Football Practice Report: Aug. 8
08/08/17 | Football, @GoDucksMoseley
The Ducks returned from a two-day break and practiced under the lights Tuesday evening.
Venue: Outdoor practice fields
Format: Full pads
Former Oregon coach Mike Bellotti watched the Ducks practice Tuesday evening, which provided a neat coincidence as it related to the workout.
That's because, for the first time since anybody could remember since the Bellotti era, the Ducks practiced at night Tuesday. They hit the field for walk-through around 6:15 p.m., practice got going about 7 p.m. and it didn't wrap up until a couple hours later.
"It was weird," linebacker Troy Dye said of waiting all day for the evening practice. "It took me back to those high school days, where you get those 7 o'clock practices where you have to wait until after school. I think guys are excited to come out here; your body feels a little better than it does at nine in the morning. Hopefully we'll go out today with the same energy we had last week, and continue to get better."
Dye's words proved prophetic during the ensuing practice. A defense that largely had the edge the previous week had the upper hand most of the night Tuesday. That included the extended team period to close practice, which included some short-yardage and then live ball situations.
But with the season still nearly a month away, the offense has plenty of time to get on the same page. And it should be a little more ready to go in the event of an evening kickoff, after Tuesday's experience.
"We just don't play at a certain time every Saturday," said UO coach Willie Taggart, who has varied his preseason camp practice times going back several years. "Sometimes we play at 3 o'clock, sometimes 5, sometimes later on. So we try to move our practice around throughout training camp, so we come out ready to play whatever that time is."
Highlights: Off the bat Tuesday, it was the defense that came out ready to play, particularly the outside linebackers and safeties. In the "Insanity" 11-on-11 drill that opens each practice, La'Mar Winston Jr. blew up a couple different screen plays. Later on in 1-on-1s, Mattrell McGraw stuck with Casey Eugenio on an extended route and broke up the pass, and later McGraw nearly came up with an interception of a ball thrown behind the receiver. … Darrian McNeal (above) and Kani Benoit were exceptions. McNeal had a block of Fotu T. Leiato II in a perimeter drill that got the offensive staff bouncing around, and he got open throughout 1-on-1s. Benoit split blocks by Cam McCormick and Malik Lovette for a long gain in a perimeter drill, and later juked past a safety for another long run. …
The offense finally got some traction as a unit in 7-on-7, which began on a completion by Justin Herbert up the seam to McNeal. The offense really got rolling with the twos on the field, as Taylor Alie (below) completed a nice touch pass to Eugenio on an intermediate route, and followed that up with a completion to Johnny Johnson III up the sideline. The first team answered the challenge, as Herbert found Dillon Mitchell down the sideline, had a nice checkdown to Brenden Schooler and then finished the drill with a long completion to tight end Taylor Stinson. …
But the defense regained momentum in the last team period. Winston started the drill with a sack, and linebackers Jonah Moi and Justin Hollins were really disruptive. After a Khalil Oliver sack, all the players and coaches on the defensive sideline were bouncing around and chanting in unison. The offense managed to win a few reps – Royce Freeman absolutely trucked a defensive back, and Alie had a beautiful completion to McCormick, who fought off a linebacker with a stiff-arm and took it to the house. But overall, it was another day to the defense.
Other observations: Aidan Schneider made a 38-yard "game-winning" kick to close practice, with the team circled around him trying to distract him. … Though Alie was back from a two-day absence while getting married, Demetri Burch remained in a red, non-contact QB jersey. … During punt drills, the guys back to field kicks included Jaylon Redd, Eugenio, Darrian Felix, McNeal, Daewood Davis and Kyle Buckner. … Charlie Landgraf continues to look like the most consistent option as a backup center.
Interviews:
Head coach Willie Taggart
Sophomore linebacker Troy Dye
With great seats still available and season tickets starting at only $299, now is the time to DO SOMETHING! Click here to see all ticket options including a pick-your-own mini plan and single game tickets.
