Format: Full pads
Another week of spring practice for the Ducks began Tuesday, but this week won’t be like the others so far.
Oregon’s third practice of this week, scheduled for Saturday, will be the program’s first scrimmage of this spring.
What, UO coach Dan Lanning was asked Tuesday, will be the Ducks’ goal for the scrimmage? “Get better at football,” he said with a wry smile.
Lanning was having some fun with local media with the clipped response. But there was truth in the simple answer, too — spring ball is about steady progress, day to day, week to week, month to month.
“There’s some big picture goals, right? And then there’s some small goals,” Lanning said.
“I think when you step on the practice field, there has to be a small goal for the day for you individually, for you on your side of the ball. … Wherever that might be, trying to find that one piece that you’re really trying to carry over and create some success with.”
In the post-practice huddle, Lanning emphasized that point with his team. He asked newcomer Connor Soelle, an inside linebacker, what his goal had been for the day. Soelle answered quickly and confidently — communication with his fellow defenders.
Constant emphasis and repetition of a concept like that in spring will hopefully make it second-nature come fall. But it won’t just show up in September, October and beyond. It has to be reinforced in March and April.
Add up all those details that need to be honed, and what’s the result? Getting better at football.
Day by day, the Ducks are making progress toward that goal.
“It’s starting to really show itself, especially when the pads are on,” Lanning said. “… We’re definitely starting to see who can go out there and play ball and who can compete. Slowing down some of the thinking processes and letting guys play.”
Notable: Before Lanning addressed the Ducks in the post-practice huddle, offensive lineman Marcus Harper II asked to speak to the team. His message was about starting fast in practice, and sustaining that effort through to the end. … Former UO defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti was on hand for practice. Aliotti will be part of the Pac-12 Network crew that calls Oregon’s Spring Game. … Members of the UO student community were invited to watch practice Tuesday, and Lanning met with them before walking off the practice field.
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