What we’re hoping to learn during Oregon’s second week of fall camp

Oregon’s first week of fall camp is officially in the books.

The Ducks were in pads for the first time over the weekend and are expected to ramp up the physicality this week.

“We had the pads popping. We got to get some of that going the last two days, but it was really intense today,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said on Saturday. “(Sunday) is really an off day for our guys, so it was pretty high strain today. Guys had to put in a lot of effort and leave it on the field.”

During week two of fall camp, the opening 15-20 minutes of Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday practices will be open to reporters. Typically, that period features warmups and stretching, special teams work, and individual position work.

Here are five things we’re hoping to learn this week.

Who is playing where?

Throughout the spring, the majority of Oregon’s key offensive linemen, defensive backs, and edge defenders were repping at multiple positions. The same is true for many of the program’s receivers.

I’m not expecting UO to grant access to any 11-on-11 periods during the open portions of practice this week. That happened just once during spring ball, and it’s still early days for the Ducks this fall.

But we should start to get a better idea of the positional fits for Marcus Harper, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Matayo Uiagalelei, and Tysheem Johnson, among many others.

Has the punting improved?

For many fans, the state of the Ducks’ special teams unit is nowhere near the top of the list of most intriguing August storylines.

But after some disastrous moments in the punting game last season, it will be crucial for Oregon to find some consistency at the position.

True freshman Luke Dunne flashed a big leg during spring ball and Matthew Rigney transferred in from Austin Peay in May. They will compete with last year’s backup, Ross James, for the starting spot.

Rodrick Pleasant’s speed

Oregon 4-star cornerback Rodrick Pleasant is less than a week into his first fall camp with the Ducks, but his speed has already become the stuff of legends among coaches and teammates.

“I haven’t seen someone that fast with my own two eyes on a football field,” Oregon receiver Gary Bryant Jr. said. “He lined up against some of the fastest guys on the team and he got respect from everybody after that race.”

Lanning called Pleasant ‘a perfectionist’ and said he has strived to do ‘everything right.’

We’ll get our first glimpse at Pleasant in a college football setting this week and learn a bit about where he fits in Oregon’s cornerback hierarchy.

First glimpse at freshmen

Pleasant is far from the only ’23 signee who is generating buzz.

Jurrion Dickey, Blake Purchase, and Daylen Austin are among the blue-chip freshman who were not with the Ducks during spring ball and have begun their Oregon careers this summer. They will join an early enrollee group that included Uiagalelei, Cole Martin, Dante Dowdell, and many others.

“If you’re ready to play, you will,” Lanning said of Oregon’s freshman on Saturday. “It’s our job to get some of those guys ready to play if they can help us.

Injuries

Oregon emerged from spring ball with a few major injury concerns at key positions.

The majority of those players — including star tight end Terrance Ferguson — said during last week’s media day that they are healthy and full-go. But there are still a few lingering injury worries regarding some of the Ducks’ key players.

Tuesday will provide a glance at who is still sidelined or limited.

The post What we’re hoping to learn during Oregon’s second week of fall camp appeared first on On3.