By Rob Moseley

Editor, GoDucks.com

Venue: Moshofsky Center

Format: Walk-through

When Charles Nelson went 75 yards for a rushing touchdown last week at Stanford, he had to know exactly where to cut upfield in order to take advantage of carefully orchestrated blocks by the likes of Royce Freeman and Cameron Hunt.

The play was remarkable given that Nelson is a starting safety for the Ducks at this point in the season. And also that his total practice reps on offense prior to the Stanford game amounted to …

“Zero,” Nelson said today.

None. Not a single full-speed snap. And how about the 20-yard wheel route for a touchdown against Cal the week before? How many times did Nelson rep that play in the days before that game?

“Zero,” he said again.

To be sure, Nelson walks through offensive plays that might be employed in an upcoming game, in non-contact practices such as Thursday's in the Moshofsky Center. But he's been starting at a brand-new position the last five games – Nelson practiced on defense in the spring, but at corner – and so needs all the reps he can get on that side of the ball each week.

Thus, Nelson has to find other ways to prepare for his limited use on offense – four plays combined over the last two games, with two of his three touches going for touchdowns. He meets with his former position coach as a receiver, Matt Lubick, but also is counted upon to study on his own.

With Lubick and on his own, Nelson will study practice film of reps by others. For instance, Bralon Addison has been used in the two-back set with Freeman that yielded Nelson's rushing touchdown at Stanford, and Nelson watched film of Addison to prepare himself for the same situation. And Nelson can fall back on his season spent at receiver last fall.

“It's a lot easier because it's not foreign to him,” Lubick said. “But we still have to do a lot of stuff on the side, and he has to come in on his own and study film. Which he does, because he's a motivated guy and it's important to him.”

From the very first week of his first preseason camp, last fall, Nelson has been one of the Ducks' most studious players. When one of your fastest, toughest players is also is one of the smartest, it opens up a lot of possibilities.

And the coaches want to take advantage as much as possible, in all three phases of the game. Oregon's opponent on Saturday, USC, is doing the same delicate balancing act with its multi-talented threat, Adoree Jackson.

“Coach Lubick would like to use me more, but he doesn't want me to get tired,” Nelson said. “And (special teams coach Tom Osborne) wants me in on all the special teams. So it's hard.”

There aren't many on the roster who would be entrusted with so much responsibility. But Nelson has proven himself more than capable of remaining a threat on offense, replacing practice reps with study time in Lubick's office.

“We'll go over it two or three times before the game, so I know what I'm doing,” Nelson said. “He'll ask me, 'What do you have on this,' and I tell him. And that's it."

Other observations: As this was a walk-through, there are no highlights to pass along – other than a field goal of about 57 yards that Aidan Schneider made. … Offensive line coach Steve Greatwood was this week's pick in Mark Helfrich's new habit of having someone else address the team after Thursday practices. Greatwood broke the huddle himself. … In case you missed it, DeForest Buckner is a finalist for the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame's college player of the year award. Buckner also has been invited to participate in the Senior Bowl.