Wednesday War Room: Inside Oregon’s First Scrimmage Battle in the Trenches

 

The whistles cut through the August air, but the sound that really mattered was the crack of pads. Under the late-summer haze inside Autzen, Oregon’s offensive and defensive lines squared up for their first live test of fall camp. It wasn’t just about plays or points — this was about setting a tone for the season in the place where games are often won or lost: the trenches.

From the sideline, offensive line coach A’Lique Terry wasn’t just watching blocks connect; he was evaluating how five individuals, many of them new to playing together, would function as a unit under real pressure.
“It’s never-ending, evaluation,” Terry said. “Trying guys in new spots, trying guys with different mixtures after the first scrimmage. I mean, I think we did some good things, but we always gotta go back to the drawing board and continue to see where we were lacking, so we can continue to improve. You know, we call it going to the doctor around here.”

That “doctor’s visit” mentality reflects head coach Dan Lanning’s own breakdown of the scrimmage film. While he acknowledged that the defense “really won that scrimmage,” he also praised the offensive front for flashes of dominance: “I thought some guys on our offensive line did a really good job getting movement at the point of attack,” Lanning said. “So some, some really good back and forth.”

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Finding Leaders in the Heat

Lanning has emphasized player-led accountability all camp, and he noted that leadership emerged in key moments after the scrimmage. “We had some guys get up and talk to the team right afterwards,” Lanning said. “Kenyon [Sadiq], Bryce [Boettcher], Dante [Moore], Dillon Thieneman… Poncho has been a really outstanding leader for us so far.”

That leadership is critical for a unit still learning each other’s tendencies despite bringing more than 100 combined starts from other programs. Terry sees it daily from his center, Poncho Laloulu. “He’s consistent, he’s thorough. He’s committed to a process… the leader that he is on a consistent day-in, day-out basis, the Oregon Ducks appreciate it more than anybody.”

Lanning expanded on why Laloulu is so important: “You see so many things at center. You’re in charge of ID-ing so much from a defensive perspective… his communication is really key to our success up front. He’s done an unbelievable job of having poise in chaos, because there’s a lot of chaos. There’s not a look that we could put up there that Poncho wouldn’t have an understanding on how to handle.”

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Journeys of Resilience

At left tackle, Isaiah World is proof that timing and opportunity can define a career path. “I think it was more so just COVID,” Terry said. “It was bad timing when he came out, so he kind of fell through the cracks a little bit… this dude moves, like he’s supposed to be on this level… he deserves everything that’s coming for him.”

Veteran Matthew Bedford at right guard brings the calm of someone who’s been through a lost season before. “When he faced hardship last year, it didn’t faze him,” Terry said. “We never missed his presence… it pays dividends, because he’s playing consistent ball and starting to get back to his ways.”

Lanning’s broader point on the offensive line echoed Terry’s evaluation: pre-snap recognition, cadence discipline, and run-spot precision have all improved from last year. “I think our offensive staff has done a good job of indicating the importance of cadence, the importance of spot points on runs, and even challenging ourselves… and I think there’s been some improvement there.”

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Defensive Front Versatility

Across the ball, defensive line coach Tony Tuioti left the scrimmage encouraged by the flexibility of his group. “We’re training [A’Mauri Washington] outside, similar to [Jordan] Burch, similar to [Brandon] Dorlus, then also on third downs find him inside… he’s a guy that can fluctuate anywhere between 290, 305, and I’m just excited for him to see what he’s going to be able to do for us this year.”

Lanning reinforced that Washington’s readiness was one of the reasons Oregon didn’t raid the transfer portal for more interior linemen. “He’s got such a unique talent… at 330 pounds to be able to run as fast as he can… he’s doing a really good job of understanding the defense,” Lanning said. “He’s a guy that we’re definitely going to lean on a lot this year.”

Bear Alexander’s arrival has added another dimension — and another example of team-first mentality. “He’s been a great teammate,” Tuioti said. “He called all the guys together and they had a baby shower over at his house [for Washington’s family]… we want to recruit team-first guys. And he definitely fits that ball for us.”

The rotation options go beyond the projected starters of Matayo Uiagalelei, Washington, and Teitum Tuioti. The edge rotation — with Uiagalelei, Tuioti, and Blake Purchase — will be supported by pass rushers like Aydin Breland and Elijah Rushing, while Tione Gray and Terrance Green bolster the run defense.

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Competition as Culture

If there’s a theme from both lines, it’s that the competitive fire is as important as the technical growth. Lanning called it “a lot of competitive spirit, a lot of player leadership,” noting that the Ducks opened a recent practice with a live 4th-and-1 period right after stretching. “They might win the rep, they might lose the rep, but they know that’s going to make the team better… that’s the part that’s going to make us different.”

As camp moves forward, the message from all three coaches is aligned: depth is an asset only if it sharpens everyone in the room. The hits may stop when the whistle blows, but the competition never does.

“You just continue to evaluate your process, who helps us win the best, and get those guys on the field,” Terry said. “That’s the goal. The rest of camp is the proving ground.”

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Key Takeaways

• Defense Set the Early Tone – Lanning confirmed that the defense “really won that scrimmage,” which is typical early in camp, but the offense has responded with a strong week of practices.
• OL Communication on the Rise – Improved pre-snap recognition, cadence discipline, and situational checks are helping the offensive line find its rhythm.
• Poncho Laloulu’s Leadership is Crucial – Both Terry and Lanning praised his ability to manage chaos and set protections, making him the linchpin of the offensive front.
• DL Depth & Flexibility – Washington’s positional versatility, Alexander’s buy-in, and a deep rotation give Tuioti options to match any opponent.
• Competition as Identity – Live, high-stakes periods like 4th-and-1 right after stretching are forging a culture where players embrace challenge over comfort.
• Next Steps – With a lot of the install complete, the focus shifts to situational football and refining personnel groupings before Week 1.

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