Football Practice Report: Sept. 20
09/20/17 | Football, @GoDucksMoseley
The Oregon defense is preparing for its toughest test yet this season, at Arizona State on Saturday (7 p.m. PT, Pac-12 Network).
Venue: Outdoor practice fields
Format: Full pads
Like the center-quarterback exchange or, say, fielding punts and kicks, open-field tackling is the sort of subject that only comes up when a football team isn't doing it particularly well.
It's not uncommon, then, for tackling to be a storyline early in a college season, when teams are coming off weeks of practice with little to no contact. But since about halftime of Oregon's season-opening win over Southern Utah, there hasn't been much discussion about the Ducks' tackling issues, because there haven't been very many issues with the Ducks' tackling.
That trend will be tested Saturday night, when Oregon plays its Pac-12 opener at Arizona State ( 7 p.m. PT, Pac-12 Network). The Sun Devils have a pair of bruising running backs, Kalen Ballage and Demario Richard, and will spread the field with a passing game led by quarterback Manny Wilkins, who has yet to throw an interception in 101 attempts this season.
"We haven't seen athletes like these guys yet," UO defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt said, adding that ASU's spread attack "puts you on islands. You have to be playmakers."
The key to handling a big back like Ballage, who leads ASU with 59.7 rushing yards per game, is gang-tackling, UO coach Willie Taggart said. But that's easier said than done against an Arizona State offense that spreads the field through the liberal use of screen passes, forcing defenders to play – and tackle – in space.
"It's Pac-12 play, so we're going to start seeing faster athletes, more athleticism, bigger guys, faster guys," UO leading tackler Troy Dye said. "We're looking forward to the challenge and just ready to show everybody what we're made of."
Oregon's defense so far in 2017 has been a revelation under Leavitt, improving from 115th nationally in yards per play allowed last season to No. 22 so far this fall. Part of that owes to better tackling – since Southern Utah marched to a touchdown on its opening drive of the opening game, the Ducks haven't had many egregious breakdowns bringing down ballcarriers.
Senior cornerback Arrion Springs said Oregon's tackling so far has been "pretty good, but not good enough. We're still missing tackles. But I think we're practicing a lot harder, we're practicing tackling more, (so it's been) better than last year."
The Ducks hope to continue that trend Saturday night, against an Arizona State offense that will test their open-field tackling more than any opponent so far this season.
Practice highlights: During the first extended 11-on-11 period in Wednesday's practice, Taylor Alie rolled away from pressure to his left and hit Jaylon Redd with a long pass down the sideline. Later in the same period, Alie tried to make a similar throw rolling left, but Isaac Slade-Matautia and Brady Breeze were in the area to break it up. … In a similar bit of give and take, during that same period, Darrian Felix was smacked at the line for no gain by A.J. Hotchkins, and a couple plays later broke free through the front seven and into the secondary for a long gain. …
The offense conducted 7-on-7 in the red zone, and Justin Herbert put on a show, whether it was dropping a touch pass into the arms of Alex Ofodile in the end zone, or zipping a ball to Cam McCormick for a catch-and-run touchdown. … During pass-rush drills, Jalen Jelks used his quickness to win a couple reps against Tyrell Crosby, no small feat. Jake Hanson locked up Jordon Scott pretty well a couple times in a battle of big bulls. … Circling back to open-field tackling, Deommodore Lenoir anticipated a screen pass and tackled the receiver as soon as the ball arrived during the final period of the day.
Other observations: Taggart said prior to practice that nose guard Austin Faoliu, who didn't travel to Wyoming after starting the first two games of the season, is expected to play at ASU. … There was pretty good "juice" for Wednesday's practice. Scott was very vocal in getting the defense fired up for pass-rush drills, and after the mid-practice hydration break, running back Kani Benoit ribbed some of his teammates about picking up their pace in retaking the field. "Why are we walking, we are we walking?!?" Benoit yelled, using a refrain heard throughout practices from Leavitt. …
Redd took reps with the No. 2 kickoff coverage unit, an indication he's still on the bubble for playing time this season. … Drake Brennan has opted to go back to focusing full-time on track and field. He practiced with the football team on the defensive line last year, before moving to offense.
Pre-practice interviews:
Head coach Willie Taggart
Defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt
Sophomore linebacker Troy Dye
