By Rob Moseley

Editor, GoDucks.com

Venue: Outdoor practice fields

Format: Full pads

After closing Thursday's practice with an overtime drill, the Ducks wasted no time engaging in that scenario again.

Mark Helfrich made the first-period tempo drill Friday another overtime session. “We can't drill situational stuff like that enough,” he told the Ducks once practice was finished.

An Alex Balducci sack kept the first offensive unit from scoring to open Friday's practice, but a second overtime period was necessary after a field-goal attempt was blocked. Joe Walker tried to scoop-and-score on the play but it was blown dead; he stayed on the field to begin the second overtime, and was in on a couple tackles of Taj Griffin to force another field-goal attempt, which Matt Wogan pushed to the right.

With Jeff Lockie and the first group back on the field, the offense pounded the ball with running back Lane Roseberry to set up a 36-yard attempt by Aidan Schneider. It was good, and the Ducks moved on to positional drills.

There was more situational work to close practice, “clutch” in which the offense needed to drive to go-ahead points with time running low. Needing a field goal to win the drill, Lockie moved the ball with completions to Bralon Addison and Royce Freeman but then, for the second day in a row, threw a pick-six, this one by Juwaan Williams.

The Ducks are solid at safety with Reggie Daniels and Tyree Robinson having played extensively last season. There's little experienced depth, but Khalil Oliver had a great practice Friday, and Williams shined in practice's most game-like situation.

“It's always good to show your coaches and your teammates you can make a play,” Williams said. “In that situation it's just being able to know the situation, know what we're doing and try to figure out what the offense is going to hit us with. That play, me and Joe communicated it, we knew that at one point we were going to get some type of switch by the receivers, and that's what they did. I was just able to make a play on the ball.”

Vernon Adams got a chance in the same scenario, but again the offense didn't manage to get into position for a potential game-winning kick. When the drill was changed to force the offense to drive for a touchdown, Taylor Alie mounted the best drive of the day by any QB, until stalling in the red zone. DeForest Buckner ended the possession with a sack. Lockie had another shot and also mounted a drive into the red zone, but he had a pass fall incomplete as time expired.

Other highlights: In the first 7-on-7 period of the day, Lockie had a solid series with completions to Darren Carrington, Evan Baylis and Zac Schuller. Adams then came on and spread the ball around to Alex Ofodile, Carrington and Malik Lovette, though he also was intercepted by Chris Seisay. … In the next 7-on-7 period, the offense was allowed to advance down the field, and Adams got the first reps. He threw incomplete three times, after which Lockie came on and – on the third rep of the series – completed a medium range pass that Kirk Merritt turned into a long catch-and-run for a touchdown. It was Alie, though, who mounted the longest sustained drive in that period as well, with completions to Ofodile, Jake McCreath, Lovette and Tony Brooks-James, before finishing it off with a touchdown to Koa Ka'ai. …

The 11-on-11 period in which the offense played so fast Thursday was more even Friday. A couple of true freshmen stood out during that period, with Shane Lemieux knocking a defensive lineman off his feet to spring a catch-and-run by Carrington, and Ugo Amadi getting into the backfield to bring down a running back. … Oliver was consistently around the ball during a period focused on running plays. He also forced Adams to tuck it away and run by blanketing a receiver when the offense tried to employ a play action fake. … Seisay also had an interception in the end zone during position drills.

Other observations: A whole bunch of true freshmen went head to head on the lines during team drills. The offense fielded a line of, left to right, Brady Aiello, Calvin Throckmorton, Jake Hanson, Zach Okun and Lemieux, while the defensive line was Drayton Carlberg, Gary Baker and Gus Cumberlander. … Speaking of offensive line groups, the quintet of Tyler Johnstone, Matt Pierson, Matt Hegarty, Cameron Hunt and Tyrell Crosby has played together quite a bit the last couple days. …

Outside linebacker Jonah Moi has transitioned into shells in his acclimation since arriving for camp. … An odd sight during special teams drills: Morgan Mahalak, Travis Jonsen and Alie all racing down the field as scout-team players on kickoff coverage. “Nice work, Travis,” a member of the staff told Jonsen, before adding, tongue-in-cheek, “Now we just need to teach you how to tackle.”