Willie Taggart challenged the Ducks to raise their intensity Wednesday, and they responded with what he said may have been the most physical practice since preseason camp.

Venue: Moshofsky Center

Format: Full pads

The first clue that something was amiss Wednesday was that the Ducks left their locker room for practice in full pads. The team was in full gear for the second straight practice, which hadn't been the case in several weeks.

Then, the first full 11-on-11 period began, and those pads started popping. Even in full pads, the Ducks generally don't tackle full-speed, but prefer "thud" tempo – wrapping up but not tackling to the ground. Some days, thud becomes more like two-hand touch. Wednesday, it went the other way – more than a few plays ended with loud collisions, and guys on the ground.

Afterward, first-year UO coach Willie Taggart said it might have been the most intense practice since the first time Oregon put on full pads back in training camp.

"It was physical; guys were getting after it," Taggart said. "And we usually play physical when we practice that way."

Did the hitting ever get more intense than he might have preferred?

"They were having fun," he said with a wry smile. "Let 'em have fun."

Taggart had said prior to practice, in his scrum with media, that coaches considered making scout-team quarterback Demetri Burch "live" this week, so the defense could practice playing full-contact against the guy mimicking Arizona QB Khalil Tate in preparation for Saturday's game. They didn't end up going quite that far, but Burch might have needed an ice bath after Wednesday's workout – and he wasn't the only one.

The first play of the first full team period saw linebackers Jimmie Swain and Troy Dye loudly converge on running back CJ Verdell . On the next snap, Burch kept the ball on a run play, Jonah Moi closed off the edge, Burch cut back inside and the quarterback was swallowed up by Scott Pagano and Justin Hollins . Jalen Jelks popped Verdell to the ground later in the series, and La'Mar Winston Jr. ended it with a sack of Burch.

The first-team offense then took the field, and Royce Freeman busted through the line and into the secondary on three straight runs. Then it was Tony Brooks-James ' turn to cut between two linemen and race into the open field. Whatever the protection was on that play, Mario Cristobal told his offensive line their execution had been "Perfect. Perfect, perfect perfect."

"That's how you practice," Taggart told the Ducks in the post-practice huddle. "That's the way it's supposed to be, both sides of the ball. You guys came out with a purpose today, and it showed. That's what we need Saturday."

It turned out that Taggart had been displeased with the tempo of Tuesday's practice, and had challenged the Ducks to step it up Wednesday. Thus, they were back in full pads.

"They responded," Taggart said, "the way they should have."

Other highlights: Taggart began the day with two "bulls in the ring" – in this case a couple of walk-on punters, Blake Maimone and Alec Hallman . A freshman from Florida, Hallman is more stout and stood his ground for a few seconds, but the taller Maimone used his leverage to ultimately put Hallman on the turf and win the rep. … Both Justin Herbert and Braxton Burmeister went 4-of-5 on their respective series in the practice-opening two-minute drill. Herbert's incompletion came when he rushed a throw with Hollins in his face, and Burmeister overthrew a receiver in the end zone. …

Austin Faoliu seemed to particularly enjoy the more physical play in Wednesday's practice. He slammed into Burch early in the morning, and later threw Verdell down behind the line of scrimmage. … Daewood Davis had another long run on an end around, and also caught a touchdown pass with the scout-team in a red zone drill. … Walk-on cornerback Charles Sudduth stripped a receiver and Sean Kilpatrick recovered the fumble during the "team pass" period for the offense, while the defense was doing 7-on-7. Later, Sudduth took a cue from the physical play of the defensive travel squad and tried to drag down a first-team receiver, for which he was quickly admonished.

Other observations: Aidan Schneider made a 50-yard field goal during drills. Conditions in the Mo were obviously more favorable than outside, on a rainy morning in Eugene. But Schneider hit from 52 during Tuesday's practice on the outdoor fields. … Pagano has played mostly at end when available this fall, but he lined up at nose tackle Wednesday. … Jake Pisarcik again was not in pads. So pencil in Calvin Throckmorton as the starting right guard Saturday, with Brady Aiello at right tackle.

Pre-practice interviews:

Head coach Willie Taggart

Defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt

Defensive line coach Joe Salave'a