Randy L. Rasmussen | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Oregon State practice report

Fall camp, Week 3, Day 14

Thursday, Aug. 10

Shells (shorts and shoulder pads)

Reser Stadium

Last 20 minutes open to the media

Defensive players and coaches available for interviews

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Highlight

The end of practice, when cornerbacks coach (and former NFL-er) Cory Hall lined up 1-on-1 with quality control coach (and former NFL receiver) Kerry Taylor about five yards from the end zone. Hall grabbed Taylor when he started his break, causing Taylor to enthusiastically call for a pass interference penalty. The players were thoroughly entertained.

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Eight notes and observations

1. Defensive line coach Chad Kauha'aha'a expanded on that position group's development since I wrote this piece from Bend. He calls the philosophy more "conservative" than what Gary Andersen employed with the group last season, including less freelancing. That's helped the front seven "set the edge" to force a perimeter run back inside, while the interior linemen and inside linebackers hold steady there.



"If we get knockbacks and we control our gaps, like I always say, plays will come to us," Kauha'aha'a said. "It's been proven at the last couple places I was at. Hopefully, we can get that done. Not hopefully — we have to get that done."

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2. Tackling has also been a major focus this week, after a performance in Bend that "wasn't so good," Kauha'aha'a said. Coaches have taken an additional 10 minutes during practice to run through a high-energy circuit to work those fundamentals.



"It's a big deal on Saturday," said Kauha'aha'a, referring to the Beavers' second scrimmage. "One, stopping the run or slowing down the run. And then two, being able to wrap up and get people down. That's a goal of ours."

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3. The offensive line shifted Thursday, with Fred Lauina running at right tackle, Trent Moore shifting inside to guard and Gus Lavaka flipping over to the left side. Sumner Houston and Blake Brandel held steady at center and left tackle, respectively.

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4. Reserve tight end Tuli Wily-Matagi, who has been out recently with an undisclosed injury, was back practicing in a red no-contact jersey. Coaches and teammates highlighted Wily-Matagi as one of the most improved players during spring practice, after getting thrust into action as a redshirt freshman last season when Noah Togiai went down with a season-ending knee injury.

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Timothy J. Gonzalez | AP Photo

5. The cornerbacks were doing extra work on their own, which has become routine for that position group. Freshman All-American Xavier Crawford was working with more experienced players like Dwayne Williams and Jay Irvine, along with multiple newcomers. Identifying a third cornerback and establishing depth at that spot remains a fall camp priority for OSU. But keep in mind: This is about the time when Crawford really emerged in practice last year.

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6. I asked Clune about the differences between his first OSU fall camp and this year's. He noted the group overall has "made so much more progress," thanks to the experience returning at all levels.



"You've got a core of guys that know what they're doing and they understand things," Clune said. "Last year coming in, everything was so wide open and brand new, because they're learning my scheme, they're learning me. With those guys, we can hit the ground running (this year)."

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7. Like Andersen on Tuesday, Kauha'aha'a was asked about the status of junior college tackle Craig Evans, who is not yet practicing due to academics.



"Our mindset is he's coming in," Kauha'aha'a said. "When is it? I don't know … our expectation is that he's coming in this year."

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8. The Pac-12 Network was on site to film segments for the “Training Camp” special it does at every league school. Mike Yam, Yogi Roth and Curtis Conway were the on-camera reps from the network. Roth was particularly excited to see new OSU deputy athletic director Dan Bartholomae, who spent 15 years at Pittsburgh, Roth’s alma mater.

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Thomas Boyd | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Quotable

Clune on what he wants to from the defense in Saturday's scrimmage: "It's time to produce. It's time to perform. The talking is all over with. They've got to get out there and do it."

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Coming up

The Beavers are off Friday and scrimmage at noon Saturday at Reser Stadium. The scrimmage, which is part of the Corvallis edition of Family Fun Day, is open to the public.