The Ducks were in full pads for the first time this spring on Saturday, with Mario Cristobal urging them to "practice like pros" in order to keep the team healthy.

Venue: Outdoor practice fields

Format: Full pads

The air was cool and brisk for the start of Saturday's spring practice, but the UO strength and conditioning staff wore sleeveless sweatshirts just the same. If that alone wasn't enough to send a message that Saturday was going to be about toughness, head strength coach Aaron Feld made it loud and clear as he assembled the Ducks for pre-practice stretching.

"It's time to hit! It's time to hit! It's time to hit!" bellowed Feld, as the Ducks got loosened up for the first practice of this spring in full pads.





Following stretch, Mario Cristobal likes to huddle the team up one more time, and deliver a last message about the practice that's about to ensue. Saturday, he called to the middle of the circle junior La'Mar Winston Jr. – as energetic and vocal a player as there is on the team – and ceded the floor to him.

"Today's the day to compete in every opportunity you get," Winston said, before putting a challenge to the offensive linemen he generally faces as an edge defender. "I'm coming at Throck. I'm coming at Brady. And I'm sure as heck coming at George!"





With a whoop, the Ducks were off to their stations for the first-period turnovers drills that Cristobal likes to start practice with, in idea cribbed from the New England Patriots. After that and a few periods of position drills, the Ducks got to banging.

But Cristobal makes a fine distinction about the level of contact he wants to see. In the first really physical period, a 7-on-7 run-game drill without receivers and defensive backs, Cristobal admonished an offensive lineman for blocking a defender to the ground.

"We have to learn to practice like pros," Cristobal said following practice Saturday afternoon. "You can't tackle every day; if you do you'll destroy your team. But you can't back off on intensity and passion and working hard.

"And it's a clear balance. I don't think there's any fuzziness there. And if we're erring, we're erring on the side of effort; if a guy does end up on the ground, you've just got to get him to pop up and out of the way."

Also for the first time this spring, Cristobal had an officiating on crew to throw penalty flags when appropriate. Their input influenced his overall assessment of practice when it was all said and done.

"We were intense, and we played with passion," he said. "We were a little bit sloppy; we were better statistically in terms of unforced errors – pre-snap penalties – than we were a year ago in our first practice. But everyone knows and recognizes that's what we have to work on. It has to be the biggest point of emphasis."

Practice highlights: The defense really seemed to have an edge Saturday, fairly typical for early in a camp. In the 7-on-7 run-game drill, Gary Baker and Jordon Scott gave Tony Brooks-James nowhere to run on the first rep. Admittedly, it's a predictable situation, but the inside linebackers – Troy Dye and Keith Simms most often – were consistently in the backfield meeting ballcarriers before they could get going. One rep that had coaches most excited was by outside linebacker Bryson Young . Matched up with a tight end, he turned the blocker in order to keep contain, then released off the block to make a tackle for loss. "You got long arms, use 'em!" D line coach Joe Salave'a yelled to Young. …





There was good back-and-forth in 1-on-1 pass drills. Deommodore Lenoir provided great coverage on a short route by Brenden Schooler , with only a pintpoint throw from Justin Herbert and tough catch by Schooler allowing for a completion. Later, Schooler was able to get more separation on Lenoir, and haul in a deep ball. Brady Breeze and Jaylon Redd also got matched up a couple times; Redd opened with an intermediate route, and Breeze was able to recognize the underneath route and break back on the ball to poke it out. But later, Reed used an explosive cut to gain separation and get downfield for a long gain. Darrian McNeal hauled in a couple nice passes from Braxton Burmeister in the drill.

Other observations: Dye and Simms continued to set the tone in a team period, although offensive coaches were ecstatic about a long Taj Griffin run keyed by a Shane Lemieux block. … Saturday's practice was attended by several recruits, and also alumni, who are being welcomed to attend by Cristobal. Chatting with some of the former players and coaches on hand, some of the names that impressed them included Baker, Brooks-James and Tyler Shough . …

The running backs all had thick black tape running down the middle of their white helmets, so position coach Jim Mastro could assess on film where their eyes are focused. … Travis Dye is the rare running back who prefers not to wear gloves. His older brother Troy Dye has played without gloves the past couple years. … The special teams scout squad has been nicknamed the "Job Takers," sending a message to both the starters and scouts alike.

Pre-practice interviews: