Oregon's running backs are being drilled on new fundamentals and techniques by position coach Jim Mastro, especially when it comes to pass protection.

BUY TICKETS - OREGON vs. STANFORD

Venue: Outdoor practice fields

Format: Full pads

First-year Oregon running backs coach Jim Mastro favors ballcarriers who get downhill in a hurry, and put an emphasis on ball security, while being strong enough to pick up yardage after contact.

And also, he values a skill that has nothing to do with running the football.

"As long as I'm coaching," Mastro said, "they're going to learn how to protect the quarterback."

Just how much of an emphasis does he place on that particular skill? Faced with that question Tuesday, UO senior Tony Brooks-James chuckled.

"It's one of his top, top priorities," Brooks-James said. "He basically says that, if we miss a pass protection, our day is done."

With the Ducks trying to work six running backs into the rotation this nonconference season, players are looking for every edge they can get in the battle for playing time. Make a misstep in pass protection, and your edge is lost.

When Mastro was first hired, Brooks-James said, he told a story from earlier in his career about a running back who missed an assignment in pass protection. His quarterback was injured, their season derailed. Now in his first year with the Ducks, Mastro is working hard to make sure history doesn't repeat itself.

Tuesday's practice for the Ducks included a period for the running backs in pass protection. A back lined up with his feet between two pads, scout-team players flanking him on the right and left. Mastro cued one of the scouts to blitz, and the back had to deftly step over the pads and set his feet to make a block.

"You've got to get from a bad position to a good position in a hurry," Mastro yelled during the drill.

"It's a fundamental technique," the coach explained once practice had concluded. "Some people think it's muscle technique; it's just a fundamental technique. If your fundamentals are correct, you can win every battle."





When it comes to fundamentals, Mastro has proven himself a fastidious teacher. The fast-talking, energetic assistant is exceedingly more vocal than his predecessor, Donte' Pimpleton, or before that the long-tenured Gary Campbell .

"He's a lot more strict about the little things," Brooks-James said. "Just things being done in a certain way, in a certain order."

Mastro is quick to make adjustments, too. When the Ducks faced Portland State last week, the Vikings employed some delayed blitzes early in the game, with those blitzers sometimes coming unblocked after a running back leaked out into a pass route. So UO coach Mario Cristobal and Mastro changed it up and had the backs sit in the pocket a few beats longer, to freeze those potential blitzers.

They kept Justin Herbert clean but for one sack, allowing him to complete 20-of-26 passes in the game. And when the Vikings did bring pressure that a UO back had to block, "as far as I know we picked up every blitz but one," Brooks-James said.

All in all, it was to their position coach's liking. But that won't stop Mastro from continuing to reinforce the importance of pass protection with his running backs.

"I'm giving them credit; they've done an unbelievable job so far this year," Mastro said. "But we've got a bunch of games left to play, and we've got teams that are going to pressure the heck out of us."

Other highlights: In the last "good on good" period of the day, Kaulana Apelu opened the period by stopping running back Travis Dye for no gain. On the next play, Herbert hit Brenden Schooler with a pass, and the receiver held on despite being blasted by Jevon Holland . That may have put the defense on its toes, because the offense went back to the ground, and Dye ran for a long gain. … The first time the Ducks went "good on good," in a 7-on-7 drill near the goal line, cornerback Thomas Graham Jr. blanketed Schooler, forcing a high throw from Herbert that Schooler couldn't bring down. …

Earlier in that 7-on-7 period, against the scout team, Ugochukwu Amadi and Mattrell McGraw broke up passes on back-to-back reps. … In a team period against scouts, Sione Kava gave the offensive travel squad some problems, pressuring Herbert on a pass play and a couple reps later tackling a running back for loss. ... The scout offense also scored a couple wins over the course of the practice, with Korbin Williams getting behind a defender to haul in a deep ball in 7-on-7, and Isaah Crocker doing so later in 11-on-11.

Other observations: La'Mar Winston Jr. , who was injured in the season opener and didn't play against Portland State, was in a red non-contact jersey but otherwise suited up Tuesday. In the standard protocol, he would need to get through that without setbacks, and then a full-contact practice Wednesday, putting him on track to return to action Saturday against San Jose State. … George Moore was a limited participant after tweaking his ankle against Portland State. His spot at left tackle with the No. 2 offensive line was taken by true freshman Steven Jones , who made his UO debut against the Viks.

Post-practice interviews:

Sophomore receiver Jaylon Redd



