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  6. article_body => "<p>The day after I wrote how I could feel spring in the air, the snow began to fall in Portland. Regardless of the weather, Oregon spring football practices are about to begin! If you haven\u2019t yet <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/northwest\/oregon-ducks\/oregon-spring-football-pt-1-injury-updates-coaching-changes-true-freshmen\">read the latest Duck injury updates, coaching changes and true freshmen who enrolled early<\/a>, better catch up! Caution, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/northwest\/oregon-ducks\/oregon-spring-football-pt-1-injury-updates-coaching-changes-true-freshmen\">list of early enrollees from Oregon's historic 2019 recruiting class <\/a>may&nbsp;make you count down the days until opening kickoff.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The first of Oregon\u2019s 15 spring practices will begin this Saturday. Two main focuses of spring will be; Cutting down dropped passes and shifting into&nbsp;new defensive coordinator Andy Avalos\u2019 defense. Here is an update on how Oregon plans to do that.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How Cristobal plans on fixing UO\u2019s dropped passes problem<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Oregon\u2019s 2018 pass catchers had an inconsistent season as a group, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/northwest\/oregon-ducks\/hunt-oregon-footballs-next-leading-receiver\" target=\"_blank\">aside from Dillon Mitchell<\/a>. Letting catchable balls hit the turf was one of the main problems for Oregon\u2019s offense, something <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/northwest\/oregon-ducks\/who-jovon-bouknight-oregon-football-hire-new-wide-receivers-coach\" target=\"_blank\">new wide receivers coach Jovon Bouknight<\/a> will be tasked with fixing.<\/p>\n<p>How can the Ducks get the most out of quarterback Justin Herbert in his final season at UO?<\/p>\n<p>Oregon coach Cristobal called it \u201cno secret\u201d that drops must improve.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Cristobal intends to add up the number of drops and the yards lost in 2018 to provide a \u201cteaching moment.\u201d&nbsp;Then, he\u2019ll calculate the significance of those drops and yards in terms of third downs and moving the chains.<\/p>\n<p>Sounds like a fun meeting, huh?&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>[READ:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/northwest\/oregon-ducks\/its-juwan-johnsons-opportunity-grasp-or-waste\" id=\"headline-646706\">It\u2019s Juwan Johnson\u2019s opportunity to grasp or waste<\/a>]<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s pretty significant,\" Cristobal said. \"It\u2019s no secret, it\u2019s an issue. But it\u2019s not an issue from a determination or work ethic standpoint. We\u2019ve got to technically teach our guys how to be efficient and precise in catching the football, putting it away and doing something with it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cristobal states the problem does not stem from a lack of work ethic but highlighted areas where <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/northwest\/oregon-ducks\/hunt-oregon-footballs-next-leading-receiver\" target=\"_blank\">the position group needs to improve most<\/a>; discipline in aligning perfectly before each play and nailing the details of each route.<\/p>\n<p>Passing game efficiency is the goal and according to Cristobal, Bouknight has already \"made a strong statement\" since joining the staff two weeks ago.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\"You don\u2019t point a finger at anybody whether it be the tight end, receiver or quarterback. You coach it better. You teach it better. You get in there and you work harder.\"<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>How the defense will change under new defensive coordinator Andy Avalos<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Over a year later, the Ducks took something positive from the Las Vegas Bowl loss\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/northwest\/oregon-ducks\/oregon-cristobal-hires-andy-avalos-defensive-coordinator\" target=\"_blank\">Boise State\u2019s defensive coordinator, Andy Avalos<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen coach Cristobal reached out to me about this opportunity, I\u2019m not going to lie to you, I was really, really excited,\u201d Oregon\u2019s new defensive coordinator said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Avalos said Oregon' tradition,&nbsp;brand and fresh excitement that Cristobal is bringing to the program is why he chose&nbsp;to leave his alma mater, where he coached for seven seasons, three seasons as defensive coordinator.<\/p>\n<p>Avalos\u2019 scheme, which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/northwest\/oregon-ducks\/oregon-cristobal-hires-andy-avalos-defensive-coordinator\" target=\"_blank\">Cristobal described as complex for the opponent and simple for Oregon<\/a>, was a main reason Oregon hired the former Bronco star linebacker.<\/p>\n<p>Avalos runs the same 3-4 base that former Oregon defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt did in 2018, but it differs with a variety of switches based on personnel packages.<\/p>\n<p>The multiplicity of Avalos\u2019 scheme appealed to Cristobal. The word \u201cmultiple\u201d was probably used 20 times in his introductory press conference.<\/p>\n<p>Avalos switches between three and four-man and \u201cBear\u201d fronts and one and two-down linemen packages. He utilizes and will coach the STUD position; hybrid edge players with a pass rushing priority but also can drop into coverage and stop the run.<\/p>\n<p>This could be a huge opportunity for outside linebackers La\u2019Mar Winston Jr., Adrian Jackson and incoming freshman Kayvon Thibodeaux.<\/p>\n<p>The goal will be to force identification issues, movement issues and structural issues to the opposing offense. No doubt Avalos\u2019 past defenses have been versatile and disruptive. In the Las Vegas Bowl, Herbert was sacked four times, Oregon\u2019s offense totaled 280 total yards and Boise State scored on a pick-six.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/northwest\/oregon-ducks\/leavitt-didnt-fit-cristobals-vision-decade-making\" target=\"_blank\">[READ:&nbsp;Leavitt didn\u2019t fit Cristobal\u2019s vision; A decade in the making]<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Last season, Avalos coached&nbsp;a unit that ranked 10th nationally in sacks (3.0 per game) and&nbsp;20th nationally in turnovers forced (24)&nbsp;with 17 fumble recoveries, the most in the country. He will be taking over a UO unit that finished 42nd in the nation in yards allowed per play. The Duck defense&nbsp;returns eight starters led by&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/northwest\/oregon-ducks\/official-oregon-linebacker-troy-dye-stay-senior-season\">star linebacker Troy Dye<\/a>&nbsp;and adds&nbsp;some of the nation\u2019s top talent, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/northwest\/oregon-ducks\/oregons-kayvon-thibodeaux-joins-elite-club-stars-busts-and-backups\">Thibodeaux<\/a>&nbsp;and linebacker Mase Funa, who could make an impact right away.&nbsp;<\/p>\n"
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Oregon Ducks

