With the first week of Oregon Ducks Football Fall Camp in the books, coaches and veterans are pleased with the effort thus far, and feel that progress is being made in all phases of the game. The energy levels remained consistent throughout the week, something that impressed senior captain Tyler Johnstone.
“Really high energy–which is kind of rare to see at the end of the first week of fall camp,” said Johnstone, a redshirt senior who started at left tackle for two seasons before missing last season with an ACL tear.
Autzen Zoo Interview With Tyler Johnstone
“I think we got them in football shape in terms of how we want them to practice,” said head coach Mark Helfrich, following the first “double day” of Fall Camp on Saturday. Helfrich praised the team for their commitment to the physical part of the game, rewarding them with what he described as a “brain sweat,” on Saturday afternoon.
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A subject of popularity remains the arrival of Quarterback transfer Vernon Adams, a redshirt senior who officially
from Eastern Washington this week, enabling him to join the Ducks this past Friday. In his first comments surrounding Adams’ arrival, Helfrich complimented the job Adams has done adjusting over the past 48 hours, while adding that the quarterback possesses a great deal of “ability.”
Helfrich confirmed Ty Griffin’s position change from Quarterback to Cornerback, but said that Griffin will be thrown into several special teams situations throughout Fall Camp, as that will most likely be his fastest path to the field. The addition of Vernon Adams left Oregon with 6 quarterbacks, ultimately leading to Griffin’s position change.
Another storyline remains Oregon’s running game; while the loss of Thomas Tyner (shoulder surgery) surely leaves a void, the Ducks have a pair of young running backs, Taj Griffin and Tony Brooks-James, who have endless potential at the position. Royce Freeman will receive a significant amount of carries, but the talented backs that sit behind him on the depth chart are expected to make an impact as well.
Per Helfrich, the Ducks will have treatment and meetings tomorrow, before breaking for positional barbecues later in the day. As was the case this week, Oregon will practice Monday-Saturday, with double workouts scheduled on Monday-Wednesday-Friday. The start of the regular season is less than three weeks away as Oregon begins the regular season hosting Eastern Washington on September 5th. (5pm Pacific Time, Pac-12 Networks)