Oregon Ducks practice report: Sept. 12

Ducks in full pads

Practice on Hatfield-Dowlin Complex fields (not tiny Gilchrist, Ore.)

20 minutes of individual drills open to media



By Andrew Greif, The Oregonian/OregonLive

EUGENE — Oregon's tour of the state did not continue Tuesday as scheduled.

Hours after announcing the day's practice would take place in tiny Gilchrist, 95 miles east and more than 4,000 feet up from Eugene's elevation, coach Willie Taggart said he awoke Tuesday morning and had a change of heart. Practice remained in Eugene.

Taggart believes eliminating one road trip this week will ultimately benefit its preparation for UO's final destination: Laramie, Wyoming, and Saturday's road game at 7,220-foot War Memorial Stadium.

"Just a change of heart," he said.

There were differing opinions on whether the effect of playing in the highest-elevation FBS stadium was more mental or physical. Mario Cristobal, the co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, said its effect is only what a player makes it. Taggart, meanwhile, said it could affect the ball "a little bit."

"It's going to affect you if you've never played in it," he said. "It is what it is. We've got to both go out and play and it's still a 100-yard field."

Don't Edit

Should the elevation lead to more fatigue than usual, however, Oregon could have more reinforcements ready.

Graduate transfer Scott Pagano practiced with his position group Tuesday and worked on tackling sleds during a 20-minute portion of practice open to media. He has yet to make his UO debut after undergoing offseason foot surgery.

At safety, both Tyree Robinson, who left Saturday’s 42-35 win against Nebraska early, and Brady Breeze, who has yet to play after tweaking a knee in August, appeared to have no limitations while hitting their own tackling sled.

Given this week’s challenge of containing Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen, a player mentioned this offseason as a high first-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft, all those injured Ducks could be a boost for Oregon’s defense should they see the field.

Don't Edit

As with Oregon’s first game this season, its first road game will present an opportunity to learn about the Ducks. How will they respond to an unfriendly crowd? How will its 12 freshmen or sophomores who started against Nebraska will handle pressure?

"It's part of the learning process," Taggart said. "Especially when it's your first time away. You can learn how your guys are going to perform or what they're distracted by or not and are they that football team that's going to come out and play at a high level, no matter where you play?

"If you ask me, I think our guys will be ready."

In recent seasons, Oregon thrived on the road.

Oregon’s victory against Washington in Seattle on Oct. 16, 2013, was its 18th consecutive road win in a non-neutral site.

But UO is 10-8 in such games ever since, including 1-5 away from Autzen Stadium last year.

"You've got to go into the week knowing you're going into foreign territory and the other team wants to beat the brakes off you," said Royce Freeman, who played on UO teams early in his career that made the road feel like home. "You're stepping into their home field and it's never going to be a cakewalk. You've got to bring it."

Don't Edit

The Ducks’ issues on the road in 2016 were largely a result of a depth chart that was continuously whittled down due to injuries or suspensions. Given the potential returns or debuts for promising defenders such as Breeze, Robinson and Pagano, the Ducks do not appear to have such issues entering their first road game of 2017.

Friday night will also be movie night for the Ducks.

It's part of Taggart's night-before-kickoff routine. Dinner, a movie and bedtime.

Which movie? That's up to a vote of a UO players' council later this week, he said.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Other observations from Tuesday's practice:

Starting left guard Shane Lemieux is wearing a club on his right hand.

Breeze, the safety, wore a brace on his right knee.

Scouts from the Ravens and Giants were in attendance.

Freshmen Jaylon Redd and Cyrus Habibi-Likio worked off to the side with a strength coach while their receiver and running back counterparts took part in route-running and footwork drills.