Skip to main content
oregon logo

Dan Lanning pinpoints areas for improvement following Oregon's first scrimmage

Jarrid Denneyby:Jarrid Denney•08/16/23•

jarrid_denney

dan-lanning-pinpoints-areas-for-improvement-following-oregons-first-scrimmage
© Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK

Immediately after Oregon concluded its first scrimmage last Saturday, head coach Dan Lanning voiced his displeasure with what he saw from the Ducks’ defense early in the afternoon.

Lanning wasn’t willing to discuss specific individual performances but said the tackling was below par.

“It needs to be better at times,” Lanning said on Saturday. “I thought we again started slow, right? We operated like we were going to be in thud mode today. And then those guys didn’t go down. We’ve gotta tackle. And the only way to get good at is by practicing it. Now, it came on and some physicality showed up throughout practice. But we have to continue to take that to another level.”

On Tuesday, Lanning met with reporters once again for his regularly-scheduled weekly media availability. After having had a chance to review the film, he highlighted a few specific areas that he hopes to see the Ducks improve in the coming weeks.

“There was a ton of things,” Lanning said when asked what stood out to him on film. “Looking back, I mean, ultimately, we want to tackle better. We’re gonna take care of the ball better. A lot of things that I walked away saying right after the scrimmage still hold true. Situationally, we’ve got to play a little bit better situational ball. Red area. Two-minute, for both sides of the ball.

“But we have to stop the run better defensively and have to do a better job in those situations offensively.”

Lanning said on Saturday that the defense found its footing later in the scrimmage and came away with three interceptions and a fumble recovery. He still wasn’t willing to discuss the performances of individual players on Tuesday.

A photo posted to Oregon’s Twitter account indicated that Trikweze Bridges came away with one of the interceptions.

While Lanning is adamant that there are key areas that still need improving, he also noted that the energy level was positive on Saturday.

“Energy, competitive toughness,” Lanning said. “There’s the physicality, you know, our guys are playing physical. But yeah, more than anything, our guys are bringing good juice.”

Oregon is scheduled to hold its second fall scrimmage this Saturday.

On Wednesday, the Ducks will return to the Hatfield-Dowlin Outdoor fields after practicing inside the Moshofsky Center on Tuesday due to poor air quality in Eugene.

Afterward, tight end coach Drew Mehringer, defensive end Jordan Burch, and offensive lineman Nishad Strother will speak with reporters.

You may also like