Oregon Ducks

The day after I wrote how I could feel spring in the air, the snow began to fall in Portland. Regardless of the weather, Oregon spring football practices are about to begin! If you haven’t yet read the latest Duck injury updates, coaching changes and true freshmen who enrolled early, better catch up! Caution, the list of early enrollees from Oregon's historic 2019 recruiting class may make you count down the days until opening kickoff. 

The first of Oregon’s 15 spring practices will begin this Saturday. Two main focuses of spring will be; Cutting down dropped passes and shifting into new defensive coordinator Andy Avalos’ defense. Here is an update on how Oregon plans to do that.

How Cristobal plans on fixing UO’s dropped passes problem

Oregon’s 2018 pass catchers had an inconsistent season as a group, aside from Dillon Mitchell. Letting catchable balls hit the turf was one of the main problems for Oregon’s offense, something new wide receivers coach Jovon Bouknight will be tasked with fixing.

How can the Ducks get the most out of quarterback Justin Herbert in his final season at UO?

Oregon coach Cristobal called it “no secret” that drops must improve. 

 

Cristobal intends to add up the number of drops and the yards lost in 2018 to provide a “teaching moment.” Then, he’ll calculate the significance of those drops and yards in terms of third downs and moving the chains.

Sounds like a fun meeting, huh? 

[READ: It’s Juwan Johnson’s opportunity to grasp or waste]

“It’s pretty significant," Cristobal said. "It’s no secret, it’s an issue. But it’s not an issue from a determination or work ethic standpoint. We’ve got to technically teach our guys how to be efficient and precise in catching the football, putting it away and doing something with it.”

Cristobal states the problem does not stem from a lack of work ethic but highlighted areas where the position group needs to improve most; discipline in aligning perfectly before each play and nailing the details of each route.

Passing game efficiency is the goal and according to Cristobal, Bouknight has already "made a strong statement" since joining the staff two weeks ago. 

"You don’t point a finger at anybody whether it be the tight end, receiver or quarterback. You coach it better. You teach it better. You get in there and you work harder."

 

How the defense will change under new defensive coordinator Andy Avalos

Over a year later, the Ducks took something positive from the Las Vegas Bowl loss… Boise State’s defensive coordinator, Andy Avalos.

“When coach Cristobal reached out to me about this opportunity, I’m not going to lie to you, I was really, really excited,” Oregon’s new defensive coordinator said. 

Avalos said Oregon' tradition, brand and fresh excitement that Cristobal is bringing to the program is why he chose to leave his alma mater, where he coached for seven seasons, three seasons as defensive coordinator.

Avalos’ scheme, which Cristobal described as complex for the opponent and simple for Oregon, was a main reason Oregon hired the former Bronco star linebacker.

Avalos runs the same 3-4 base that former Oregon defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt did in 2018, but it differs with a variety of switches based on personnel packages.

The multiplicity of Avalos’ scheme appealed to Cristobal. The word “multiple” was probably used 20 times in his introductory press conference.

Avalos switches between three and four-man and “Bear” fronts and one and two-down linemen packages. He utilizes and will coach the STUD position; hybrid edge players with a pass rushing priority but also can drop into coverage and stop the run.

This could be a huge opportunity for outside linebackers La’Mar Winston Jr., Adrian Jackson and incoming freshman Kayvon Thibodeaux.

The goal will be to force identification issues, movement issues and structural issues to the opposing offense. No doubt Avalos’ past defenses have been versatile and disruptive. In the Las Vegas Bowl, Herbert was sacked four times, Oregon’s offense totaled 280 total yards and Boise State scored on a pick-six.

 

[READ: Leavitt didn’t fit Cristobal’s vision; A decade in the making]

Last season, Avalos coached a unit that ranked 10th nationally in sacks (3.0 per game) and 20th nationally in turnovers forced (24) with 17 fumble recoveries, the most in the country. He will be taking over a UO unit that finished 42nd in the nation in yards allowed per play. The Duck defense returns eight starters led by star linebacker Troy Dye and adds some of the nation’s top talent, Thibodeaux and linebacker Mase Funa, who could make an impact right away.