against Southern Utah on Sept. 2 (5:15 p.m. PT, Pac-12 Network). Presumably that includes the regular first-string group this month – Tyrell Crosby, Shane Lemieux, Jake Hanson, Jake Pisarcik and Calvin Throckmorton – along with veterans Doug Brenner, Evan Voeller and Brady Aiello. Redshirt freshmen Jacob Capra and Logan Bathke have played regularly with the No. 2 offense as well, with classmate Sam Poutasi and true freshman Alex Forsyth rotating in at times.
At least one guy made a favorable impression offensively in the scrimmage. True freshman Johnny Johnson III, who had several highlights in Sunday's practice and another big play Tuesday, spent most of Wednesday with the first-team offense. The first rep of the first team period, in fact, featured a completion from Justin Herbert to Johnson.
With Dillon Mitchell's ability to stretch the field and Charles Nelson attacking out of the slot, the third receiver should have ample opportunities this fall, and Johnson has made a solid case to be in the mix for that spot this week.
Other highlights: The Ducks did field-goal work early in practice. On the last rep, Jalen Jelks got his hand up and blocked a short attempt. … In 7-on-7, Johnson cut off a route, came back to the ball and made a reception from Herbert despite having Arrion Springs draped all over him. Later in that drill, Braxton Burmeister threw a deep sideline route that Malik Lovette appeared to leap and catch, until Dexter Myers knocked it loose and then hauled in the interception as the ball fell toward the turf. …
In a third-down scenario, the first-team offense converted its first four attempts, one a long pass over the top from Herbert to Mitchell. Later in that drill, Thomas Graham Jr. was running with Alex Ofodile, a pass arrived and was juggled as the two fought for possession, and Graham pinned it against his hip for the interception. … Jonah Moi and Justin Hollins looked really good in both scrimmages, against the No. 2 offense. In pass-rush drills today, they had more trouble when matched up with first-team tackles Crosby and Throckmorton. Jelks had a couple really good reps against Voeller, and Jordon Scott had the edge against Forsyth, using two different moves to win consecutive reps.
Other observations: One of the biggest collisions of the day was between Voeller and Fotu T. Leiato II in a team drill. Voeller held his ground but the hit blew up a run play; Leiato did a lot of that in the scrimmage as well, not always making the tackle but impacting plays with his physicality. … Another guy who always seems to be involved is Austin Faoliu. I can't recall seeing a nose tackle involved in as many tackles away from the original spot of the ball on short passes and screens and such. … The field-goal standard had two additional uprights as of Wednesday. Along with the standard uprights at a width of 18 feet, 6 inches, the Ducks have added uprights just 9 feet apart, the distance used by the arena league. Placekicker Aidan Schneider said he likes the idea of aiming for a smaller target in practices.
Pre-practice interviews:
Co-offensive coordinator Mario Cristobal
Defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt
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