The practice schedule Wednesday featured steps to help the offense get off to a fast start at Nebraska on Saturday (12:30 p.m. PT, ABC).

Venue: Outdoor practice fields

Format: Full pads

Beginning in the first quarter of Oregon's season opener against UC Davis, the Ducks ran off a series of drives that ended thusly:

TOUCHDOWN

FIELD GOAL

TOUCHDOWN

Punt

TOUCHDOWN

TOUCHDOWN

Last week against Virginia, again beginning in the first quarter, there was an even more impressive run:

TOUCHDOWN

TOUCHDOWN

TOUCHDOWN

TOUCHDOWN

FIELD GOAL

So far in 2016, when the Ducks get rolling, they really get rolling. They outscored the Aggies and Cavaliers by a combined 55-13 in the first half, including 34-0 in the second quarter.

But there's been another commonality from the first two games: a punt to open the game. Against UC Davis, the Ducks actually punted twice before putting points on the board. Against Virginia, only the first drive was unsuccessful before the floodgates opened.

This Saturday at Nebraska (12:30 p.m. PT, ABC), Dakota Prukop and the UO offense would like to reduce that number again, to zero. All eyes are on the matchup of Oregon's rush defense against the Nebraska rushing attack, but the UO offense can help out by scoring early points and forcing the Huskers to air it out.

A false start penalty on the opening play got the Ducks off on the wrong foot against UC Davis. That the Ducks haven't been sharp out of the gate is also reflected in Prukop's combined passing numbers of 1-of-5 for five yards on opening possessions the last two weeks.

"When we're not shooting ourselves in the foot, we're moving the ball great," center Jake Hanson said. "It's when we have holding calls and false starts and all sorts of penalties, that's when we stall drives. We just have to be really crisp this weekend. It's going to be a tough crowd obviously; if we start getting holding calls and false starts all over the place, the crowd is gonna be really amped up."

In order to stimulate a faster start, UO coach Mark Helfrich on Wednesday moved the scheduled end-of-practice "clutch" drill to the very beginning, as he's done in the past when slow starts have been an issue. Today, Prukop and the offense quickly drove the field toward a potential "game-winning" touchdown. But after a couple catch-and-run plays by Charles Nelson and a pass interference call moved the ball to the 1-yard line, a pass went through a receiver's hands and was intercepted.

On the one hand, the drive into the red zone was encouraging; on the other, another bullet to the foot.

"I think we can take some confidence from that," Hanson said. "We did move the ball well; last play obviously didn't go our way, but it's nice starting the day off moving the ball well. We knew from a technique and assignment standpoint we were doing well, so we're happy with that."

Prukop has said a couple times this week that it's been the Ducks' best of the season so far. He reiterated as much following Wednesday's workout, and anticipates crisper execution Saturday.

"Based on how we've practiced, I'd imagine there would be a direct correlation," he said. "But of course, it's going to be a big stadium, packed house, so we'll see how we respond come game time."

Other highlights: The clutch series for the twos also resulted in an interception, though of the more traditional sort, as Juwaan Williams cleanly picked off a pass from Justin Herbert . … In the full team period for the travel squad, Royce Freeman broke loose for a long gain on the first rep, and later got behind the defense for a long completion from Prukop. Defensively, Jimmie Swain wrapped up Kani Benoit near the line of scrimmage, and Fotu T. Leiato II blew through a running back to record a sack. …

In 1-on-1 pass drills, Leiato broke up a pass to a slot receiver, and Malik Lovette slapped away a pass intended for Dillon Mitchell . Tony Brooks-James and Tristen Wallace each made catches out of the slot with defenders draped all over them. Jalen Brown and Ugo Amadi had a couple good battles, with Amadi picking off a pass on one, but later being guilty of holding Brown, who still made the catch. … Brenden Schooler scooped up a fumble after Tyree Robinson stripped a scout-team player. In the next period, Schooler drifted back into coverage and intercepted a pass.

Other observations: La'Mar Winston Jr. is wearing a scout-team jersey but swinging between that unit and the travel squad. That paid dividends on one rep with the travel squad, when the scout QB mistook Winston for a scout-team receiver and threw a pass right to him. … The travel squad had to pack its gear after practice, as Oregon's equipment truck was scheduled to depart for Nebraska later Wednesday afternoon.

Offensive coordinator